Chapter 6: Even thieves who came into her house would pity her and give her some money 

Li Hua, enraged, blurted out everything.

With the children and neighbors watching, Old Man Lu felt humiliated to be attacked by his wife.  Both, consumed by anger, wrestled fiercely.

The autumn village was dry; the ground was parched yellow earth.  Their fight sent dust flying and animals scattering a truly spectacular sight.

Despite being a woman, Li Hua’s strength matched Old Man Lu’s. She wrestled him to the ground, straddled him, and slapped him.

“Shameless! She’s a shameless hussy! After all these years, you still haven’t given up, hoping I’ll die so you can marry her?  No way! You’ve been secretly giving her our rice and flour, thinking I didn’t know?”

In her anger, she spilled everything.

“You’re speechless!  Say something! Did you give all my money and dowry to your mistress?  Say it in front of everyone!”

Old Man Lu valued his reputation. Being beaten by his wife and having his affair exposed was unbearable.

He threw Li Hua off, grabbed her hair, and slapped her.

“Don’t talk nonsense! What mistress?  It’s never happened! Are you just trying to humiliate the Lu family?”

Old Man Lu was trying to remind Li Hua not to make a scene in front of the neighbors and children.

But this only angered Li Hua further.

“You weren’t worried about being humiliated when you were having an affair with your mistress!  The humiliation should be on you!  You gave all the money and dowry to that woman? Get out! I’ll skin you alive!”

The couple’s fight was a spectacle.

Su Yuanyuan hadn’t expected such a dramatic show.  It was amazing.

Old Man Lu often acted superior in front of his younger family members, but he was actually unfaithful.

Both were bruised after their brawl. Old Man Lu’s face bore several scratches from Li Hua’s fingernails; his clothes were torn and muddy a sorry sight.

Li Hua fared no better, her face bruised and covered in dust.

Su Yuanyuan inwardly tsked. Old Man Lu, in his sixties, still had a mistress.

The original novel hadn’t mentioned these details.  She hadn’t expected to uncover such juicy gossip.

The onlookers, also surprised by the explosive revelation, crowded closer, none intervening.

The Lu family had always been unfair, so they were reluctant to interfere.  Some even secretly hoped the fight would escalate, creating more chaos for the family.

Old Man Lu and Li Hua fought for a long time, both harboring resentment, venting their frustrations with brutal blows.

Lu Zhengning and Lu Zhenggang were bullies at home but cowered before their parents.

They didn’t dare intervene in their parents’ fight.

Wang Chunhua and Wang Xiujuan wouldn’t get involved either.  Interfering would only invite suspicion.

The fight reached the doorway. Old Man Lu slapped Li Hua, whispering, “Are you an idiot? Stop it! I would never give that money and your dowry to anyone! The neighbors and children are watching; aren’t you embarrassed enough?”

Old Man Lu was angry about his affair being exposed.

But as the fight continued, he felt it was pointless.  What did he gain from this physical altercation?  He was only making a fool of himself in front of the neighbors.

He had been secretly giving his mistress, a widow, some rice and flour, but only small amounts.

He wouldn’t have touched the family’s savings.

After venting her anger, Li Hua calmed down somewhat.

She pushed Old Man Lu away, stood up, and wiped her face.  Though her face was still bruised, she believed Old Man Lu wouldn’t be so foolish.

Their sons were growing up and needed money for school.

The savings were meant for their future; even a foolish man wouldn’t touch that money.

But only Old Man Lu knew where her money and dowry were hidden.  Who else could have known?

Had someone seen her hiding it?

Li Hua’s gaze fell on her sons, never suspecting Su Yuanyuan.

From the moment Su Yuanyuan entered the house, Li Hua hadn’t given her a kind look.

For years, Su Yuanyuan was only allowed inside to wash Li Hua’s feet or fetch water; otherwise, she wasn’t allowed to cross the threshold.

If Su Yuanyuan knew where the money and dowry were hidden, it would be a miracle.

Li Hua concluded that her sons were the culprits.  The brothers were always competing, even arguing over the size of apples.

One of them must have stolen the items while everyone was asleep.

Li Hua’s gaze fell on her sons, who immediately knew what she was thinking and started to explain.

“Mom, don’t look at me like that. I don’t have the ability, nor would I do such a wicked thing. You can search my room if you don’t believe me.”

The eldest son shrugged, his face practically saying, “Don’t ask me; it’s not me!”

“It wasn’t me either!” Lu Zhenggang glared at Lu Zhengning.  Since the money was missing, the thief had to be one of them. Why was his brother acting innocent?

“I went to bed early last night.  Big brother, on the other hand, came back very late, didn’t he?”

His words angered his sister-in-law, Wang Chunhua.

“What do you mean, little brother-in-law? Are you accusing Zhengning of stealing the money?  I spit on you! We have two children, and even their gold necklaces are gone. Who would steal their own things? Watch your words!”

Wang Chunhua had always disliked the second family; they were always competing.

The items were given by their mother; if he was unhappy, he should talk to his mother!  What was the point of arguing with them?

A fight between the two families seemed imminent.  The neighbors were anticipating the drama, some even returning home to fetch breakfast to enjoy while watching.

Old Man Lu quickly sent everyone away and closed the courtyard gate.

“Wait, the children’s gold necklaces are gone, my money and dowry are stolen, and the kitchen is empty, but nothing is missing from your room.” Li Hua looked at Su Yuanyuan, her eyes narrowed.

Su Yuanyuan trembled, her eyes reddening.  Her naturally pale complexion, combined with the tears welling up in her eyes, made her look delicate and beautiful.

“Mom, how can you suspect me?” she pouted, looking wronged.

Wang Xiujuan crossed her arms, glaring at her: “Mom’s right. We all lost things, but nothing is missing from your room.  Confess!  That’s why you haven’t said anything!”

Li Hua and Wang Xiujuan’s accusations made Su Yuanyuan stammer, although it was a deliberate act.

“Mom! Sister-in-law! How can you say that? What’s there to steal in my room? Would a thief steal my old washbasin?”

Su Yuanyuan explained anxiously, tears streaming down her face.

Her small face, tear-streaked, made her even more pitiful.

Su Yuanyuan had been frail since childhood and hadn’t done much heavy work before marrying into the Lu family, so she was fair and delicate.

Her gentle features made her look charming and beautiful.  If she hadn’t been ill and had trouble conceiving, many would have sought her hand in marriage.

Lu Zhenggang stared intently at Su Yuanyuan’s profile, his fingers nervously twisting.

Wang Xiujuan glared at her husband, silently cursing his restless nature.

“I’m raising two children with no money. What could anyone steal from me? Instead of suspecting me, why don’t you look for clues and find the real thief?”

Old Man Lu and the others were silent after Su Yuanyuan’s explanation.

She was right; there was nothing worth stealing in her room.

Besides a bed and a half-broken cupboard, there was an old table, some broken baskets, and a washbasin. Who would want those?

Searching her room would be pointless and increase the risk of being discovered.

Everyone was speechless.  Indeed, what was there to steal in Su Yuanyuan’s room? A thief would only scoff, curse their wasted effort, and perhaps pity her enough to give her some money.