Chapter 13: Threats

After eavesdropping, Tang Xiaorou hurried home.

She was still excited. 

She had a hold on Old Man Tang, and things would be much easier.

Her mother would soon divorce Tang Jianshe.

Thinking of this, Tang Xiaorou’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes full of amusement.

But when she returned home and saw the mess in the room, her good mood vanished.

“Mom, Little Liang, Little Yan, are you okay?”

Seeing her mother and the children huddled in the corner, Tang Xiaorou anxiously approached.

Hearing her daughter’s voice, Qin Xueqiong quickly raised her head. “Xiaorou, you’re back. We’re fine.”

Little Yan saw Tang Xiaorou and ran to hug her leg. “Mom… hurt…”

“Little Yan, where does it hurt?”

Tang Xiaorou quickly checked her over. She saw a large bruise on Little Yan’s arm, clearly a fresh pinch mark.

Qin Xueqiong noticed Little Yan had been pinched. “Li Cuilan is too much! She even hit such a young child. I’m useless; I didn’t protect Little Liang and Little Yan.” She hadn’t noticed Little Yan’s injury and didn’t know if Little Liang had been secretly hurt.

Little Liang shook his head. “I’m fine. The younger woman pinched Little Yan.”

When Li Cuilan and Tang Rufang came to grab things, he had memorized them. He knew it wasn’t Li Cuilan but Tang Rufang who pinched Little Yan.

Tang Xiaorou’s face darkened.

“Mom, what did they come for?”

Qin Xueqiong sighed. “They came to grab the malted milk powder, the cotton cloth, and even the sponge cakes.”

“Were only Li Cuilan and Tang Rufang there?”

Qin Xueqiong nodded. “Yes, only the two of them. Grandma Tang didn’t show up. The others were at work.”

Just then, Tang Jianshe, Tang Jianhua, and Tang Xiangdong returned, along with Grandpa Tang. Before Tang Xiaorou could go find Li Cuilan and Tang Rufang to get her things back, Tang Jianshe rushed over. “Good, you’re finally back.” Remembering being beaten by his rebellious daughter, a dark look flashed in Tang Jianshe’s eyes. He raised his hand to hit Tang Xiaorou.

Tang Xiaorou nimbly dodged and swung her sickle at Tang Jianshe.

“I told you not to provoke me.  You don’t want a divorce now, that’s fine. I’ll wait until you and my mother divorce.”

Seeing the sickle, fear flashed in Tang Jianshe’s eyes. He quickly ran back. “You rebellious girl! You carry a sickle around. Do you want to kill us all?”

“You’re right. I do want to kill you all.”

Tang Xiaorou’s face was gloomy. Seeing Tang Jianshe run away, she turned to the eldest son’s house. “Li Cuilan, Tang Rufang, get out here! Return the malted milk powder and cloth, or I won’t be polite.”

Li Cuilan and Tang Rufang had hidden in the house when Tang Xiaorou returned. Hearing her words, they remained silent.

Seeing their silence, Tang Xiaorou started kicking the door.

Grandpa Tang watched Tang Xiaorou’s unruly behavior, his temples throbbing with anger. He glared at Tang Jianhua, Tang Jianshe, and Tang Xiangdong. “You three grown men are still standing there?  Can’t you handle a little girl? Even if she has a sickle, you can find something to use.”

“Grandpa, don’t worry. We’ll subdue that crazy girl Tang Xiaorou. I don’t believe she can be this arrogant forever.” He picked up a wooden stick, but then suddenly changed direction and went towards Qin Xueqiong and the children.

Tang Xiaorou was still kicking the door when she saw Tang Xiangdong’s actions.  She was furious. “Tang Xiangdong, what are you doing?”

Tang Xiangdong quickened his pace, reaching Qin Xueqiong and the children. He held the stick in front of them, provocatively looking at Tang Xiaorou. “Tang Erya, put down the sickle, or this stick will hit your mother and these two burdens.”

“You dare!”

Tang Xiangdong laughed. “What am I afraid of?  Just say whether you’ll put it down or not.” He pushed the stick forward.

Tang Xiaorou knew how ruthless Tang Xiangdong was, so she didn’t say anything and threw down the sickle.

Seeing this, Tang Jianshe grabbed the sickle. He said triumphantly, “Stinky girl, let’s see how you’ll act tough now.”

Tang Xiangdong was very pleased to see Tang Xiaorou yield.

These past few days, the house had been turned upside down because of this stinky girl. Now she was obediently listening to him. “Tang Xiaorou, you should have shown filial piety with the good things you got. 

My mother taking the malted milk powder and cloth is only right. If you dare to cause trouble again, I’ll make your mother and these two brats suffer.”

Qin Xueqiong felt guilty for dragging her daughter down again.

Tang Xiaorou glared at Tang Xiangdong. “Fine, you can have them.” She walked to Qin Xueqiong and the children. “Mom, let’s go inside.”

Tang Xiangdong snorted coldly. “Did I say you could go? Is dinner ready? You always did the housework, and it’ll be the same from now on.”

Tang Xiangdong was arrogant. Li Cuilan and Tang Rufang came out after hearing the commotion. Seeing Tang Xiaorou’s defeat, they looked gleeful.

Even Grandma Tang slowly came out. “Dinner isn’t ready yet. Qin Xueqiong, Tang Erya, what are you doing? Hurry up and cook.”  They had been startled by Tang Xiaorou’s unusual behavior, but now they realized that as long as they held Qin Xueqiong and the children hostage, Tang Xiaorou, no matter how crazy, would still obey.

Tang Xiaorou’s face was unpleasant, but she could only say sullenly, “Okay, we’ll cook now.”

Seeing Tang Xiaorou’s submissive appearance, the Tang family regained their superiority.  Everyone wore a smug smile.

However, no one noticed the sinister look in Tang Xiaorou’s eyes as she turned around.

Qin Xueqiong knew they could only obey, so she took the children to the kitchen. She quickly prepared the meal, and Tang Xiaorou served the dishes to the table outside.

Seeing the food ready, Grandpa Tang sat down first, followed by the others.

Grandma Tang finally felt like herself again. She coldly looked at Tang Xiaorou. “You two don’t get to eat. You’ll go hungry for the next two days.”

Tang Xiaorou said nothing and left with a sullen face.

Seeing Tang Xiaorou like this, Tang Rufang felt pleased. Everyone happily ate, but Tang Rufang suddenly slid off her stool and fell to the ground.

“Rufang, what’s… wrong…”