Chapter 139

If you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble will come looking for you. Wang Yuan’er felt a headache coming on as soon as she saw Zhou Shunxing’s wife, Madam Xie. Trouble had arrived.

Madam Xie’s glare was like a poisoned dagger, sharp and sinister.

Throwing down a large basin of clothes, Madam Xie began to scold Zhou Shunxing indirectly, “In this heat, I asked you to help me wring out the laundry by the river, and you said it’s women’s work. Now you’re playing the hero, carrying baskets for others. Zhou Shunxing, which vixen has bewitched you?”

She was just short of directly calling Wang Yuan’er a vixen.

Wang Yuan’er felt more wronged than Dou E. Just walking down the street, and she had somehow attracted such unwarranted trouble.

Zhou Shunxing put down the basket and chuckled, “Look at you, I’m just making amends.”

“Making amends for what? I think you’re guilty of something.” With hands on her hips, Madam Xie said sharply, “Let me tell you, Zhou Shunxing, don’t think you can fool around while I’m pregnant. No way.”

The words were getting more and more unpleasant. Wang Yuan’er frowned, not wanting to get entangled with them. She picked up the basket and was about to leave.

“Oh, who is this? Isn’t it the eldest girl from the Wang family?” Madam Xie wouldn’t let her go, pretending to just notice Wang Yuan’er, “Leaving so soon? Feeling guilty?”

Wang Yuan’er glanced at her coldly, “Are you talking to me?”

“You…” Madam Xie pursed her lips angrily, then arrogantly said, “Shunxing is my man now. I advise you not to have any delusions. Can’t find a man yourself, so you covet others’? Shameless.”

Wang Yuan’er almost laughed, “Since you moved to Changle Town, how many times have we met? Let alone this person. If you hadn’t jumped out, would I know who you are? Ridiculous!”

Madam Xie’s face turned red and then white, her lips pressed into a thin line, “I clearly saw you flirting with my man. Deny it all you want.”

She had seen it with her own eyes. Zhou Shunxing’s eyes were practically glued to this little vixen!

Looking at Wang Yuan’er’s slender waist, Madam Xie pinched her own, which had thickened due to pregnancy. Damn Zhou Shunxing, was he disgusted with her?

Remembering how her mother-in-law sometimes praised Wang Yuan’er as a good businesswoman, thinking she would make a good daughter-in-law, Madam Xie’s jealousy grew, and her words became more venomous.

“I heard even an old man preferred your cousin over you. Can’t get married, so you seduce other people’s men. Shameless. If you want a man so badly, marry a widower.”

“I suggest you watch your mouth. This is Changle Town, not your Bashang Town. Also, if your eyes are bad, see a doctor.” Wang Yuan’er looked at her coldly, then glanced at Zhou Shunxing, “Don’t think your man is a treasure. One’s honey is another’s poison.”

With that, Wang Yuan’er didn’t waste any more words, picked up the basket, and left, as some townsfolk were already gossiping.

Behind her, Madam Xie angrily scolded Zhou Shunxing, her words crude and unpleasant. Wang Yuan’er shook her head, feeling fortunate.

A perfect match, one a fool and the other a jealous shrew. Truly a pair made in heaven!

Chapter 140

Wang Yuan’er returned home with a belly full of anger. When Wang Chun’er saw her, she couldn’t help but ask what had happened.

“Nothing, just got bitten by a mad dog.” Wang Yuan’er smiled and handed her a watermelon. “Take it to the well to chill. By the time Qing’er and the others return, it should be cool enough.”

She didn’t explain further, so Wang Chun’er didn’t ask more questions. She obediently took the watermelon and put it in the well to chill.

The sun was about to set when Wang Qing’er came back with her younger sister. Both were sunburned, their little faces red and dirty like flower cats.

“Why are you so dirty? Go wash up. I bought a watermelon, and it’s chilling in the well. We can cut it up and eat it soon.” Wang Yuan’er said with a smile.

The two cheered, and the younger sister eagerly handed over a basket. “Eldest sister, we collected a lot of snails. Let’s cook them with sour bamboo shoots tomorrow.”

Wang Yuan’er took a look, and indeed, there were a lot of snails under the rice stalks, each one thicker than an adult’s finger. It looked like it could make a decent meal.

Cooking snails with sour bamboo shoots was one of Wang Yuan’er’s specialties. The bamboo shoots were dug up in spring, and those they couldn’t eat were pickled to make sour bamboo shoots. Now was the perfect time to eat them, with the snails being plump and juicy. Add some fermented tofu sauce and chili to stew them, and the result was deliciously tangy.

“Alright, let’s let them purge the mud for two days, then I’ll cook them for you, little foodie!” Wang Yuan’er said as she pinched her sister’s cheek.

After setting the snails in a basin, Wang Yuan’er and Chun’er busied themselves with preparing dinner while chatting intimately. Just then, Wang Qing’er came rushing in, shouting.

“Eldest sister, where’s the watermelon?”

Wang Yuan’er was taken aback and looked at Wang Chun’er.

“Isn’t it chilling in the well?” Wang Chun’er was also puzzled.

“No, it’s gone!” Wang Qing’er pouted.

Wang Yuan’er and Wang Chun’er exchanged glances. Both found it strange. The watermelon had been chilling in the well. They even saw it there when fetching water before steaming the rice. How could it have disappeared?

Wang Qing’er saw the expressions of her two sisters and knew the watermelon had definitely been there. Now that it was missing, given the size of their household, if it wasn’t in the main house, it was obvious where it had gone.

“I’m going to find them!” Wang Qing’er was furious and dashed out.

Wang Yuan’er was worried and couldn’t ignore this matter. She told Wang Chun’er, “You keep an eye on the fire. I’ll go take a look,” and she followed her out after taking off her apron.

As she reached the door of the west house, she heard Wang Qing’er cursing and calling them thieves for taking things without asking.

“Just because it was in the well doesn’t mean it’s yours. Why can’t it be ours?” said Wang Fuquan, who seemed to be talking with his mouth full, making his words unclear.

“Is it really yours? Answer me!” Wang Qing’er was furious. “You tell me, did you buy it? If you did, I’ll kneel and apologize. If not, whoever ate it will suffer terrible consequences.”

“Oh, little girl, it’s just a watermelon. Is it worth cursing someone so viciously?” said Second Aunt.

Wang Yuan’er walked in and took in the scene. A large watermelon had been cut into pieces, with half already gone. Wasn’t that the one she bought?

Looking around the room, she saw Wang Fuquan with juice all over his mouth, holding a big piece of watermelon. Wang Min’er was lazily picking seeds from another piece while Madam Zhang stood with her hands on her hips, pointing at Wang Qing’er.

When they saw Wang Yuan’er come in, they all shrank back, especially Wang Fuquan, whose eyes avoided hers. He didn’t know whether to take another bite or put the watermelon down.

Seeing this, what more needed to be said?

“Indeed, it’s just a watermelon, not worth much. But taking things without asking is stealing. This isn’t the first time. Last time, it was eggs; now, it’s a watermelon. Is this how Second Aunt teaches her children? And yet she says we’re in the wrong. I’ll have to ask Grandma if this is fair!” Wang Yuan’er said coldly.