Chapter 19.1

Since the device could be used for free, Lu Lan had no intention of exchanging points for it. Old Huang was rescued by everyone with a flurry of activity, with people pressing his pressure points and applying force to his tiger’s mouth. The effort was significant, and by the time he recovered, his tiger’s mouth was sore and his pressure points burned.

“Village head, you’re finally here!”

The experience of being shocked left Old Huang deeply shaken. After he regained his composure, he didn’t even let his wife help him but instead rushed to confront the arriving village head.

“She—she didn’t know what she was using. It made me feel numb all over and drained my strength. Village head, you must take charge of this!”

“Domestic issues between couples are their own business. I thought someone had really died. It turns out everything is fine. You’re making a fuss over nothing.”

In later times, this would be termed domestic violence, but in this era, people didn’t pay much attention. It was considered a domestic affair, and even the most upright officials were reluctant to intervene. After speaking, the village head was about to leave when Old Huang grabbed his leg.

“You can’t leave! What if she hits me again once you’re gone?”

“Ha! You’re a grown man, and you can’t handle a woman? How can you have the nerve to say that to me? Let go! I have a lot of work and can’t waste time on your trivial matters.”

The village head kicked him off as he freed himself and then quickly left, not taking the situation seriously and unwilling to mediate. Normally, Old Huang was the one who hit his wife, and the village head knew such matters were beyond his control. His usual attitude was to ignore them as long as no one was killed.

“Old Huang!” His wife’s call startled him. From a domineering abuser to someone now trembling in fear, Old Huang was completely cowed. The once-oppressed wife was now reveling in her newfound strength, laughing joyfully and savoring her victory. The frustration she had been holding in was finally released; it turned out he could be scared.

“Hahaha…”

“Auntie, it’s time to come home for dinner.”

Luo Lan’s nephew came to call her. Having earned her melon-eating points, she promptly turned and left. The eldest sister-in-law was cooking for them. When her sister and brother-in-law arrived, they brought a small cloth bag containing fresh apples.

“Sister, where did these come from?”

“There is an apple tree in my eldest sister-in-law’s yard. This year, they brought a lot of apples, which is unprecedented. They said it was a good harvest.”

After washing and cutting up two apples to share, it turned out that despite their bright red appearance, they were extremely sour, making your teeth ache with the first bite. The two nephews frowned and grimaced, while Luo Lan glanced at Zhou Qingshan, who showed no reaction.

“If you like sour apples, then you can have mine too.”

When the apples were pressed into his hands, he was momentarily surprised, but Luo Lan didn’t notice. Surrounded by the family’s gazes, he ate the sour apples quietly, and the remaining pieces were stuffed into his brother-in-law’s arms.

“Your brother-in-law has given them to you.”

While the men were talking inside, Luo Lan went outside to use the restroom. Standing beside her sister, she began to chat quietly. Her usually composed sister’s eyes sparkled with gossip, revealing that no woman is truly indifferent to it.

“So, what’s the situation? With the way you’re acting, your husband must not be as the rumors say, right?”

“Sister, how can you also…”

“What do you mean, how can I not? I’m just concerned.” Luo Mei tapped her sister’s forehead gently. “My silly sister, you’re really brave. You don’t know how worried I was for you, unable to sleep well for nights. Don’t you worry at all?”

“I have a feeling. I’ve said it before, rumors aren’t reliable.”

Luo Mei patted her chest, and hearing her sister’s reassurance, she finally felt at ease. “That’s good. Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding about having children, and if that’s the case, it’s no big deal. Adopting is also an option.”

It was still early to discuss this matter, and Luo Lan was amused by her sister’s concern. With her worries eased, Luo Mei worked with even more vigor in the afternoon.

During the busy farming season, Luo Lan didn’t stay long. After dinner, the couple rode their bike back home. With their own vehicle, they didn’t have to wait for a bus. They arrived in the city before 2 PM. As they entered the courtyard, Luo Lan heard shouting. The system immediately perked up.

System: “Hurry, hurry, there’s gossip!”

Lu Lan: “Why are you so anxious? There’s plenty for you.”

System: “Hurry up, that noise sounds like your sister-in-law’s.”

The system was correct, and Zhou Qingshan also recognized his sister’s voice arguing with someone. He quickened his pace. Having left home at eighteen to join the military and only returning once a week when his father was alive, he was familiar with the situation at home. It was just the three of them—his mother, his sister, and himself. His mother had a gentle disposition and often suffered because of it, perhaps explaining why his elder sister was so fiery.

“I’m just sprinkling water. It’s my own yard. If I want to sprinkle, I will.”

“This isn’t just your yard, it’s a shared space. There’s a drainage pit over there, why don’t you use it? You’re making the shaded area slippery with your water. My mother almost slipped last time.”

“I’ll sprinkle where I want to. I’m old and can’t walk far. If you don’t like it, you can help me every day.”

“You…”

Zhou Junhui, unable to continue arguing with the older woman’s stubbornness, was interrupted when Luo Lan and Zhou Qingshan walked in. The older woman turned and grabbed Luo Lan’s hand.

“Daughter-in-law, look at how your sister-in-law is. She’s bullying an old woman like me. Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?”

Luo Lan had only been married for a day. If she were of a timid nature, such words might have influenced her judgment, especially since Zhou Junhui stood at her doorstep as if looking for trouble.

“Auntie, you’re not even sixty yet. It’s not time to play the elder card. Such talk will only carry weight after a few more years.”

Luo Lan calmly pushed the woman’s hand away. Her words, though soft, had a sharp edge, leaving the woman momentarily speechless. Why was this new bride so unconventional? Instead of showing sympathy for the elderly, she spoke so sharply, as if she had been hit hard, leaving the woman unable to retaliate effectively.

“Why are you speaking like that? I… I’m…”

“What are you? As the old saying goes, ‘He who lifts a stone only to drop it on his own feet.’ Words can be powerful, you should be careful.”

“You… I…”

“What about me? One should accumulate virtue. This yard doesn’t belong to just one family. Everyone has to walk around. You’ve walked the most in this area.”

“Exactly,” Zhou Junhui chimed in, agreeing with her sister-in-law. “You’re older than my mother. If you fall, what will you do then?”

“Stop talking nonsense. I’m not afraid of that.”

As they were speaking, Zhou Qingshan’s mother came in with a basket of vegetables. Seeing the dispute between her family and the woman from the south courtyard, she immediately took her daughter and started heading back. She didn’t say anything in the yard but gave her daughter a disapproving look once they were inside.

“You’re not new to this kind of person. Why waste your breath on her? Don’t you know what people are saying about you? At this rate, who would want to marry you? Which family would want a bride with such a fiery temper?”

“I’m not afraid. Let them talk. I can’t stand her. The moss on the ground is so thick. She never cleans it, and whenever I clean it, she continues to sprinkle water. The moss never gets clean.”

“Be careful walking. It’s not a big deal. You’re about to get married, and your reputation matters.”

“You have to use that side to come and go. What if you slip?”

“I’ll be careful. Anyway, don’t argue with her anymore. If she wants to sprinkle, let her. There are many people living in this yard. Others don’t complain, so why should you?”

During this time, the law was not well-developed, and mossy courtyards were common. If someone slipped, it was hard to explain, and most of the time, it was just the person who fell who suffered. The mother-in-law’s advice was to be cautious, clearly implying that Zhou Junhui didn’t see things the same way, as this wasn’t the first time she had argued over such matters.

“Mom, you’re just too soft. If you weren’t so weak, Minshan wouldn’t…”

“Zhou Junhui.”

Her brother’s stern voice cut off her rambling. Seeing their mother swaying slightly, Zhou Junhui bit her lip in guilt.

“I’m sorry.”

After apologizing, Zhou Junhui turned and entered the room she shared with her sister. Inside, Zhou Qingshan helped their mother to a chair. The woman seemed deeply affected, her head lowered as she breathed heavily, a single tear falling onto her hand.

“Mom…”

“It’s nothing.” Quickly wiping her face, she lifted her head and tried to appear calm. “I’m fine, don’t worry about me. You two go on with what you’re doing. I need to start preparing dinner.”

It was barely past 3 PM, what dinner was there to prepare at this time? Luo Lan quickly helped her mother-in-law into the house. “It’s still early. Please rest a while.”

“No, I’m fine. You two go back inside.”

Since she wanted to be alone, the couple didn’t stay longer. They left, and the system in Luo Lan’s mind was in a frenzy.

System: “Hey, hey, ask about the gossip. It’s unethical to stop halfway through.”

Luo Lan: “Is now really the time?”

System: “Why not?”

Luo Lan: “That’s exactly what a system would say.”

System: “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you looking down on me?”

Luo Lan: “No.”

The system, disappointed and frustrated, tried to convince Luo Lan to ask about the situation, but she remained unyielding. After returning to their room, she didn’t ask her husband either. Instead, she changed clothes and went out to the yard to wash.