Chapter 14

Seeing the attitude of the two in front of her, Ding Xiaodie lifted her small, pointed chin and said, “Cousin, cousin—what’s up?”

They hadn’t expected her to act like this—no longer timid and shy like a little scrawny cat wanting to crawl into a dark corner.

Ding Xue instantly got angry and pointed in front of herself, “Didn’t you hear me tell you to come here? If you don’t listen, I’ll beat you every time I see you.”

Oh, really?

Ding Xiaodie’s big watery eyes glanced around as she walked toward them with her short little legs. Her calm and composed look startled both Ding Xue and her younger brother Ding Jie.

Even ten-year-old Ding Jie felt a bit uneasy in his heart.

He wasn’t sure why, but he felt like his little cousin was different from before. Now, she seemed… adorably fierce, in a weirdly intimidating way.

Ding Xue, however, wasn’t fazed. She wouldn’t be scared of a little shrimp who wasn’t even as tall as her shoulders. The moment Ding Xiaodie got close and stood still, Ding Xue grabbed her collar and yanked her up onto her tiptoes.

Then she snarled through gritted teeth, “I heard your side of the family wants us to take care of that old hag? Seriously?”

Her grip on Xiaodie’s collar was so tight that the little girl’s breathing became labored, her small face turning red as she struggled. Just as she was about to retaliate—

Two more kids came running up.

It was Ding Mei, the 13-year-old daughter of Second Uncle Ding De, and her younger sister Ding Xiang, age 9.

As they approached, Ding Mei said, “Sis, let go of her.”

She stepped up and pried Ding Xue’s hands off, causing Ding Xiaodie to fall to the ground with a thud. As Xiaodie rubbed her sore butt, the two cousins began arguing.

Fourteen-year-old Ding Xue yelled, “What’s your problem? Why are you butting in?!”

Thirteen-year-old Ding Mei retorted, “You keep pulling like that and she’s gonna die. Just because she’s a kid doesn’t mean the constable won’t haul you off. Let’s see what you do then?”

“She won’t die, I only pulled her a bit.”

“Heh, cousin, you should be thanking me, not scolding me.”

Ding Xiaodie thought to herself, Hmm, this second cousin’s not too bad—she actually helped me.

But then Ding Mei added something that instantly ruined it:
“If you yank Xiaodie to death, Third Uncle and Aunt will have an excuse not to care for that old woman. Think about it—then the responsibility will fall on our families, won’t it?”

Ding Xue glared at her in silence.

Meanwhile, Xiaodie’s heart was screaming: A thousand alpacas just trampled through my soul.

No wonder girls in this era marry young—they’re already this scheming and calculating!

Just then, a pair of small hands, as thin as chicken bones, reached out to help her. In front of her stood a round-faced, big-eyed little girl with a tiny, flower-like mouth, tilting her head and smiling sweetly.

Nine-year-old Ding Xiang!!

She was clearly more sensible than the older two.

“Thanks, cousin,” said Ding Xiaodie, standing up and affectionately patting the girl’s head. Though she wasn’t much taller than her, Ding Xiang had such a warm, friendly vibe.

Ding Xiang smiled with squinted eyes, “No need to thank me, cousin.”

Their warm exchange made the older cousins stop arguing and glare at Ding Xiang, thinking: Traitor!

But the little girl wasn’t scared—she just stuck her tongue out playfully.

Then Ding Xue turned her rage back toward Ding Xiaodie:
“Go back and tell that old woman—she didn’t raise us, and now she wants us to care for her? Dream on. Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with our branch of the family. She’s already ancient—keeping her alive is just a waste of food. Now she wants to drag others down with her? Hmph!”

Xiaodie stared at her unblinking.

Wow.

So young and already so vicious—how could she say something like that?

But Xiaodie didn’t react angrily. She just looked innocently at Ding Jie and said, “Cousin, did you remember what your sister said? When you grow up, be sure to treat your parents the same way. Got it?”

Ding Jie was confused.

What? That made no sense. Why should he treat his own parents that way?

Maybe it was her weirdly scary yet cute tone, but ten-year-old Ding Jie actually nodded.

What the heck?!

Inside the main house, Ding Rong and his wife, who had been listening, nearly exploded with rage.

They had hoped their daughter would pass along the message to the third branch and spare them the trouble. Who knew this little brat Ding Xiaodie would twist the whole thing like this?

What was this?!
They’d thrown out a stick to beat someone else’s dog, and it bounced back and smacked them instead!

At once, Madam Zhu stormed to the doorway and shouted, “Ding Xue! Ding Jie! Inside. Now.”

The two siblings saw their mother’s murderous face and quickly obeyed.

Ding Mei was quietly amused—who would’ve thought Ding Jie was this dumb, falling into the trap without even realizing?

But then she noticed her aunt’s unfriendly glare and quickly grabbed her sister Ding Xiang and left too.

Soon, only two people were left at the gate: Madam Zhu, eyes wide with fury like she could eat someone alive, and Ding Xiaodie—scrawny and small, but perfectly calm.

They stared at each other for a moment until Madam Zhu finally exploded: “Ding Xiaodie, you—”

“Waaah!”

Before she could finish, Ding Xiaodie suddenly plopped down on her butt and started crying loudly, rubbing her eyes and wailing, “Aunt hit me! Aunt hit me!”

What?!

Madam Zhu was stunned. She hadn’t even touched the girl! This little brat sure knew how to fake it.

As Xiaodie kept crying, villagers started gathering around to see what was happening. In a panic, Madam Zhu reached out to pull her up—

But the moment she reached down, Ding Xiaodie threw her arms around her and cried even louder:
“Auntie, I was wrong! Please don’t hit me anymore! We know you don’t want to take care of Grandma! If you don’t want to, fine—but why curse her to die sooner? Boohoo, poor Grandma…”

“…”
Madam Zhu was speechless. She never said that—at least not in public!

More and more villagers gathered, whispering:

“Heartless!”

“Yeah! How could a daughter-in-law say such things? Doesn’t she fear heaven’s wrath?”

“Old Lady Wang may be tough, but she doesn’t deserve death!”

Hearing the criticism, Madam Zhu quickly argued, “I never said any of that! And I didn’t hit her!”

Someone asked, “If you didn’t hit her, why’d she fall over?”

“Oh my goodness! She sat down on purpose!” Madam Zhu was losing her mind. Why wouldn’t anyone believe her?

Then—bam!
A dark figure suddenly slammed into her stomach. The attacker had hunched low, charged with full force, and caught her completely off guard.

“You nasty old hag! Bullying my Xiaodie, huh?!”

Thud! Madam Zhu was knocked flat on her back.

It was Wang Dafeng, who had charged her like a bull. She dusted her hands and spat at her.

“Peh!”