Lu Cuicui stole a glance at Lin Shu and found herself staring into Lin Shu’s bright, clear eyes.

Lin Shu had been watching her the whole time!

Lu Cuicui quickly looked down, washed her hands, and sat down next to Lin Shu very properly.

She whispered, “Aunt.”

Lin Shu replied calmly, “In the future, make sure to eat your meal before going out. An empty stomach can be uncomfortable.”

Lu Cuicui nodded quietly, but in her heart, she thought Lin Shu was trying to trick her into coming back early to do work.

If she came back early, she wouldn’t get to go out, and if she came back late, she wouldn’t have to work.

Lu Ping and his brother had already finished eating. They went out to play for a while and then started looking for cicadas as it got dark, planning to pick up Tiantian and Panpan later.

Finding cicadas was endlessly fascinating to both adults and children.

It was addictive and couldn’t be missed for even a day.

Many adults joined the children in this pursuit when they had nothing else to do in the evening.

In the past, Elder Brother Lu and Second Brother Lu used to go too, but now they were busy helping repair the vegetable beds at home, which were still not fully finished.

The yard was too large, and Lin Shu had many requests.

Besides the vegetable beds, there were also pathways to be fixed, so it was likely they wouldn’t be done any time soon.

The Lu family quickly finished their meal, and Fang Dihua led her children and daughters-in-law to continue repairing the vegetable beds.

Meanwhile, the Chang family hadn’t even had their dinner yet!

When Second Sister-in-law Chang returned home in the evening, she was forced to listen to jokes about Song Chunfang from other women, making her and her sister-in-law feel embarrassed.

Feeling both embarrassed and angry, she didn’t want to confront the other women she worked with regularly, so she made an excuse and took a small path home to avoid the crowd.

Upon entering the yard, she saw her in-laws and elder brother sitting there sighing, with no one cooking!

Were they waiting for her to come back and cook?

Delighted.

Old Lady Chang gave her a sideways glance, clearly annoyed, and said, “Where have you been slacking off? Don’t you know to hurry back and cook? We’re all starving, so get moving!”

At noon, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a heated argument over the cooking duties.

Second Daughter-in-law Chang sulked and said, “When is she coming back? She caused trouble and made the whole family lose face. She ran back to her mother’s house, avoiding work and cooking. Now, she’s enjoying her free time while leaving us to clean up her mess!”

“She hasn’t done anything but still ends up causing trouble. Why is she so unlucky?”

Old Lady Chang was furious. “All day long, you’re comparing yourself with others. Why don’t you compare with someone better? Your big sister-in-law is avoiding trouble, and you’re still upset? Why don’t you cook for a few days and see how you feel about it!”

“She’s always so ungrateful!”

She truly despised the Lu family.

The pigs in the pigsty were also squealing, clearly starving. Only then did Old Lady Chang remember that she hadn’t fed them at noon!

She scolded, “Second Daughter-in-law, didn’t I ask you to feed the pigs at noon? Did you just run off without doing it?”

She was supposed to bring food to the men, so she had asked Second Daughter-in-law Chang to feed the pigs, but this stubborn woman had left without feeding them.

When the schoolchildren came home after playing outside, especially the ones from the main house, they were unhappy to find there was no food.

Second Brother Chang asked, “Second Aunt, why isn’t dinner ready yet?”

Old Lady Chang called for Second Daughter-in-law again.

Hearing the commotion and Second Daughter-in-law’s complaints, Old Man Chang sighed, “Dear, you’re exhausted. Go and make dinner.”

Old Lady Chang was no longer young, and after working in the fields all day, she was completely drained by evening.

She was no iron woman like Fang Dihua.

She shouted for Second Daughter-in-law, envying how Fang Dihua had authority at home, always commanding her sons or daughter-in-law.

Old Lady Chang had always looked up to Fang Dihua and wanted to emulate her, but she was unwilling to demand too much from her own sons, preferring to direct Second Daughter-in-law instead.

The fire in Second Daughter-in-law’s chest grew fiercer. “Damn it!”

She slammed the water scoop into the pot, “Am I supposed to cook or feed the pigs?”

Her outburst startled the Chang family members in the yard.

They turned to look at her, puzzled by her sudden anger.

Given the current big trouble, with the family being bullied and the big sister-in-law forced to hide away, shouldn’t she show some understanding towards the family?

Instead, she took the opportunity to cause more trouble. What kind of mindset was that?

“How can you be so unreasonable?”

Old Lady Chang suddenly changed from the domineering attitude she had at noon towards her daughter-in-law.

Now she was crying, looking as pitiful as a character in a tragic play, “Why is my life so miserable?

I’ve worked hard all my life. I almost starved to death when we were fleeing from a disaster to feed the children.

Now, having finally moved here, I’m being pressed down, and I’m being bullied even by my own daughter-in-law. It’s bad enough with outsiders, but even my daughter-in-law is bullying me…”

Old Man Chang said, “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad. Stop crying; it looks so unpleasant. Isn’t it embarrassing if the people outside hear?”

Chang Dazhi stood with a sullen face, saying nothing.

Old Lady Chang cried even more pitifully, “Second Son…”

Just then, Second Son Chang returned carrying a load of firewood.

Seeing his mother in the yard crying and his wife glaring and sulking in the house, he asked, “What’s going on, Mother?”

Old Lady Chang immediately cried out, “Second Son, your wife was going to hit me at noon today. Now she’s throwing pots and smashing bowls. If you’re really my son, go and hit her!”

Without asking for details, Second Son Chang stormed into the house and slapped his wife. “What’s wrong with you? Can’t you see the situation? Why are you making Mother angry?”

He then gestured to her, pushing her to hurry up and cook while he went to help feed the pigs.

Old Man Chang, still feeling powerless, said, “Harmony makes everything thrive. Our family has always been harmonious, with brothers getting along well and a peaceful household. We shouldn’t be hitting the daughter-in-law. We shouldn’t let others laugh at us.”

He always boasted about his family’s harmony, unlike some families that were so noisy and contentious.

He was most afraid of losing face, falling short compared to the Lu family, and being ridiculed by them.

Ever since his eldest daughter-in-law was beaten by Fang Dihua, he felt like his face was being trampled on every day.

Fang Dihua had always envied his family and insulted them deliberately. Now even his own daughter-in-law was being so unreasonable?

As Old Man Chang was lost in thought, the sharp voice of the second daughter-in-law cut through, “Chang Dazhi, I curse your mother! How dare you hit me? I’m going to fight you!”

“Crash!” She threw the soup pot against the wall with all her might.

Not only did the Chang family get a shock, but the Lu family, who were working in front, were also startled.

Soon, the surrounding villagers had a new entertainment.

Those who hadn’t eaten yet grabbed their bowls with corn bread and pickles and ran to the alley, while those who had finished their meals waved their fans and went to watch the commotion.

Of course, everyone wanted the best spot!

Eldest Brother Lu also wanted to join the fun but was shouted at by Fang Dihua.

Fang Dihua, in a bad mood, snapped, “Are you just going to follow along with all this nonsense?”

Lu Dage: “Who?”

“Look at the mess you’ve made yourself! Drinking your father’s wine, sneaking peaches at night, stealing cicadas from the children in the morning, lazing around while your second brother does all the work—how can you still have the nerve to criticize others?”

Elder Brother Lu immediately looked distressed, continuing to use his shovel to cultivate the soil.

He cast a pleading look at Elder Sister-in-law Lu Da, hoping she would help him beg their mother-in-law to let him go watch the fun.

Elder Sister-in-law Lu Da didn’t dare to intercede with the mother-in-law but secretly dropped her hoe and sneaked out to watch the commotion, planning to bring back gossip for Elder Brother Lu.

Lin Shu: …

You should run for the role of “Flagbearer of Distractions.”

Lin Shu often heard the arguments between Mrs. Chang and Second Sister-in-law Chang at home.

It was either Second Sister-in-law Chang complaining about the favoritism of Elder Sister-in-law, or Mrs. Chang scolding Second Sister-in-law Chang for being lazy and greedy.

Since Song Chunfang was beaten by Fang Dihua and sent back to her family’s house to avoid trouble, the conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had intensified.

Originally, like the Lu family, one daughter-in-law stayed home to cook while the mother-in-law and other daughters-in-law worked outside.

Now that Song Chunfang was hiding at her family’s house, Mrs. Chang was unwilling to let anyone else cook, and with no granddaughter to do the chores, she forced Second Sister-in-law Chang to do it.

Second Sister-in-law Chang felt that after working hard all day, she was expected to come home and cook for the entire family, which led to her complaints.

Lin Shu could understand her frustration.

Even though staying at home might seem easier, there were still plenty of chores.

Whether you were working in the fields or handling tasks at home, it was exhausting and could make anyone irritable.

At this moment, Second Sister-in-law Chang’s sharp voice pierced through the air, “I can’t live like this anymore! Either get a divorce or separate!”

But her outburst soon faded as there were too many people gathered to watch the drama.

When they saw Second Sister-in-law Chang fighting with her husband, they didn’t intervene, just stood by and watched.

Old Mr. Chang, embarrassed by the scene, scolded his son.

Chang Er then carried his wife into their room.

The Lu family was working in the dark under the starlight.

Lu Ping, carrying Tiantian on his back, and Lu An, holding Panpan’s hand, ran home, exclaiming, “Grandma, Grandma, something’s wrong!”

Fang Dihua was startled, “What happened? Did they fall?”

Lu Ping set down Tiantian and gasped, “Huzi and Chang Xiaogang are missing. Huzi’s Grandma is looking for him to eat, but he can’t find him. Chang Xiaogang’s brother is also searching for him.”