If it weren’t for Zhang Xuemei trying to calm things down, who knows how long the scolding would have lasted?

“Qian Hongmei, come out! Explain to me—why did my pot crack?”

Old Madam Li stood at the doorway, shouting loudly.

“Mother, this wasn’t Sister Hongmei’s doing! You’re just making trouble for no reason!” Jian Fuyin said helplessly from the side.

Seeing this, Zhang Xuemei quickly added, “Mother, we all saw it just now—it was you who put it on the ground too hard…”

“Shut up! When did you get the right to speak in this house?” Old Madam Li scolded Zhang Xuemei harshly.

“Mother, I was just trying to—ah! Why are you hitting me?” Zhang Xuemei asked while dodging.

At this moment, Jian Fuyin also quickly stepped in and pulled his mother away, finally calming her down.

Seeing this, Jian Xiu raised an eyebrow.

She had to admit, Zhang Xuemei had a good eye for people.

In an era where filial piety was paramount, Jian Fuyin still dared to act like this—it wasn’t easy.

However, how could Old Madam Li let Zhang Xuemei off so easily?

She struggled free from Jian Fuyin’s grip and was about to rush at Zhang Xuemei again.

Seeing this, Jian Xiu, as usual, slowly took out a small stone she had hidden in her sleeve.

Without hesitation, she flicked it toward Old Madam Li…

She executed the move so subtly that no one noticed.

“Ahhh—”

Old Madam Li let out a scream and suddenly dropped to her knees.

A familiar scene…

A familiar wail…

Others might not know what happened, but Zhang Zixuan saw it clearly.

Jian Xiu’s every move was in his sight, and at the same time, he made a silent decision in his heart.

Meanwhile, another person also noticed Jian Xiu’s actions—her eldest brother, Jian Ming.

He hadn’t clearly seen what she threw, but he guessed it must have been a small stone.

Because right after she threw it, Old Madam Li knelt down abruptly.

What intrigued Jian Ming was—since when had his younger sister developed such skills?

Looking at her composed and indifferent expression, it was clear that this wasn’t her first time doing something like this.

“Who hit me? Who just hit me?” Old Madam Li looked around in panic.

At this moment, Jian Xiu slowly walked forward and sneered,

“Auntie Li, no one is around here. You suddenly fell to your knees and even looked up toward the sky. Tell me, could it be that even the heavens can’t bear to watch your behavior anymore and decided to punish you?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Someone clearly threw a stone at my knees just now, otherwise how could I—”

“Shhh, Auntie Li, you shouldn’t say things like that. If you offend the gods, you’ll suffer in the future,” Jian Xiu interrupted.

Seeing Old Madam Li still in disbelief, Jian Xiu continued,

“What’s wrong? You don’t believe me? Then think about it carefully—who could have thrown a stone at you? Not to mention the distance between us, even if someone was standing right in front of you, they might not have such precise aim, right? Besides, isn’t it obvious who is here and who isn’t?”

Hearing this, Old Madam Li, who had been certain moments ago, suddenly hesitated.

She stood up, patted her knees, and glanced toward the sky.

Her guilty expression showed that she dared not say another word.

Like she was being chased by some wild beast, she rushed back inside the house.

After witnessing this scene, even Zhang Xuemei and the others were half-convinced.

Otherwise, why else would Old Madam Li suddenly kneel down?

But Zhang Xuemei quickly put the matter aside.

After all, she had a clear conscience, didn’t she?

“Jian Xiu, I didn’t expect you to be so different now.”

Looking at Jian Xiu again, Zhang Xuemei finally noticed her change.

When she visited her family last time and saw Jian Xiu in the village center, she had already felt that something was different about her.

But at the time, she hadn’t thought much of it.

“People change. We can’t stay the same forever, right? If I had remained unchanged in my situation, wouldn’t I have been swallowed up by the abyss?”

Jian Xiu looked at Zhang Xuemei seriously.

The meaning behind her words was clear—it was up to Zhang Xuemei to understand it.

As her only friend, Jian Xiu naturally hoped Zhang Xuemei would live well.

Zhang Xuemei wasn’t foolish.

Hearing Jian Xiu’s words, she stood there in a daze.

She understood Jian Xiu’s meaning, but she wasn’t sure if she had the same resolve.

Last time she visited home, she had heard about Jian Xiu’s current situation.

She was genuinely happy for Jian Xiu.

Cutting ties had been the best decision for her.

She had even planned to visit her at the village’s edge next time she went home.

But she hadn’t expected Jian Xiu to return first.

“Jian Xiu, I understand what you mean. I just… I don’t know if I can do it.” Zhang Xuemei lowered her head, feeling dejected.

Hearing this, Jian Xiu didn’t know what to say for a moment.

So she turned around and walked toward the kitchen.

A moment later, she came back holding a two-pound slab of wild boar meat and handed it to Zhang Xuemei, saying,

“This is wild boar meat. We caught it in the mountains. There’s plenty at home—take this and treat yourself to a good meal.”

“How could I? No, no, you should keep it—”

“Xuemei, why are you still standing there?” Before Zhang Xuemei could finish, Old Madam Li’s voice called out from inside the house.

At that moment, Jian Xiu and Zhang Xuemei immediately understood what was happening.

“Take it. You should nourish yourself.”

With that, Jian Xiu stuffed the wild boar meat into Zhang Xuemei’s hands.

“Oh? Is that wild boar meat?”

Before Zhang Xuemei could turn around, a raspy male voice suddenly came from the side.

Following the voice, she saw a man with a noticeable scar on his face.

There was no doubt—this must be the “Scarred Man” her sister-in-law had mentioned.

“Jian Xiu, this…”

“Don’t worry, go inside,” Jian Xiu reassured Zhang Xuemei, cutting her off.

“But Jian Xiu, they’re the ones who—”

“I know. Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I’m about to deal with some stray dogs.” Jian Xiu said calmly, interrupting her again.