Chapter Fourteen: The Feisty Old Lady

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Old Su and Su Er came out carrying hoes, their steps heavy and voices weak as they shouted, "Li family, don’t you dare act recklessly on our Su family’s land!"

Su Er cast a dark glare at Su Jinyu behind Wang Qiaohui. "You little wretch! You must have poisoned our entire family. And now you have the nerve to bring your Li family here to cause trouble—do you think no one in Qingyuan Village will stand up to you?"

The villagers, eager for gossip, immediately turned their eyes toward the two brothers. A closer look revealed both hunched over, clutching their stomachs, faces pale.

Some curious villagers even stood on stones outside the courtyard wall, peering inside.

Inside the courtyard, the rest of the Su family was equally weak and listless—either collapsed on the ground or slouched on chairs and stools.

It was clear the entire Su family had been poisoned.

Yet not a single onlooker sided with Su Er; in fact, many despised his shamelessness in dragging the whole village into his mess.

“Su Er, whatever sins your Su family has committed, you must bear the blame yourselves. Everyone in our village knows right from wrong, and no one’s going to speak up for you!” Zhao Ergou from next door, cracking sunflower seeds, shouted, amused by the commotion.

Su Er’s teeth clenched in fury, hating Zhao Ergou for meddling.

Wang Qiaohui pushed past Su Er and strode directly into the courtyard, shouting, “Sun Zhaodi, come out!”

Supported by her two daughters-in-law, Sun Zhaodi staggered out. Seeing her old enemy, she straightened her back defiantly.

“You, Wang Qiaohui, you manly woman, don’t push your luck! This is Su family territory, and you have no right to make a scene here! If it weren’t for marrying your daughter, that broom witch, our third son wouldn’t have died and cursed the Su family’s fortune!”

“You Li family, and those two little bastards your daughter bore, are all bad luck and misfortune!”

Wang Qiaohui could not bear to hear her daughter insulted, nor the grandchildren she cherished deeply.

“Sun Zhaodi, you heartless old bitch! If you’re looking for trouble, I’ll give it to you!” Wang Qiaohui grabbed an axe and swung it toward Sun Zhaodi.

Sun Zhaodi had previously relied on her sons and daughters-in-law to shield her. At worst, someone from the village would step in to mediate. But to her surprise, the other Su family members scattered at the sight of the axe, and the onlookers only watched with wide eyes, keeping their distance.

Sun Zhaodi, who had made enemies with nearly everyone in the village, was foolish to expect help now.

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She didn’t even consider that the Li family men were tall and burly, each one formidable.

The axe swung close enough to raise a tuft of hair from her forehead, finally shaking her into a panic. Without regard for the bandages still wrapped around her body, she fled wildly around the courtyard, chased by Wang Qiaohui.

Hearing the news, Yang Lizheng rushed over, fearing someone might get seriously hurt.

Wang Qiaohui, planning to later transfer the children’s household registration, decided to give Yang Lizheng face and stopped her attack, but not before delivering a stern warning.

“Old witch, listen carefully. From now on, Jinyu and Jin Xiao are Li family children. If your Su family dares to provoke us again, it will be like this basin!”

With that, the sturdy wooden basin on the ground shattered into pieces.

Su Jinyu gave a thumbs-up, silently praising her grandmother.

No wonder she was her real grandmother—powerful and domineering!

With Wang Qiaohui’s intervention, the Su family was utterly humiliated in front of the entire village, like plucked roosters with no dignity left.

Seeing the Li family settle the score, Yang Lizheng quickly signaled the crowd to disperse, telling everyone to return to their own affairs.

Su Jinyu led the Li family back to their home at the foot of the mountain behind the village.

“The roof leaks, and the windows are broken. How can anyone live here?”

“There’s not a single decent piece of furniture at home. Look—the legs of the dining table and stools are all crooked. For you two kids to live in such a rundown house, the Su family really are no good!”

Wang Qiaohui inspected several rooms but found nothing satisfactory inside or out.

“Grandmother, this courtyard was meant to be a temporary place to stay. Once we save enough money, we’ll build a new house.”

Carrying her backpack, Su Jinyu hurried into the kitchen. She bought a freshly slaughtered native chicken and a duck from the space, along with some vegetables, and planned to cook a few simple dishes for the Li family using what was left of a fish from yesterday.

Wang Qiaohui stepped into the kitchen, snatched the kitchen knife from her granddaughter’s hand, and said, “Jinyu, don’t live here with your brother anymore. Come home with me tomorrow. As long as I have a mouthful to eat, you two siblings will never go hungry.”

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“Grandmother, I know you mean well, but my brother and I are still registered in Qingyuan Village. The clan elders won’t easily approve our transfer. Besides, Grandpa Yang is a good man. We can manage here.”

“Don’t worry, child. I’ll find a way to handle the household registration.” Wang Qiaohui was already thinking to herself that if the Qingyuan villagers proved troublesome, she would take the children and leave immediately.

Aunt Chen Shulan also came into the kitchen to help. With a sympathetic look, she gently stroked Su Jinyu’s nape. “Jinyu, your mother was such a good person. It’s a pity heaven was cruel and took her away too soon. From now on, live with Auntie. I’ll take good care of you.”

Though Chen Shulan was slender and lacked the robust build of a typical farmer, she could easily carry a water jar with one hand.

“Grandmother, Auntie, I don’t believe my parents are gone. Until I see them with my own eyes, I won’t accept it. When I earn enough money, I’ll go to the border to find them.” Su Jinyu wanted to use this as an excuse to share her plans with the Li family.

“As expected of my Wang Qiaohui’s granddaughter, full of ambition! Many soldiers who died in battle went unaccounted for. Your parents were good people. If heaven truly has eyes, it wouldn’t have taken them so early.”

“Jinyu, don’t underestimate your grandmother’s strength despite her age. She can climb hills with ease. When the time comes, I’ll go with you to find your parents!”

When Wang Qiaohui first heard the tragic news about her daughter and son-in-law, she was devastated but forced herself to come to Qingyuan Village. Now, her granddaughter’s words revived her spirit.

“All right, go out and play with your two brothers. When dinner is ready, Auntie will call you.”

Chen Shulan gently pushed Su Jinyu out of the kitchen. She worried there wouldn’t be enough dishes for everyone and intended to take more food from the space to fill the basket.

Despite her fragile appearance, Chen Shulan was too strong to resist.

That evening, the meal was ready. The family crowded around a small wooden table, not even enough room for all of them. Wang Qiaohui ordered the women and children to sit, while the men had to stand and eat with their bowls in hand.

Though their home was temporarily poor and bare, Su Jinyu felt an unusual sense of peace.

But this calm lasted only one day before disaster struck again.