Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 163

Wang Chunlan looked like she was about to start a fight, but Madam Zhao quickly tugged at her sleeve and said to Ying Su, “Cuihua, why did you suddenly come back? Do you know what kind of things people said about you back then?”

Putting on a face of concern, Madam Zhao continued, “The gossip in the village could drown you! Even if you don’t care about yourself, you should think about your parents. They’ll spend their whole lives being pointed at and ridiculed. Your grandfather was the village head all his life, reputation was the most important thing to him. You’re making him lose face! In the future, how could he have the confidence to lead the villagers?”

Looking at the woman’s sanctimonious expression, Ying Su let out a cold laugh. “According to you, then what should I do?”

Before Madam Zhao could answer, Wang Chunlan cut in first, “A woman like you who disgraces the family and has no sense of shame, you should’ve drowned yourself in the Xiling River long ago! Dying would’ve been better than living and dragging your family’s name through the mud!”

The moment she finished, Madam Zhao immediately picked up the thread, “Cuihua, think about Changyun. In a few years he’ll be of marriageable age. What would a girl’s family think if they found out he had a sister who eloped? How will he ever find a match?”

The noise in the yard woke Huzi. He scrambled out of bed, dashed into the courtyard, and when he saw the two women were clearly hostile, he ran straight to Ying Su, standing in front of her with his small body, glaring warily at Madam Zhao and Wang Chunlan.

Wang Chunlan and Madam Zhao were startled to see the little bun, then Wang Chunlan immediately raised her loud voice and shouted, “Whose bastard is this? Shen Cuihua, you shameless slut! What filthy things have you been doing these years? You even brought back a little bastard! Unbelievable! Where did this little brat come from?”

Ying Su’s face turned cold. The thing she hated most was anyone cursing at her little bun. She was about to explode when, from behind, came Shen Mother’s weak voice, “Wang Chunlan, get out of here! If you dare curse my daughter and grandson again, I’ll tear that foul mouth of yours apart!”

Wang Chunlan didn’t take Shen Mother seriously at all. A sickly woman, who knew how much longer she could last? She shouted, “Second Sister-in-law, I’m helping you teach your daughter a lesson! If you can’t even control your own child, and she shames the whole village, what’s wrong with me scolding her? Even if I hit her, as an elder, shouldn’t I discipline her?”

Shen Mother’s face flushed red, her neck swollen with rage. But her body was too frail; even being angry left her gasping for breath. Ying Su hurried over to steady her and gently said, “Mother, go back inside. Leave this to me.”

Shen Mother gritted her teeth, glaring at Wang Chunlan and Madam Zhao with hatred. “Eldest Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, we split from the old house long ago. Our family’s business is none of yours! In my heart, my daughter and grandson are the best. I don’t need your pointing fingers. Don’t stick your noses where they don’t belong, you’re only making people despise you!”

After saying this, Mother Shen was trembling all over, whether from anger or weakness it wasn’t clear.

Ying Su waved at the fuming little bun and told him, “Take your grandmother inside. No need for her to see these shameless people and get upset.”

The little bun obediently went over and led Mother Shen back toward the house. She was still reluctant, but the little bun coaxed her gently until she finally went back inside.

Wang Chunlan’s face turned sour, and she almost jabbed her finger into Ying Su’s nose as she shouted, “You little bastard girl! Who are you calling shameless? In our entire family, you’re the only one who doesn’t do anything proper. You’re the most disgraceful, shameless of all! Your grandfather already said it before, if you dare come back to the village, he’ll drown you in the pond, you low-born slut!”

Ying Su’s dark eyes flashed coldly. She picked up the broom on the ground and suddenly swept the dust straight at Wang Chunlan and Madam Zhao, saying as she did, “Third Aunt, what did you just say? Did I hear you call me a bastard girl? That means you’re calling my grandfather a bastard, doesn’t it? Eldest Aunt, you heard it too, right? She just called my grandfather a bastard!”

Choked by the flying dust, Wang Chunlan and Madam Zhao covered their noses, backing away. Hearing Ying Su’s words, Wang Chunlan hurried to explain, “Pah! I was scolding you, you wretched girl… Ow! Did you just hit me?” She shouted in outrage.

The broom in Ying Su’s hand seemed to have grown eyes, striking directly at the backs of Wang Chunlan’s calves. She had used a clever force, it didn’t hurt much now, but in a while the pain would only grow sharper.

“Auntie, you said Grandfather is a bastard. Then my eldest uncle and third uncle are bastards too! And all my cousins must be bastards as well! Third Aunt, your insults are brilliant, you’ve cursed the whole family, young and old alike! Just how dissatisfied are you with Grandfather and everyone else?” Ying Su said with feigned astonishment.

Not giving Wang Chunlan a chance to retort, she went on, “Third Aunt, that’s grave disrespect! Compared to that, my so-called ‘crime’ of eloping is nothing. Your offense is outright unfilial!”

Wang Chunlan’s face turned red with rage. “You sharp-tongued wretch! I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart!”

She lunged at Ying Su, but Ying Su’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. She thrust the broom out suddenly, tripping Wang Chunlan’s feet. With a shriek, Wang Chunlan toppled to the ground.

Standing off to the side, Madam Zhao merely watched coldly. When Wang Chunlan cried out in pain, she finally went over to help her up, at the same time chiding Ying Su, “Cuihua, this is your Third Aunt. How could you raise your hand against her? Is this how you treat your elders? You used to be such a well-behaved child, how did you become so rude these past years?”

“Heh…” Ying Su gave a cold laugh, her black eyes filled with scorn as she looked down on the two women. “Elders? Do you really think you can bully me just because you’re older? If you acted like true elders, I wouldn’t act like this as a junior. I, Shen Cuihua, always treat people exactly how they treat me!”

“I remember last time Third Aunt came here, my father already said…” Ying Su stepped forward with the broom, standing before Wang Chunlan. “…Get out!” She spat out each word.

“You… you…” Wang Chunlan pointed a trembling finger at Ying Su’s face, too furious to speak.

“You’re impossible! How did our Shen family end up with a daughter like you?” Madam Zhao scolded angrily.

But Wang Chunlan threw herself onto the ground, wailing and rolling about. “Oh heavens! There’s no justice! The second family’s daughter has gone mad! She’s hit her own Third Aunt! She even told me to get out! What kind of girl is this? What sins did our ancestors commit, to produce such a calamity in our family?”