Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 6

“Duomei, don’t talk nonsense. Old Liu only said that Erguo’s fright had something to do with Cuihua, but who said the injuries on him were really from her? If you drive Cuihua and her child out of the village, how are the mother and son supposed to survive?” Madam Li couldn’t help but retort.

“Ergou, were your arms and legs broken by that crazy woman?” Zhang Duomei pressed, glaring at Li Ergou.

Li Ergou shrank back behind Zhang Duomei and timidly nodded.

Zhang Duomei gave Madam Li a smug look. “See? My Erguo nodded! Everyone look at the serious injuries on him, this lunatic woman goes mad whenever she pleases. Today it’s Erguo, tomorrow who knows who she’ll hurt? What if one of the village children runs into her by accident, wouldn’t she beat them to death? And don’t forget, these years she’s gone mad, she’s struck children before!”

Hearing this, the villagers felt she made some sense. Someone immediately chimed in, “Drive Shen Cuihua out of the village!”

Madam Li’s face changed. She glared at Zhang Duomei and said, “If you drive Cuihua and her boy out, how are they supposed to survive? Yes, she loses her mind, but when has she ever attacked someone without being provoked? Last time she struck a child, wasn’t it because he threw rocks at her? You all—”

Before she could finish, Zhang Duomei cut her off, mocking, “Auntie, you’re far too kind. Cuihua and Erlang didn’t even consummate their marriage, and yet you pity her like this? If you care so much, then take her into your own house. Don’t leave her here to bring disaster on the rest of us! What if one day she actually kills someone, whose fault will that be? If you’re so eager to help, why don’t you pay for my Erguo’s medical bills instead?”

The biting sarcasm left Madam Li’s face flushed red and green, so angry she couldn’t get words out.

At that moment, the village head Zhang Lizheng stepped forward. “Dalang’s mother, I know you’re kindhearted, but you must think of the whole village. If Shen Cuihua stays, she may bring even greater trouble. Dalang and his wife both dislike her, best not to meddle in this matter anymore.”

Madam Li’s face paled slightly, but she still tried to argue, “Lizheng, the boy is still so young. If you drive them out, he may starve to death.”

“Shen Cuihua was never from our village to begin with. Driving her out is only natural. If we keep her here and something terrible happens later, harming one of our people, it’ll be too late to regret!” Zhang Lizheng said firmly.

“Auntie, if you’re worried the boy will starve, why not leave him behind? I’ll raise him.” Zhang Duomei’s eyes lit up suddenly, fixed greedily on the child in Ying Su’s arms.

Zhang Duomei and Li Ergou had been married for years but had never had children. Every time they quarreled, Ergou cursed her as a barren hen, worse than a mad widow. At first, she thought she might still conceive, but as years passed with no result, her thoughts shifted toward Shen Cuihua’s boy.

Cuihua might be insane, but the boy was clever. Now, while Ergou was bedridden with injuries, Zhang Duomei revealed her true intention: if she could adopt him, then if she never bore children, at least she’d have a son to care for her in old age; and if she did, then she’d just have an extra hand for farm work.

At those words, the little bun beside Ying Su shivered all over. His tiny hand gripped her sleeve tightly, his animal-like eyes glaring at Zhang Duomei with feral hatred, as if he wanted to tear her apart.

“You’re ugly and your heart is even uglier. I’ll never accept a thief as my mother!” The boy spat in fury.

Ying Su’s heart softened. She rubbed his head gently to comfort him, smiling down at him, though her own eyes flickered with a strange light. So that was Zhang Duomei’s plan, daring to set her sights on the boy. Should she call it sharp-sightedness, or simply courting death?

“Duomei, what do you mean by this?” Madam Li’s heart thumped as she stared at Zhang Duomei.

Zhang Duomei smiled proudly and said, “Uncle, look how pitiful this boy is. With Shen Cuihua, he’ll only starve. Erguo and I have no children. Taking him in would be a blessing for him and spare him from suffering. It’s an act of kindness!”

Zhang Lizheng cast a glance at Ying Su, who had been silent the whole time, and said, “I think Duomei’s suggestion is good. She and Ergou have no children, adopting the boy suits them well. Let’s settle it this way.”

At once, Zhang Duomei’s face lit up with delight. She quickly got up and walked toward Ying Su. Li Ergou wanted to stop her but was too late; he could only watch as she reached out, trying to snatch the child from Ying Su’s arms.

“Want to steal my son? Shouldn’t you ask me, his mother, first?” Ying Su sneered coldly, shifting aside to dodge her, her dark eyes glinting icily.

The crowd fell silent, then erupted in noise. Zhang Duomei, who had grasped at nothing, froze when she heard Ying Su’s words. Her face changed. “Shen Cuihua, you, you’re not mad anymore?” She asked in shock.

A mocking smile tugged at Ying Su’s lips. “If I stayed crazy, wouldn’t I end up losing my son to thieves like you?”

“Cuihua, you… you’re better?” Madam Li’s face lit with joy, her expression excited.

Ying Su smiled faintly and nodded at her.

The villagers stared in disbelief, scanning her from head to toe, whispering among themselves, “Tsk tsk, a woman mad for four or five years, suddenly fine again? What a marvel!”

Zhang Duomei’s heart was shaken and furious. Of all times, Shen Cuihua had to recover now. She burst out crying and yelling, “Shen Cuihua, you were better long ago, weren’t you? You vile schemer, your madness is cured, yet you still crippled my Ergou. What are you plotting? Uncle, you must give me justice! This cursed little whore is trying to kill my husband!”

“Watch your filthy mouth!” Before Lizheng could respond, Ying Su cut in coldly. “Li Ergou got off easy. If I hadn’t spared him, I’d already have dragged him to the county yamen and charged him with raping a respectable woman. Keep running your mouth, and you can find out what happens!”

Her words triggered a wave of uproar. The villagers buzzed with shock.

Zhang Duomei’s face went pale, and she hurried to deny it, “Shen Cuihua, what nonsense are you spouting? Erguo would never do such a thing!” She turned to him in desperation, searching his face for denial.

But Li Ergou only felt a sharp, piercing gaze pinning him down. The memory of Cuihua “dying” and returning alive sent chills through him. He didn’t dare deny it outright. Shrinking back, unable to meet her eyes, he stammered weakly, “I… I didn’t.”

His guilty look only confirmed the truth. Zhang Duomei cursed him furiously in her heart. If only he had denied it firmly, even if Cuihua spoke truth, the villagers might not have believed her. But now, with his cowardice, all he won were disdainful, condemning stares. Her face turned green with rage.

The villagers all knew Li Ergou’s character. And though Cuihua had been mad, her beauty was undeniable. An oval face, pointed chin, long phoenix eyes with high tails, delicate features, not the traditional kind of beauty, but a dangerous, alluring charm. 

Everyone still remembered that wedding night years ago, when she had married Li Erlang, her stunning appearance had shocked the entire village.