Chapter 35: Beating Someone's Brain Out Through Their Ears

Chapter 35: Beating Someone's Brain Out Like a Dog's

It was the same over there with Xifeng. She hadn't spoken much to Shen Meng during this period. When her son came back from a trip, he actually brought her a bag of dumplings. Gao Gao recounted Mingliang's words in high detail, and the couple was overjoyed. They understood in their hearts that Shen Meng had truly changed for the better and would lead a steady, honest life from now on.

"Husband, Zhenping's wife is raising four children all by herself. The Third Aunt isn't as good as people say. When you aren't busy, try to send some firewood or fetch some water; it counts as helping Zhenping, doesn't it?"

Lu Yongjun nodded repeatedly. He took the dumplings from Gao Gao and picked one up to feed to Xifeng.

"Aye, I know. You eat first. Wake the girl up too, let her have a few. Mingyang's mother gave so many; it's obvious they're for our whole family to eat. Hurry up."

"Okay."

A meeting had been held at the threshing floor. The tense autumn harvest had ended. After the grain from the warehouse was handed over as public grain, the remainder was due to be distributed. Not much would be distributed this time; the bulk would come at the end of the year.

Shen Meng planned to start going out today. She had a wicker basket slung over her shoulder, held Mingkai's hand with one hand, and carried a grass-cutting shovel in the other. Mingfang, dressed in clean clothes, followed behind them.

Before they had gone far, Wu Xianglan, who was leaning against a wall cracking pumpkin seeds, called out to her.

"Sister-in-law, your health is better now. Where are you heading?"

In the original novel, Wu Xianglan was Zhou Jiaojiao's lackey. Shen Meng originally didn't want to bother with her, but she thought that this woman had a simple mind and loved gossip—someone easy to manipulate. She might be useful in the future.

"Yes, I've felt much better these past few days. I thought I couldn't just stay idle every day, so I'm going to cut some grass to dry, to use as kindling later."

Wu Xianglan sized up Shen Meng, as well as Lu Mingkai and Lu Mingfang. Having not seen them for many days, not only had Shen Meng's complexion improved, but the children were also dressed better and eating better. Her mind drifted to what the Fourth Sister-in-law had said: that the eldest sister-in-law was "playing a pig to eat the tiger," intentionally trying to get the brick house so she could monopolize the things the eldest brother sent back.

"Sister-in-law, look at me, I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to visit you. Please don't take it personally!"

"Of course not. You have to work every day, and after work, you have to take care of the children. We are all family, what is there to take offense at? Xianglan, why aren't you at work today?"

Wu Xianglan grinned and said to Shen Meng, "Sister-in-law, you don't know. Early this morning, the Second Aunt's family got into a fight. A real bad one. Second Aunt caught Sister-in-law Lianhua and gave her a beating; she was practically beating the brains out of her like a dog. The two children, Daqing and Erqing, were so scared they were clutching their little sister and wailing. Brother Yonggang didn't even try to protect her; he even helped his mother hand over the broom! Heavens, I've never seen a man act like that."

Shen Meng frowned. She didn't believe a word of it. Normally, if a fight were truly that severe, the whole village would have heard about it by now.

"Sister-in-law, have you not heard? Let me tell you, Second Aunt was beating and cursing her behind closed doors. When I went out to pick vegetables early this morning, I happened to hear it. I peeked over the wall, and tsk tsk, she was being beaten until she didn't even look human. The eldest couple was even adding fuel to the fire, lecturing Sister-in-law Lianhua too. Now, our relationship as sisters-in-law is good, we have no grievances, and our mother-in-law relationship is fine. Sister-in-law, did your eldest brother send any coupons this time? As the weather gets colder, my body feels worse and worse. Hehe, could you lend me two sugar coupons?"

"Your eldest brother only remitted a little money this time; he didn't send anything else. We've run out of sugar at my house. Look at these two children's faces, so yellow—they're lacking sugar. Tell me, sister-in-law, why was Sister-in-law Lianhua being beaten?"

Wu Xianglan was a bit unhappy. Why was this woman being so stingy now? If she didn't want to lend coupons, fine, but she wanted to hear gossip? She was a total miser.

"Hmph, it was because of Wang Lianhua's youngest daughter. Early this morning, she was eating a dumpling made with mixed flour, and she was spotted by her eldest aunt, Zhao Jingui. That triggered an argument about the second branch hiding grain. They were fighting uncontrollably."

Shen Meng's mouth hung open. Behind her, Mingfang's small hand gripped her clothes tightly. Shen Meng let go of Mingkai and gently patted her.

"Xianglan, you're busy. I won't go cutting grass after all. Mingkai, Mingfang, let's go quickly."

"Hey, Sister-in-law, where are you going? You haven't cleared up the sugar matter!" Wu Xianglan shouted several times, but Shen Meng did not turn around. Frustrated, she spat on the ground and muttered, "Runs faster than a rabbit. Her body doesn't look sick at all; she's perfectly fine. What a fake, stinking woman."

Shen Meng pulled the two children and ran toward Chen Zhaodi's house. The dumplings were her gift, intended to thank Wang Lianhua for looking after the children, but if her actions caused harm to the family, it would be her own fault.

Wang Lianhua was lying on the heated kang, moaning in pain, while Chen Zhaodi stood at the doorway, jumping and cursing.

"You lowly thing, you wretched ghost, a reincarnation of a starving ghost, you bitch! How dare you hide my grain and money? Mixed-flour meat dumplings—I've barely eaten them a few times in my life, and you dare secretly wrap them up to eat? And you, this money-losing brat, when there's good food, you don't think of your brothers, you only think of stuffing your own mouth. Is this something you're allowed to eat? You're just water spilled out; every extra bite of Lu family grain you take is stealing from us. We feed you well, and at your young age, you're already learning from which slut your mother was. If you dare steal again, I'll beat you to death, you little brat!"

Yaoyao was trembling with fear, hiding in her brothers' arms, not daring to speak. Daqing and Erqing gritted their teeth, not daring to say the food came from Shen Meng. Their mother was being beaten nearly to death, yet their father acted as if nothing were wrong and went to work.

"Waaa, waaa, Grandma, stop scolding! We know we were wrong. Those dumplings were given by someone else; they really weren't my mother's hidden grain and money. How could my mother have money? Grandma, please stop scolding."

"Hmph, Daqing, you can't be foolish. You are a boy, a grandson of the Lu family. You can't be like your mother and sister; they are outsiders after all."

"They are outsiders? Then who are you? Is your surname Lu? You aren't a Lu, your surname is Zhao. Zhao Jingui, aren't you an outsider yourself?" Shen Meng had been listening at the door for a while, and the more she heard, the more indignant she became. She kicked open Chen Zhaodi's door.

With a loud *crash*, the long-neglected wooden door was kicked so hard that half of it hung crookedly, nearly falling to the ground.

"Oh, heavens! You scared me to death! Shen Meng, what are you doing here? This is my family business; what does it have to do with you? You haven't even wiped your own backside clean, and yet you come to our house to run wild."

Chen Zhaodi had always looked down on Shen Meng, thinking that Liu Sanjin's eldest daughter-in-law was too calculating. Especially since all the Lu family grandsons were outstanding—Liu Sanjin's sons were all exceptional; Lu Zhenping was doing well in the army, and even the younger Lu Jiaxuan was a warehouse manager for the production team.

Outside, countless people felt they couldn't compare to Liu Sanjin.

"Second Aunt, I didn't come here to run wild. I came to seek justice. My husband is a soldier, and I am a military spouse. When I see an injustice, I must intervene. Mingfang, go quickly and call the Village Chief and the Women's Director. Tell them someone is abusing a woman and that Aunt Lianhua is about to die!"

"Okay, Mom, I'm going right now!" The little girl promised and ran off faster than a rabbit, vanishing in an instant.

Chen Zhaodi couldn't even get a response; she could only glare fiercely at Shen Meng.

"You suicidal thing, what are you doing making a scene in my house?"