Chapter 3: Why Are You Cursing Me Again?

In recent years, fearing she would be kicked out of the house, Yu Tingwan had been hardworking and dutiful, swallowing every grievance she encountered. She had never been this vocal.

Accustomed to her submissiveness, Lady Wang’s temper flared uncontrollably. "Not a single word out of your mouth is true. You've certainly grown bold! What, do you expect me to serve you too?"

Yu Tingwan mused, "That would work too."

Trembling with rage, Lady Wang turned to Auntie Wu beside her to vent her frustrations. "Everyone is spreading rumors that I work this niece to death. But look at her behavior, Auntie—she's getting cocky! She won't even do the easiest chores anymore."

"I don't know which beast is spreading these lies to ruin my reputation!"

Auntie Wu lived next door and was well aware of the mess within the Hu household. If Hu Dazhu hadn't been protecting this niece, Yu Tingwan wouldn't have survived this long.

This Lady Wang was truly relentless!

With Hu Dazhu away, she was indeed working her niece to the bone!

Not wanting to get involved in the Hu family's domestic affairs, Auntie Wu offered a vague response and hurried away.

Sensitive to the cold, Yu Tingwan pulled her worn and patched cotton coat tighter. "The Hu family has given me a place to stay. Just as my aunt said, I should spend my life working like an ox or a horse to repay them."

Little Xu had just composed herself and stepped out when she met Yu Tingwan's soft gaze, triggering an ill omen.

"But Sister-in-law cares for me so much, fearing my body won't hold up, that she insists on doing my work for me."

Little Xu:?

Lady Wang frowned. "How can that be?"

The child in Little Xu's womb was her precious grandson!

Yu Tingwan continued, "Sister-in-law has been acting arrogant and provocative toward me all day, taking advantage of her pregnancy. She did say she would reflect on her behavior, though."

Little Xu:???

Did she dare claim Yu Tingwan was talking nonsense?

No, she didn't dare.

She forced a stiff smile. "Yes... it is my fault."

Her daughter-in-law was a seasoned slacker, so Lady Wang was stunned. "This... shouldn't be happening."

"That's quite a thing for you to say, Aunt," Yu Tingwan said with a light laugh. "Is it not allowed? Can Sister-in-law not be sensible for once?"

The walls in the countryside were built of stone and yellow earth; the house she lived in was low and cramped, and the old window shutters rattled violently in the biting wind.

As Yu Tingwan returned to her room, the smile on her lips faded inch by inch.

A splitting headache throbbed behind her eyes, and every time she closed them, she saw her own tragic death.

Ever since she fell into the water last year and hit her forehead, fragmented and incomplete images would occasionally flash through her mind.

But they were all things that would happen in the future—or things she must have experienced in a past life.

Yu Tingwan slowly lowered her eyes, her entire body cold and her bones trembling.

She couldn't stay with the Hu family.

But where could she go?

Xilin Village was surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the only road out was blocked. Even if she escaped the village, wouldn't there be bandits out there seizing young women?

Why was it only after her uncle left that she realized her aunt would harm her?

Panic wouldn't solve anything. Yu Tingwan tried to calm herself, but her heart was left with nothing but a hollow void and endless confusion.

After an unknown amount of time, she composed herself, went to the corner, grabbed the clothes she had changed out of last night, and headed out.

The disgruntled Little Xu was scattering chicken feed; she gave a casual glance but was unwilling to engage.

However, when Yu Tingwan stopped in front of her, the look in her eyes held an inexplicable meaning.

Stared at so intensely, Little Xu felt a chill run down her spine. "What are you looking at!"

Yu Tingwan blinked and spoke clearly, "Sister-in-law, you look quite unlucky."

Little Xu:???

*You walked all this way just to curse me? Are you insane?! Why are you cursing me?*

Resentful, she felt like clawing Yu Tingwan's face.

Just then, Lady Wang, realizing something was wrong, chased after them in a rage. "Which damn person broke a bowl?"

Yu Tingwan answered quickly, "It was Sister-in-law."

Little Xu's breath hitched. She even swayed, being caught by the culprit.

Yu Tingwan asked, "Why are you shaking, Sister-in-law?"

She didn't forget to soothe the terrified woman. "You are carrying a child now; what does it matter if one bowl is broken? As long as you are happy, even if you smash the whole house, Aunt will accept it."

Lady Wang's face turned black.

What kind of talk was that! Bowls don't grow on trees! Was she supposed to grovel to please Little Xu?

Fearing Lady Wang's wrath, Little Xu grabbed the chicken feed and fled in a panic toward the backyard.

She couldn't help but curse angrily, "That little wench really has bad intentions! I hope she doesn't fall into my hands!"

"She was quite useful to command before, but I don't know what kind of medicine she's been taking these past few days."

*Splat.* A bird flew overhead, its wings flapping. Little Xu looked up, and something hit the corner of her mouth. She reached up to touch it—it was bird droppings.

Lady Wang marched over, carrying a thin bamboo switch to discipline her. "What a sin! You foolish woman..."

Wiping the stickiness from her mouth, Little Xu looked disgusted. Forgetting everything else, she trembled. "Mother! That little wench has been acting strange ever since she fell into the water!"

Every time she called her unlucky, she actually suffered bad luck!!

Last time she called her unlucky, she broke out in dense red bumps that itched for half a month. The time before that, her eldest son, Dalang, got drunk and slapped her.

She was traumatized!

***

The eerie Yu Tingwan walked along the village path, not rushing to the river to wash clothes.

She couldn't leave yet; she had to find a way to stall Matchmaker Liu.

Matchmaker Liu's house was easy to recognize, with two willow trees out front. She had a silver tongue that could make the dead sound alive; people from ten villages around were eager to seek her matchmaking services.

She wore heavy makeup, and unlike the withered figures of most country women, she possessed a rare plumpness. Her eyes and brow radiated a sense of prosperity and joy.

She was currently worrying about how to face Gentleman Dong, when Lady Wang arrived at her door.

Gentleman Dong was elderly but famously lecherous. After his original wife passed away, he turned around and demanded a bride who was both distinctive and a fresh, unmarried girl.

This made things difficult.

The beautiful girls' families were unwilling to let their daughters suffer by marrying an old man. And among those willing to marry into the Dong family, Gentleman Dong was too picky, complaining that the girls weren't pretty enough.

If it weren't for the high matchmaking fees the Dong family paid, she would have lost her temper long ago.

But now, she didn't have to worry.

Gentleman Dong would surely love Yu Tingwan's face!

Matchmaker Liu walked with a spring in her step, eager to finalize this marriage.

On the mandatory path to the Dong residence, someone had been waiting for a long time.

In the light, the woman's long, thick lashes, her rosy lips, and her porcelain-like skin appeared translucent and delicate...

Seeing such beauty, Matchmaker Liu's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward to inspect her.

"Oh my, isn't this Wan-niang? You've grown even more beautiful."

Yu Tingwan stared at her fixedly, then suddenly smiled.

"Auntie has arrived."

"You certainly kept me waiting."

Matchmaker Liu was slightly stunned. "You were looking for me?" She didn't think deeply about it. "Did your aunt send you to deliver a message?"

"Are you still going to the Dong residence, Auntie?"

"Of course, I—"

Matchmaker Liu paused, shocked. "How did you know I was going to the Dong residence?" She asked tentatively, "Did your aunt tell you?"

Yu Tingwan's eyes were devoid of emotion.

"Tell me what?"

"Did she say she gave many instructions, with only one condition: as long as someone is willing to pay a twenty-tael bride price, she'll let me be taken away, whether it's by a man or a ghost?"

She spoke without a shred of mercy. "Or did she say you were in league with her, both of you being the same kind of person?"