Chapter 14: Chen Ningya Fights

As soon as the words fell, the three people surnamed Wen all looked toward Chen Ningya. In truth, Wen Youshan had wanted to ask long ago, but he was afraid of offending Chen Ningya, so he had kept it bottled up. He hadn't expected his son to be the one to ask first.

Chen Ningya froze for a moment. She looked at her two children, who were tilting their heads up and staring at her with wide, watery eyes. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she murmured as if inadvertently, "That's right, Mother's surname is not Deng."

"Then what is Mother's surname?" Wen Yuanzhen asked reflexively.

Chen Ningya's gaze was somewhat vacant. It took a long while before she spoke: "Remember this, Mother's surname is Chen. Chen, as in the earlobe. But there is no need to tell anyone else; it isn't necessary."

The two children understood only halfway, but they nodded obediently.

Seeing Chen Ningya looking at him, Wen Youshan snapped out of his daze and began nodding vigorously like a chicken pecking at grain. He thought to himself that as long as he knew her surname was Chen, it was best not to ask anything else for now.

Extremely satisfied with the reactions of the father and sons, Chen Ningya turned around, went into the room, and brought out the pastries Wen Youshan had bought.

The two children's eyes instantly widened at the sight of the snacks, looking like hungry wolves seeing meat. They couldn't pull their eyes away, completely casting the previous matter to the back of their minds.

Chen Ningya took out four pieces and instructed, "One piece each. The little brother is too young to eat, so there's no need to give him any."

Wen Yuanzhen carefully tucked the pastry into her bosom and asked with an expectant face, "Mother, can we really eat them?"

"What nonsense are you talking? These pastries were bought specifically for you. Go eat." Chen Ningya gently stroked Wen Yuanzhen's head and turned back into the house.

The siblings exchanged a glance and ran off without a word.

Children in the village were all the same; whenever they had something good, they loved to show it off to their playmates. Wen Youshan didn't stop them, but he hadn't expected the two children to return so quickly. Wen Yuanzhen's clothes were dirty, and there were two tear streaks on her face. Wen Yuanliang was in even worse shape; not only was his hair messy, but his clothes were also disheveled.

With Wen Youshan away, Chen Ningya was startled by the children's appearance. "What happened? Were you bullied?"

Wen Yuanliang had never complained to Chen Ningya before, so for a moment, he didn't know how to start. However, Wen Yuanzhen threw herself into Chen Ningya's arms, wailing, "It was Da Zhuang and Er Zhuang! They tried to snatch my pastries. When I wouldn't give them, they laid hands on me, wuu wuu wuu... Mother, my bottom hurts so much!"

Chen Ningya's expression darkened. She pulled Wen Yuanzhen into the house to check her. Finding that there was no serious harm, she stepped out and asked Wen Yuanliang, "You were beaten too?"

Wen Yuanliang felt somewhat embarrassed and said with a stiff neck, "I beat them back. We're even."

"And your sister? Did she get even when she was beaten?" Chen Ningya asked sharply.

Wen Yuanliang was stunned; he had completely not expected Chen Ningya to ask this way, and he instinctively shook his head.

Chen Ningya pulled Wen Yuanzhen. "Come, Mother will stand up for you."

The siblings had never imagined Chen Ningya would say such words. By the time Wen Yuanliang reacted, the mother and daughter had already disappeared past the fence. He hurriedly grabbed a wooden stick and chased after them, finally catching up to Chen Ningya's pace at the foot of the mountain.

Hearing the commotion, Chen Ningya glanced back at him before continuing with firm strides. Wen Yuanliang wanted to speak several times but held back, choosing not to stop her.

As they passed by the Sun family's gate, Lady Li was picking vegetables in the courtyard. Seeing Wen Yuanliang, she called out loudly, "Yuanliang, I finally see you heading out! What are you doing with that stick? Don't go causing trouble for the village chickens and ducks."

Wen Yuanliang paused and took two steps back, saying politely to Lady Li, "Grandma Sun, my mother went to Huang Da Zhuang's house to settle a score. I'm going to help her."

"What? What did you say?" Lady Li felt as if her ears were malfunctioning. She jogged out and looked at Wen Yuanliang in astonishment.

Wen Yuanliang pointed toward the retreating backs of the mother and daughter and said, "Grandma Sun, I can't talk to you anymore. I have to go support my mother."

Lady Li's gaze fell upon Wen Yuanliang. Seeing that stick as thick as a child's arm, a vein throbbed on her forehead. She slapped her knees and shouted loudly, "Oh no, something's going to happen! Laifu's wife, hurry and go find your man! See if you can find Youshan—his wife is going to a fight!"

Sun Laifu's wife, Little Lady Li, was the niece of Lady Li's natal family. Hearing this, she rushed out from the main room, nearly tripping over the threshold in her haste. She said resentfully, "Mother, are you seeing things? Although I don't care for Deng's ways either, that woman is famous for never stepping foot outside her door, acting like a noble lady. How could she possibly go fight?"

Little Lady Li simply could not believe it.

Lady Li was exasperated, and her voice grew much louder. "Do you think I'm lying to you? That boy Yuanliang is even carrying a stick saying he's going to help. A woman and two children will surely be at a disadvantage. If I weren't so slow on my feet, would I even need to call for you?"

Seeing that Lady Li was truly anxious, Little Lady Li was startled and didn't dare doubt her any longer. She nimbly ran toward the fields.

Meanwhile, Chen Ningya had already brought Wen Yuanzhen to Huang Da Zhuang's house. Standing outside the courtyard, she sized up the Huang family. Seeing the mess in the yard, she knew the mistress of this house was no good. She set a stern face and shouted loudly, "Is Huang Da Zhuang in?"

In this day and age, few people called someone by their full name, and combined with Chen Ningya's harsh tone, Huang Da Zhuang's mother, Mrs. Zhou, heard the commotion and came out to look. Seeing Chen Ningya's unfamiliar face, she questioned suspiciously, "Who are you? What are you looking for my Da Zhuang for?"

Chen Ningya looked at Wen Yuanzhen and signaled for her to speak. Understanding the cue, Wen Yuanzhen said clearly, "Auntie Huang, your Da Zhuang and Er Zhuang snatched the pastries from me and my brother, and they hit me."

Only then did Mrs. Zhou notice Wen Yuanzhen. Her small, bean-like eyes stared at Wen Yuanzhen for a moment before she sneered disdainfully, "I wondered who it was. Turns out it's the village's famous destitute family. Your family actually has pastries to give? Truly hilarious. You didn't steal them from somewhere, did you?"

Ever since Chen Ningya had come knocking, neighbors had been gathering in small groups nearby to watch the excitement. Upon hearing Mrs. Zhou's words, some even chimed in.

Chen Ningya felt a surge of fury. She grinned savagely and said, "As expected, like mother, like bastards. Knowing how to snatch things at such a young age, won't they be robbers when they grow up? Are you planning to rob every single family in this village!"

The crowd did not expect Chen Ningya to say such things. Although she didn't use a single vulgar word, her words were piercing and hurtful.

Mrs. Zhou was so angry she nearly jumped off the ground, her entire face twisting with rage. With her hands on her hips, she took large strides forward, pushed open the fence gate, and charged at Chen Ningya, "You stinking woman! You useless thing! I'll tear that rotten mouth of yours apart!"

Chen Ningya had come today specifically to establish her authority, so she was naturally not afraid of Mrs. Zhou. Just as Mrs. Zhou was about to reach her, she nimbly pushed Wen Yuanzhen aside and, in the same motion, delivered a heavy kick to Mrs. Zhou.

(End of Chapter)