Chapter 3: A Nest of Wicked Bamboo in the Gu Family

The two wicked bamboos finally quieted down.

Silence instantly enveloped the room, broken only by Chen Sufen's uncontrollable sobbing, which burst forth like sporadic firecrackers.

Tong Huaqiong searched her mind for Tong Dajiao's memories.

In her previous life, after her resistance proved futile, Chen Sufen had snuck off to the Zheng family to beg them to release Man'er, but the Zhengs naturally refused.

Tong Dajiao, along with Gu Dashu and others, had captured Chen Sufen and brought her back to the Gu family, ordering her stepson, Gu Dahan, to divorce her.

Having nowhere to go after being cast out, Chen Sufen committed suicide by jumping into a well. After divorcing his wife, Gu Dahan fell into madness and eventually froze to death on the streets.

If even one of Tong Dajiao and her brood of "wicked bamboos" hadn't grown crooked, the eldest son's family wouldn't have been driven to total ruin.

Tong Huaqiong looked at Man'er with a complex expression.

Man'er was trembling incessantly.

Tong Huaqiong felt that she was the one who should be trembling.

This little girl was a hidden powerhouse.

In her previous life, Tong Dajiao and her three "wicked bamboos" never imagined that Man'er—who had become a widow at the Zheng family at such a young age—would disappear after setting fire to everyone in the Zheng household at the age of ten.

When Man'er reappeared before the Gu family, she was actually the most favored Imperial Consort.

As Imperial Consort Man'er, she had naturally embarked on a path of vengeance, returning the suffering inflicted upon her and her parents a thousandfold.

The downfall of Gu Jingzhe had always been driven by her from behind the scenes.

The mere thought of Man'er ordering people to throw the bloody heads of all the Gu family males into Tong Dajiao's lap made Tong Huaqiong shudder.

This was a deity of calamity one could not afford to offend!

"Man'er is so thin; give her an extra egg tonight," Tong Huaqiong said, unable to help herself as she looked at Man'er's pitiful, spindly limbs.

She had to maintain a good relationship with this deity of calamity from the very start.

"Why should she? She belongs to the Zheng family now; she shouldn't be eating our food," Gu Taohua jumped up. If Man'er ate an extra egg, it would be one less for her.

Gu Dashu pressed Gu Taohua down, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

He understood his mother's intention; she wasn't just seeing that Man'er was too thin and wanted to nourish her before she left the house. It was also to stabilize the eldest sister-in-law, Chen Sufen.

Tong Huaqiong couldn't be bothered with the two wicked bamboos and stared at Chen Sufen. "Eldest daughter-in-law, do as I say."

Chen Sufen and Gu Dashu thought the same thing.

It was over, it was over. Once her mother-in-law showed her any kindness, she and Man'er would be in trouble. It was just like a "last meal" before an execution.

"Mother, I beg you, Man'er cannot go to the Zheng family. As long as you let Man'er stay home, I will filial to you for the rest of my life. One lifetime isn't enough; I'll spend my next life as an ox or a horse to repay you," Chen Sufen began to cry and plead.

"Grandma, Man'er doesn't want to go to the Zheng family. I can pull weeds, I can cook, I can sew clothes... Man'er will work hard at home... work to earn money so Little Uncle can study and Yaozu can eat meat. Man'er won't eat eggs, she'll only drink thin porridge from now on... please don't make me go... *sob sob*..." Man'er cried along with Chen Sufen.

Man'er was still small and didn't understand why her grandmother insisted on sending her to the Zheng family.

Yaozu said she was being sold to the Zheng family, and only by selling her could Little Uncle study and Yaozu eat meat.

She didn't want to go to the Zheng family; she didn't want to leave her mother.

She could make money by making shoe soles with her mother to fund Little Uncle's studies, and she could save the good food for Yaozu.

"Enough, stop crying. Man'er is not going to the Zheng family," Tong Huaqiong declared, settling the matter.

Chen Sufen's crying halted. She didn't believe her mother-in-law could be so kind. It must be a tactic to stabilize her.

"No. Mother, we've already accepted the silver from the Zheng family," Gu Taohua's eyes widened.

"Mother, have you lost your mind or something? If Man'er doesn't go to the Zheng family, will the Zhengs let us off?" Gu Dashu looked incredulous.

"Grandma, if Man'er doesn't go to the Zheng family, I won't get to eat meat every meal!" Yaozu said, drooling.

"Eat your father's leg instead!"

"Look at the fine son you've raised, wanting to eat meat. I think he'll be eating prison food instead," Tong Huaqiong snapped. She grabbed a pillow and gave the nearby Gu Dashu a good smack.

Having not eaten for three days, and now having smacked her son, Tong Huaqiong felt even hungrier.

"I'm hungry! Go make some food!" Tong Huaqiong shouted, her breath heavy.

Once she was full, she would see how she dealt with these three wicked bamboos.

Gu Taohua and Gu Dashu didn't even budge. In any case, all the housework was handled by Chen Sufen, with Man'er added to the load.

Hearing that her mother-in-law was hungry, Chen Sufen forgot her pleas and hurriedly got up to go to the kitchen to cook. Man'er followed behind her, wanting to help stoke the fire.

"Did Mother really change her mind about Man'er going to the Zheng family?" Gu Taohua whispered to her second brother, Gu Dashu.

Gu Dashu gave her a "you know what I mean" look.

"Does Mother have that kind of kindness? I'm starting to see through it now. Mother wants to stabilize Sister-in-law. She'll wait until Sister-in-law isn't looking to send Man'er to the Zheng family. When Sister-in-law made that scene the other day, the steward from the Zheng family was very unhappy. He said the Zheng family didn't want to hear crying during a joyous occasion and changed the wedding date. Once Sister-in-law isn't paying attention, we'll send Man'er over. Once the deed is done, it'll be too late for her to make a scene."

Gu Taohua curled her lip and muttered, "We shouldn't have told Sister-in-law in the first place. We should have just sent the girl to the Zheng family directly."

...

Dinner was ready.

Tong Huaqiong got out of bed and sat at the dining table.

Except for her stepson Gu Dahan, who had been sent by Tong Dajiao to the docks to carry cement, and Gu Jingzhe, who was studying at the town's private school, all the "wicked bamboos" of the Gu family were gathered around the table.

Chen Sufen was busy with Man'er, the elder and the younger working together.

"Taohua, let me tell you, this fabric the Zheng family sent is really not bad. The Village Chief's wife said it's a trendy fabric from the south. No wonder this outfit feels so light and soft when I touch it."

Sitting at the table was a somewhat unfamiliar young woman, tugging at her clothes while discussing the fabric sent by the Zheng family with Gu Taohua.

Tong Huaqiong searched her memory; this "wicked bamboo" was Gu Dashu's wife, Liu Yue'e, who was also an expert at being lazy and bullying Chen Sufen.

Normally, she would habitually badmouth Chen Sufen to her mother-in-law. During the three days Tong Huaqiong had been unconscious, she had been out gossiping with neighbors, only returning home when it was time for dinner.

On the table sat a large bowl of stewed cabbage, a large bowl of braised winter melon, a dish of shredded pickles, and a plate of leeks stir-fried with eggs, which served as a semi-meat dish.

Man'er kept her head down while arranging the chopsticks, and Chen Sufen served the rice.

"Are you all dead? Expecting a child to serve me? I've been dizzy and out for three days, and you wouldn't even hand me a pair of chopsticks?"

"Are you all just rice buckets? Sitting at the table without moving, just waiting for a child to serve you. You really have no shame."

Tong Huaqiong had been suppressing a mountain of rage against these wicked bamboos. Seeing them waiting for food so contentedly only fueled her anger. She slammed her palm against the table with a thunderous crack.

Man'er was so startled that her chopsticks scattered all over the floor.

"I wasn't talking to you, don't be afraid," Tong Huaqiong said, her voice a bit too loud for Man'er as she failed to control her temper.

Man'er was so frightened she nearly bowed her head to the floor, but Tong Huaqiong caught her in time.

Tong Huaqiong reached out, pulled up Yaozu, who was sitting beside her, and pressed Man'er into a chair. "From now on, Man'er sits here during meals."

Seeing her son being pulled away from the center of the dining circle, Liu Yue'e felt indignant, but she didn't dare protest when she met Tong Huaqiong's displeased gaze.

*This old hag, she's lost her mind from being knocked unconscious. She's acting crazy and can't tell who's important. Even if that worthless girl is going to be a daughter-in-law of the Zheng family, she shouldn't be prioritized over her own grandson.*

"What are you standing there for? Go help your sister-in-law with the bowls!" Tong Huaqiong barked at Liu Yue'e.

Liu Yue'e lifted her hips and left the table reluctantly.

Chen Sufen happened to be bringing a bowl of rice to Tong Huaqiong; meeting Tong Huaqiong's gaze, she trembled several times in fear.