Chapter 8: Let's Go Start an Internal Conflict First!

Madam Bai was also stunned. Wasn't Sheng Wanqiu the one who liked her eldest son the most?

"She even dared to hit you! Brother, just you wait, I’m going to go tear her apart right now!" Bai Xiaolian was furious. Her eldest brother was the best student in the village; he might even pass the imperial examinations and become an official one day, which would make her an official's sister. For this Sheng Wanqiu to actually want to break her brother's leg—it was truly lawless.

Bai Xiaolian rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a stick, and marched outside without a second thought.

"Xiaolian, get back here this instant! What kind of behavior is this for a young lady!" Madam Bai shouted sternly.

Hearing her mother's voice, Bai Xiaolian stopped in her tracks, her voice filled with grievance. "Mother, are you just going to let that little slut Sheng Wanqiu bully my brother?"

"Enough! Get back here! And put that stick away!"

"Since she won't give it, there's nothing we can do. Haoyu, stay away from her from now on. Since she doesn't know what's good for her, she’ll regret it later."

"If she won't give it, there are plenty of others who will. Xiaolian, come here, Mother has something to tell you."

Madam Bai’s eyes darted around as she called Bai Xiaolian over. The mother and daughter whispered to each other for a long time. The more Bai Xiaolian heard, the brighter her eyes became, and she soon walked out of the courtyard.

Over at Sheng Wanqiu’s kitchen, the aroma had already drifted for two miles. Passersby sniffed the air, their faces filled with envy.

"Whose house is cooking? It smells so good. Just one whiff and you know they must be stewing meat!"

"It really is so fragrant! My mouth is watering."

It wasn't just the passersby who smelled it; the families of Uncle Sheng and Third Uncle Sheng, who had just recently separated from the main household, smelled it too.

The children were all drooling, greedily inhaling the scent of meat in the air with envious expressions.

The eldest aunt, Liu Juan, felt very unbalanced. As soon as they separated, the three brats from the second branch were eating meat with the old woman. The old woman must have hidden away the family's savings and let these three brats benefit from it; otherwise, how could they be eating meat right after the split?

She was the eldest daughter-in-law, and by rights, the old woman should have been living with her family. Even if the old woman had money, it should have belonged to them. Now, it had all gone to waste on the second branch.

"Mother, I want to eat meat!" Seeing his mother’s dark expression, Sheng Yaozu tugged on her sleeve and whimpered with a pout.

"Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you know how to do! Do you think our family looks like we have money to buy meat?"

"You want to eat meat? I want to eat meat too!" Liu Juan’s voice was loud, scaring Sheng Yaozu into an immediate wail.

Sheng Yaozu was seven years old and had three older sisters. Although he was a boy, his personality had been spoiled by Liu Juan; he was timid, weak, and cried at the slightest provocation, not at all like a boy.

He was also thin and small. Even though the family prioritized him for food, he still looked malnourished, with the stature of a five-year-old.

"Cry, cry, cry, that’s all you know! Even if you cry yourself to death, no one is going to bring you meat."

"All you know is eating. Why don't you just eat yourselves to death? Heaven really has no eyes!"

Liu Juan began to make pointed remarks. Since the two houses were only separated by a bamboo fence, every word was heard by Sheng Wanqiu.

"Oh my! Heaven really has no eyes. If it did, it would strike down these rotten-hearted, evil people with a bolt of lightning!"

"There are wild rabbits all over these mountains, but you don't have the skill to catch them, so you just sit at home thinking about taking advantage of others. Do you really think you're the Queen Mother of the West? Pfft! You lazy, stinking piece of trash, go eat dung!"

"Jealous of others eating meat? People like that really deserve to die! Oh, Heaven! Open your eyes! Strike down these people who eat dung with a bolt of lightning!"

Sheng Wanqiu didn't indulge her. Whether it was the original owner's personality or her own, she wasn't the type to let people ride on her head and defecate.

Fighting, cursing, and making pointed remarks—these were her specialties. She had never been afraid of anyone! Except for Old Madam Sheng, of course; she couldn't hit or scold that old woman. Sigh!

"Sheng Wanqiu, who are you cursing?" Sheng Zhaodi couldn't take it anymore. She needed to curry favor with her mother so she wouldn't be denied food.

"I'm in my own courtyard! I'll curse whoever I want!"

"I advise you to mind your own business. I'm a year younger than you, and I can catch rabbits on the mountain—two at a time! Tsk tsk tsk, you're older than me, yet you've never caught one. Sigh! I really don't know if you're just not trying, or if you caught them and roasted them to eat yourself!"

Sheng Wanqiu stood with her hands on her hips, looking smug as she shouted toward the eldest uncle's house.

Her words successfully made Liu Juan narrow her eyes, staring daggers at her eldest daughter.

That’s right.

The two were only a year apart. Why could that little slut Sheng Wanqiu catch rabbits, while her own eldest daughter hadn't even found a single wild duck egg? Could it be that her eldest daughter had been stealing food outside?

"Mother, I didn't! Don't listen to Sheng Wanqiu's nonsense!" Seeing Liu Juan’s gaze, Sheng Zhaodi’s hair stood on end.

It was true that if she found anything good outside, she would sneak a bite, but it was always just mushrooms or wild bird eggs. She really had never caught a wild rabbit!

"You dead girl, you actually dared to sneak food behind my back! I raised you for nothing!"

Seeing her eldest daughter’s panicked expression, Liu Juan understood everything.

She grabbed a broom and started beating her.

"Mother, I was wrong! I really won't do it again, don't hit me!"

"Mother, forgive me, I really won't do it next time!"

Sheng Zhaodi was beaten by Liu Juan, and her wails sounded absolutely delightful to Sheng Wanqiu. Hmph!

Trying to mess with her? Still too green!

Old Madam Sheng watched her granddaughter, who was smiling with such cunning, and was impressed. Although the eldest branch was restless, it was fine now; she was old and couldn't manage that much anymore.

"Grandma, time to eat!"

Sheng Huaian set out the bowls and chopsticks, and Sheng Huaimu moved the small stools to the table. Sheng Wanqiu first took two small ceramic jars, washed them clean, and filled them to the brim with the stewed rabbit meat—these were for her eldest aunt and younger aunt.

The rest was for the four of them. After all, with seven rabbits, there was still a large basin full left after filling the two jars.

Today they were having mixed-grain rice. When the stewed rabbit was placed on the table, the eyes of the two boys lit up.

Heaven! So much meat! Their eldest sister was truly capable!

"Don't just stand there, wash your hands and come eat."

"Grandma, you too, go wash your hands!"

"You girl, you're even being picky now! What a bad habit!"

Although Old Madam Sheng complained, she did as she was told. After the three of them washed their hands and returned, they started the meal.