Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Trouble (2)_1 Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Trouble (2)_1 “We all went to the back hill together, so why does your family get two pheasants, while my Tingzi only gets two birds? What, are you bullying my orphan Tingzi just because the Ruan Family is bigger and more powerful?”
“Poor Tingzi, growing up without parents, raised by us two incompetent fools, even when bullied, she can’t get justice. How am I supposed to face my sister-in-law when I’m six feet under?” As she spoke, she began to wipe her tears as if truly heartbroken, and at an angle hidden from others, she pinched Wa Yiting hard.
Wa Yiting couldn’t bear the pain and immediately burst into tears.
Auntie Wu put on quite a show of wailing, clutching her to her bosom as if performing a tragedy right there on the spot.
The two cried so convincingly that even the people who had been laughing couldn’t bring themselves to smile anymore.
Just then, some villagers whose children had also gone to the back hill knew about today’s incident; they just hadn’t made such a fuss, nor would they make such a scene over a mouthful of food.
Now, seeing someone causing a commotion, a few others joined in with feigned sincerity, harmonizing, “That’s right, Auntie Ruan, my kid went along today too, and he even brought back two quails. I was praising him for being useful. Now it seems your kid is even more capable, grabbing two chickens for your own house.”
“Exactly, Auntie Ruan, we are all villagers here, none of us wants it to come to this, right? But Tingzi is still young, I can’t let others bully her, can I? Otherwise, how will I explain myself when I’m six feet under?” Auntie Wu, seeing someone joining in, immediately seized the opportunity to press her point.
What kind of situation hadn’t the Ruanlin Family seen before?
When she first became a widow, raising four children by herself, so many eyed her family’s possessions. If she hadn’t been capable, could she have kept watch over such a large household?
Seeing that people were turning against her family now, she just snorted coldly and, staring at Auntie Wu and the one chiming in, said, “This whole incident could have been left alone, as I considered us all to be villagers here and didn’t come to you, but since you’ve come knocking, let’s talk it out, shall we?”
“Today my several boys and Jiaojiao went up the back hill. Six boys and a girl from my family, two of them seriously injured. One can no longer walk, the other suffered a headache all afternoon and nearly fainted, but all we got was two pheasants. Your family didn’t contribute anything, yet everyone got two quails for themselves. Tell me, folks, is there such a good deal in this world?”
“I didn’t want to make a fuss initially, considering we’re all villagers, but since you’ve started this, let’s straighten it out. Look at my granddaughter’s leg, how much are you willing to pay? And my grandson’s head, that’s a precious head, he might go to college one day. If it’s damaged, how will you compensate?”
“Auntie Ruan, that’s not right. Your family is all fine, how come there are serious injuries? Do you think everyone else is blind?” Auntie Wu questioned.
Ruanlin Family didn’t waste words and simply rolled up Ruan Jiaojiao’s trouser leg, revealing the injured knee.
After a few hours, the knee had swollen even more, turning a deeper shade of red with hints of purple, and topped with the startling color of red medicine, it was clear to see that it was seriously injured.
“See that? This is the pheasant that my Jiaojiao got by using her knee as a shield. That pheasant hit right on her knee; her bones almost broke. So what now, should we pheasant with you too?”