At the break of dawn, Second Lang’s wife came storming over.
Wen Wan was scattering bran to feed the chickens. Hearing the commotion, she raised her eyelids and saw it was her sister-in-law. Her hands slowed down.
"Oh, third sister-in-law, you’re up so early?" Second Lang’s wife didn’t expect to run into her mute sister-in-law so early in the morning and felt instantly unlucky.
Wen Wan felt there was no reason to engage with her sister-in-law. She averted her gaze and continued scattering bran, completely ignoring Second Lang’s wife.
The feeling of being ignored was even more infuriating than being scolded.
Second Lang’s wife ground her teeth and said sarcastically, "No wonder third sister-in-law ignores me. I almost forgot, even if you wanted to respond, you can’t open that mouth!"
Wen Wan cast her a long gaze.
Second Lang’s wife felt a chill from that look. Before she could say anything else, she saw Wen Wan squat down, grab the chicken that was squawking the loudest by the neck, lift it up, prying open its beak and stuffing a big handful of bran inside. The chicken couldn’t make a sound; it could only flap its wings in struggle, kicking its legs wildly.
Wen Wan threw the chicken to the ground. It was so scared of her that it ran into the coop, tucked its neck, and dared not come out again.
Even without a word, her actions were more obvious than scolding. Anyone with eyes could see it.
Second Lang’s wife’s face turned dark, "What do you mean, third sister-in-law?"
No sooner had she spoken than they heard Granny Song’s scolding voice, "Tian Sufen, I’d like to ask you, coming into my yard early in the morning yelling louder than the chickens, what do you mean?"
Soon after, Granny Song from the east room pushed the door open, brushing off the hair that fell on her shoulders while combing, and asked Second Lang’s wife.
Seeing her mother-in-law, Second Lang’s wife immediately changed her expression, smiling brightly, "Mother, I’m here to discuss something important with you!"
Granny Song saw Second Lang’s wife approach and said sternly, "Spit it out quickly, don’t try to get close to me!"
Second Lang’s wife didn’t want to lose face in front of her mute sister-in-law, looking aggrieved, "Mother, it’s rare for me to come over, and you don’t even show a smile."
"Did I light incense hoping you’d come?"
Irritated, Second Lang’s wife didn’t forget her main purpose. She briefly explained the reason she came.
Someone from her family had invited a Taoist practitioner to perform a ritual for blessings. It was said to be quite effective. She thought her mother-in-law, who always believed in such things, might want to invite them. If so, she could head back to her family early to avoid missing the practitioner when they leave.
She also mentioned that with the spring sowing, it would be a good omen for the new year. Who knows, they might even bring good fortune to the family. As for the cost of inviting the practitioner, her family would cover it.
Granny Song listened closely and nodded in agreement, saying it should be done. "Since the cost is covered by your family, we wouldn’t want to take advantage, so when the practitioner arrives, let him visit your place. Spend more money to ask him to open his heavenly eye and plead with the Childbirth Goddess to bless you with a chubby baby boy next year, saving you from worrying about having no son under your knee, and always fretting about others’ sons."
It was a bit embarrassing.
This was the first time Wen Wan witnessed her mother-in-law’s ability to retort, secretly admiring her.
She looked up to see her sister-in-law’s expression like she’d swallowed a fly, and felt amused.
Second Lang’s wife returned home utterly defeated, venting her anger at the three little girls.
Song Erlang had never told her, so she had no idea that Granny Song’s favoritism toward Song Wei wasn’t just because she had given up on her family, but also because Granny Song had a difficult labor when giving birth to Song Wei, nearly costing her life for this son.
So even though Granny Song was very superstitious, when it came to Song Wei, no matter what others said, she would argue against everyone and everything until they were all left speechless.