The firewood crackled in the stove, casting a warm glow on Lin Wanqiu's profile. She was using a bamboo sieve to carefully sift freshly ground cornmeal from the space around her. The golden powder fell softly into the earthenware basin, releasing a fresh, grainy aroma. From the inner room came the babbling of Chen Nian'an, the little one drawing circles on rough paper with a piece of charcoal, murmuring "Mama, steamed bun." The soft, sweet voice kept Lin Wanqiu smiling.

But this cozy atmosphere didn't last long. A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by Old Mrs. Shen's signature loud voice, which pounded like a broken gong, making one's ears hurt: "Lin Wanqiu! You come out here! What kind of skill is it to hide in the house like a coward!"

Lin Wanqiu paused, her brows furrowing instantly. She had just dealt with the trouble with Zhao Jianjun, and now this old lady Shen was certainly picking her time; she was probably up to something again. She put the sieve down on the stove, wiped her hands, and went into the inner room to pat Shen Nian'an's head: "Nian'an, be good, stay inside and don't move. Mommy will go out and take a look."

Shen Nian'an timidly clutched the hem of her clothes, her big eyes filled with unease: "Mom, is Grandma going to scold you again?"

"Don't be afraid, Mom's here." Lin Wanqiu pinched her son's soft cheek, turned around and walked quickly to the gate of the yard. She had just opened the door a crack when Old Mrs. Shen pushed it open so hard that she stumbled.

A large group of people stood at the gate. Besides Old Lady Shen and her sister-in-law Zhang Lan, there was Old Lady Shen's brother Zhang Laoshuan, her sister-in-law Wang Pozi, and several distant relatives who were not closely related to her. They all looked like they were there to interrogate her, blocking the gate of the courtyard.

Old Mrs. Shen stood with her hands on her hips, spitting as she spoke: "Lin Wanqiu! You jinx! Ever since you married into our Shen family, first Tingzhou died, and now you've injured Secretary Zhao's son. Do you want to utterly disgrace our Shen family?"

Zhang Lan fanned the flames from the side, pointing her finger at Lin Wanqiu's nose: "That's right! It's not enough that you're a jinx to your husbands, you also want to drag our Shen family down with you! If anything happens to Zhao Jianjun, our entire brigade will be doomed!"

Lin Wanqiu steadied herself and coldly swept her gaze over them: "You should speak with conscience. Shen Tingzhou sacrificed himself to protect the country, what does that have to do with me? Zhao Jianjun fell down on his own, how can you blame it on me? If you have any evidence, go ahead and report me to the commune, don't just make a fuss here."

"Evidence? You want more evidence?" Old Zhang leaned forward, his fleshy face trembling. "Someone saw Zhao Jianjun screaming in agony at your doorstep. If it wasn't you, who was it? You little widow, it's one thing to be unfaithful, but you even dare to harm people. Today, we must cleanse the Shen family of this mess!"

Granny Wang chimed in, wiping away imaginary tears with her handkerchief: "Wanqiu, it's not that we're heartless, but you have a child to take care of, and it will be hard for you to remarry in the future. Why don't you take this opportunity to hand over the Shen family's things and go back to your parents' home, so you won't cause trouble for others here."

Lin Wanqiu listened to their back-and-forth, a cold smile playing on her lips. These people weren't after the Shen family's reputation; they were clearly after what she possessed. Ever since she improved her life with her spatial ability, Old Madam Shen had been constantly inquiring about her. Now, with so many relatives joining forces, they simply wanted to drive her away so they could seize her dowry and those "ill-gotten" supplies.

She took a step back, blocking the doorway and preventing them from entering: "I am Shen Tingzhou's lawfully wedded wife, and Nian'an is a member of the Shen family. It is only natural for my daughter and me to stay in the Shen family. You can only make us leave if I die!"

"You dare talk back!" Old Mrs. Shen was furious at her retort and reached out to grab Lin Wanqiu's hair. "I'm going to teach you a lesson today, you unfilial brat!"

Lin Wanqiu was prepared and dodged to the side, causing Old Mrs. Shen to miss her target and nearly fall to the ground. Zhang Lan quickly steadied her, scolding, "Lin Wanqiu, are you crazy! You even dare to push your mother-in-law!"

"I didn't push her, she just lost her balance." Lin Wanqiu patted the corner of her clothes, her tone full of sarcasm. "But you guys, a whole bunch of you, blocked my door, hitting and cursing me. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were here to steal something."

These words struck a nerve with Zhang Laoshuan, whose face darkened. "Stop making trouble here! Today you either leave on your own, or we'll tie you up and send you back to your parents' home!"

As he spoke, he reached out to pull Lin Wanqiu. Lin Wanqiu's heart tightened; she knew a direct confrontation was out of the question. These men were all farmers, incredibly strong, and if it came to a fight, she might not have the upper hand. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly raised her voice: "You dare! I am a martyr's family member! If you dare lay a finger on me, I'll report you to the commune for abusing a martyr's widow! Not only will you be punished, but the Shen family's pension will also be suspended!"

These words worked. Zhang Laoshuan's hand froze in mid-air, and his face instantly turned ugly. Old Mrs. Shen was also stunned. She had forgotten that Lin Wanqiu was a martyr's family member. If things really escalated to the commune, they wouldn't get away with it.

But then she thought again and felt unwilling: "Don't try to scare me with the commune! You injured Zhao Jianjun, and the commune doesn't know what it will do to you. You still dare to put on airs here!"

"I'll say it again, Zhao Jianjun's matter has nothing to do with me." Lin Wanqiu's eyes were firm. "In addition, I not only haven't harmed anyone, but I've also helped people in the brigade. Last time Uncle Li fell and injured his leg while chopping wood on the mountain, who secretly gave him the herbs that made him recover so quickly? Last time Aunt Wang's child had a fever, who gave him the fever reducer? Ask the neighbors, what kind of person I, Lin Wanqiu, really am!"

A crowd of neighbors had already gathered around to watch the spectacle, and upon hearing Lin Wanqiu's words, they all nodded and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!