Although Mantoushan Village was incorporated into Xujia Village Brigade, it was a separate team under the unified management of Xujia Village Brigade. The team leader was naturally Xun Yu.

After the meal, Xu Dongmei's eyes darted around as she pondered how to get the things back home.

She slipped into the kitchen when no one was looking.

The Xun family women entered just as she was packing her things, as if the time had been precisely timed.

"Auntie, what are you doing?"

"Oh no! Are they trying to steal our food and meat?"

"What are you saying? How can you use the word 'steal'?"

"Taking something without asking is stealing, isn't it? Even my kids know this."

Xu Dongmei was not one to suffer a loss. Upon hearing these words, she put her hands on her hips, ready to fight. This was her sister's house, and she wasn't afraid. Her sister had always been a soft-hearted person. Hadn't she taken things from her sister countless times? When had she ever failed?

Xu Dongmei pointed at the newcomers and said arrogantly, "Who are you all? Why are you so nosy? My sister always likes to share her things with me. From childhood to adulthood, whenever there's something good to eat, my sister always saves it for my brother and me. Taking my sister's things is perfectly natural. That's how things are in our family, understand?"

Everyone was confused by this statement.

Where's your face?

Where's your face?

How can there be such a shameless person?

While everyone was still in a daze, Xu Dongmei started packing things again.

"Go quickly and fetch the captain! Someone is robbing us without any regard for the law."

When Yang Chunqin came in, Xu Dongmei was protecting her spoils.

Yang Chunqin's face darkened as soon as she saw this: "Dongmei, what are you doing?"

Xu Dongmei was still a little intimidated by Yang Chunqin.

Before she got married, Yang Chunqin and her family came home to visit relatives. She saw the food in Xu Daya and Xu Xinning's hands, and after glancing around and seeing that there were no adults around, she snatched their food.

The two children weren't going to back down either, and they started fighting with her. Xu Daya and Xu Xinning were probably only five or six years old at the time.

How could two five- or six-year-old children possibly beat a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old? Not only did Xu Dongmei snatch their food, but they also got bruised and battered.

Xu Dongmei grabbed the food but didn't go home. She ate it in front of the two younger children because she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to eat it all by herself if she took it home.

When the two children saw that Xu Dongmei had eaten their things and that she had beaten them badly, they cried hysterically.

As soon as Yang Chunqin heard Xu Xinning crying, she rushed over and learned that Xu Dongmei had bullied her precious daughter.

Without saying a word, Yang Chunqin checked the injuries on Xu Xinning and Xu Daya, and then returned them all to Xu Dongmei.

Xu Dongmei was in so much pain that she cried and wailed, but Yang Chunqin didn't give up on copying the gourd just because of her cries.

Xu Dongmei tried to resist, but she couldn't escape Yang Chunqin's grasp.

When the second wife arrived, Yang Chunqin quickly recounted Xu Dongmei's misdeeds. With so many onlookers, the second wife, feeling guilty, said a few kind words and took Xu Dongmei back.

After returning home, Xu Yaoyang felt that Xu Dongmei was hogging the food, so he kept trying to sow discord between Xu Dongmei and her second wife, which resulted in Xu Dongmei getting another beating.

From then on, Xu Dongmei was afraid of Yang Chunqin.

Others would give her some face, but Yang Chunqin and Xu Dongmei knew that they would never do that.

Xu Dongmei didn't dare look Yang Chunqin in the eye, and stammered, "No, nothing!"

Yang Chunqin frowned and raised her voice, "What's that in your hand?"

Xu Dongmei was startled and hurriedly tried to hide the item behind her back, but it was too heavy and she couldn't hide it successfully.

Yang Chunqin: "Xu Dongmei, what's wrong with you? You used to steal your nieces' things when you were little, and now that you're older, you've become even bolder, haven't you?"

Xu Dongmei: "Sister-in-law, my sister agrees."

Yang Chunqin: "Your sister agreed to my ass! Do you think she's stupid? Her family doesn't have much grain to begin with, and she wants you to take it all? If she were really stupid enough to agree, did the Xun family agree? Xu Dongmei, you've been causing trouble since you arrived today. Nobody wanted to spoil the fun, so we didn't say anything, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

Xu Dongmei, where's your face? You said you were here for a housewarming party, but I'm here to ask what gift you brought or if you gave the Xun family a red envelope? You didn't bring anything back and still want to make a quick buck? Xu Dongmei, are you trying to rob us?

Xu Dongmei: "Sister-in-law, why are you making it sound so serious?"

Yang Chunqin scoffed: "Serious? Let me tell you, if the Xun family takes this to heart and reports it to the police, you'll be sent to a farm for re-education!"

Xu Dongmei turned pale with fright, but then she remembered that this was Xu Xialian's home, and she regained some confidence: "We're all sisters, it's normal for us to interact like this."

Yang Chunqin spat and then snatched the things from Xu Dongmei's hands, saying, "You want to give and take? Then let's wait until you come first before we talk about giving and taking. Of course, this giving and taking must be reasonable, otherwise you should give up on this idea."

Yang Chunqin put down her things, then pushed Xu Dongmei out, and winked at the Xun family members to close the kitchen door.

Meanwhile, a similar thing was happening in the main room.

Xun Yu: "Xia Lian has been married into our family for ten years. This is only the second time we've met, right?"

Old Man Xu from the second wife's family: "Who says it isn't?"

Xun Yu: "A few months ago, my second son had an accident, and Xia Lian came to your family for help. I heard that you broke off your ties at that time. Xia Lian is a good girl and knows how to act. Since she made a decision, we will respect it. Today, you are welcome to come. Even if you are a stranger from Xujia Village, you are welcome to come."

Old Master Xu from the second branch of the family said, "My dear in-law, what you're saying doesn't make sense. Xia Lian is still our daughter, no matter what."

Xun Yu laughed: "These days, it's not uncommon for parents and children to sever ties, let alone you who want to sever ties with Xia Lian. The country even allows severing ties, so why are you going back on your word here? If everyone did this, how many jobs would the country have to do these days?"

Old Master Xu from the second branch of the family was speechless. These days, there are indeed many people who sever ties with their relatives to avoid being implicated. Once the ties are severed, everyone can live their own lives peacefully. If they were to break this rule and it got out, it would probably cause trouble.

The second wife looked at this one and that one, seeing that they all spoke softly and gently, she couldn't bring herself to raise her voice either. Besides, the eldest son was sitting here, and although he didn't say anything, his imposing presence was undeniable.

Seeing that the old man couldn't speak, she mustered her courage and said, "We can sever ties, but you have to make up for the bride price."

The Xun and Xu families were stunned. When had they ever given less than their bride price?

Seeing the Xun family's confusion, the second wife said, "Xia Lian is marrying into your family as a lesbian wife, but you only gave one dowry. How can you give only one dowry for two sons getting married?"

Grandma Xu and Grandpa Xu were shocked again. This was too shocking. Wouldn't ordinary parents be furious to hear that their daughter had been made a wife of a gay man? How could they still have the nerve to ask for another dowry?