Chapter 14 Sister-in-law Zhao is a widow
There are three wells in Dahe Village.
There is a well at the beginning of the village, a well at the end of the village, and the village head's house also has a well.
But now only the well at the entrance of the village is still producing water, and no one knows when it will dry up.
Most villagers line up to fetch water during the day, but several households come to fetch water at night. There is no fixed number of water that each household fetches in a day, and no one stipulates that if you fetch water at night, you cannot fetch water again the next day.
Everyone understood that Zhang Wulai was clearly looking for trouble with the two Zhao boys.
Zhao Ergou gritted his teeth: "The village head didn't say anything, so why can't we fetch water!"
Zhang Wulai sneered, then kicked over the water bucket next to Zhao Ergou's feet: "What right do you have? It's because your family uses too much water, which delays everyone!"
The bucket rolled down with a gurgling sound.
Zhao Sanniu charged at Zhang Wulai like a young calf.
Zhang Wulai grabbed him by the collar and raised his hand to punch him.
"stop!"
Cheng Wanwan's cool voice rang out.
The crowd naturally parted to make way, and Cheng Wanwan walked over.
She pulled Zhao Sanniu back and shielded him behind her, saying, "Are you trying to openly bully us orphans and widows?"
"Who can bully you now?" Zhang Wulai sneered. "You bastard stole a three- or four-pound fat rabbit from my son. If you dare to steal from my son, don't blame me for not allowing your whole family to use water!"
Cheng Wanwan sneered: "Your Zhang family's son is allowed to steal other people's things, but others are not allowed to take them back? That rabbit was found and caught by my Sidan. Your Zhang Dagang scratched Sidan's wrist and tore Sidan's clothes in order to steal the rabbit. I haven't even settled this score with your Zhang family yet, and you still dare to kick over my family's water bucket?"
Zhang Wulai was lazy and gluttonous, and had very poor relationships with people in the village.
As soon as Cheng Wanwan said that, some people echoed her sentiments.
"That's right. A few days ago, Zhang Dagang snatched a bunch of wild vegetables from my grandson."
“Last year, Zhang Dagang and his gang stole radishes from my field. I caught them several times. That kid is just like his father, he doesn’t learn good things.”
"Sister-in-law Zhao used to only know how to throw tantrums and curse, but today she can actually speak such a long string of words so fluently."
"No matter how reckless Sister-in-law Zhao is, she's still a mother. What mother doesn't protect her child?"
"..."
Enraged by the villagers' pointing fingers and whispers, Zhang Wulai shouted, "Zhao Chengshi, don't think I won't beat you just because you're a woman!"
Cheng Wanwan offered her head: "Come on, smash it here! My older brother smashed my head the other day, and I made him pay for a chicken and a few pounds of meat. I know your Zhang family is poor, so just pay for a few pounds of white rice. Hurry up, what are you dawdling for? Just smash it, smash it hard and pay for a few more pounds of rice and it'll be over."
She took a few steps forward, and Zhang Wulai uncontrollably retreated.
He had a bad reputation in the village, but Sister-in-law Zhao didn't have a good reputation either, which is why he dared to openly cause trouble.
As long as the villagers don't side with Sister-in-law Zhao, he has the ability to take a piece of flesh from this woman. Who would have thought that this woman would act unpredictably? First, she spoke with reason and evidence, and then suddenly she fiercely offered her head. If he really smashed this woman's head, being gossiped about and cursed by the villagers would be a minor matter. The main problem would be that he would have to pay compensation for the grain, and his family had no surplus grain.
But this woman is good at throwing tantrums and acting tough. If she hangs herself on his doorstep, he'll be finished.
"Zhang the Scoundrel, that's enough! You've bullied children and now you're bullying women. How can you face the thing in your crotch?"
Zhao Fugui shouted from the crowd.
The wealthy aunt next to him immediately grabbed his ear: "What business is it of yours if other people are arguing? Why are you yelling?"
Zhao Fugui said matter-of-factly, "Sister-in-law Zhao is a widow. What's wrong with saying a few words in support of a widow?"
Aunt Fugui was furious. Her husband was indeed eyeing the widow from the Zhao family. He dared to help Zhao's sister-in-law in broad daylight. Who knows what shady things he was doing behind her back! She grabbed her husband's ear and left.
Once Zhao Fugui spoke up, the others chimed in.
"Zhang the Scoundrel, why don't we call the village headman to settle this matter?"
“The village head is the most impartial person. If Sister-in-law Zhao really steals your rabbit, the village head will definitely side with you.”
Zhang Wulai spat and left, carrying two buckets.
Cheng Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, she was really afraid that Zhang Wulai, that scumbag, would smash a rock on her head.
She realized that she was really too weak, and had no other skills besides being good at talking.
It seems she needs to buy something for self-defense at the mall.
She looked at the crowd around her and said, "Thank you all for speaking up for me."
When she spoke, her back was straight, her eyes were clear, and her face was surprisingly white in the sunlight, making her look nothing like a village woman.
Everyone was surprised; why did Sister-in-law Zhao seem different?
It's not like Zhao Da Saozi hasn't encountered this kind of mess before. She would slap her thigh, sit on the ground, and wail and cry her heart out... But today, she managed to drive away Zhang the scoundrel without even throwing a tantrum. This isn't like Zhao Da Saozi's usual style.
Cheng Wanwan led her two sons home.
Along the way, Zhao Ergou and Zhao Sanniu didn't dare to breathe loudly, for fear of being severely scolded.
Upon arriving at their doorstep, the two boys inhaled the rich aroma of meat and vegetables, and their mouths watered uncontrollably.
Cheng Wanwan poured a basin of water over: "Wash your hands, get ready to eat."
Zhao Ergou was taken aback: "Mother isn't going to punish us?"
Cheng Wanwan said calmly, "You didn't do anything wrong, why punish you?"
Zhang Wulai is just stirring up trouble for no reason. What does it have to do with the two children? It's mainly because they're too poor. They can make such a fuss over a rabbit and a bucket of water.
She took an empty bowl from the kitchen, filled it with some braised pork, and handed it to Zhao Sidan: "Take this to your grandma and tell her it was taken from the Cheng family."
The original owner of this body was not good to her four children. It was only thanks to the old lady's secret provision of food that the four children were able to survive; otherwise, they would have been even thinner.
Having risen from an orphan to a businesswoman, she naturally understands the ways of the world. Since she has decided to live a good life, it is necessary to ease tensions with the Zhao family.
In ancient times, clan relationships were very strong. Half of the people in Dahe Village were surnamed Zhao, and they were all brothers several generations back. If she maintained a good relationship with the Zhao family, it would be easier for her to get things done in the village.
Zhao Sidan, holding the bowl, ran wildly towards Old Zhao's house.
It was noon, and the Zhao family was still quite present. The men were resting, the women were sewing and washing, and the children were cleaning the wild vegetables they had dug up that morning in the yard.
"Grandma!" Zhao Sidan rushed into the courtyard. "My mother asked me to bring this!"
A bowl of braised pork smelled so tempting that all the children in the yard looked up and inhaled the aroma of the meat.
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