On the other side of the fence.
Liu Fengjiao and Mrs. Sun were busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Liu Fengjiao frowned, vigorously poking at the stove fire pit with the fire poker in her hand.
She was angry; after being married into the Chen family for so many years, this was the first time she had ever stepped into the kitchen.
Previously, the eldest and second wives would take turns cooking, and she could just wait to eat what was ready.
But today, my mother-in-law actually told me to learn how to cook and that I would help Sun Shi in the future.
I'm not the kind of person who does this kind of work. This is just deliberately making things difficult for me!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she couldn't help but complain.
"Second sister-in-law, do you think Mother is deliberately making things difficult for me? She actually made me learn to cook from you. I've never done this kind of work before. I get a headache just looking at pots and pans."
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Fengjiao, don't complain. Nobody is born to work. If it weren't for your man's education, would your mother-in-law have sold Qingya?"
If we hadn't sold Qing'er, we wouldn't have had to separate from the family and sever ties. It all started because of your third branch of the family. You just have to endure it!
Liu Fengjiao was furious when she heard her mocking her. "Stop talking nonsense, as if you don't eat."
Sun sneered, "No matter what, I never intended to sell someone else's daughter. Do you think everyone is like you two, spoiling and indulging your own daughter like a precious gem, while plotting against other people's children?"
In my opinion, splitting up the family is the right thing to do, so that even if we make money, we can't feed ungrateful wretches like you third wives.
"You, you're bullying me! I'm going to tell Grandma!" Liu Fengjiao threw the fire poker in her hand to the ground and left the kitchen.
Grandma Chen was feeding the chickens in the yard.
Seeing his eldest son's family bustling about, he gritted his teeth in anger.
Enraged, her face turned ashen, and she couldn't help but hurl insults at the hen in the yard.
"Shameless bastards, I won't feed you. Let's see how long you can keep jumping around. Don't even think about setting foot in my Chen family again. I'll let you starve to death, you heartless bastards."
Liu Fengjiao felt panicked. If the eldest son's family didn't beg for mercy, her plan would be completely ruined. She couldn't really end up like Lin and Sun, spending all her time around the stove.
She leaned closer, frowning, and said, "Mother, calm down and stop scolding me."
Now that we've signed a letter severing ties with the eldest son's family, what about Butcher Li? We've already accepted the betrothal gifts; we can't really return them, can we?"
Old Mrs. Chen spat out her saliva, "Refund what? Who said we were going to refund it? There are still ten days or so until the date we agreed on. No rush, we'll talk about it in a few days."
"Oh my goodness, you're in such a hurry, aren't you? I just don't understand. You could have just scared them a little. If you want to separate the family, then separate the family. Why are you cutting off ties? From now on, we'll be like chickens and dogs living next door, never to see each other again. How are we supposed to sell Qing'er? This is cutting off our own source of income!"
"Look how anxious you are. Your mother has never been kicked in the head by a donkey. She will never make the first move unless she is absolutely sure of success."
Think about it, what skills could they possibly have? Several people and only half a bag of rice bran, how many days could they possibly last?
I'm doing this to teach them a lesson. They'll be begging me on their knees when the time comes. Even if I send them to their deaths, they'll have to obey. If they dare utter a single word of dissent, I'll disown them.
Old Mrs. Chen spoke with such certainty, as if she were absolutely certain.
Liu Fengjiao was still a little worried. "Mother, what you said makes some sense, but have you thought about it? What if they have bad intentions and secretly arrange a marriage for Qing'er to get through the famine? We'll be in a real bind then."
"Don't worry, I doubt they'd dare. If they did, nobody would have a good time. We'll spread rumors about Qing'er, smear her, and say she's immoral. Let's see which family would want to marry a piece of trash." Old Mrs. Chen said with a sinister look.
"Mom, your move is ruthless and vicious; they won't be able to escape your grasp now!"
As she spoke, Chen Ruolan walked out of the house, still sleepy-eyed, yawning and stretching. "What are you all doing making such a racket so early in the morning? It's so annoying."
When Liu Fengjiao saw that her precious daughter had woken up, she pretended to be angry and glared at her. "Oh my little aunt, it's already dark, but you still think it's early morning. If you sleep any longer, you'll be working non-stop. Our family is about to fall into chaos. How can you still sleep?"
"Chaos? What chaos?"
"Your uncle has severed ties with our family."
"What? Severing ties with family?" Chen Ruolan's almond-shaped eyes widened, and she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Who was this idiot who came up with this idea? Did they lose their minds? This is clearly an attempt to kill us! I'm going to settle accounts with them."
Grandma Chen glared angrily. This granddaughter was really a simpleton, acting crazy all day long, never thinking before she spoke, and just spouting nonsense.
Liu Fengjiao almost couldn't hold back her laughter, barely suppressing it. "What nonsense are you talking about, girl? Who's out of their mind? It was your grandmother who suggested severing ties with your uncle and his family."
Chen Ruolan was stunned, then gave an awkward smile. "I'm sorry, Grandma. I thought some idiot was trying to annoy you. It turns out you were the one who brought it up first."
"Ruolan, wake up and stop spouting nonsense." Old Mrs. Chen quickly waved her hand. This was only because she was the third son's child. If it were anyone else talking like that, she would have pinched and twisted them, and even beaten them half to death without feeling any pity.
"Grandma, I'm hungry. I want to eat something delicious." Just as Chen Ruolan finished speaking, a rich aroma of meat wafted over, making her swallow hard several times.
"It smells so good! Grandma, did you make some stew?"
"What meat? That ingrate next door is stewing chickens."
"What? They eat chicken at home?"
Chen Ruolan glanced at the chicken coop, immediately understood, and clenched her teeth and stomped her feet in anger.
"Grandma, you're getting more and more senile as you get older. How could you give them the old hen? Now look what's happened, they've cooked it up and eaten it. How am I supposed to eat eggs now?"
"Ruolan, don't worry. In a few days, your uncle will be kneeling back and begging Grandma to marry off that ungrateful wretch. Grandma will buy you ten chicks, and you'll have more eggs than you can eat."
"No, I want to eat chicken today too. I haven't had meat in ages. Go and get it for me right now."
Grandma Chen looked troubled. "My little darling, we've already severed ties with them. How can I shamelessly go and ask for their money back?"
"I don't care. You always remember me first when there's good food before. Today I want to eat chicken."
Seeing her precious daughter practically drooling with envy, Liu Fengjiao didn't want to make things difficult for Old Madam Chen, so she said, "Ruolan, don't be stubborn. You're just making things hard for her!"
Chen Ruolan smacked her lips, her mouth watering. "No, I want to eat something delicious today."
"Alright, alright, my precious granddaughter," Grandma Chen had no choice but to compromise. "Grandma has a few eggs in the cupboard. Grandma will fry them for you in a bit to satisfy your craving. Is that alright?"
Chen Ruolan pouted, "I want to eat steamed egg custard too."
"Alright, alright, Grandma promises you, I'll get you the eggs right now." After saying that, Grandma Chen turned around and went into the house.
......
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