Chapter 162: 162. Chapter 162: Croton Powder

162. Chapter 162: Croton Powder

"Everyone is too kind. Yun Ying's status is low, and I dare not hope for anything..."

Compared to Li Shoude's undisguised pride, Yun Ying appeared much more humble. She said in a soft, gentle voice: "This humble one only wishes to be able to accompany Shoude by his side, to be his confidante, to grind ink and add fragrance for him; that would be enough to satisfy this humble one."

She wore a bashful smile on her face, and the purple tassels slanted in her hair swayed gently with her movements, making her face appear even more delicate and beautiful. Every gesture was like the wind brushing against a willow.

The villagers were all rough men used to doing heavy farm work; where had they ever seen such a bashful beauty? Their eyes went straight immediately.

"Fox spirit!"

In the crowd, someone cursed in a low voice.

The air went quiet for an instant.

But in a flash, everyone's attention was drawn by a sharp voice.

"Li Dayong! Your eyes are growing on top of your head! What are you staring at that slut for!"

"What kind of ghost talk are you spouting, woman!" Li Dayong defended himself, both ashamed and angry.

"Did I say anything wrong? Your eyes were practically glued to that slut!" Li Dayong's wife glared hatefully at Yun Ying, "Pah, putting on that fox-like display, who knows who she's trying to seduce!"

"You—"

Seeing that the two were about to have a big argument, the Li Zheng hurriedly scolded: "Stop arguing! This is the Jiang family's joyous day of moving, not a place for you two to lose face. If you keep arguing, get out and go home!"

Upon hearing that they were about to be driven home, the two finally quieted down.

They hadn't eaten enough of the Jiang family's sumptuous meal yet; how could they bear to leave?

After being stirred up by Li Dayong and his wife, some of the young wives in the village also gave their own men warning glares.

Some men with little thoughts hurriedly lowered their heads and pretended to shovel rice, not daring to glance around anymore.

Wang Shenzi also looked at her own man. Wang Dachui had been lowering his head and shoveling rice silently from beginning to end. Seeing her look over, he hurriedly picked up a piece of fatty meat and put it into her bowl, smiling ingratiatingly: "Wife, eat quickly, or it will be eaten by others in a moment."

"Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating." Wang Shenzi rolled her eyes, but inside, a touch of indescribable sweetness was rolling.

After such a commotion, the originally lively atmosphere of the feast became somewhat silent.

"Hmph, coming from Yanliu Alley, she really has no shame!" Li Family Old Woman chewed the meat in big mouthfuls, her triangular eyes glaring at Yun Ying, "All day long, full of slutty energy, I don't know who she's trying to seduce. You have no shame, but my Li family still wants face!"

"Mother, I know you still have prejudices against me..." Yun Ying immediately put on a wronged expression, bit her red lips, and pretended to be strong, "It doesn't matter if you dislike me, it doesn't matter if you are unwilling to accept me, but I beg you, please don't drive me away. I truly love Shoude..."

This tearful, "little white flower" appearance made Li Shoude's heart ache. He immediately threw down his chopsticks and said angrily: "Mother! If you say such things about Yun Ying again, I will take her to live in town right now and never come back!"

"Don't, don't, son, don't go, your mother was just talking nonsense!" Li Family Old Man, upon hearing that his son was leaving, hurriedly glared at Li Family Old Woman, "Just say a few words less, can't even food plug your mouth!"

He couldn't bear for Li Shoude to leave. Once the scholar son left, he would have no capital to show off in the village, and it wouldn't sound good if word got out.

Therefore, no matter how much the Li family opposed Yun Ying now, under Li Shoude's pressure, they could only force themselves to accept it.

Li Family Old Woman pursed her lips and finally shut up.

Jiang Xiaoxiao watched from afar, finding it funny.

This woman, just as described in the original work, really has some tricks up her sleeve.

Li Shoude is a scholar now; the old couple of the Li family naturally look down on Yun Ying, who was born in a brothel, and would never agree to Li Shoude taking her as a concubine.

Yun Ying puts on a pitiful appearance of not fighting or grabbing, but she is definitely unwilling in her heart. This time she followed along, presumably also wanting to use this opportunity to show her face, demonstrate her relationship with Li Shoude in front of the villagers, and force the old couple of the Li family to acknowledge her.

Thinking of how Yun Ying turned the Li family upside down in the original work, Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.

It's just... it's a pity for this table of good food. Feeding it to dogs would be better than feeding it to this group of ungrateful people in the Li family.

I wonder what kind of great kindness her mother had to actually be willing to let the Li family stay and eat.

Just as she was thinking this, Jiang Wei's voice suddenly sounded in her ear: "Today, Mother will teach you another principle: reasoning with such scoundrels is useless. The best solution is to let them eat enough of a lesson so they never dare to come to our house again."

Jiang Xiaoxiao was startled upon hearing this and immediately widened her round eyes, asking: "Mother, you mean..."

Jiang Wei spoke slowly: "The temperature has been getting cooler these past few days, and the old house is damp, so there are more bugs and ants. I sprinkled some croton powder in the kitchen to detoxify and kill the insects..."

"So that table..." Jiang Xiaoxiao turned her head to look. Li Family Old Woman was picking up the fatty meat that had fallen on the table and eating it without any disgust, and then even put the fingers that had touched the tabletop into her mouth to suck on them. She fell silent instantly.

Alright, she takes back what she said earlier. Her mother isn't being kind-hearted; she's become black-bellied...

In no time at all, the Li family had swept the table clean of food.

Li Family Old Woman smacked her lips, still wanting more, looked at the mother and daughter, and ordered imperiously: "Jiang Shi, what are you standing there for? Don't you see we've finished eating? Why don't you hurry up and tell people to serve more food!"

Jiang Wei sat still, watching her with composure.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying!" Li Family Old Woman wiped the oil from her mouth and patted the table with her greasy, dirty hands. The table clattered, but it couldn't cover her sharp voice, "You've earned so much money and you don't even know how to show filial piety to your parents. Today, you'd better be sensible and quickly put out the good food and drink!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao watched silently as Li Family Old Woman's hand kept patting the table; who knows how much croton powder she inhaled into her nose.

"Also, don't forget your sister-in-law. Quickly prepare a fresh portion and send it to Xiufang to taste!"

Li Family Old Woman was in the middle of cursing when her expression suddenly froze. She clutched her stomach and wailed:

"Ouch! What's going on, my stomach hurts so much!"

"Mother, Mother! What's wrong with you?" Li Shoude immediately became anxious, "Jiang Shi, what did you feed my mother! Why does my mother's stomach hurt!?"

Facing Li Shoude's questioning, Jiang Wei only replied coldly: "Eldest son of the Li family, don't go around falsely accusing people. Everyone ate the same food, and we are all fine. Your mother's stomach ache is her own reason; what does it have to do with me?"

"You—"

Li Shoude was about to curse, but Li Family Old Woman suddenly grabbed his sleeve, "Quick, quick... the latrine, I can't hold it anymore!"

Li Family Old Woman's face was flushed red from holding it in. She clutched her stomach in great discomfort, unable to even stand steadily.

"Mother, hold on a little longer, I'll take you to find the latrine right away!" Li Shoude didn't dare to delay and immediately picked up Li Family Old Woman and rushed out of the courtyard.

The rest of the Li family also came to their senses and hurriedly chased after them.

A group of people rushed anxiously to their house, but before they even reached the latrine door, they heard a splattering sound...

Following Li Shoude's scream, a stench of feces permeated the air. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 163 =====