Chapter 62: Zhao Wulai

For the first time being praised, the children shyly scratched their heads and each patted their chests, promising: "Auntie Jiang, rest assured—Xiaoxiao is our little sister, we'll protect her well!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "..."

When the wild boar came, they all turned to jelly—no one knows who's protecting whom.

Nearby, Wang Shenzi stared at the two taels of meat those children had taken, regretting it so much her guts turned green.

Goudan was there too—if only I hadn't dragged him away, I could've gotten another two taels of meat!

Now in town, one jin of meat sells for thirty-five wen—these two taels are seven wen!

The village head heard from the other children about Zhao Ergou bullying Jiang Xiaoxiao, and instantly slammed a palm onto the back of his head, roaring:

"Zhao Ergou, you little bastard! Xiaoxiao's only five years old—how dare you use your age to bully her! Look at you and your father—you're both utterly inhuman!"

Zhao Ergou kept his head down, silent.

The women nearby hurriedly warned their own children not to associate with Zhao Ergou again, lest they be corrupted—he was no good, and neither was his son, raised by that no-good father!

As the women scolded their children, a woman carried a hoe and led two daughters into Jiang Family's courtyard.

"Village Head, I—I want to join everyone digging the ditch. Is that okay?"

Everyone turned—and saw it was Zhao Dasao, Zhao Wulai's wife.

She kept her head down, face flushed with shame, as if afraid to look at anyone.

Wang Shenzi sneered: "Oh? If it isn't Zhao Dasao! What's this? Your husband won't come dig the ditch, so you have to come instead? Or did you just hear there'd be meat to split?"

"I—I don't want meat..." Zhao Dasao hurriedly replied, lifting her head—everyone saw the dark bruise on her temple, clearly from a beating.

"I just want to dig the ditch with everyone—once it's done, my family's fields can be watered..." Zhao Dasao said, then buried her head again.

Before coming, she had pleaded with Zhao Wulai several times—she got nothing but another beating.

The village head sighed. He couldn't meddle in others' family affairs, so he said: "Fine. Join the group and go up the mountain."

Zhao Dasao exhaled in relief, bowing repeatedly to thank the village head.

Wang Shenzi glanced at Zhao Dasao's bruised temple, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

Zhao Wulai was no good—he beat his wife daily, not just her, but his two daughters too. Only Zhao Ergou lived somewhat better.

Comparing them, Wang Shenzi suddenly felt her own husband wasn't so bad.

Wang Dachui was a quiet man, couldn't even grunt a word, but at least he never laid a hand on her.

Thinking this, Wang Shenzi patted the two taels of meat in her arms. Digging the ditch was exhausting—she'd go home and cook her husband a good meal to recover, then hurried off.

The other village women also returned home; the men kept digging the ditch up the mountain.

Each family received two taels of wild boar meat. Thinking of eating meat after work, the men labored fiercely—and soon, a long stretch of ditch was dug.

The new arrival, Zhao Dasao, was incredibly capable. Zhao Wulai was lazy and gluttonous; she alone managed their family fields, her strength equal to any man's.

Her two daughters helped beside her, picking up small stones from the ditch and tossing them out.

Inside the Li Family Ancestral House.

The news of Jiang Xiaoxiao's family receiving wild boar meat had spread through the whole village—Li Family naturally knew too.

Li Old Matriarch cursed in the courtyard: "Spit! That heartless, wasteful bitch! Such a huge wild boar, she didn't even offer it to her in-laws—gave it all to random villagers!"

"Why didn't she fly to heaven! What good is giving meat to these mud-legged peasants? If I'd given birth to such a daughter, I'd beat her to death for wasting it!"

"Mom, I want to eat wild boar meat..." Li Xiufen stepped out of Shang Fang, covering her face, licking her lips—she hadn't eaten meat in ages.

"Xiufen, wait a bit—your brother went to dig the ditch today. When he brings back meat, you can eat." Li Old Matriarch said, unable to resist swallowing saliva.

She'd heard: everyone who dug the ditch got two taels of wild boar meat.

Two taels of meat—enough for several meals!

Zhu Shi, usually greedy, stayed silent beside her, instead glancing silently at the West Room, doors and windows tightly shut.

Inside the West Room, Li Shoucai lay fast asleep—he hadn't gone to dig the ditch.

"Xiufen, what's wrong with your face? Didn't you see a doctor? Why's it worse now?" Li Old Master noticed Li Xiufang's face covered in red rashes and boils, and asked.

A few days ago it wasn't this bad—why was it getting worse? The rashes had spread from cheeks to chin, worst on forehead and cheekbones.

"Dad, I don't know!" Li Xiufen scratched again, but it only made the itch worse.

Frustrated, she couldn't leave home with this face—how could she ever marry into the Huang Family?

Just then, Li Jinfeng returned from outside. Li Old Matriarch spotted her and scolded: "You little brat, where'd you run off to again? You're not doing any housework?"

"Granny, I went to buy things for Auntie." Li Jinfeng pouted, reluctantly walked to Li Xiufen, tossed the bundle into her hands, then turned and rushed back to the East Room before her grandmother could scold her.

"That little brat..." Li Old Matriarch opened her mouth to scold again—then saw Li Xiufen eagerly untying the bundle: an old red box.

Li Xiufen pried open the lid—inside, red and white powders: a fresh box of rouge and face powder.

"Mom, my old rouge and face powder ran out—I asked Jin Feng to buy me new ones from town. Look, isn't it pretty?" she boasted. With this, she wouldn't fear leaving home.

Li Old Matriarch didn't understand such things—she saw the box and thought it expensive, glared at the East Room: "What's so special about a little rouge and face powder? Why pay her for it? Xiufen, once you marry into the Huang Family, you'll have as much as you want!"

"Obviously!" Li Xiufen snorted proudly, her face full of rashes but glowing with dreams—she'd use this rouge and face powder to look stunning, make the Huang Family Young Master fall for her at first sight, and then enjoy endless wealth and luxury in the Huang Family.

The more she thought, the hotter her heart burned. She hugged the rouge box tightly, ran into the room, and prepared to paint herself a beautiful makeup.

(End of Chapter)