Chapter 9: A Slip of the Hand

The next day. The family gathered at the dining table.

"Where is the food?"
"Why isn't breakfast ready?"

Upon seeing the empty table, Cheng Xiaoyuan immediately curled his lip. "Mother, I'm starving to death..."

The eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Qin, instantly darkened her face. She glared at Madam Liu as if she were a servant. "I say, Liu Cuiyun, have you lost your mind these past two days? You don't cook, and you don't do the housework! Is it just because of a few words of bickering? What, do you expect our mother to beg you now?"

"What is that supposed to mean, sister-in-law?" Madam Liu looked over languidly. She first glanced at Old Madam Han, then added coolly, "Mother is the head of this household; how would I dare to oppose her? But look at you—we are all daughters-in-law, so why should you be the only one resting? Don't you agree, second sister-in-law?"

Before Madam Qin could retort, Madam Liu shifted the flames of war directly onto Madam Yao.

Cheng An, standing to the side, snickered to himself. His mother's eloquence was truly impressive! Especially now that they had money, her confidence had grown significantly.

Madam Yao Chunhua, who had been waiting to watch the show, likely hadn't expected the usually timid Madam Liu to drag her into the fray. "Ah? This..." She was momentarily speechless. "Don't ask me, what does this have to do with me?"

"Yao Chunhua!" Madam Qin snapped, her face cold. "What do you mean 'what does it have to do with you'? My household is supporting two scholars; do you have any idea how busy that keeps me?"

"Yes! That’s right, isn't it?" Madam Yao suddenly remembered the current situation. With tax collection imminent, the eldest branch was clearly trying to assert its authority. Even if she disliked Qin Dongzhi, she had no choice but to swallow her pride. She changed her tune, "Cuiyun, sister-in-law is already exhausted from looking after the eldest brother and Yuan'er's studies; how could she manage the housework too? You are the youngest in the family, so it wouldn't hurt to help share the burden."

"Can't manage?" Madam Liu looked at her son, who was a genius in her eyes. Subconsciously, she found her resolve. "Well, I can't manage either! Dashan works in the fields and goes up the mountain every day—you've seen how exhausted he is. And then there's Yao Liu... he’s going to school in a few days too!"

Just because your family has scholars, you don't have to work? Fine! Then she wouldn't work either.

*Thwack!*

Old Madam Han slammed her hand onto the table, cutting the argument short. She glared at Madam Liu. "Who agreed to let Yao Liu go to school? Did you not hear about the tax collection yesterday? Liu Cuiyun, do you want to turn the world upside down?"

She turned her head to her third son. "And you, Third! I was thinking yesterday about having your eldest brother go and borrow some money to at least cover the tax for our family members..."

"But now, it seems there is no need!" She shot a venomous glare at Madam Liu. "Since your wife is so capable, let her find a way herself... life and death are in the hands of fate! The Cheng family cannot afford a daughter-in-law like her!"

In this era, women truly had no human rights. Especially married women—once you enter your husband's family, it is as deep as the sea. If the mother-in-law is kind, you might be lucky; but if you have the misfortune of encountering a cruel and heartless household, no one would care even if you were sold off.

"Mother, are you not afraid of losing face this time?"
"What did you say?" Old Madam Han's eyes glinted with malice.

Just that one look made Madam Liu shrink back instinctively. This was the lingering effect of being bullied for so long. In the past, never mind talking back to her mother-in-law, Liu Cuiyun wouldn't even dare to cry where anyone could hear her, suffering in silence.

But things were different now. Her husband was slowly changing... her son was becoming more and more brilliant! And they had money! Bolstered by this newfound confidence, Madam Liu found more courage. "The whole village knows that you, Mother, care most about your reputation. If your daughter-in-law is really sold off by the magistrate, where will you put your face?"

"Good!"
"You are a good one, Liu Cuiyun!"

Old Madam Han trembled with rage. She had thought she could use the tax situation to crush Madam Liu's 'rebellious streak.' Once the government runners arrived and the shackles were placed around her neck... she would see if Liu Cuiyun still dared to bare her teeth! She hadn't expected Madam Liu to be this brave.

"I see you truly don't want to live anymore!" Old Madam Han commanded, "Eldest, go get... get my cane!"

"Mother, please calm your anger." Cheng Dahai urged, though he handed the cane to her, sneering, "It's not worth getting upset over such a degenerate. Have you forgotten yesterday..."

Yesterday, Old Madam Han had nearly been angered to death by Liu Cuiyun and Yao Chunhua. To the matriarch of the Cheng family, this was not just a disgrace, it was a provocation!

As expected, she let out a furious roar and lunged, swinging the cane at Madam Liu. "I will beat you to death, you unfilial wretch!"

"Mother!" Cheng Dashan instinctively reached out to block her. But to his surprise... Cheng An was faster!

"Don't you dare hit my mother!" He lunged in front of her.

*Thump!*

The cane landed solidly on his back. Young, delicate Cheng An let out a miserable cry and immediately 'fainted.'

The room fell silent. Several pairs of eyes stared blankly at Old Madam Han. She, too, was startled.

*Clatter.* The cane fell to the ground.

"Yao Liu!" Madam Liu cried out, scooping up her son.

Cheng Dashan stared coldly at Old Madam Han. "Mother, that is your own grandson!"

"I..." Old Madam Han opened her mouth. She wanted to say a few soft words to save face, but seeing the cold, icy glare of her third son, she felt her authority challenged. She stiffened her face. "What are you howling about? It was just an accidental blow. Why haven't you gone to find some herbs to rub on him yet?"

Cheng Dashan was trembling. His fists were clenched tight, his eyes bloodshot! But as a son, he could not raise a hand against his own mother. Not even for the greatest of reasons.

Madam Liu couldn't care about anything else; she hugged her unconscious son and wailed. "Yao Liu, Yao Liu? My son, what's wrong? Open your eyes—it’s me, it’s Mother!"

She was filled with unbearable regret. Had she known this would be the outcome, she would never have talked back to Old Madam Han. If her son was badly hurt, how would she live the rest of her life?

"Mother..." Cheng An whispered, his voice thin as a thread, eyes half-closed. "It hurts."

"A doctor!"
"Quick, go find a doctor..."

Cheng Dashan carried his son and rushed out. Behind them, they could hear Old Madam Han yelling in a shrill, mocking tone, "Find a doctor, find a doctor! You haven't even touched him properly and you're already looking for a doctor! Does the family's money grow on trees?"

She then turned to Madam Qin. "Eldest, you go too, and keep an eye on things outside."

"Don't worry, Mother."

Madam Qin understood Old Madam Han’s intent perfectly. She was worried that Madam Liu would go around running her mouth. As the matriarch of the Cheng family, she could bully Liu Cuiyun—even giving her a beating was fine; after all, she was an outsider, and no one would take it seriously.

But Cheng An was different. No matter how much Old Madam Han disliked this young grandson, if outsiders saw a grandmother inflicting such a heavy hand on her own flesh and blood, what would they think of her?