At this moment, Madam Sun lost control of her emotions and shouted loudly, "It's all your fault. It's because you were unwilling to spend money that Kuang passed away."
Old Madam Yu was caught off guard by the fact that Madam Sun had always blamed her for Kuang's death. She slapped her thigh and wailed, "Oh no, how can I go on living? This old matter keeps getting brought up over and over, stabbing at my old heart.
Kuang was also my own grandson; how could I have deliberately harmed him? You brought a little jinx home, and after your son was jinxed to death, you turned around and blamed me?"
Madam Sun continued to protect Yu Xiaolian, glaring at Old Madam Yu, "Kuang is gone, and Changhe and I only have this one daughter left. I won't let you bully her anymore, no matter what."
"Oh, Madam Sun, look at you, siding against your mother-in-law and protecting that stray girl you picked up instead. Where's Changhe? Where has Changhe gone? I want my son to divorce you anyway, you barren hen who can't have any more children. I can't let my family Changhe be left childless; I must have my son divorce you. Later, you can take this wild girl and die back at your mother's house."
Old Madam Yu shouted Yu Changhe's name a few times, but he didn't come out.
Madam Cao said beside her, "Mother, the willow branches for basket weaving are running out for Changhe, so he probably went up the mountain to cut some."
Madam Sun wasn't afraid that Yu Changhe would divorce her. She knew in her heart that Old Madam Yu was just trying to scare her.
First, Old Madam Yu was too stingy to spend money on another wife for Yu Changhe, and second, if she really got divorced, there would be no one to care for the crippled Yu Changhe.
Yu Xiaolian had always thought that Madam Sun had great prejudice against her and was very uncomfortable with her presence. She never expected that Madam Sun would break ties with Old Madam Yu today to protect her.
"Mom, the game I brought back was given to me by Jiang Lin, not stolen."
Yu Xiaolian glanced at Old Madam Yu, her tone low, appearing to be quite afraid of Old Madam Yu, "Grandma, if you don't believe me, you can bring Jiang Lin to confront me."
Old Madam Yu snorted, "Why would Jiang Lin give you chicken and rabbit? Why wouldn't he give it to me?"
As soon as Old Madam Yu finished speaking, Madam Cao exclaimed loudly, "Oh dear, don't tell me... Oh, you dead girl, so young yet already seducing men. You're bringing shame upon the Yu Family."
"Is it true?" Yu Zishu suddenly rushed out, staring directly at Yu Xiaolian, "Is what my mother said true? Are you really involved with Jiang Lin?"
Yu Xiaolian was speechless.
"Jiang Lin and I are innocent. Please, I'm begging you, don't ruin my reputation, okay?"
Before Old Madam Yu could speak, Yu Zishu asked again, "Then why did Jiang Lin give you game?"
"Yes, why would Jiang Lin give you game? Why wouldn't he give it to others?" Old Madam Yu chimed in.
Yu Xiaolian thought for a bit and felt that Jiang Lin's earlier explanation about exchanging wild vegetables for game wouldn't be convincing, so she came up with another reason.
"Yesterday afternoon, I went up the mountain to dig wild vegetables and accidentally fell into a trap set by Jiang the Hunter's family. I got hurt a bit, so Jiang the Hunter felt guilty for his family's trap causing my injury, and Jiang the Hunter thinks I'm too thin, so he asked Jiang Lin to bring some game to nourish me."
"Nonsense, I don't see any injuries on you? Aren't you fine?" Old Madam Yu scrutinized Yu Xiaolian, "I see you haven't lost an arm or a leg, you seem perfectly fine."
Yu Xiaolian bowed her head in a gesture of grievance, "Of course you can't see where I am injured. Even if I died here, you elderly folks would think I was just asleep, right?
Sorry, Grandma, I'm neither missing an arm nor a leg; I must have disappointed you."
Old Madam Yu was so furious at Yu Xiaolian's feigned pitiful act that she jumped up and charged towards Yu Xiaolian.
"You dead girl, troublemaker, what nonsense are you spewing? Watch me tear your mouth apart today."
"Help, help, someone please save me, uncles and elders."
Yu Xiaolian knew it wasn't the time to confront Old Madam Yu head-on, especially now with so many onlookers. If she impulsively insulted Old Madam Yu, she'd be labeled as disobedient and unfilial.
Besides, whether it's modern times or ancient times, people tend to sympathize more with the weaker side.
What Yu Xiaolian didn't expect was that none of the onlookers were willing to step forward to stop Old Madam Yu.
Alas, it seems that the label of 'little jinx' wasn't given to her for nothing.
Yu Zishu spread his arms to block the crazy Old Madam Yu, "Grandma, I'll go get Jiang Lin for a confrontation. Can you please not hit Lian'er?"
Old Madam Yu was so furious at Yu Zishu's words that she nearly fainted. She shakily pointed her finger at him, wanting to scold him but just trembled her lips and couldn't get the words out.
Madam Cao suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Yu Zishu, "What confrontation? Let's say it was from Jiang the Hunter's family. Even if so, what right does a younger one have to sneak a bite?"
Madam Cao shoved Yu Zishu a few times, "Go inside."
She then signaled to Yu Ziyi, who was watching the scene, to keep an eye on Yu Zishu.
Yu Zishu was pushed into the house, and Madam Cao returned, looking at Yu Xiaolian, "Your grandma is the elder of this family, the head of the household. With good things, naturally, you first show respect by allowing the elders to eat. I wonder how your mother teaches you usually."
Yu Xiaolian gave Madam Cao a glance and whispered, "I never said I wouldn't let my grandma eat. I was planning to have my mom cook it and then give Grandma a bowl. It's just that my grandma wants to keep all three, unwilling to give our family even one."
"A bowl?" Madam Cao screeched, "With such a big family, how can one bowl be enough? Besides, both your brothers came back today. Even if we stew all three, it might not be enough for our whole family. Xiaolian, you're such an obedient child, just wait until next time. Maybe Jiang Lin might give you some again!"
Madam Sun pulled Yu Xiaolian's hand, signaling her not to speak. She looked at Madam Cao coldly with a look of mockery, "Sister-in-law, if I'm not mistaken, we've already divided the family. Why should the game Jiang Lin gave to our family be cooked in your pot?"
Madam Cao kept a straight face, "Sister-in-law, even if we've separated, you should still show respect to the elders. Mother is still alive, you can't pretend she's dead, can you?"
"Who says I haven't shown respect to the elders? We give fifty coins of respect money to Father and Mother every month."
Just as Madam Sun finished speaking, the wooden door of the main house was violently opened. Yu Laoye banged the door loudly with his big tobacco pipe, "Stop arguing! Quarreling to this extent over some food, it makes people laugh at us, doesn't it? If they're craving it so much, let them have the game to eat. We're already so old, let's give the children a break, eating a little less won't kill us, right?"