"Then watch me dare or not."
With that, she swung the rattan cane in her hand towards a nearby hen. In moments, the old hen was clutching in her left palm. Seeing Old Zhang now gaping in speechless fury, Xu Xiu even curled her lips in a cold smirk.
Slowly and deliberately, she placed her right hand against the hen's neck and gave a slight twist crack.
The hen met its maker.
"You damned murderess! We only have two egg-laying hens left! How dare you—how dare—just wait, I'll beat you to death!"
Old Lady Liu began frantically looking around for a weapon.
But before she could find anything, Xu Xiu's rattan cane lashed across her back.
This strike carried vicious force. Were it not for Xu Xiu's weakened state from prolonged hunger, the blow would have sent Old Lady Liu sprawling.
"Aiyo!"
Old Zhang finally snapped out of his daze and barked at his three sons: "What are you gawking at? Can't you see this madwoman running wild?"
"Aye—ah—"
But before he finished speaking, all three men collapsed simultaneously.
For no apparent reason—they couldn't even see how Xu Xiu had suddenly appeared before them. Somehow, her foot had already connected with their stomachs. Three grown men toppled like dominos.
"Come at me if you have grievances! Don't bully Xiu'er! Whatever issues you have, direct them at me! At me!"
Zhang Zixuan's frantic shouts came from inside the house.
Hearing this, Liu-Tou hurried into the room.
"Dad, don't worry. Mom isn't being bullied this time—she"s being amazing!" Liu-Tou whispered excitedly by Zhang Zixuan's ear, then recounted everything happening outside in detail.
Instead of being reassured, Zhang Zixuan grew more anxious. He knew his Mom too well—she would never let this go easily.
As if confirming his fears, his Mom suddenly stormed in clutching a firewood cleaver. She yanked Liu-Tou against her, pressing the blade into his throat as she snarled at Xu Xiu
"Xu Xiu! You think I won't chop this brat's head off?"
Xu Xiu actually paused—not from fear, but because the transmigrated soul within her, having fully integrated the original host's memories, was suddenly struck by suspicion about her husband Zhang Zixuan's true parentage.
She'd always wondered: Old Zhang had four sons, with Zhang Zixuan being the youngest. Shouldn't the youngest receive the most parental favor? Yet Zixuan suffered the harshest treatment in the family. Neither parent showed him affection. Moreover, his refined features stood in stark contrast to his rustic brothers. Previously she might have dismissed this, but watching Old Lady Liu hold a blade to her own grandson's throat crystallized the suspicion.
Compared to how Old Lady Liu doted on the sons of the first, second and third branches, she treated Xu Xiu's boys like vermin.
"I'll have you know, Xu Xiu! This household isn't your personal battleground!" Old Lady Liu gloated, convinced she held the upper hand.
"I'll count to three. Release him immediately or face the consequences."
As she spoke, Xu Xiu slowly crouched and collected several pebbles from the ground.
"Release him? In your dreams! If I can't discipline you today, I'll discipline this little bastard instead! You think empty threats scare me? Hah!"
"One."
"Two..."
"Final chance—release him or not?" Xu Xiu repeated tonelessly.
A glacial aura radiated from her, freezing the air itself. The murderous intent in her eyes lay completely exposed, making even Old Zhang instinctively retreat.
Blind to this, Old Lady Liu shook the cleaver triumphantly. "Mom... "I'm scared... wuwuwu..." Liu-Tou finally broke into terrified sobs, the cold blade at his throat overwhelming the child.
The sound pierced Zhang Zixuan"s heart like needles. He cried hoarsely: "Mom! How could you? However, you feel about us, Liu-Tou is still your grandson! How can you treat him this way?"
"Grandson? Pah! Just another little bastard! He's nothing but—" Old Lady Liu suddenly a bit back her words, as if remembering something. She glared at Xu Xiu and sneered: "You think I'll let this assault go unpunished? Ah—"
Clang!
The cleaver clattered on the floor before she finished. Her knees inexplicably went numb, sending her crashing to the ground in a kneeling position.
Xu Xiu closed the distance instantly, gripping the old woman's jaw with her right hand. "I said three counts. You had your chance." Her fingers tightened mercilessly until—crack!—the unmistakable sound of a dislocated jawbone echoed through the room.
The audible crunch made everyone wince. Old Lady Liu stared up in petrified disbelief, finally seeing the genuine killing intent in Xu Xiu's eyes. When she tried to scream, only muffled groans emerged—her slack jaw rendered her speechless.
Desperately, she turned pleading eyes toward Old Zhang. But the old man remained rooted, too stunned by Xu Xiu's sudden display of ruthless efficiency to notice his wife's silent cries.
Xu Xiu gave no quarter. Lifting her right leg, she kicked Old Lady Liu with all her remaining strength. Even weakened by hunger, the blow sent the old woman skidding nearly three meters across the dirt floor.
For no particular reason, Xu Xiu was simply too weak from hunger.
"Liu-Tou, don't cry. Mom is here now. No one will ever bully you again."
She then hugged Qi-Tou and Er-Ya as well, comforting them gently.
"Sit here with Dad first. Let Mom cook you some plain rice porridge, okay?"
"Okay!" The three children chorused in unison.
It wasn't that she didn't want to give them better food, but after starving for so long, greasy food might upset their stomachs.
Once their digestive systems adjusted, she would properly nourish them.
So Old Lady Liu didn't want to split up the family?
If absolutely necessary, she'd reluctantly stay united.
In this household, she wanted to experience what it felt like to not work yet eat meat every day.
Thinking of that old hen earlier - it should make enough soup to fill her family of five.
With this thought, she almost wished Old Lady Liu would hold out longer against separating households.
At least until they'd finished eating all her chickens, ducks, and pigs.
Xu Xiu was someone who acted on her thoughts. No sooner had she conceived this plan than she built a makeshift stove outside their room.
Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, she openly took out Old Lady Liu's treasured rice reserves.
She scattered handfuls of rice into the pot without a second glance.
The crowd: "..."
"Uuuu..." Old Lady Liu scrambled over to Old Zhang's side, pale-faced as she pointed at her jaw.
Old Zhang understood immediately, barking at his third son: "What are you gaping at? Go fetch the doctor!"
"Yes, yes Dad. I'll go right away."
"And you lot!" Old Zhang turned to the stunned daughters-in-law. "Planning to skip dinner?!"
At this, eldest daughter-in-law Fang and second daughter-in-law Chen hurried to the kitchen.
Their third daughter-in-law Wang Xiuying hesitated, torn between staying and leaving.
"Third daughter-in-law, would you like some porridge with us?" Er-Ya asked Wang Xiuying.
Hearing this, Wang Xiuying shook her head urgently.
"You've already taken the rice - don't waste it. Make it last a few meals!" she whispered.
Glancing toward the kitchen to ensure no one noticed, she pulled a bottle of bruise ointment from her robes and handed it to Xu Xiu. "Apply this. Look at all your injuries. After how you defied Mom today... When she recovers, your life will be hell."
Xu Xiu finally showed a genuine smile, accepting the medicine. "Don't worry, Third Sister-in-law. Since I dared do this, I never feared her retaliation."
Of course, she knew Old Lady Liu wouldn't let this go easily.
But so what?
Xu Xiu wasn't one to back down from trouble.
If that old hag didn't want to divide the household? Fine - she wouldn't leave until they'd eaten every last chicken, duck, and pig here!
In the kitchen, Fang and Chen were already gloating.
"Guess how Mom will punish that little bitch tomorrow?" Fang asked gleefully.
"Same as always - beat her half to death!"
"Beating's fine, but she had better be able to work. Otherwise, we'll have to do her chores!"
"Relax. Has Mom ever let her skip work? Even if she can't walk, Mom will drag her out of bed. Slacking under Mom's watch? Impossible!"
Chen sneered darkly.
As childbearers of Zhang sons, they rarely faced physical punishment. At worst, some harsh words - unlike Xu Xiu, whose weak maternal family offered no protection.
"Today's work shouldn't have been ours. That wretch stops working, and we suffer. " Fang complained.
"Just tonight. By dawn, she'll regret crossing Mom."
The doctor arrived shortly, visibly startled upon seeing Old Lady Liu's jaw.
No wonder Old Lady Liu was notorious throughout Zhang Village. Who dared provoke her?
The sudden dislocation shocked him.
Under the old woman's furious glare, Dr. Zhang explained nervously: "It's dislocated. Needs resetting. This will hurt, Auntie."
Dr. Zhang Shuqiang, the village physician in his thirties, positioned his hands on her jaw and snapped it back with a crack, leaping away instantly.
"Ah!!" Old Lady Liu's scream turned into a kick aimed at the doctor, who deftly avoided it.
"Twenty coins. Will you pay for Uncle Zhang?"
"Highway robbery! Twenty coins for two pushes?!" Old Lady Liu screeched.
"Home visits cost five coins. Plus medicine for recovery."
"What medicine?! I'm cured!"
"Then twelve coins without medicine."
"Twelve?!"
Knowing her reputation, Dr. Zhang finally settled for ten coins before fleeing.
Recovered, Old Lady Liu's first thought was to confront Xu Xiu, then remembered her stolen rice.
Agonized, she wanted to reclaim it, but Xu Xiu's earlier ferocity gave her pause.
"That little wretch... Did she eat poison today?!" Old Lady Liu muttered.
"Enough!" Old Zhang snapped. "Leave it for tomorrow!"