In recent years, Yu Tingwan, fearing being kicked out, endured all hardships without complaint, swallowing her grievances silently, never having raised a fuss like this.
Mrs. Wang was used to her submissive behavior, but now her anger surged: "Not a word of truth from your mouth, you've certainly grown capable. Do you want me to serve you as well?"
Yu Tingwan paused thoughtfully: "That could work."
Mrs. Wang was so enraged that she trembled all over, turning to Aunt Wu nearby to vent: "Everyone outside says I'm tormenting this niece to death day in and day out. But Auntie, look at her manner, acting high and mighty! She won't even do the easiest chores now."
"I don't know which scoundrel spread such rumors, ruining my reputation!"
Aunt Wu lived next door, so how could she not know the troubles of the Hu Family? If it weren't for Hu Dazhu protecting this niece, Yu Tingwan wouldn't have survived till now.
This Mrs. Wang really couldn't tolerate anyone!
Whenever Hu Dazhu wasn't home, she tormented the niece mercilessly!
Aunt Wu didn't want to get involved in the Hu Family's affairs, so she quickly made an excuse and left.
Yu Tingwan, feeling cold, pulled together her patched-up, ragged cotton coat: "The Hu Family gave me shelter, just as my aunt said, so I am bound to repay them by working hard like an ox or a horse all my life."
Mrs. Xiao, having just composed herself and walked out, met Yu Tingwan's gentle gaze and felt a bad premonition.
"But my sister-in-law is worried about me, fearing I won't withstand it, and insists on doing the work for me."
Mrs. Xiao: ?
Mrs. Wang frowned: "How can this be?"
Mrs. Xiao was pregnant with her cherished grandchild!
Yu Tingwan: "My sister-in-law, flaunting her pregnancy, taunts and provokes me every day, but she's also said she'll reflect on her behavior."
Mrs. Xiao: ???
Could she dare call Yu Tingwan a liar?
No, she didn't dare.
She forced a stiff smile: "Yes, yes, it's my fault."
This daughter-in-law of hers was a sly one, always playing tricks. Mrs. Wang was astonished: "This... shouldn't be right."
"What my aunt said."
Yu Tingwan chuckled softly: "Can't my sister-in-law be sensible just this once?"
The walls in the countryside were built with stones and yellow mud, and the house she lived in was low and cramped, with old window shutters that the cold wind could easily shake.
Returning to her room, the smile at the tip of Yu Tingwan's brow faded inch by inch.
Her head throbbed painfully, and her mind periodically replayed visions of her tragic demise whenever she closed her eyes.
Since last year, after falling into the water and suffering a head injury, she had begun seeing some images in her mind.
Fragmented and incomplete.
But all seemed to depict events that would happen in the future or things she had experienced in a past life.
Yu Tingwan slowly lowered her eyelids, her entire body cold, her bones trembling.
The Hu Family was no longer a place she could stay.
But where could she go?
Xilin Village was surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the only road out had been sealed.
Even if she managed to leave the village, weren't there rampant cases of bandits abducting girls outside?
Why did she only realize her aunt would harm her after her uncle left?
Panic wouldn't solve anything, so Yu Tingwan tried to stay calm, yet all she felt inside was emptiness and endless confusion.
Who knows how much time had passed when she finally composed herself and went to the corner, carrying the clothes she changed out of the night before out the door.
Mrs. Xiao, who had been muttering complaints, was mixing chicken feed and glanced over, not willing to engage in conversation.
But Yu Tingwan stood firmly before her, and her gaze towards Mrs. Xiao carried an inexplicable meaning.
Mrs. Xiao got goosebumps from her stare: "What are you looking at!"
Yu Tingwan blinked and articulated clearly: "Sister-in-law, you seem rather unlucky."
Mrs. Xiao: ???
Did you come over here just to curse me?
Are you crazy!!
Why would you curse me again?
She felt resentful, wishing she could scratch Yu Tingwan's face.
Right then, Mrs. Wang, sensing something was off, caught up in anger: "Which rascal broke a bowl?"
Yu Tingwan promptly replied: "Sister-in-law did."
Mrs. Xiao's breath caught.
She even swayed, being held up by the instigator.
Yu Tingwan: "Sister-in-law, why are you trembling?"
She didn't forget to reassure her in panic: "Sister-in-law, now that you're with child, what's a broken bowl? As long as you're happy, if you smashed everything in the house, Aunt would have to accept it."
Mrs. Wang's face darkened.
What nonsense is this!
Don't bowls cost money!
Was she really expected to cater to Mrs. Xiao?
Afraid of Mrs. Wang's wrath, Mrs. Xiao grabbed the chicken feed and hurried to the backyard in a fluster.
She couldn't help but curse angrily: "That little wretch is truly malicious, just don't let her fall into my hands!"
"She was still obedient back then, but in the past few days, who knows what medicine she's consumed."
With a thud, a bird fluttered overhead and flew past her. Mrs. Xiao tilted her head to look up, feeling something strike the corner of her mouth.
She raised her hand to touch it, smearing bird droppings.
Mrs. Wang picked up a thin bamboo stick to discipline her with big strides.
"What a disgrace! You fool..."
Wiping the sticky mess off the corner of her mouth, Mrs. Xiao looked utterly disgusted. No longer caring for anything else, she trembled: "Mother! That little wretch has been acting strange ever since she fell into the water!"
Whenever she cursed her for bad luck, she indeed encountered misfortune!!
Last time she called her unlucky, strange red bumps appeared all over her body, itching for half a month.
The time before last, after calling her unlucky, her drunken husband gave her a slap.
Scarred for life!
The eerie Yu Tingwan walked along the village path, not rushing to the river to do the laundry.
Unable to leave, she had to find ways to stall Matchmaker Liu first.
There were two willow trees outside Matchmaker Liu's house, making it easy to recognize. She was known for her silver tongue, able to make the dead sound alive. People from the nearby ten miles all sought her for matchmaking.
Decked in heavy makeup, unlike the usual slender countryside women, she was rare and plump, with eyes and brows full of joy and spring.
She was distressed about explaining things on Landlord Dong's end, and right then, Mrs. Wang paid a visit.
Though Landlord Dong was old, he was famously lustful. After surviving his first wife, he turned around demanding a pretty, fresh girl who had never been married.
This made things difficult.
Pretty girls were too valuable for their families to marry off to an old wretch to suffer. As for those families willing to marry into the Dong Family, Landlord Dong criticized them for not being pretty enough.
If Dong Family hadn't offered a high matchmaking fee, she would have flipped the table already.
No longer troubled.
Yu Tingwan's face would surely please the landlord!
Matchmaker Liu walked briskly, eager to see this marriage through.
On the path to the Dong Family, someone had been waiting for quite some time.
Under the sunlight, the girl's lashes were dense and long, her lips rosy and her skin as fine and translucent as white porcelain...
Seeing such beauty, Matchmaker Liu's eyes lit up as she quickly approached to scrutinize her.
"Oh my, isn't this Wan Niang? You've blossomed beautifully."
Yu Tingwan fixed her gaze on her, then suddenly smiled.
"Auntie's here."
"You've certainly kept me waiting."
Matchmaker Liu was momentarily taken aback: "You were looking for me?"
Not thinking much of it: "Did your aunt send you with a message?"
"Is Auntie still going to the Dong Family?"
"Of course, I'm..."
Matchmaker Liu paused, stunned: "How do you know I'm going to the Dong Family?"
She probed: "Did your aunt tell you?"
Yu Tingwan's eyes showed no emotion.
"Tell me what?"
"Tell me that she repeatedly emphasized that there's only one condition; as long as someone offers twenty taels as a betrothal gift, they can take me away, whether they're human or ghost?"
She spoke without holding back: "Or that she's in cahoots with you, two of a kind?"