This outburst left Madam Wang with no leg to stand on.
There was always time to resolve domestic issues, but the external situation was precisely as this brat had described. Were the people from the Li manor easy to provoke?
Now her own son had changed completely, daring to talk back to her. And this mother-daughter pair, who deserved to die, had become utterly defiant. No matter what she said, she had to find her son to teach these two a lesson, preferably to beat them into submission.
Yes, beat them to death, until they came to her door and kowtowed in apology.
Cai Lihua, standing behind, was no longer part of this drama. Her eyes sparkled, practically forming hearts, as she gazed admiringly at her daughter, who was not yet fifteen and still shorter than her chest.
"Oh my goodness, this is wonderful! She's so young and already so sensible, knowing how to protect her mother."
"A daughter as good as this is impossible to find anywhere on earth."
"Just you wait until I teach your father how to deal with you two. When that time comes, even if you kowtow to me, I won't let you off."
Money that had entered her pocket was not something she would easily give up.
As Madam Liu hobbled away,
Two hands landed on Ah Jiu's shoulders. Before she could react, she was pulled aside and held tightly in an embrace.
"Daughter, you truly cherish your mother. For my past lives, I must have accumulated enough good karma to be blessed with such a wonderful daughter. It's definitely not just our ancestral grave catching fire; even smoke rising from it wouldn't be enough."
Ah Jiu was held so tightly that she could barely breathe.
When she regained her senses, she realized how unfamiliar this embrace was. It was the first time in her memory, yet it was so firm and warm.
"Mom, I can't breathe," Ah Jiu mumbled.
Only then did Cai Lihua loosen her grip. She then cupped her daughter's face and passionately kissed her several more times.
Ah Jiu was stunned by this sudden display of affection. She instinctively wiped her face with the back of her hand. Although it was her mother's spit, she liked it very, very much.
"Don't worry, your father would never send you away, not even if it cost him his life. Later, when your father gets back, Mom will make a delicious meal for you."
In her past life, Cai Lihua had started a small restaurant with her husband early on, which later developed into a large hotel. She possessed excellent cooking skills, so fattening up her daughter was no problem.
Seeing that her daughter seemed a little reserved in her enthusiasm, only lowering her gaze, her red beauty mark shining brightly, Cai Lihua's heart ached again.
Old Meng had said that this was due to past transgressions, causing the child to be unable to smile even at this age, and not understanding what parental love was. It was fine; she would grow closer to them over time.
"Mmm," Ah Jiu pursed her lips and nodded vigorously, a flicker of emotion in her eyes. This was the first time her mother had offered to cook for her personally.
However, there was nothing at home. The little money her father had earned from his transport business in the past had all been handed over to Madam Wang. The grain harvested in the last two years, after deducting taxes, was not much, and it was all with Madam Wang too.
Adding to this, the great drought of the past three years meant that even wild vegetables on the mountains were scarce. Even though her father had brought water from Majiazhuang, there was nothing to cook.
"Lihua, come out and lend a hand."
Meng Shaode's voice echoed from the courtyard. Cai Lihua rubbed her daughter's head before turning to leave. "Silly girl, in front of Mom, you're my little treasure. Don't be so reserved."
As she went out, Cai Lihua shrieked in shock.
"Heavens, Old Meng, how did you get so strong? You must be exhausted!"
Indeed, Meng Shaode carried a shoulder pole, with four wooden buckets full of water hanging from each end without spilling a drop. In his hand, he also held a sack that was half-filled with something.
The woman took the sack from his hand, and Meng Shaode was finally free to put down the shoulder pole.
He lifted the hem of his robe and haphazardly wiped the sweat from his face, playfully flexing his fist as if doing a weightlifting exercise.
"Wife, look, muscles! I just discovered them."
Meng Shaode finally discovered the benefits of this body – he was strong. In his past life, the frail teacher could barely lift a bucket of water.
Cai Lihua suppressed a laugh and rolled her eyes at her husband. "It's about time you were useful."
"Ah! What is this? Meat? Ah Jiu, come and see!"
Cai Lihua's face was beaming with joy.
Mother and daughter put their heads together, propping open the sack to look inside. Although it was only a piece of cured meat, about the size of a palm, dry and dark, only Ah Jiu knew what kind of family could afford meat in this era.
Or, it could be human meat.
"Dad, where did you get this meat?"
Meng Shaode was wringing out the kerchief he used to wipe his face, sweat dripping down. He mysteriously held up his palm and said,
"I got it from your paternal grandmother's place when I went."
"..."