Shen Mu swaggered in, her haughty demeanor suggesting her nostrils were practically pointing at the sky.
Yang Shi followed behind her, a malicious smile plastered on her face.
Shen Tingwen's expression shifted, and he stepped forward, "Grandmother, why have you come?"
"What do you mean, 'why have I come'!" Shen Mu shoved him dismissively, "My son is back, can't I come and see him!"
Shen Tingwen stumbled from the push, but fortunately, Shen Tingyi, who was quick-witted, grabbed him.
The twins' expressions were none too pleased.
Shen Mu, however, was oblivious. Her eyes practically glued themselves to the bright red chicken on the table.
"I haven't eaten either, let's eat together!" With that, she unceremoniously sat down in Shen Tingwen's seat.
Yang Shi approached with a fawning smile, "Tingyi, girls shouldn't be at the table. Let your eldest aunt sit."
Shen Tingyi's small hands clenched into fists. She was extremely reluctant, but she knew she couldn't refuse.
Just as she was about to get up, a hand suddenly reached out from beside her and pressed her down.
Li Yue Shu patted Shen Tingyi reassuringly and looked up coldly, "There are no extra seats in the house, so eldest sister-in-law can stand! And..."
She glanced at Shen Mu, "This is for Old Man Liu's family. You probably won't be able to eat it."
"What?" Shen Mu exploded instantly, "Li Yue Shu, are you stupid? Why give such good food to Old Man Liu!"
Li Yue Shu's expression was calm, "Because he wasn't in a hurry to have me repay the two taels of medical fees."
The moment these words were spoken, Shen Mu's expression froze.
Li Yue Shu's lips curved slightly, "Why don't you, mother-in-law, repay the two taels of medical fees for me, and this braised chicken will be yours."
"You want to exchange a pot of chicken for my two taels of silver? You're dreaming!" Shen Mu jumped up immediately, backing away from the table.
Yang Shi's expression was also unpleasant. Her gaze suddenly fell on something not far away.
Although the old house occupied a large area, it had mostly collapsed. Li Yue Shu had built a coop in the corner of the kitchen to house the remaining chicken and its chicks.
Yang Shi's eyes lit up as she looked at the energetic chicken and quickly tugged at Shen Mu.
Shen Mu, who was still fuming, immediately understood her meaning and put on a smile, "Third son, mother hasn't been feeling well lately. The doctor said I need to eat something good to nourish myself. Give this chicken to mother. You haven't had a chance to fulfill your filial duties all these years, this is compensation."
With that, Shen Mu rolled up her sleeves and walked towards the chicken coop.
The few people at the table changed their expressions at her shameless behavior. Even Shen Wei, who didn't understand anything, frowned unhappily.
For a moment, a sharp, cold glint flashed in his eyes, but no one noticed.
Li Yue Shu's aura grew colder. Before she could act, a figure suddenly lunged towards Shen Mu, "Don't touch my little chicks!"
Shen Zhi Yu, like a firecracker, moved so fast that Li Yue Shu didn't even have time to react.
"Ouch!" Shen Mu cried out in pain, hitting the wall directly.
She glared furiously at Shen Zhi Yu and shoved him hard, "You little bastard, have you gone too far!"
Shen Zhi Yu was only a three-year-old child. With such a push, he stumbled back several steps and fell directly to the ground.
"Cheep—"
With a piteous cry from beneath his buttocks, the chick fluttered a few times and suddenly stopped moving.
Shen Ting Yi was the first to run and pick up Shen Zhi Yu, looking him over anxiously, "Fourth brother, are you alright? Does anything hurt?"
Shen Zhi Yu looked at the chick that had stopped breathing and his eyes instantly turned red, "Third sister, the... the little chick isn't moving anymore."
Seeing that he was fine, Shen Ting Yi just breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Shen Mu's piercing curses, "Thing born without a mother, how dare you lay hands on me, you really are asking for a beating!"
A cold glint flashed in Shen Tingwen's eyes. Just as he was about to speak, a voice cut in first, "If your mouth stinks, go back and rinse it properly, don't run out spewing filth!"
Everyone subconsciously turned their heads and saw Li Yue Shu holding a fireplace poker, exuding an icy aura that seemed to drop ice shards.
Shen Mu was a little stunned, thinking she must have misheard.
Li Yue Shu raised her eyes coldly, "Put down the chicken and apologize to A Yu."
"What?" Shen Mu's expression changed, "You want me to apologize to this bastard? You... Ah—"
Before she could finish speaking, Li Yue Shu's fireplace poker struck her.
"If you don't apologize today, I'll beat you until you do!"
Saying that, Li Yue Shu's fists landed on Shen Mu.
"Ah—Li Yue... Ah—Bitch! Ah—"
Shen Mu was beaten so badly that she couldn't form a complete sentence. Yang Shi, terrified, hid to the side, trying to minimize her presence.
But looking at Shen Mu's pained wails, a glint of excitement flashed in her eyes.
This damned old woman finally got what she deserved!
"Stop hitting, I apologize... I apologize!"
Shen Mu was not a tough person to begin with. After just a few hits, she started begging for mercy.
Li Yue Shu then stopped.
Shen Mu's face was contorted with pain, and she didn't know where to cover herself. "I was wrong, I was wrong..."
Li Yue Shu shoved the fireplace poker to the ground, "The person you should apologize to isn't me."
Shen Mu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said to Shen Zhi Yu, "I was wrong, I'm sorry..."
She was capable of bending and stretching, but the resentment in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
Li Yue Shu didn't take her resentment to heart and threw away the fireplace poker.
Seeing this, Yang Shi quickly stepped forward to help Shen Mu up, and they hobbled out.
Shen Wei immediately came to Li Yue Shu's side, his face filled with concern, "Wife, are you hurt?"
Shen Mu, who had just reached the doorway, stumbled and almost fell.
This ungrateful jinx, she was the one who was beaten!
Li Yue Shu was also a little stunned, then shook her head with amusement.
Shen Tingwen frowned and hesitated, "You shouldn't have been so impulsive."
Regardless of the reason, a junior hitting an elder was enough to be drowned in a torrent of criticism.
Li Yue Shu raised an eyebrow, "Are you concerned about me?"
Shen Tingwen turned his head away awkwardly and said nothing, but his ears quietly turned red.
Li Yue Shu was about to laugh when she suddenly heard Shen Mu's heart-wrenching wails, "There's no justice! Everyone, come and see, the wicked daughter-in-law is beating her mother-in-law! Li Yue Shu, you heartless beast, you venomous woman..."
The unbearable sounds reached them, and the people in the room changed their expressions, looking at Li Yue Shu with complex feelings.
In response, Li Yue Shu showed no worry, "Don't worry, I have a way."
Saying that, she scooped some water from the water缸 and sprinkled it on Shen Zhi Yu's collar and face.
Shen Zhi Yu had already shed a few tears because of the chick's death, and his eyelashes were still wet. Now he looked as if he had just cried his eyes out.
Then, Li Yue Shu disheveled her clothes and hair, covered her sleeves, and rubbed some chili powder into her eyes from her space.
The next moment, she appeared as a bullied young wife.
Shen Wei and the three children stared at her actions in a daze, unable to react for a long time.
Li Yue Shu, however, didn't notice their expressions. Tears streamed down her face, making it difficult to open her eyes.
Damn it, she used too much!
By the time she recovered, Shen Mu and Yang Shi had already entered with a crowd of villagers who were there to watch the spectacle.