Chen Li Shu spoke, her finger also tapping Zhang Chun Hua:
"And you! If you sisters had any shame, you wouldn't have thought of such a despicable plan, would you? Forcing people into your own brother-in-law's home, how cheap is your sister? Do you think anyone is eager to wear discarded shoes that no one else wants? Ptooey, who knows if someone's already worn them and given you athlete's foot!"
"You, you!" Zhang Chun Hua and her sister were so angered by Chen Li Shu that their chests heaved violently.
"There isn't even a man in this room, who are you putting on a show for? Do you really think you have the right? Look in the mirror, if you didn't still have a face, I wouldn't be able to tell your front from your back. What do you mean 'you'? Pack your things and get out of my house!"
The sisters Zhang Chun Hua were so choked by her tirade that they rolled their eyes. After a while, Zhang Chun Hua, her face flushed, pointed a trembling finger at Chen Li Shu and said, "Is this how you speak to your elders?"
"Yes, you're a married daughter, this household isn't your place to make decisions. Your mother, who can't give birth to a son, isn't much better than a hen that doesn't lay eggs. If it were me, I'd have wisely made way for others long ago, why stand here like a dog in the manger."
Zhang Chun Yan's words were indeed malicious, striking Wu Chun Mei's sore spot.
Chen Li Shu heard Wu Chun Mei on the kang cry much louder.
Now, with her present, the Zhang woman could utter such unpleasant words. This showed how much more she must have hurt people with her words when no one was around.
"If you could have sons, would your in-laws have kicked you out? Regardless, my father cherishes me. Unlike you, who is just a discarded shoe nobody wants. I'm truly curious who gave you the courage to stand here and speak? Do you really think no one is in charge of this house anymore?"
Chen Li Shu's jaw muscles twitched. She turned and ordered the younger ones, "Go and throw all their things outside into the yard and burn them. Be careful when you take them so you don't get any lice on yourselves, after all, these vermin can only associate with lice."
"I'd like to see who dares to touch our things!" Wang Gou Dan and Wang Yang Dan immediately jumped out upon hearing Chen Li Shu.
"What? Want to fight?" Chen Li Shu snorted from her nose. She turned and went into the outer kitchen, directly grabbing a stove poker as thick as an arm. She didn't care who was in front of her, swinging it in a wide arc and hitting anyone who blocked her path.
Soon, the sisters Zhang Chun Hua and Old Madam Chen fled outside.
Seeing them retreat into the yard in a sorry state, Chen Li Shu stood at the door, leaning on a stove poker, her expression cold, possessing the aura of a lone warrior defending a pass.
"Hurry up and get lost, don't be an eyesore in front of me."
"You little brat, you actually dared to lay hands on your own grandmother, aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"
Old Madam Chen saw that if things continued to escalate, no one would benefit, and they would all be driven away by this little beast. She wouldn't gain anything.
When Zhang Chun Hua had discussed with her initially, they had agreed that if she helped Zhang Chun Yan get married, all the money from Chen Man Tun's household would be in her hands.
Previously, she had been wary of Chen Li Shu, but if she could instigate a divorce between Wu Chun Mei and her husband, the second family would not only get a son but also be completely under her thumb.
"Grandma, mind your words. If there is retribution, it will strike you first. You're old, why aren't you thinking about how to spend your remaining years peacefully, but instead always thinking about how to torment your son's family. You even think about forcing people into your son's room. Do you think it's the old society? I tell you, you're disrupting someone's marriage, and that's a crime punishable by law."
"What law? I'm your grandmother, and more importantly, your father's mother. Whoever I say he should marry, he must marry."
Old Madam Chen shouted loudly into the room: "Wu Chun Mei, you cowardly turtle, you useless piece of trash. You can't give birth to a son, yet you occupy our old Chen family's space. If you have any shame, pack your things and get out. Don't wait for me to find people to kick you out."
Wu Chun Mei inside the house had been listening to the commotion outside. When she heard Old Madam Chen scolding her and telling her to leave, her tears flowed even more fiercely.
After a while, she hesitated, then got up to start packing her things.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Some neighbors heard the commotion at the Chen family's house and hurried to call Chen Man Tun, who was working in the fields. Chen Man Tun, upon hearing that a fight had broken out at home, dropped his hoe without a word and ran back. Just as he reached the doorstep, he heard Old Madam Chen's words, and his brows immediately furrowed into two knots.
"Man Tun, you're here just in time. Today, in front of everyone, you tell me, do you want the Wu woman or your mother? If you want your mother, then send the Wu woman away now and marry Chun Yan, and have sons. If you want the Wu woman, then I'll crash to my death right in front of your house today."
Old Madam Chen saw that her son's return had finally given her a backbone, so she quickly grabbed her son and made threats.
"Mom, aren't you making things difficult for me!" Chen Man Tun was already sweating profusely from running. Upon hearing Old Madam Chen's words, the sweat on his forehead poured down like water.
"Grandma, do you have a psychological disorder or are you just perverted? My parents were doing fine, and you insist on ruining it. Were you starved of love as a child, or are you too old to see others happy?"
Chen Li Shu spoke impolitely, "I think you shouldn't kill yourself, it's too painful. What if you don't die instantly and become mentally disabled, that would be a loss. My family happens to have Dichiorvos, although the taste isn't great, it's guaranteed to help you see Grandpa immediately after drinking it. Maybe he's missed you all these years."
Old Madam Chen looked at her with a half-smile that seemed to see through everything, and her heart filled with hatred. She immediately pointed at her and scolded, "Do you think you're so much better than others? Aren't you just relying on being a slut and seducing men? Otherwise, why would you refuse a good marriage and go to town? You said a friend introduced you to the job, how many people have you slept with? Your in-laws are also greedy for money, willing to let their son be a king—"
Before she could finish, she saw a blur of a stick flying swiftly towards her. Old Madam Chen couldn't dodge in time, and her arm was hit fiercely. The burning pain made her gasp.
"Speak. If you can take the beating, then keep talking." Chen Li Shu's gaze towards Old Madam Chen was like a chilling ice pick. Old Madam Chen suddenly remembered a dark night when Chen Li Shu had similarly leaned close to her ear and threatened to smother her. She shivered all over. "You little beast, you even hit your own grandmother, are you even human?" Zhang Chun Hua scolded.
"Auntie, do you think because I can hit my grandmother, I can't hit you?" As soon as Chen Li Shu finished speaking, the stick in her hand rained down on Zhang Chun Hua. When she hit Old Madam Chen, she had held back, but this time the force of the blows on Zhang Chun Hua was real.
"What you two shameful things did, let's talk about it today in front of everyone."
As Chen Li Shu chased and beat her, she loudly recounted how Zhang Chun Hua had conspired with Old Madam Chen to arrange people for Chen Man Tun's household. Everyone listened with astonishment.