The day for the return visit soon arrived. Without her husband accompanying her, Chen Lishu tidied herself up, tucked the ten yuan given by Li Xiulan into her pocket, and returned to the Chen family alone.
As soon as she entered the house, she sensed something was amiss.
"Big Sister, you're finally back." The third sibling, Chen Lifei, ran over. As soon as she got close, her lips pouted, and her eyes filled with tears.
"What's wrong? Who bullied you? Tell Big Sister, and I'll sort them out for you," Chen Lishu said, leading her into the house. Upon entering, she saw Wu Chunmei on the kang, holding a baby and wiping away tears. Beside her, Chen Mantun looked dejected.
The younger children, like startled chicks, huddled together by the wall. The second sister, Chen Liyuan, with her back to the door, was hunched over the table, her shoulders shaking, clearly crying.
"Grandma and Aunt came yesterday. They found grain in the house and took it all away. Second Sister got angry and went to reason with them, but they beat her back," Chen Lifei said, tears streaming down her face as she spoke.
Upon hearing that her second sister had been beaten, Chen Lishu could not afford to pay attention to anything else. She quickened her steps and stepped forward, "Where did they hit you? Is it serious? Quickly lift your head and let Big Sister see."
Hearing her voice, Chen Liyuan could no longer hold back. The suppressed sob erupted into a loud cry, and she threw herself into Chen Lishu's arms, "It's all my fault. I couldn't even protect the grain in our home."
She had originally wanted to go and demand the grain back like her Big Sister, but unexpectedly, her grandmother had chased her out with scolding and beatings.
As she lifted her head, Chen Lishu saw five clear finger marks on her red and swollen cheek.
Her heart ached instantly.
In her previous life, she had lacked the ability and was solely focused on her own love. When she fell into hardship, her younger sisters, though not living comfortably themselves, had each contributed money and effort upon hearing of her situation. It was only then that she suddenly realized that kinship was the most important thing.
"Did Grandma hit you?"
Chen Liyuan nodded gently in her embrace.
"Stop crying. Crying won't solve anything," Chen Lishu said, reaching up to wipe away her tears with her sleeve.
"What did they take from the house?"
Chen Lifei immediately replied, "The dozens of jin of grain Dad collected, and the reserve food we had at home, they took it all. Grandma even questioned Dad about where the grain came from, and Dad told her. Grandma then demanded money from Dad. Dad didn't give it to her. Grandma then threatened to report Dad to the commune. Mom had no choice, so..."
Chen Lishu didn't need to imagine; it was obvious that all the money had been handed over honestly.
"Your Grandma said if you didn't give it, she'd report your Dad to the commune. So much grain, if you were investigated, it would implicate you too. Mom was just too scared," Wu Chunmei said, starting to cry again.
Chen Lishu took a deep breath, then forced herself to exhale the heavy air from her chest.
"It's okay, Mom. Leave this to me. You're still in confinement, don't overthink. It won't be good if you develop lingering health problems."
In her past life, Wu Chunmei often cried during her confinement period, and by the time she was in her forties, she had lost her sight.
"What can you do? Perhaps we should just let this matter go. If it really escalates, it won't be good for anyone," Chen Mantun thought about going to demand it back, but if an argument broke out, the neighbors would surely know what was happening. In the end, neither side would benefit, and it would also alert the village cadres.
No one would benefit.
Chen Lishu sneered, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. If they wouldn't let her family live well, then no one would.
Having been reborn, she no longer wanted to live a life of timidity, yielding to anyone.
"Second Sister, don't cry anymore. Come with Big Sister. Learn from this, and from now on, never let anyone bully you."
"Mmm." Chen Liyuan responded with a heavy nod, immediately raising her sleeve to wipe away the tear streaks on her face. Her large, round eyes looked at Chen Lishu, shining brightly once more.
The sisters walked out of the courtyard gate. At this moment, the Chen Mancang family were gathered around the stove, discussing how to spend the money they had.
"Liming is getting married, Mom, shouldn't you add a bit more?" Zhang Chunhua said, giving her son Chen Baozhu a meaningful look.
Chen Baozhu was the only grandson in the Chen family, the apple of Old Mrs. Chen's eye.
"Grandma, with so much money, if you add a bit more to Big Sister, she'll have more confidence in her in-laws' home, and it will look good for you as her Grandma, won't it?"
As expected, the moment he spoke, Old Mrs. Chen readily agreed. She immediately took out twenty yuan.
"Grandma, I also want to buy a watch for your granddaughter-in-law. She's pregnant with your great-grandson."
"Good, good, good." Mentioning her great-grandson, Old Mrs. Chen's face lit up with uncontrollable joy.
As the family was happily discussing, the door was suddenly kicked open forcefully from the outside.
Chen Lishu stood at the doorway with a cold expression, her stern figure almost blending with the wind and snow raging outside.
"Why are you here?" Zhang Chunhua, having witnessed her formidable nature, felt a tightening in her chest and instinctively stood up.
"The small ones have come, now the big one comes. Get out quickly. I get annoyed just looking at your family of jinxes," Old Mrs. Chen said, spitting heavily on the ground with disgust.
"Lishu, why aren't you staying properly at your husband's home and coming here?" Chen Baozhu said, standing up. "Oh, it's your return visit today, right? Such an important day, hurry back to your own home. The door is wide open, it's so cold, hurry up and leave."
He said this as if dismissing a beggar, impatiently reaching out to push her out.
"Big Brother, if you touch me today, I'll turn around and report you to the Public Security Bureau for beating me."
In terms of strength, she was naturally no match for Chen Baozhu, a grown man. She also didn't want to resolve the issue with force; otherwise, she would be the one to suffer.
"You're going to report it? Look at you, acting so important. Why don't you fly to heaven?"
Although Chen Baozhu said this, he still felt a bit of apprehension looking at her dark, brooding eyes.
Chen Lishu stepped into the house, her gaze falling on the money on the table. She chuckled coldly inwardly, realizing they were already dividing the spoils using her family's money.
"I haven't come for anything else today, I just want you to return the grain and money you took from my home, untouched. That way, everyone can have a peaceful year."
"You little brat, who are you trying to scare? Is this how your father taught you to speak? You enter the house and don't even greet an elder. Get out, or don't blame me, your uncle, for teaching you on behalf of your father!"
Chen Mancang sat at the edge of the table, his opening words immediately attempting to pressure her with his status as an elder.
"Uncle, I never scare people. The fact that I can still speak to you calmly shows I have good upbringing."
Chen Lishu said this as she swept her gaze over everyone in the room, finally settling on Old Mrs. Chen.
As Old Mrs. Chen met her gaze, she flinched. Then, she stubbornly raised her neck and cursed, "You little bastard, what are you looking at me like that for? Don't you know how your father got this money and grain? Speculation and profiteering! I'll report you to the commune, and they'll arrest all of you."