PWE – Chapter 12 Meat, Shoes, and Village Feud

“I really didn’t think of that.”

All he had in mind was becoming her disciple, learning spells from her.

But as a grown man tagging along with a married woman, it really wasn’t appropriate.

Still, he couldn’t just give up on such a powerful teacher so easily.

So after frowning in thought, he looked at her and said:
“Comrade Xiao, how about this? I know there’s a well-known Daoist temple on Mount Miwu nearby. Starting today, I’ll live there. Whenever I come across a Daoist technique I don’t understand, I’ll come down the mountain quietly to seek your guidance.”

Xiao Wange didn’t answer him, just gave him a sidelong glance.

This man had a tall frame, outstanding looks, and carried himself with a refined air. He didn’t look like someone who had lived a hard, frugal Daoist life. He looked more like some wealthy young master who had run away from his family.

Maybe he really was from a powerful family, just dabbling in Daoist arts out of curiosity before eventually getting bored and returning home.

Her lips parted slightly, her tone cold:
“I can teach you if you have questions. But I don’t ever want to hear the word ‘master’ again! So…”

Her eyes chilled, her warning clear.

He Xiuyan quickly nodded.
“Okay, okay, I won’t call you master anymore. From now on, I’ll call you Comrade Xiao, just like the Shi family does.”

She really seemed unwilling to take disciples. If he kept pestering her with “master,” he might push her too far, and then she might refuse to teach him at all.

For now, all he could do was go along with her wishes.

Seeing his nod, Xiao Wange didn’t say more. She adjusted the straps of her basket, took Zhaozhao’s hand, and headed toward Danshui Village.

He Xiuyan watched her back, still surprised that a girl from a village could be so capable. Truly, appearances could be deceiving.

Muttering “Comrade Xiao” under his breath, he found that it actually sounded better than “master.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he stared after her until she vanished from view. Then he turned and made his way toward Mount Miwu.

…

Xiao Wange held Zhaozhao’s hand as they walked back. After about seven or eight minutes, the boy suddenly looked at her and said:
“Mom, isn’t that basket on your back heavy? Why don’t I help carry some of it?”

He didn’t want his mother to work so hard—he wanted to share the burden, to be a good child.

Xiao Wange looked at her son’s sensible little face. Smiling gently, she said warmly:
“It’s not heavy. Mommy is very strong—this much is nothing to me.”

“Really, Mommy?” Zhaozhao tilted his head, frowning in doubt.

That cute tilt nearly melted Xiao Wange. She stroked his head, her voice even softer:
“Really. If it ever gets too heavy, I’ll tell you and let you help.”

Zhaozhao nodded firmly.
“Mm! Then if it’s too heavy, you must tell me!”

She laughed.
“Alright.”

He squeezed her hand tightly. After a few steps, he looked up at her in admiration.
“Mommy, you were amazing today! You not only helped that big sister solve her problem, but also earned so much money. Mommy is the best, the very best!”

To him, she was stronger than any mother in the village.

Xiao Wange raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Of course. I told you I would earn lots of money, and Mommy always keeps her word.”

The boy beamed, his admiration deepening.

Though he had many questions, he didn’t ask. Adults had their own matters—if his mother didn’t explain, it was fine.

Xiao Wange, touched by his silence, stroked his hair again, her heart softening.

Today she had solved such a big problem for the Shi family and earned a large sum. Surely her child had doubts, but he never pressed her.

That kind of thoughtfulness made her proud.

Smiling tenderly, she said:
“Zhaozhao, let’s hurry home. I’ll make braised pork and soy-braised ribs tonight. They’re delicious.”

They had bought plenty of meat—enough for three or four days, and since it was winter, there was no worry about it spoiling.

At this, Zhaozhao’s eyes lit up. He quickened his pace.
“Okay, let’s hurry!”

…

When they finally reached the village, they unexpectedly ran into Xu Meifeng and Zhan Xiaoxiao.

Xu Meifeng, still seething with hatred from last night’s incident, glared daggers at Xiao Wange. Seeing the basket full of goods on her back and the shiny new leather shoes on Zhan Zhaozhao’s feet, her eyes widened with fury.

Her face twisted with spite as she spat out:
“You stole my family’s money to buy new shoes for Zhan Zhaozhao! Aren’t you afraid they’ll rot his feet? And what’s in that basket? I smell meat—bought plenty of it, didn’t you? Using my family’s money to gorge on meat—you’re not afraid it’ll rot your guts? Xiao Wange, you’ll die a horrible death for stealing from us!”

Overcome with malice, she spat viciously at Zhaozhao’s new shoes, trying to disgust them.

Xiao Wange yanked her son aside just in time to dodge the filthy spit.

Zhaozhao trembled, hiding behind his mother.

Xiao Wange’s eyes went cold. Leaning close to Xu Meifeng’s ear, she whispered icily:
“Looks like last night’s beating wasn’t enough. Want me to come over again tonight and give your family another round?”

“You—!” Xu Meifeng’s eyes bulged with rage. Grinding her teeth, she raised her hand to slap Xiao Wange.
“You slut! You dare?! If you ever come to my house again, I’ll kill you!”

Xiao Wange’s gaze flickered, and she quickly stepped aside, crying out in mock alarm:
“Auntie, you’re going to hit me? This is the main road in the village—you’ll be seen by everyone!”

Her evasiveness only enraged Xu Meifeng further. She raised her hand again—just as the village party secretary’s stern voice rang out:
“Xu Meifeng, what are you doing?! Are you bullying Xiao Wange and her boy again?!”

Startled, Xu Meifeng froze, her hand dropping at once.

The secretary and his wife, Zhao Lijuan, strode over, both looking displeased.

Flustered, Xu Meifeng stammered:
“Secretary, I wasn’t—I didn’t mean to bully her, it was she, she…”

“I saw you strike at her with my own eyes! And you say you weren’t bullying?!” the secretary snapped, his tone like thunder.

Xu Meifeng shrank back, cowed by his severe expression.
“I really didn’t, I was just—”

“Secretary,” Xiao Wange interjected, “I took Zhaozhao into town today to buy some meat, to give him better nutrition. But my aunt cursed that eating it would rot our stomachs. She even spat at his new shoes. If we hadn’t dodged, they’d be filthy right now.”

Both the secretary and his wife’s faces darkened.

Zhao Lijuan, loud-voiced and fiery, immediately lashed out:
“Xu Meifeng, how could you be so vicious? He’s just a child, and you curse him to rot his guts? Some elder you are! And jealous over a pair of shoes—spitting on them, really? You’re jealous of a child?!”

Neighbors, drawn by the noise, began to gather. Soon a crowd surrounded them.

With so many eyes on her, Xu Meifeng grew flustered, her heart pounding.
“Lijuan, it’s not like that, it was Xiao—”

“Do you all know how bad Xu Meifeng is?” Zhao Lijuan shouted to the crowd. “She actually cursed little Zhaozhao to rot his stomach!”

Xu Meifeng tried to protest, but Zhao Lijuan’s voice drowned her out, rattling off every detail like a machine gun.

The crowd, horrified, turned on Xu Meifeng, condemning her cruelty.

Xu Meifeng burned with fury and grievance. She thought: That slut only bought meat and shoes with money she stole from us! And I can’t even scold them?

But she couldn’t say that aloud—no one would believe her anyway.

Her heart twisted with bitterness, hatred boiling inside.

“Don’t worry, Yan’s wife,” Zhao Lijuan said firmly to Xiao Wange. “We won’t let Xu Meifeng bully you or Zhaozhao again. If she tries, I’ll be the first to stand up!”

In truth, Zhao Lijuan had once been helped by Zhaozhao’s late grandmother, the barefoot doctor who treated countless villagers. Many still remembered that kindness—and resented Xu Meifeng all the more for targeting her grandson.

Xiao Wange glanced at Zhao Lijuan and smiled softly.
“Thank you, Auntie. With your support, I feel reassured. But…” She sighed gently.
“Now that you’ve defended me, my aunt will only be angrier. And when she’s angry, she’ll come after me. Before, whenever I bought meat, she would snatch it away. Today, seeing me buy so much, she’ll be even more determined. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep it.”

The villagers, hearing this, were shocked to learn Xu Meifeng had stolen meat before. Their eyes filled with contempt.

Even meat she had to snatch—how shameless!

Xu Meifeng seethed, wanting to scream that Xiao Wange would rot in hell. But before she could, her grandson Zhan Xiaoxiao blurted out:
“Your meat is my meat! We’ll take it all! Grandma said everything you own is ours—even your house!”

The words stunned everyone. Even Xu Meifeng turned pale, panic flashing across her face as she lunged to cover his mouth before he could say more.