PWE – Chapter 14 A Fall, a Feud, and a Hidden Trap

Xiao Wange picked up the braised pork and stewed bones from the stove and walked out of the kitchen.
“I don’t know. Come on, let’s go eat.”

Meanwhile, outside the courtyard gate, Zhan Xiaoxiao fell flat on his face.

He wasn’t even sure what happened—his foot seemed to catch on a pebble, and with a loud thud, he went sprawling to the ground.

The fall not only shattered the bowl he was carrying but also broke one of his front teeth.

The sharp pain made him grimace and scream at the top of his lungs.

His cry immediately brought his mother running.

Qiu Xianghui saw her son lying on the ground and froze, her face full of distress as she rushed over.
“Xiaoxiao, what happened to you?”

Zhan Xiaoxiao was in agony. Seeing his mother, he burst into tears.
“Mom, it hurts so bad! Just now something tripped me, like a rock—I fell!”

Because he had lost a front tooth, his words whistled with air.

And as he spoke, blood trickled from his mouth, startling Qiu Xianghui.

She hurried to lift him up, then glanced at Xiao Wange’s closed courtyard gate. Seeing no sign of her coming out, her brows furrowed. While comforting her son, she shouted angrily:
“Xiao Wange, come out here! My son fell right in front of your gate—aren’t you going to check on him? Don’t you owe us an explanation?!”

Her son had fallen in front of Xiao Wange’s house—naturally, Xiao Wange had to take responsibility. Best of all, maybe she could demand some medical expenses from her!

Inside, Xiao Wange completely ignored the shouting.

After setting the food on the table, she and Zhao Zhao sat down to eat. She picked food into his bowl as she said:
“Eat more, Zhao Zhao. There’s plenty of meat today.”

Zhao Zhao looked worried about Qiu Xianghui outside. He bit his lip.
“Mom…”

“Don’t mind them. With the gate shut, she can’t come in. We’ll just eat our meal.” She smiled and put another piece of meat into his bowl.

Seeing his mother so unconcerned, Zhao Zhao relaxed.

He gripped his chopsticks and nodded.
“Okay.”

He focused on his food, and as soon as the savory meat entered his mouth, the rich fragrance filled it. His eyes curved with satisfaction.
“Mom, this meat is so good!”

It was the best thing he had eaten all year—better than the banquet food at weddings.

Xiao Wange smiled.
“Then eat as much as you want.”

Inside, the two of them ate happily, while outside, tempers flared.

Qiu Xianghui, seeing Xiao Wange remain inside, ground her teeth and pointed at the gate.
“Xiao Wange, come out! What are you, a turtle hiding in its shell? You—”

“Qiu Xianghui, what are you doing? Your son fell on his own—why are you taking it out on Xiao Wange? Do you think it’s her fault? You want her to take responsibility?” Zhao Lijuan’s voice rang out.

She had been watching nearby, worried Xu Meifeng’s family would cause trouble and steal Xiao Wange’s meat. That was why she had come, ready to back her up.

Several villagers working in the nearby fields had also seen everything clearly. They called out in support of Zhao Lijuan:
“That’s right! Your boy tripped himself. How is that Xiao Wange’s fault? If you try to pin this on her, you really have no shame!”

Qiu Xianghui: “…”

She felt humiliated, but with her son bleeding, she couldn’t let it go so easily.

She tried to speak, but Zhao Lijuan strode up, eyeing the shattered bowl on the ground.
“Heh, so you came carrying a bowl, did you? Planning to beg for meat from Zeyan’s family? I just warned Xu Meifeng not to let you pull such shameless tricks, and here you are doing it again. Qiu Xianghui, people need some dignity—but you clearly have none.”

“Auntie, I…”

“Don’t pretend. You wanted Xiao Wange to come out so you could demand medical expenses, right? Planning to extort her?” Zhao Lijuan scolded harshly, her words sharp as knives.

Qiu Xianghui flushed in embarrassment.
“That’s not what I meant, Auntie, I just…”

“Then take your boy home! If you really dare to pull such a shameless stunt, I’ll be the first to turn against you!” Zhao Lijuan’s glare was fierce.

Qiu Xianghui bit her lip. She knew getting money today was impossible—if she insisted, Zhao Lijuan might tear her apart on the spot.

Casting one resentful glance at Xiao Wange’s gate, she dragged her son home.

From the fields, villagers scoffed:
“As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. That Xu Meifeng clan has no shame.”
“Exactly. Carrying bowls to steal food, then blaming others when they fall. Shameless beyond words.”
“They only bully a widow and her child. People like that are the worst.”

The mocking words burned Qiu Xianghui’s face red with shame.

At her gate, she ran into her mother-in-law, Xu Meifeng. Xu had overheard everything clearly.

Furious, she glared at Qiu Xianghui.
“Who told you to go there? You’ve disgraced us all!”

Qiu Xianghui: “…”

Us? The family’s shame had long been spread by this very mother-in-law. But she dared not say it aloud—she just swallowed her resentment deeper.

Once Qiu Xianghui had been driven off, Zhao Lijuan turned to head home.

Just then, Xiao Wange opened her gate.

She stepped out, smiling gratefully.
“Auntie, thank you for earlier. Without you, they surely would’ve forced me to take responsibility.”

In truth, she wasn’t afraid of their troublemaking—if they pushed her, she’d deal with them. But Zhao Lijuan had stood up for her, and that deserved thanks.

Zhao Lijuan laughed heartily.
“Don’t mention it. If something happens that you can’t handle, come find me. I’ll stand up for you.”

Xiao Wange nodded.
“Alright.” Then, inviting politely: “I was just eating with Zhao Zhao—why don’t you join us?”

At that moment, Zhao Zhao came out, holding a bowl filled with big chunks of meat, his mouth shiny with grease.

Seeing him like that, Zhao Lijuan felt an unexpected warmth. She stroked his head, then gently refused the invitation.

“No need. I can see you really care for this child. That reassures me.”

She paused, then looked at Xiao Wange meaningfully.
“I believe you’ll be a good mother. I can feel your love for him.”

The child wore new leather shoes—clearly expensive ones from the supply store. And his bowl was filled generously with meat. All this showed how much she cherished him.

Zhao Lijuan truly felt relieved, glad for Zhan Zeyan’s sake and for the boy’s late grandmother’s peace. For Zhao Zhao to gain such a stepmother was a blessing.

Xiao Wange smiled warmly, placing a gentle arm around the boy’s shoulders.
“I’ll love him even more from now on. I’ll make sure he becomes the happiest child in the world.”

Zhao Zhao blinked up at her, then grinned.

His mom said she’d make him the happiest child alive. But truthfully, he already felt happy now. Happier than any other child in the village.

Zhao Lijuan smiled with satisfaction.
“That’s good. Meeting you is Zhao Zhao’s greatest luck.”

Next door, Bai Caixuan overheard Zhao Lijuan’s words. She bit her lip hard, eyes burning with jealousy.

It should have been her in that household. She should have been Zhan Jinzhao’s mother.

But everything had been stolen by Xiao Wange!

A good stepmother? Ha! She sneered inwardly. Once Jinzhao was sold off, Xiao Wange would be cast out in disgrace by Zhan Zeyan.

She could hardly wait to persuade Xiao Wange to sell the boy. But she knew she had to bide her time.

Breathing in the meat’s aroma wafting through the air, she forced herself to endure. She had already endured three months—what was a little longer?

When Zhan Zeyan finally drove Xiao Wange away and she herself married in, she would be the one feasting on meat every day.

After seeing Zhao Lijuan off, Xiao Wange and Zhao Zhao returned to finish dinner.

Later, she washed the dishes, then swept the courtyard gate.

There wasn’t much to sweep—just dust.

As she swept, Bai Caixuan emerged from her own gate, carrying a vegetable basket, apparently heading to the fields.

Xiao Wange glanced at her, then suddenly stepped out, approaching her side.

She leaned in close and whispered something swiftly into Bai Caixuan’s ear before retreating back into her courtyard to continue sweeping.

No one saw the exchange—everyone was busy cooking dinner indoors.

Bai Caixuan froze in place for two seconds, then turned and gave Xiao Wange a faint smile and a nod.

Xiao Wange’s lips curved.

The fish had taken the bait.