PWE – Chapter 20 Begging Her

Just then Zhao Lijuan and several villagers came up the side path. The moment Zhao Lijuan saw Xiao Wange and Xu Meifeng, she immediately suspected Xu Meifeng was bullying someone.

So she hurried forward and accused Xu Meifeng, “Xu Meifeng, what are you up to now? Are you making trouble again?”

Xu Meifeng now got a headache whenever she saw Zhao Lijuan. She felt Zhao Lijuan was like a mouse—able to pop up from the ground at any moment. And once she popped up, she’d “bite” her—leaving Xu Meifeng powerless to fight back.

Xu Meifeng’s scalp tingled. She looked at Zhao Lijuan and wanted to explain that she hadn’t been causing trouble. But Xiao Wange jumped in first and told everyone about how Xu Meifeng had just falsely accused her.

When Zhao Lijuan heard that, her eyes went wide.

She glared at Xu Meifeng in fury and scolded, “Xu Meifeng, don’t you have a conscience? There’s a widow and child at home and you actually encouraged your son to steal money! How can you be so cruel? You’re beyond wicked!”

The other villagers chimed in and said Xu Meifeng’s behavior was disgraceful.

Xu Meifeng ground her teeth and wanted to protest, “No, that’s not how it happened—”

But Zhao Lijuan wouldn’t listen to her explanation. She went on yelling, “You steal the money and then turn around and say the other person robbed you! Tell me, how can your heart be so black? Is your heart really black?”

Xu Meifeng: … She was furious. Zhao Lijuan was just as mean as Xiao Wange—both of them specialized in tearing her down!

Zhao Lijuan loved dredging up old scores. After she finished scolding Xu Meifeng, she started recounting the despicable things Xu Meifeng had done before. Xu Meifeng glanced at Shi Jinzhu nearby and panicked; she wanted to stop Zhao Lijuan’s big mouth. But Zhao Lijuan wasn’t someone she could stop. In less than two minutes, Zhao Lijuan had dragged all those old incidents out into the open.

After hearing them, Shi Jinzhu clicked her tongue and stared at Xu Meifeng in surprise. “Aunt Xu, are you really that vicious? You actually hit and scolded Zhaozhao? You were that cruel to a child?”

“Jinzhu, there’s been a misunderstanding—”

“What misunderstanding! The whole village knows what you did. What misunderstanding is there!” Zhao Lijuan cut her off with a glare.

Xu Meifeng felt utterly frustrated. Zhao Lijuan was a certified troublemaker—she stirred up drama everywhere she went.

She anxiously looked at Shi Jinzhu and stammered, “Jinzhu, actually I—”

“Don’t call me Jinzhu; I’m not close to you! Auntie, from now on call me Comrade Shi!” Shi Jinzhu said coldly, giving Xu Meifeng a look of disgust.

The idea that Xu Meifeng had beaten Zhaozhao was abhorrent—Zhaozhao was so obedient and lovely; how could anyone strike him? Hearing that made Xu Meifeng feel even worse. Shi Jinzhu was drawing a line with her, which meant Xu Meifeng’s family standing just got worse—how could she possibly marry Shi Jinzhu’s family now?

Xiao Wange shot Xu Meifeng a cold look. From that look, Xu Meifeng could tell what Xiao Wange was thinking. Xu Meifeng had apparently been dreaming that Shi Jinzhu would become her daughter-in-law—she actually dared to daydream like that. Now that dream was shattered. Her fantasy had been woken.

Xiao Wange turned to Shi Jinzhu: “You must have important business here. Since that’s so, let’s go home and talk.” With that she took the lead and started walking back toward home.

Shi Jinzhu gathered up her things and hurried after her.

Zhao Guixiang and He Xiaokui followed behind as well.

Xu Meifeng clenched her fists and shifted her feet, wanting to follow Shi Jinzhu and explain. But Zhao Lijuan grabbed her and wouldn’t let her go. “Where are you going? I haven’t finished talking! Xu Meifeng, you really are vicious. Can’t you change?”

Zhao Lijuan was shrewd—when she first arrived she’d seen that Xu Meifeng was making eyes at the young town girl. That girl was pretty and dressed fine—clearly from the town.

Zhao Lijuan recalled what Xu Meifeng had said earlier: that her third son had found a girl from town, and that the girl’s family was rich. Xu Meifeng had said her third son would become successful.

Before this, Zhao Lijuan hadn’t known how vicious Xu Meifeng could be. She only knew Xu Meifeng liked to meddle with her second son, and since he was willing, it wasn’t really anyone else’s business. But meddling with Zeyan’s child and Zeyan’s wife was another matter—picking on such a small child was especially hateful.

So she hated Xu Meifeng—loathed her. By chance they’d met the town girl today, and Zhao Lijuan couldn’t resist ruining Xu Meifeng’s image in front of her.

Honestly, Xu Meifeng’s third son wasn’t worthy of that town girl anyway. Zhan Hongjun was already twenty-one and still lazily lingering at school, clearly not wanting to work hard. Any woman who married him would be unlucky. Zhao Lijuan felt she had saved the girl from a bad match.

Watching Xu Meifeng sulk, Zhao Lijuan only felt amused. Want to marry a rich town girl? Dream on—your dreams won’t come true!

…

Xiao Wange took Shi Jinzhu and the others back to her house.

When little Zhaozhao saw them, he first froze, then happily rushed to Shi Jinzhu: “Sister Jinzhu, you’re here!”

Little Jinzhao’s eyes glittered; he obviously liked Sister Jinzhu a lot.

Shi Jinzhu scooped the rushing Zhaozhao into her arms and smiled, “Sister missed you and came to see you.”

“Really? I missed Sister Jinzhu too.” Zhaozhao beamed in a child’s voice, full of joy.

Shi Jinzhu kissed his cheek. The child was getting cuter by the moment. Thinking that such an adorable child had once been scolded and even pinched by Xu Meifeng—left blue with bruises—made her blood boil. Xu Meifeng was truly hateful! Shi Jinzhu wished she had cursed her more earlier, to give that vicious woman what she deserved.

Zhao Guixiang smiled at the cute Zhaozhao and said, “This must be Comrade Xiao’s son? Xiao’s son is so adorable, like a picture on a New Year print.”

Zhao Guixiang was flattering on purpose. After all, today they’d come to ask Xiao Wange for a favor; seeing her son, she wanted to butter her up so Xiao Wange would be more willing to help.

He Xiaokui glanced at little Jinzhao and curled her lip in impatience. Just a little brat—what’s cute about him? She didn’t understand why her mother and Shi Jinzhu liked him so much.

She set her things down in the courtyard and snapped, “Let’s not waste time—get to the point.”

Her business was urgent; she was desperate to solve her problem. If Xiao Wange could fix it, fine—if not, she’d pick up her things and leave immediately. She refused to waste time there.

He Xiaokui’s impatience made Shi Jinzhu and Zhao Guixiang’s expressions fall.

Shi Jinzhu gave He Xiaokui a look—she really couldn’t read the situation. Today they were the ones asking for help, not the other way around. Her attitude was infuriating. If Zhao Lijuan hadn’t pleaded with her, Shi Jinzhu wouldn’t even have come to the village.

Zhao Guixiang stole a glance at Xiao Wange; seeing Xiao Wange’s cold, mocking expression, her heart tightened—she feared Xiao Wange might refuse to help.

She patted her daughter on the back and said, “Don’t be so nervous! Comrade Xiao seems to not have had breakfast yet. Wait until she’s eaten.”

“Mom!” He Xiaokui scowled, more impatient. “We paid for her to solve our problem. Since we paid, she should serve us. She can eat her breakfast later—solve my problem first!”

Then she turned to Xiao Wange. “I heard from Jinzhu that you’re very capable. But I don’t know how capable. Xiao Wange, tell me plainly—can you help me with this trouble? If yes, we’ll settle it. If not, I won’t waste my time.”

“He Xiaokui!” Before Xiao Wange replied, Shi Jinzhu snapped at her. Shi Jinzhu was furious and reprimanded her: “What kind of attitude is that? I told you to behave before we came—why didn’t you listen?!”

Zhao Guixiang’s heart pounded. She slapped her daughter’s back hard, scolding her in frustration, “What are you doing?! Now is not the time to act up! If you want help, fix your attitude! Otherwise no one will help you!”

She was exasperated with her daughter—sometimes she did things that could drive her mad.

“Mom!” He Xiaokui opened her mouth to reply, when Xiao Wange crossed her arms and sneered, “Your problem is nothing to me—of course I can handle it.”

Hearing that, He Xiaokui and Zhao Guixiang both breathed easier. If she could solve it, great—they were worried the trip would be for nothing.

“But—” Xiao Wange paused, then let out a derisive laugh. “I don’t want to help you. With that attitude, why should I warm my face to your cold backside? Who do you think you are? Do you think you’re so grand that I should crawl to help you?”

He Xiaokui’s face fell.

She tried to retort, but Xiao Wange’s tone turned icy and full of disgust: “Get out! I don’t welcome people like you here!”

Zhao Guixiang was stunned by that and then begged Xiao Wange, “Comrade Xiao, I’m sorry—my daughter’s immature, please don’t hold it against her, she—”

“Don’t you want to earn money?” Before Zhao Guixiang finished, her daughter foolishly cut in.

He Xiaokui glared at Xiao Wange and boasted arrogantly, “I have money. If you can solve my problem, I’ll pay you a lot. With money you and your son can live well. With money you’ll have standing in the village.”

He Xiaokui assumed everyone loved money and that Xiao Wange would be no different. Money fixes everything, she thought—offer enough and Xiao Wange would agree.

But Xiao Wange’s face went cold. Pointing to the courtyard gate, she snapped, “Get out. Right now—get out!”