The Wang family was utterly stunned, especially Wang Hao, who quickly grabbed Lin Wanyi's hand:
"Honey, don't talk nonsense, don't.
"You are my wife, this is your home, forever."
Lin Wanyi gave a cold laugh: "But your sister doesn't think so. She says this is her home.
"I'm kind-hearted, I'm good-natured, I don't want to fight with anyone over anything, so I'll leave.
"Wang Hao, once the snow stops and the roads are clear, I'll leave immediately."
Liu Chunlan, who had just been slapped, suddenly shouted loudly:
"Don't wait for the snow to stop! Lin Wanyi, if you want to get out, isn't it?
"Then get out now! What's with this 'in a few days' nonsense? Who are you trying to fool?
"You're clearly reluctant to leave our comfortable life. Let's see what kind of good man you can find after leaving my son.
"Get out! Get out right now!"
Lin Jiajun, being young after all, immediately threw the steamed bun in his hand at Liu Chunlan:
"Let's go, Sis, let's go now. Seriously, it's not like you don't have a family to go back to. What are you afraid of her for?
"Even without Wang Hao, you'll live just fine, even better than now."
Liu Chunlan curled her lip:
"Get out then! The sooner the better. Stop putting on an act.
"This is my house, not the home of you outsiders. I didn't invite you here; you came crawling over yourselves.
"Aren't you ashamed? Got any face? The host didn't even invite you, how disgraceful."
Lin Jiajun immediately turned back, but Lin Wanyi made him sit down again:
"Jiajun, what's the rush? Wang Hao and I are legally married, so this is my home.
"Of course you can stay in my home.
"Jiajun, stay here peacefully. We'll leave when I say we leave."
"But, Sis, they're being so disgusting. How can you just sit there?"
Wang Meijuan also sneered at Lin Wanyi:
"Hah, she can't bear to leave our good life.
"See? It's not that we won't let her go, it's that we can't even drive her away."
Lin Jiajun's face flushed red with anger, but Li Suhua also shook her head at him.
He had no choice but to stand puffing with anger behind Lin Wanyi, silently backing her up.
Lin Wanyi handed Wang Keke a sesame ball before saying:
"Since you all have so much free time, and since you, Wang Meijuan, love stirring up trouble so much, and since we're snowed in with nothing to do anyway...
"Let's find ourselves some entertainment."
Wang Meijuan didn't know what she was planning and asked cautiously:
"What do you want to do? Lin Wanyi, don't you start causing trouble.
"Just pack your things honestly and get out. My mom's made herself perfectly clear, how can you still be so shameless?"
Lin Wanyi suddenly picked up the loudspeaker again and stood in the courtyard:
"Neighbors! With this heavy snow, I'm sure you don't have much to do at home.
"Come on over to Liu Chunlan's place and see the show! Liu Chunlan is up to her old tricks again!"
There really wasn't much to do, and the villagers were number one when it came to watching drama.
Zhang Cuihua, who lived closest, was the first to arrive, wrapped in a thick padded coat, her voice booming:
"Lin Wanyi, what are you up to so early in the morning? Tangling with Liu Chunlan again?"
Lin Wanyi handed Zhang Cuihua a cup of tea:
"Don't rush. Wait till more people come, and I'll tell everyone at once. Guaranteed you'll like it."
Sure enough, in less than ten minutes, Wang Hao's living room was packed.
Liu Chunlan was furious:
"You all have too much time on your hands! Running out to watch drama in such cold weather.
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
No one budged. They stood or sat, filling the room completely.
Wang Xiu'e, who arrived late, almost couldn't squeeze in. She complained:
"What's going on, Liu Chunlan? Bullying your daughter-in-law again?
"Goodness, your family is always fighting, even during the New Year. You pulled knives yesterday, what are you planning today?"
She then spotted Wang Meijuan:
"Huh! Didn't they say you weren't allowed back at your mother's? They just kicked you out yesterday, how come you're back today?
"Wang Meijuan, you really have no shame."
Wang Meijuan was livid: "What are you talking about? This is my parents' home, why can't I come?
"Why don't you kick your own daughter out?"
Wang Xiu'e laughed: "Haha, my daughter-in-law doesn't kick her out. Isn't that infuriating?
"My daughter brings gifts and gives money to the adults and kids when she visits. Not like you!
"You bring nothing, just come back to stir up trouble."
Wang Meijuan stamped her foot in anger:
"You... you're all too much! You watched me grow up, why are you helping her instead of me?"
Wang Xiu'e gave her a disdainful look:
"I'm just telling the truth, Wang Meijuan. You're that kind of troublemaking sister-in-law."
Just as the two were about to start arguing, Lin Wanyi spoke up:
"Everyone's here. Today, I, Lin Wanyi, want to ask all you aunties and elders something.
"My mother and brother traveled a thousand miles to see me. In this freezing weather, with the roads snowed in, we literally can't leave.
"But Liu Chunlan says she never invited my family and that they have no shame.
"She wants us to get out right now. I want to ask you all, is this how things are done?
"Is there any precedent in the village for such rudeness?"
"Of course not!"
The first to speak was Zhang Cuihua, indignant:
"Liu Chunlan, what you're doing is utterly unreasonable.
"You won't let your daughter-in-law visit her family, and when her family travels so far to see her, you try to drive them away?
"Even if they weren't in-laws, but just ordinary guests, you can't treat people like that."
"Exactly,"
the other villagers chimed in:
"With such heavy snow outside, you can only travel on foot. And you want to drive them out now?
"It's obvious you're just being difficult on purpose. I'd be angry too if I were Lin Wanyi."
"Absolutely. Her family must be heartbroken. They were already worried about their daughter marrying so far away, and now you pull this stunt.
"Liu Chunlan, it seems you really don't want Wang Hao to have a peaceful life."
Liu Chunlan was nearly faint with rage:
"What do you all know? What in-laws? She's an old witch! She just slapped me!
"You didn't see how arrogant she was earlier. I was furious, I was driven mad with anger, that's why I told her to leave.
"Just think, getting hit by an outsider in your own home, who could swallow that insult?"
She thought everyone would understand her, but Lin Wanyi said:
"Dare you say why she hit you?
"Liu Chunlan, I've endured your bullying for eight years, and you can't handle one slap?
"Let me tell you, this is just the beginning. There's worse to come for you."
Liu Chunlan shrieked hysterically:
"Get out! All you outsiders, get out! No one is allowed to stay in my house!"
The more frenzied she became, the calmer Lin Wanyi grew.
She asked everyone again:
"Can my mother and brother stay in my home? I want to ask, according to village custom, can they?"
"Of course they can!"
Zhang Cuihua was the first to say:
"Wanyi, if it really comes to it, you stay at my house. We have plenty of empty rooms. Your family can stay as long as they want!"
