Nan Sheng's words served as a signal. The women of Xiangyang Village immediately surged forward like a floodgate opening, entering the courtyard to confront the Bai family.
"Exactly! The Second Lin isn’t even home, and you two grown men are here demanding a young wife open the door—what, trying to harass her?"
"Tomorrow’s the memorial day, yet your whole family shows up right at dinnertime today. What, can’t even afford food at home?"
The summer heat already had everyone on edge, and now with a ready-made punching bag delivered to their doorstep, the women were determined not to miss a chance to vent. The two Bai women were no match for them.
Nan Sheng casually handed her daughter to Third Brother Lin to hold. His presence was just for show—the real priority was keeping the child from getting scared.
By the time the crowd had finished their verbal assault, the Bai mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked dazed, their expressions clearing from sheer bewilderment.
Nan Sheng turned up the theatrics. "Thank goodness my sisters and aunties are here to stand up for me. Do you know how hard it is raising two kids? The older one’s unruly, and the younger one’s clingy.
"I’ve been married into this family for months and never once heard about any ‘grandparents’—then suddenly, they’re banging on doors and windows! How could I not be terrified?"
The onlookers watched as Nan Sheng pretended to wipe tears with her right hand, their lips twitching. That massive firewood cleaver in her grip—honestly, they were more afraid of her.
Zhou Ren’s wife was the first to snap out of it and chime in, "Absolutely! Anyone would be scared in her place!"
Just yesterday, she’d mentioned the Lin family’s grain purchase to her husband, and Zhou Ren had laughed, saying Nan Sheng was cunning. Today, she saw it firsthand.
Grandpa Bai, realizing his usual tactics wouldn’t work this time, dropped the act of playing deaf and dumb.
"Respected in-laws, could you explain to the new daughter-in-law? We come every year—pay our respects at the grave tomorrow and leave. Just this one visit a year, and even that’s too much for you?"
Uncle Bai added, "My sister may be gone, but those two children still carry Bai blood, don’t they? You can’t just cut ties with our family now that you’ve remarried. What if the kids face injustice someday? Who’ll speak for them?"
Nan Sheng scoffed inwardly. Back when the original owner of this body was beating the children daily, where were they? All talk, no action.
If the Bai family had tried to force their way in, the villagers would’ve made sure they regretted it. But now that they’d switched to playing the sympathy card, the neighbors hesitated, stepping back to let the Lin family handle it themselves.
Nan Sheng strode forward, happy to take charge. She could argue—and she could fight.
Cleaver in hand, she began with an apology. "Sorry about this—I’m just a bit timid. Needed something to steady my nerves. Hope you don’t mind?"
The Bai family ground their teeth. "Wouldn’t dare."
Nan Sheng started by buttering them up.
"Anyone can see the Bai family values reason. Back when Bai Xiu ran this household, you were father and daughter, brother and sister—living together, no one could criticize. But now that I’ve married in, don’t you think it’s inappropriate for you to stay?
"Even if you claim separate rooms change nothing, just your presence in this courtyard would ruin my reputation. Isn’t that right?"
Grandma Bai wasn’t stupid and quickly claimed ignorance about Lin Han’s remarriage—only for Lin Guozheng to shut her down.
"The Lin family has manners. My second son personally went to your home to explain the situation. How could you not know?"
"Fine, maybe I forgot!" she snapped.
"No problem at all!" Nan Sheng replied, all magnanimity.
"Now that you all know, there’s no way I can take you in. Find your own place to stay tonight. If you really care about your daughter, why not just camp out on the mountain? That way, you can chat with Bai Xiu a bit longer."
Grandpa Bai’s face turned livid with anger as he pointed at Lin Guozheng. "In-law, your daughter-in-law’s words are downright vicious! Our home is so far away, and you won’t even offer us a place to rest?"
Third Brother Lin wasn’t holding back either—he’d long disliked the Bai family. "Far? It’s just a two-hour walk. Go visit the grave now, and by the time you’re done, it’ll be bedtime anyway."
The Lin Family had stockpiled plenty of food, but none of the households were willing to take the Bai family in. Even Lin Guozheng made it clear they wanted nothing to do with them.
"See your child and then go home. We won’t hold it against you for all the money and grain Bai Xiu gave you in the past, but don’t expect any more handouts. Don’t even think about coming back to take advantage."
Outmatched in a fight, out-talked in an argument, and now facing someone waving a knife to make a point, the Bai family was on the verge of tears.
Uncle Bai could only mutter, "You don’t get to decide this. Unless the children grow up and say they want to cut ties, the bond between the Bai and Lin families will never be broken."
Sizhe always looked worried, but Nan Sheng had assumed the Bai family would be far more troublesome. Turns out, they were just used to pushing the Lin Family around because the latter was too soft-hearted.
"I don’t care if you’re related to the Lin Family—you’re certainly not related to me. From now on, stay out of my yard. If you want to reconnect, go to the old house."
With that, Nan Sheng swung her knife in a practiced flourish—a move she’d learned from Monkey King as a kid, back when she used to twirl sticks for fun. It looked intimidating as hell.
Finally, she swept the blade inches from each of the Bai family members’ faces. "I like practicing with this knife in my yard. If anyone’s careless enough to wander in, well… that’s their bad luck."
The Bai family stumbled back in unison, the elderly couple clutching their chests in fright. It was their first time seeing a chopping knife whiz past their noses—quite the adrenaline rush.
Nan Sheng saw right through them. Out of the four, only the old lady had a sharp tongue. The rest were pushovers; she half-worried a real fight might scare a couple of them to death.
Her knife routine was also meant as a warning to the villagers. She’d practiced deliberately after buying the blade, but when she turned around, the women’s eyes were sparkling like she was their idol.
"Lin Han’s wife, can you do that again? That was so cool!"
Nan Sheng: "…Of course!"
She deliberately edged closer to the Bai family this time, sending them scrambling toward the gate. The knife whooshed through the air—one slip, and it could’ve ended up in someone’s leg or neck.
Nan Sheng multitasked, keeping an eye on the Bai family as they settled just outside the gate. She repeated the performance, earning cheers and applause.
Grabbing a bag of rock sugar, she distributed pieces to the crowd. "Thanks for having my back today. It’s not much, but take some sugar home for the kids."
Her open "rewarding of allies" in front of the Bai family nearly made the old couple’s jaws hit the ground in outrage.
Third Brother Lin sidled up for some sugar, saying he wanted to bring some back for his daughter. Nan Sheng was so annoyed she almost smacked him—until she remembered the knife in her hand.
Thankfully, Third Brother Lin dodged in time. Otherwise, his head would’ve been history.
He yelped, "Second Sister-in-law, fine, no sugar! No need to kill me!"
Nan Sheng scratched her head sheepishly. "Oops. Forgot about that."
She gave the remaining half-bag of rock sugar to Third Brother Lin to calm his nerves. When he returned home, he was still shaken and told his daughter that he had risked his life to bring back those sugar cubes.
The Bai family stayed, and so did the Lin Family, though the villagers had to return home to prepare meals.
"Lin Han's wife, we’ll head back to cook first. Call us if you need anything!"
Nan Sheng brought out three chairs from the house and placed them in the shade for Lin Guozheng and the others to rest awhile.
"Stay for dinner tonight—I’ve already accounted for your portions."
