Lin Zhi and Wang Rou took the kids to have a great time in Yangcheng before taking a boat back with bags big and small.
Chen Hehua quickly pulled her daughter-in-law inside, and conveniently pulled Lin Zhilan's family of three in as well.
Lin Zhilan: Aunt Hehua, what is wrong?
Chen Hehua whispered: Be careful, Chunhua's mother-in-law came over yesterday afternoon.
What is wrong? Is she hard to deal with?
Chen Hehua found it hard to explain in a few words; she had never seen such an old lady.
Old Lady Ma came over with her youngest son. Liu Chunhua had gone to work and was not home. The three kids were either at school or the factory nursery, so no one from the Ma family was home.
The young soldier escorted the mother and son to the door. Chen Hehua saw them standing pitifully outside, so she invited them in to sit for a while.
It was fine at first, and the old lady was quite polite.
But when Chen Hehua politely praised Ma Daniu a bit, Chunhua's mother-in-law immediately pulled a long face and started complaining endlessly.
She even brought up how Ma Daniu ate one more sweet potato than his two younger brothers when he was a child.
Her youngest son did not say anything but looked full of resentment.
Chen Hehua's face stiffened as she listened. If she had not known that Ma Daniu sent half his allowance back home every month, she might have actually been swayed by Chunhua's mother-in-law into thinking Ma Daniu and Liu Chunhua were unfilial.
But since she was Commander Ma's mother, Chen Hehua did not say anything.
She finally waited until evening when Liu Chunhua returned, and Chen Hehua sent these two great Buddhas away.
That night, sounds of arguing came from the Ma family, mixed with the sound of breaking bowls and chopsticks.
Fearing something bad would happen, Chen Hehua quickly dragged Li Jiang over.
They saw Liu Chunhua and her mother-in-law scuffling. The brother-in-law tried to step forward to help but had his legs tightly hugged by the three Ma boys.
Ma Xiaonan lowered his head and bit hard onto his uncle's calf.
A flash of hostility crossed his uncle's eyes, and he raised his leg to kick the boy in the stomach.
Stop! Li Jiang shouted angrily, What are you trying to do!
The child was so small; he could not withstand a kick from an adult, especially in the stomach.
Startled by his shout, Ma Sanniu had not even reacted before Li Jiang pinned him to the ground.
Mother, save me! This guy is trying to kill me!
Old Lady Ma stopped fighting and pounced over like a madwoman. Seeing she could not move him, she started pinching and scratching Li Jiang fiercely.
Could Chen Hehua just watch someone bully her son?
She joined the fray anyway.
So...
On her first day here, Old Lady Ma had already gotten into a fight with Chen Hehua...
Compared to Old Lady Ma, Wang Guifen probably seemed gentle.
Although their intentions were equally bad.
Lin Zhilan sighed inwardly and asked, Auntie, what did Sister Chunhua say?
Sigh, what can she do? Chen Hehua curled her lips toward the Ma house. Chunhua told us not to talk to her mother-in-law. With her personality, once you get involved, you cannot shake her off.
Chunhua also asked me to tell you absolutely not to send food to her house these days. She is ignoring that mother and son right now and taking the kids to eat at the cafeteria every day. Sending anything over would just be a bargain for them.
Liu Chunhua knew Lin Zhilan was always generous. She always shared the food she bought from Yangcheng with Jiang Chengzhou and their three kids.
If her mother-in-law and brother-in-law saw it, they would definitely snatch it from the kids.
Her mother-in-law was thick-skinned enough to even show up at the door asking for it.
It was better for Lin Zhilan to pretend she could not afford to offend them. They were the type to bully the weak and fear the strong, so they definitely would not dare come knocking.
Lin Zhilan understood what she meant, nodded in agreement, and took the kids home.
Hearing the commotion outside, Old Lady Ma immediately came out to look.
The moment she saw Lin Zhilan, she froze.
Was... was this person some sort of fox spirit in disguise?
Seeing her youngest son also staring blankly, Old Lady Ma felt even more displeased. She glared fiercely at Lin Zhilan and then forcefully shut the courtyard door.
Lin Zhilan was taken aback. She had already figured out how to shoot back if this person spoke to her, but she did not even get a chance to use it.
...
Without paying it much mind, Lin Zhilan took the children home.
Having been away for a week, the house needed a thorough cleaning.
Fortunately, Jiang Chengzhou helped out. Although there was a Linlin running around with a rag causing more trouble than help, they still quickly cleaned the house.
Knock, knock, knock.
Hearing someone knock, Jiang Chengzhou ran to open the door.
Seeing a strange man standing at the door, not wearing a military uniform.
Jiang Chengzhou held onto the doorframe, looking at him warily.
Ma Sanniu peeked inside the door and smiled, Kid, where is your sister?
Jiang Chengzhou frowned, Who are you?
Ma Sanniu had no other skills; over the years, he had just thrown his weight around at home relying on his older brother Ma Daniu. He said proudly, I am Commander Ma's own younger brother.
Oh, Jiang Chengzhou said displeasedly, What do you want?
He had just heard Grandma Hehua say that this was the guy who wanted to kick Ma Xiaonan.
Ma Xiaonan was his buddy. Bullying him meant bullying himself, so Jiang Chengzhou would not give him a good look.
Tell your sister to come out.
Jiang Chengzhou did not even know where he supposedly got a sister from, thinking this guy was just crazy.
He ignored him and tried to close the courtyard door.
Ma Sanniu blocked the door with his hand and stepped a foot inside.
Chengzhou, step aside.
Hearing his aunt's voice, Jiang Chengzhou instinctively dodged to the side.
Ma Sanniu felt a burst of joy. Before he could react, a basin of dirty water used for washing rags was splashed right onto his face and body.
Ma Sanniu was soaked to the bone and wiped the dirty water from his face.
Mud and fabric bits stuck to his face, making him look utterly miserable.
His anger flared up, Didn't you see there's a person here? Just splashing water everywhere!
I didn't see a person. I thought it was some wild dog pawing at the door.
Lin Zhilan set the basin aside. I am splashing the ground in my own home. I can splash however I want!
Chengzhou, close the door. Who knows where this beggar came from? The moment the door opened, the whole house stank!
A fully able-bodied adult man still leeching off his brother and sister-in-law—calling him a beggar was being polite.
Ma Sanniu's face turned the color of pig liver. Seeing Lin Zhilan's overly beautiful face, he felt both angry and itchy inside.
He stiffened his neck and said, I am a military family member!
Military family member? Lin Zhilan sneered, the smile not reaching her eyes. Go stand outside and ask around. Which family here isn't a military family member?
Jiang Chengzhou picked up a piece of firewood in disgust, pressed it against Ma Sanniu to push him out, and then quickly shut the door.
Ma Sanniu was thus kicked out.
He actually wanted to make a scene at their door like he would back in his hometown.
But remembering this was the family compound where entry required registration, with soldiers standing guard nearby, and having been pinned by Li Jiang just yesterday, he instantly lost his nerve.
Seeing Ma Sanniu return dripping wet, Old Lady Ma hurriedly took down a towel hanging outside to wipe him down, saying repeatedly, My son, where did you fall into?
Ma Sanniu impatiently snatched the towel, wiped himself haphazardly, and a new idea sprang up in his mind.
