Before coming, the village chief didn't believe the messenger's words. Mrs. Bai's reputation was as good as her honest husband's, Qin Laoer!
She was known to be a dough-like person, easily molded into any shape, and never seen angry or loud—how could someone like her suddenly beat her mother-in-law, making her wail loudly? Completely impossible!
But now, having seen Old Chen's miserable state, the village chief had to believe that Mrs. Bai, this dough-like person, had really hit her mother-in-law!
Although Mrs. Bai's reputation was good in the past, daring to commit such a wicked act of beating her mother-in-law, the village chief couldn't help but feel disgusted. Then, he looked at Mrs. Bai and was stunned, with his gaze falling on Qin Shuangshuang, whose half face was swollen and purple in Mrs. Bai's arms.
Seeing the village chief, Qin Shuangshuang felt anxious. As the village chief looked over, she quickly thought up a trick out of panic. She tilted her head, rolled her eyes, and pretended to be beaten badly by the Chen Family!
As expected, the village chief, seeing Qin Shuangshuang's condition, was startled. Looking at Mrs. Bai all trembling and silently crying as she held Qin Shuangshuang, suspicion arose in his mind—he felt Mrs. Bai wasn't someone who would hit her mother-in-law.
The village chief coughed and gently asked Mrs. Bai, "Mrs. Bai, what happened here, how did Second Lady turn out like this? Who beat her?"
While the village chief wanted to find out the truth with his question, the Qin Family, who had already convicted Mrs. Bai, saw it differently—as if the village chief intended to shield Mrs. Bai by not asking about the severely injured Old Chen first and instead asking a mere girl!
The Qin Family inside instantly displayed dissatisfaction. Though they were unhappy, no one dared to speak out. The village chief, though not an official, was enough to deter the villagers, including the cunning Qin Family!
While justifying herself, Mrs. Bai didn't mention Old Chen's failed attempt to hit her but then hitting Qin Shuangshuang instead because she still held the notion of not speaking ill of elders. But now, seeing that remaining silent would not rid her of the label of being unfilial, she could only hold back her tears and explain in a low voice:
"Yesterday, my elder brother returned from town with a piece of meat as a reward from his employer. This morning, my mother asked me to cook it. I cut the meat thickly, and when my mother came to beat me, Second Lady was just behind me, leading to her face being hit. Then I heard them both screaming miserably. Village chief, I really don't know what happened! I didn't hit my mother!"
While Mrs. Bai's explanation was truthful, it obviously lacked coherence, naturally making no one believe it. Even the village chief frowned again, and the villagers outside, watching the spectacle, whispered among themselves, most thinking Mrs. Bai was lying. Only a few believed Mrs. Bai's character was good and assumed she couldn't have done such a thing!
Seeing everyone thinking Mrs. Bai was lying, the Qin Family inside became emboldened and dared to speak out!
Qin the Third was the first to let out a cold laugh, glancing at Qin Laoer, who initially wanted to hit Mrs. Bai but stood still because of the village chief's interruption, and then spoke mockingly:
"To say the Second Sister-in-law, who is known for being so honest, could commit such a rebellious act—it seems she isn't truly honest, right Second Brother? Weren't you just about to teach the unfilial daughter-in-law a lesson? Why stop now? Aren't you sharing the same thoughts as Mrs. Bai? Maybe Mrs. Bai hitting Mother actually suits your mind, Second Brother."
"Second Brother, it's not right for me as an older sister to say this to you, but your wife is too outrageous. As a daughter-in-law, it's unavoidable to be taught by the family-in-law. Why do other daughters-in-law have no issues while only yours feels tormented by the mother-in-law? Such a wife needs to be disciplined. I'm not a man, but if I were you, Second Brother, I'd have disciplined this malicious wife long ago!"
Unlike Qin the Third, who thrives on chaos, Little Chen, although also a troublemaker, didn't agree with Qin Laoer divorcing his wife. Little Chen's agitation aimed more at disciplining Mrs. Bai into submission, best if she always remained cowardly, never daring to resist.
Little Chen's reason for disagreeing with Qin Laoer divorcing his wife was even simpler—because neither Little Chen nor Mrs. Fang, when at odds, had half the competence of Mrs. Bai. If Qin Laoer divorced Mrs. Bai, who would do the work? Little Chen disliked heavy labor for years, having long hated the feeling of daily toil!
Old Chen still lay on the ground wailing, face full of tears and snot. Whereas, the son and daughter-in-law she favored were here playing mind games, surrounding her, yet none thought of calling a doctor for her, truly a retribution!
With Qin the Third and Little Chen together provoking him, Qin Laoer's eyes became red, glaring at Mrs. Bai while grinding his teeth!
Seeing Qin Laoer's expression, Mrs. Bai panicked, immediately discerning that Qin Laoer intended to hit her. She instinctively tightened her grip around Qin Shuangshuang, using her body to shield him, fearing Qin Shuangshuang might be innocently hit by Qin Laoer again.
Mrs. Bai reacted quickly, but Qin Laoer's speed was even quicker. Before Mrs. Bai could completely shield Qin Shuangshuang, he had already stepped forward in front of Mrs. Bai. Amid Mrs. Bai's terrified gaze, he raised his large hand to slap Mrs. Bai's face, cursing, "I'll beat you to death, you unfilial thing!"
Protected by Mrs. Bai, Qin Shuangshuang was boiling with rage, fiercely resolved in her heart. Before Qin Laoer's hand descended, she suddenly cried loudly while pretending to be startled and tried to scramble, raising her little foot to kick hard at Qin Laoer's hand!
If Qin Shuangshuang had used merely seven-tenths of her strength against Old Chen, she employed her full power against Qin Laoer!
Qin Shuangshuang hated Old Chen, hated the Qin Family, but the one she hated most was her father, Qin Laoer. Although Old Chen and the rest of the Qin Family were Qin Shuangshuang's relatives, they were ultimately not her parents, and Qin Shuangshuang could tolerate their harshness.
But Qin Laoer was her real father! Qin Shuangshuang still remembered at eight years old when the village faced continuous natural disasters for two years, leading to barren harvests.
It coincided with the court's decree for relocating civilians to the border. The County Magistrate, in order to force the common people to comply, refused to distribute disaster relief funds and grain, causing many to die of starvation in the village.
When people were starved to extremes, notions of humanity and moral boundaries vanished. After exhausting fish from the water and wild beasts on the mountains, even gnawing tree bark and roots, many were forced to consider cannibalism to survive!