Li Hongmei and her husband had been hungry all afternoon. Normally, He Chen cooked, but now they were both impatient, having already downed a large pot of water.
Who knew she would say that neither He Chen nor Ye Manman were paying her any attention.
He Chen had no intention of dealing with her. He just wanted to get Ye Manman back to their room to rest.
Knowing she loved cleanliness, he planned to fetch water to boil quickly so Ye Manman could wash herself soon. He also planned to ask around to see if anyone had ointment to borrow to apply on the red marks on her legs.
She was scared of pain and hummed all the way. Knowing her delicate skin, the longer her wounds were left untreated, the more they would hurt. So he hurried back.
With a plan in mind, He Chen was quick when he got home.
As soon as he entered the house, he went straight to the room, set down the rabbit and peach, told Ye Manman to rest and wait for him, and then quickly dashed out with the carrying pole.
Li Hongmei looked at the closed door and the doorway where He Chen had vanished, incredible that she was being ignored.
She was used to ordering people around like a queen; she couldn't tolerate their defiance.
She furiously marched to Ye Manman's room and madly knocked on the door.
"Where did you learn some witchcraft, girl, to bewitch our He Chen like this? Daring to ignore me!"
"Ye Manman! Come out here!"
Ye Manman was speechless to this person and even quite disgusted.
But she didn't want to deal with her now. After going up the mountain, she felt filthy and wanted to clean herself first before engaging, otherwise her mood would sour.
Ignoring Li Hongmei's shouting outside, Ye Manman pretended not to hear it.
Luckily, He Chen came back soon. He was quick-footed, and since his home wasn't far from the well, he was back in less than five minutes.
Li Hongmei shouted so long her mouth went dry. Seeing He Chen back with water, she scooped a bowl to drink before pointing at He Chen to scold him.
"He Chen, let me tell you, what kind of wife did you marry? She just came today, doesn't call people, doesn't cook, doesn't go to work, doesn't do chores - did you marry a living ancestor to worship?"
Usually, she was sharp-tongued, stingy, and bossy. He Chen tolerated it, pretending not to hear, but now he couldn't.
He quickly started a fire to boil water, then looked coldly at Li Hongmei once his hands were free.
"She doesn't have to do these things, and don't expect her to. As long as I'm here, she won't have to do anything."
Li Hongmei's eyes widened, completely stunned.
"What are you saying!? How disrespectful! I raised you all these years, and this is how you repay me?"
She pointed her trembling finger at He Chen, her voice sharp.
"Oh my heavens, a thankless wretch indeed, marrying a wife and forgetting your aunt! Years of raising you can't compare to a day with your wife!"
She beat her chest and wailed, wishing to be heard for miles around.
He Chen frowned, scooped out the boiling water, added some cold, and quickly carried a basin of suitably warm water to the room.
As long as no one spoke ill of Ye Manman, he didn't care what Li Hongmei said about him - even being called ungrateful didn't matter to him.
He had a clear conscience.
Only he knew that over all these years, Li Hongmei had never really taken care of him. But once she moved in, claiming to look after him, no one believed he'd survived alone.
People always listened to adults, ignoring children's opinions, so everyone thought he grew up under Li Hongmei's care.
Li Hongmei kept staring at the two of them. Watching He Chen specially boil water to wipe Ye Manman's face and arms made her feel a pang of jealousy rise in her throat.
Angrily she said.
"He Chen, I don't care who cooks, but someone has to. Your uncle and I have been hungry all afternoon, didn't you notice?"
Li Hongmei's tone was too self-righteous, leaving Ye Manman confused.
She raised her leg for He Chen to wipe.
"Why don't you cook yourselves? What does whether your family eats or not have to do with us? We already ate, and He Chen will not cook for you. Find your own way for lunch."
"What? You already ate?"
Li Hongmei sniffed indignantly.
"No wonder I smelled chicken just now. Did you eat chicken on the mountain? Caught a chicken and didn't bring it back for everyone? How selfish!"
As she accused them, she craned her neck to peek inside the house.
What she saw shocked her; there was a wild rabbit in the basket on the table. Li Hongmei's eyes lit up.
"There's a rabbit? At least you're not completely heartless, knowing to bring it back for us to eat together."
"Dongliang, come look, they brought back a rabbit! A big one; we'll eat well tonight!"
She picked up the rabbit to examine it, then couldn't help calling her husband, Liu Dongliang, excitedly.
Liu Dongliang, after taking a look, was grinning.
"Good boy, really something. Let's make rabbit soup tonight for everyone."
He Chen had just finished wiping her leg, let down her pants leg, and hearing this, paused with the towel in hand. As he was about to speak, Ye Manman offered a hand to him.
He naturally held it and carefully wiped her hand.
"This rabbit is ours; what's it got to do with your family? Want rabbit soup? Catch your own. How shameless, an adult wanting to eat someone else's catch!"
Ye Manman's sweet voice was laced with undisguised disdain, embarrassing both Li Hongmei and her husband.
Li Hongmei glanced at the plump rabbit again, swallowed, and said.
"Why divide your place and ours with He Chen? We're one family. You married in, so you're family too. A family shouldn't talk like two households. Surely you won't hog it all, He Chen never does."
She couldn't figure out He Chen's attitude anymore, sensing something different from how he'd spoken earlier, but couldn't quite grasp it.
Ye Manman laughed, her tone even more contemptuous.
"Of course, He Chen never hogs. He's well-behaved, unlike certain people who claim to take care of others but just bully and make them work for no reward."
"Who do you think you're talking about?! As an outsider, how dare you criticize our family issues? You know nothing!"
Li Hongmei jumped with anger, directly pointing and shouting at Ye Manman.
"He Chen hasn't said anything, and you, an outsider, think you can criticize me? Don't think that marrying in means no one can restrain you and you can act lawlessly. Even He Chen listens to me. Who do you think you are?"
Fuming red, Ye Manman remained calm, even asking He Chen to bring her a drink as she leisurely sipped it.
"How hilarious, He Chen listens to you? Who are you to him? What care have you ever given him? Occupying the He family's house? Taking all of He Chen's income? What right do you have to provoke me?"