The Gou Gou Lake in summer was vast and shimmering, with the humidity increasing as one approached the water's edge...
Dense rows of tents stood on the shore, and various small fishing boats were scattered about. Some fishermen, braving the scorching sun, headed for the center of the lake to fish, while others overturned their small boats, creating ideal shady spots within.
"Oh dear, why is it so hot today? It would be good if it rained a few times!" an elderly fisherman, lying in a tent, complained while fanning himself.
Old Man Yun walked past the front of the tent and, hearing the voice, peeked inside. "Ho, Old Bian? You're still fishing at your age?"
Old Bian was from Xinwang Village. Having fished by Gou Gou Lake for years, Old Man Yun had gotten to know him...
"Old Man Yun, are you here to buy loaches again?" Old Bian sat up, fanning himself vigorously.
"Do you have river crabs? Live ones. And give me two jin of clams and such!" Old Man Yun said.
Old Man Bian crawled out of the tent, putting on his straw hat. "Yes, I have them, but you'll have to pick them yourself. Here, in that water basket, there are live crabs, and dead ones too. There are quite a few clams and the like..."
The villagers of Da Shui Village found river delicacies too expensive, so they rarely ate river crabs.
However, big carp, grass carp, and crucian carp were cheap, economical, and affordable. Often, a few copper coins could buy half a basin, making them popular among the villagers...
Old Man Yun came to the shore, his eyes brightening. "There are quite a few indeed!"
"If you want to buy, this whole basket is just five copper coins!" Old Man Bian said.
Old Man Yun picked through them carefully and found two or three dead crabs, with the rest alive. He then said, "Old Bian, five copper coins is too cheap. I'll give you three more copper coins..."
It was not easy for him to be out fishing at this age.
Old Man Yun didn't want to take advantage of him...
Before Old Man Bian could respond, a young woman hurried over.
Old Man Yun turned to look. He saw that the woman was dark-skinned, with a somewhat shrewish face, upturned eyes, a flat nose, and thick lips. Her features were far from attractive...
He had seen her once before when buying fish. She was Old Man Bian's daughter-in-law, who did nothing at home, was lazy, and didn't even wash bowls. Consequently, her reputation and popularity in Xinwang Village were quite poor.
"Oh dear, Father, why aren't you home yet? Ever since Tie Zhu was arrested, our pigs haven't been fed, and the chickens, ducks, and geese have all gotten thin. Hurry back and clean the pigsty, then cook for me!" kuAiδugg
The young woman said with a frown.
Old Man Yun: "..."
No, he couldn't have heard that right.
This daughter-in-law was actually telling her father-in-law to go home and feed the pigs and cook, while she herself acted like a pampered lady enjoying ready-made meals...
Had she forgotten her place?
Old Man Bian was furious. He stomped his foot. "Zhao Lihua, can't you see Father is busy? As Bian family's daughter-in-law, if you can't even cook, what use are you to us?"
His son, Bian Tie Zhu, was usually honest and upright, a simple and honest man. He had never done anything wrong in his life...
But ever since he married this woman, she had instigated Bian Tie Zhu to steal, cheat, and cause trouble.
Just a few days ago, Bian Tie Zhu had stolen a mule and was arrested by the constables. He was now locked up in the county jail...
Seeing that she was not being taken care of, Zhao Lihua came to demand service from Old Man Bian.
"Father, what are you saying?"
Zhao Lihua rolled her eyes and spat. "It's true that I'm the Bian family's daughter-in-law, but when I married in, Tie Zhu promised me that he wouldn't let me do any dirty or tiring work. Didn't you also agree?"
"Hmph, and now you're talking nonsense to me. What, you regret it? Fine, then I'll take the children back to my parents' home right now and never come back..."
With that, Zhao Lihua twisted her plump waist and turned to leave.
Old Man Bian was speechless. He wanted to reach out and grab Zhao Lihua, but he was afraid she would throw a tantrum.
As he was at a loss for what to do, Old Man Yun let out a cold snort. "Hmph, you have the body of a noblewoman but the fate of a maid. You really think highly of yourself. If you were my daughter-in-law, I'd skin you alive..."
To be honest, the daughters-in-law of the Yun family were all quite good. Except for Liu Cuirong, who was unreasonable and lacked common sense back then, the others were fine.
Therefore, Old Man Yun rarely worried or got upset about his daughters-in-law.
Zhao Lihua stopped in her tracks upon hearing this and turned back abruptly. "Hey, you old geezer, who are you calling a maid? Who do you think you are? If you have the guts, say it again..."
As she spoke, Zhao Lihua rolled up her sleeves and walked towards Old Man Yun.
This damned old man, already half in the grave, dared to come out and cause trouble.
With Zhao Lihua's physique, she could easily crush Old Man Yun to death...
There was no other way. Whatever good food and drink the Bian family had, it was all prioritized for Zhao Lihua.
She had been fed so well that she became plump and fair, like a fat sow.
"What's wrong with scolding you?"
Old Man Yun threw down the large water basket in his hand, put his hands on his hips, and said, "Look at yourself, what daughter-in-law is like you? Useless at everything, and never full, no matter how much you eat. What kind of thing are you? You even boss around your father-in-law, telling him to feed chickens, feed pigs, and cook for you. Do you think you're an Empress Dowager? Fat, thick, and clumsy like a log..."
Actually, Old Man Yun was not someone who liked to meddle in other people's affairs.
He just couldn't stand to see Zhao Lihua bullying her father-in-law when he encountered it today.
Old Man Yun also had daughters-in-law. If he put himself in their shoes, if something like this happened to him, he would be so angry he'd die...
If one can bear it, it's unbearable. Even an uncle can't bear it, so his grandfather certainly can't.
Zhao Lihua's eyes widened as she heard this, her plump face contorting. "Old man, does our family's business require your intervention? I think you're just itching for a beating, aren't you?"
If she had known this earlier, she would have brought her shoulder pole and knocked this old man down in two blows, then he wouldn't dare to be so arrogant...
Old Man Yun curled his lips, calmly lit his pipe, and then pointed to his head. "Come on, you crazy woman, hit here. It's best to smash it with a big rock. How satisfying that would be!"
Zhao Lihua: "..."
This damned old man must have been a rogue in his youth.
Even in old age, his mouth was still so sharp and wicked.
"Lihua, hurry home!" Old Man Bian frowned. "Do you know who he is? He's the father of the county magistrate!"
Zhao Lihua: "..."