Su Xiaoqi saw Qian Shi standing with her hands on her hips in the courtyard and understood her intentions.
She let out a soft snort, a mocking smile curling on her lips.
At the same time, she had Shen Erdan, who was resting at home for the day, fetch her a stool.
Shen Erdan, not knowing what he was thinking, suddenly said, "Big Aunt, please sit down. Be careful of the wind outside, it might hurt your back."
"Ah, you little brat, how dare you curse me!" Qian Shi immediately found an opening to attack and raised her hand to pinch Shen Erdan's face.
Shen Erdan hadn't been paying attention and was caught by her pinch.
He instinctively jumped back a step, glaring at her with annoyance.
He thought to himself that this so-called Big Aunt was always hitting or scolding him, making her extremely difficult to get along with.
Su Xiaoqi's heart stirred, and she gave Shen Erdan a look.
He immediately understood, covered his face, and burst into loud sobs.
Su Xiaoqi advised, "Big Aunt, Erdan is just a child. You're an adult, why are you arguing with a child?"
Her words were somewhat sarcastic and unpredictable: "Today is the thirteenth of the seventh month, when the gates of hell open. Big Aunt, if you bully the young, aren't you afraid that the ancestors of the Zhao family will be displeased with you?"
"Displeased? Displeased with what? I gave birth to four daughters and one son for the Zhao family..." Qian Shi's voice was somewhat hollow.
Su Xiaoqi's remark made her feel a few degrees colder, her back tingled, and cold sweat broke out.
"Yes, Big Aunt has merit in giving birth to children, but have you ever considered that you gave birth to four daughters? How many of them are still by your side?" Su Xiaoqi asked gravely.
Qian Shi thought for a moment, her body growing colder.
Her eldest daughter, Zhao Xiaomei, married into the Yu family. She had a difficult time in the early years as she hadn't had children. Her life only improved slightly after she visited the Shen family a few months ago. She wondered what benefits they had given her eldest son-in-law's family.
Her second daughter, Zhao Xiaolan, had run off with a peddler from the village many years ago. Years had passed, and there was still no news. She had long since come to terms with it, as if she had never given birth to her.
As for her third daughter, Zhao Xiaozhu, after the misfortune she had caused, she had almost been forced to death. She hadn't even returned home and lived at the Shen family's. No, she heard that she no longer lived in the village but was learning embroidery from an embroiderer in the city. Hmph, she wondered where that useless girl got such good luck.
Only the young fourth daughter, Zhao Xiaoju, and her most beloved youngest son, Baogui, remained by her side.
"Big Aunt, I kindly remind you. If you continue like this, you will eventually be abandoned by everyone."
Su Xiaoqi was not exaggerating at all. In the original novel, there was no mention of Qian Shi at all. It only gave a concluding sentence about her: cold-hearted, abandoned by everyone, and dying alone. Su Xiaoqi had initially felt the author was too harsh on her. But now, being in this situation, she truly felt that Qian Shi's end was entirely her own doing. "If you make trouble, you'll die." A person's personality determines their destiny.
"You, you're talking nonsense, you, you, you disrespect your elders, you, you..." Qian Shi retreated as she spoke.
Su Xiaoqi's words struck a chord in her heart. She used to think she was very capable. Although she had given birth to many daughters first, she had later given birth to a son. Her family was also different from others. Her husband was indifferent to everything, only knowing how to work and earn money. All the money earned went to her, and he never asked where it was spent. Her in-laws were still alive, but they were all under her control. They couldn't make things difficult for her at all. She only gave a small portion of the household expenses to Zhao Dashan for raising the family, and the rest was sent back to her maiden family. This was to let her parents know that although she was the least favored daughter at home before, she was now the most accomplished and filial daughter. Over the years, her impartiality and great contributions had earned her much praise from her maiden family. This filled her with immense satisfaction, as if she had finally obtained what she had sought for years. Thus, whenever her maiden family asked, Qian Shi would find a way to satisfy them. As long as she benefited them, they would praise her in various ways. They called her capable, filial, and a good homemaker. She became addicted to this, and it continued in a cycle. She never thought about her own family's affairs.
Unknowingly, her husband was no longer as obedient to her as before. Her eldest daughter, Zhao Xiaomei, only showed her superficial respect. Her second daughter had no news, and her third daughter was driven away by her; they had long since become strangers to each other. Now, she only had her fourth daughter and her youngest son. Su Xiaoqi's words were like stabbing her in the heart.
"Wicked heart, they are all unconscionable dogs. And you, your whole family too." The more Qian Shi thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, and the more confused she became, so she simply started cursing. Only by cursing could she vent the anger in her heart.
Su Xiaoqi did not stop her. She waited until she had cursed enough and then leaned closer and warned coldly, "Big Aunt, let me tell you, as long as I am in this house, you will not be able to take advantage of it even half a bit. Even if you do, I will make sure you don't get away with it."
Qian Shi immediately remembered the large bag of white rice she had extorted from their house when Su Xiaoqi first married into the Shen family. Before they could even eat it, the village head, with his keen nose, had found them and taken more than half of it. She had always thought it was because their house was close to the village head's, and he had seen it. She never expected it to be this damned girl, Su Xiaoqi, who had informed him.
"You impudent woman, you dead girl..." Qian Shi was furious, spewing all sorts of foul language.
"Curse all you want. But let me tell you, you are not caring for your ailing mother, but pushing it onto your married daughters. This is unfilial. Da Liang governs by filial piety, so if reported to the authorities, you will be caned. You also abandoned your sister Xiaozhu. Before she came of age, you were unloving and abandoned a child before they were grown, which is also punishable by law. Little Uncle has a leg injury and cannot walk. As his sister-in-law, when your mother is unable to care for him, you have an obligation to look after your minor uncle who is not yet married. Not only did you not care for him, but you also spoke ill of him, causing him to attempt suicide. Although unsuccessful, Little Uncle is a scholar with a degree. If he were to sue you, you would have to appear in court and would inevitably be beaten."
Su Xiaoqi was lecturing Qian Shi for the first time. Of course, she was also tired of Qian Shi. For the past few days, Qian Shi had been bothering her for no reason. She often insulted them and even tried to rummage through their house to take their belongings several times. Su Xiaoqi had reached her limit. She didn't want to move to a new house only to have to hear her abuse from time to time. She just wanted to stay away from such trash and live a peaceful life.
"You, you, you're going to report me to the authorities?" Qian Shi looked at Su Xiaoqi in disbelief.
"Why not? Husband, you finish painting this picture and then take a trip to the yamen, alright?" Shen Yun had heard everything Su Xiaoqi had said to Qian Shi. He did not comment but nodded with a smile. If this time Xiaoqiao could make his Big Aunt retreat, their future days would surely be much more peaceful. Honestly, no one could tolerate Qian Shi's continuous barrage of "greetings." In the past, for the sake of the elders in the family and considering his Big Uncle's face, he had tolerated her repeatedly. But he found that no amount of tolerance earned him equal respect. For Qian Shi, nothing was more effective than a strong dose of medicine.
Qian Shi was scared, and Shen Yun naturally cooperated with Su Xiaoqi in their act.
"You, you can't do this, you can't do this." Qian Shi was terrified. She wasn't someone who feared nothing. On the contrary, she was very afraid. She was just a bully who preyed on the weak. Her mind kept replaying the accusations Su Xiaoqi had made against her. Her body trembled, her legs felt weak, and she didn't know how she left the Shen family. Behind her, the coldness in Su Xiaoqi's eyes receded, and she let out a faint sigh, "So she's afraid too."
Shen Yun smiled and replied, "She's not fearless, she's just ignorant."