Mrs. Xiao was on the brink of collapse upon hearing this!
Even though she married into the Hu Family, she never really had a firm footing!
With her own family being poor and her father and brothers not being ambitious, she was already at a disadvantage in the Hu Family. If this child were a girl...
Yu Tingwan consoled her at the right time, "Don't cry."
Mrs. Xiao covered her face: ...Not crying, just brewing it up.
Say anymore and the tears will really fall!
Yu Tingwan's eyes didn't show any emotion, but she turned to defend her, "Aunt, just spare her this time. Is it really a glorious thing for Cousin to divorce and remarry?"
This year's harvest was good; each household sold their grain for money. The Hu Family was a bit better off now, but maintaining a scholar in the family wasn't easy, and next year's tuition hadn't been collected yet. All this needed to be saved up.
A bag of rice outside couldn't exchange for a wife anymore.
If it weren't for Yu Tingwan being the instigator of this thing, Mrs. Xiao would have been moved.
Then, she heard Yu Tingwan's dramatic voice rise and fall.
"What wrong did Sister-in-law even do? She was just being honest. Ultimately, it was all about how the bean porridge was hard to swallow..."
"It's all your fault, Aunt!"
Day by day, Mrs. Wang was about to die from anger.
"What did you say?"
"Say it again!"
Yu Tingwan calmly uttered, "I've decided. Aunt, just apologize to Sister-in-law, and this matter will be over."
"There's no overnight grudge within a family."
A wave of dizziness passed before Mrs. Wang's eyes.
Sooner or later, Yu Tingwan would drive her to death from anger!
Who was Yu Tingwan to make the decisions!
Just a few days ago when she scolded Yu Tingwan, she didn't dare to complain or make a sound.
Could it really be as Mrs. Xiao said, that Yu Tingwan was possessed?
If not, how could her personality have changed so drastically?
No, that wasn't it.
Mrs. Wang suddenly recalled the scene from years ago when her husband brought Yu Tingwan home.
Wasn't Yu Tingwan a troublemaker back then?
She stared intensely at Yu Tingwan but was met with a pair of indifferent eyes, viewing her as a clown, seemingly seeing right through her.
Mrs. Wang felt a chill down her spine.
She had to send Yu Tingwan away soon, lest delaying bring unexpected troubles.
Perhaps being used to busyness all day, once Yu Tingwan stopped she felt somewhat restless.
Just out the door, she saw Aunt Wu from next door craning her neck, peeking in. Caught red-handed, she wasn't embarrassed, with an appraising look in her eyes, "Out again?"
Toward her, Yu Tingwan was still relatively polite.
Aunt Wu was neither kin nor friend, and wouldn't risk a falling out with Mrs. Wang to protect her.
But when Yu Tingwan first arrived at Xilin Village, often clashing with Mrs. Wang, it was also Aunt Wu who couldn't bear to watch and privately advised.
[Child, if you'd listen to your aunt's advice, never provoke your aunt to be unhappy.]
[Your uncle feels guilty towards your mother and is distressed for you, quarreling with her every day. But they're ultimately a couple, and you, as a niece, have a barrier between.]
[Your surname is Yu; the Hu Family isn't your home. That matter back then... if it weren't for your parents' accidents, you might never have interacted in this life. Aunt knows you're aggrieved; Mrs. Wang is brash and can't tolerate you, but without leverage, you have to endure.]
Those words, though harsh and unpleasant, were heartfelt.
She was, after all, an outsider.
Over time, Yu Tingwan learned to rely on others' goodwill.
She thought that by keeping her head down, she would find a place of ease.
Yet, the hardships of her previous life were a rude awakening. Someone like Mrs. Wang, who was unreasonable, would only take an inch if given an inch.
Yu Tingwan smiled, "Going to collect some firewood to burn at night, so it can be warmer."
The firewood picked now was wet and wouldn't burn.
But she had some stacked in her room, picked up bit by bit before the snow. It wasn't a lot but enough for a few nights; she figured the wet firewood left to the side could dry somewhat and be barely usable.
The Hu Family kitchen's firewood was never for her to use; relying on oneself was better than relying on others.
Darned weather.
The quilt she used was thin, the windows old and drafty; Yu Tingwan feared she might not survive this winter.
Aunt Wu nodded repeatedly, "That makes sense. This year, for some reason, it's so cold, many people have frozen to death, and there's talk outside that it's heaven collecting souls."
She was about to say more when Yu Tingwan lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
The girl's worn cotton jacket didn't fit, and as she moved, the cuff slipped, revealing a section of her slender white wrist.
Aunt Wu took a closer look.
Oh my, the bruises on the wrist were glaring.
She exclaimed, "Did she lay a hand on you?"
Yu Tingwan was startled, bowing her head to follow Aunt Wu's gaze.
"No..."
Aunt Wu interrupted, "That vile woman!"
"Aunt, you've misunderstood. This happened when I got up at night and accidentally bumped into something in the dark."
Aunt Wu wouldn't believe it, full of pity, "I know you're trying to help cover it up."
Yu Tingwan: "It really isn't..."
"I understand!"
Yu Tingwan fell silent, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed an emaciated old woman in the distance watching the scene unfold with glee.
She recognized her.
This woman, surnamed Fan, was known as the big mouth of Xilin Village.
Anything that passed through her lips would spread like wildfire.
Most importantly, Granny Fan had a grudge against Mrs. Wang.
Yu Tingwan immediately put on a sorrowful facade, "This bit of injury is nothing."
"Nothing compares to family harmony."
"As a member of the younger generation, how can I hold grudges?"
"It doesn't hurt."
Yu Tingwan: "Life! Still! Intact!"
Granny Fan: !!!
She took off like a shot to the busiest part of the village, unable to hide her glee.
"Stop, everyone, listen to me. I just came from the Hu Family; do you know what I saw?"
She spouted, "Mrs. Wang laid hands on that niece again, as fierce as if she were going to eat someone. I saw her pick up a stool to smash it. When Hu Dazhu was around, she restrained herself somewhat, but this time, who knows."
"Last time she fell into the water, I suspected it was Mrs. Wang who pushed her."
Someone didn't believe it and spoke up in defense, "Mrs. Wang has a bad temper, but you two don't get along, you can't defame her like this."
Granny Fan snorted, "Do I need to defame her?"
"She's inherently a malicious person."
She squinted, as if she understood, "Why are you defending her? Don't tell me you're thinking of marrying your daughter to her family's second son."
"Save it, her eyes are set on the heavens; how could she ever consider being in-laws with you? Last time she insulted your granddaughter, saying she's like a toad wishing to eat swan meat."
A young daughter-in-law spoke, "A niece being raised under her nose, not her own child; what's wrong with being a bit harsh?"
The crude logic elicited nods of agreement from the crowd.
Granny Fan became anxious.
"Those who know they're a niece might think they've found a slave."
"What do you know, being a new daughter-in-law!"
"Go back and ask your mother-in-law what kind of unpardonable deeds the Hu Family did back then. Hu Dazhu only has one sister, let alone he feels guilty, and raising a niece is his duty."
Those who were older and knew old stories glanced at each other and sighed.
"Is that girl alright?"
Granny Fan waved her hand, "She's fine."
"Still breathing."
"Just can't tell whether Wan Niang will be tormented to death by Mrs. Wang first, or whether the Wei Family gentleman will be treated to death by Old Man Qian first."
"With the New Year coming, having two deaths in the village is quite unlucky."
She scratched her head, laughing, "Amazing! Such incidents can even coincide."