Chapter 233: Bullying
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling only smiled. Eldest Aunt smiled and asked, “Ah Ling, Xiuhong, have you eaten breakfast?”
Mu Yangling shook her head. “We came over as soon as we left the mountain and haven’t eaten yet. Eldest Aunt, we left the roe deer in your courtyard. The blood hasn’t dried up yet. Go back and deal with it quickly. Otherwise, it won’t be easy to deal with when the blood hardens later.”
Eldest Aunt glanced at her sister-in-law. Second Aunt smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, go back. Ah Ling counts as three people. Bring these little ones back too. Get them to bring breakfast over later.”
None of them had had breakfast. They were all used to working until the sun rose halfway into the skies before eating their first meal, and would only eat two meals a day. However, since Mu Yangling was here, they would eat according to her habits.
Liu Ting and the others who could work were all left behind. Eldest Aunt only brought Liu Yuan’s son, Liu Ying, along. He was only five years old. Even if he was brought to the fields, he was only asked to throw some stones out.
Liu Yun looked at her grandmother and Liu Ying, then at Mu Yangling and Xiuhong. In the end, she lowered her head and walked to her cousin, Liu Rong.
Seeing her like this, Liu Rong knew that she wanted to slack off again, so she said, “Follow your brother to pick up stones later. We’ll level the clods of earth.”
Liu Yun responded dejectedly and asked, “When can we rest? I can’t wait for the new year.” Only during the new year did they not have to work in the fields.
“There are still a few months left. With Ah Ling’s help today, it will be much faster. If you don’t work, progress will be even slower. If we’re not done by the New Year, we won’t be able to celebrate the New Year.” Liu Rong frightened her. “When the time comes, other people will be at home celebrating the New Year, and we’ll have to work in the fields.”
Liu Yun shivered and quickly went to pick up the stones with a dustpan.
When Xiuhong heard Liu Rong scaring Liu Yun, she couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile. Meanwhile, Mu Yangling had already pulled the rope while Madam Liu-Zhao held the plow. On the other side, Liu Daqian was pulling the rope while Liu Erqian held the plow. It was faster working with two iron plows.
Mu Yangling worked continuously. Liu Daqian would rest for a while after plowing a line. Seeing that the girls had already surpassed them by a lot, he shook his head and laughed. “I’m old, I’m old. Back then, when I plowed, I didn’t stop either.”
Liu Erqian chuckled. “Even if I’m old, I plow without stopping, too.”
Liu Daqian glanced at him and threw the rope to him. “Then you can pull it. I’ll help support the plow.”
Stunned, Liu Erqian held his waist and said, “Aiyo, I accidentally twisted it last night. It still hurts.”
Liu Daqian kicked him angrily. “How old are you? Other than bragging, what else can you do?”
Second Madam Liu, who was flattening the ground, was also so angry that she picked up the clods of earth in the ground and threw them at Liu Erqian. She said angrily, “Old thing, if you dare to lead the kids astray, I’ll peel your skin.”
Liu Erqian jumped up and shouted, “Look at you. You’re clearly the one who are leading the children astray.”
Liu Daqian originally didn’t want to interfere in his sister-in-law teaching his younger brother a lesson. After all, this was a matter between a married couple. However, when he saw the children looking over excitedly, he had no choice but to interrupt. “Alright, alright. Let’s talk when we get back. Erqian, if you continue fooling around, I’ll beat you up. You’re already so old…”
As Liu Daqian spoke, he went forward to pull the rope and was about to leave when Liu Erqian hurriedly rushed over to snatch the rope. “Alright, alright, I’ll do it. You go support the plow.”
Unlike what he said about plowing continuously, Liu Erqian also had to rest a short while after plowing a line.
Liu Daqian did not rush him. Instead, he kicked some clods of earth behind him.
Mu Yangling was wearing gloves and wasn’t tired from pulling the rope. However, Madam Liu-Zhao would get tired, so Second Madam Liu would exchange places with her every 45 minutes.
When Liu Ying ran over crying, she handed the plow to Madam Liu-Zhao. When she saw her grandson running over covered in mud, she was shocked. She quickly ran over to pull him back and asked, “What’s wrong?” Seeing that his palm was bleeding, she asked, “Who did this?”
Liu Ying, who was only five years old, pointed at the path and cried. “Brother Xizi snatched it away, and Great-aunt even scolded me.”
Second Great-aunt Liu immediately frowned. “Fang Xi? He snatched the breakfast?” Seeing her grandson nod, she stood up angrily and scolded, “Is he a hungry ghost reincarnated? He even snatched away your breakfast? Is your great-aunt there too?”
Seeing her grandson nod, Second Great-aunt Liu turned around and glared at Liu Erqian. “Liu Erqian, are you going to interfere in this matter or not?”
Liu Erqian’s face darkened and he silently looked at his big brother. Liu Daqian also looked a little angry. He went forward and dusted the dirt off Liu Ying’s body, then patted his head and said, “Good child, don’t cry. Go play with your brothers first.”
Liu Ying looked at him in confusion before turning around to look for Liu Ting.
Mu Yangling paused for a moment. She felt that this was the Liu clan’s family affairs and that it was not appropriate for her to interfere, so she called Madam Liu-Zhao and started to pull the plow.
Liu Ying’s mother, Madam Liu-Sun, was originally working with Madam Liu Zhang at the other end. When she saw her son crying over, although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, she knew that something was wrong when she saw the two elders’ expressions. She smiled apologetically at Madam Liu-Zhang and said, “Third Sister-in-law, let’s go over and take a look too.”
Madam Liu-Zhang also looked up and wanted to say something, but when she saw Madam Liu-Sun’s pleading gaze, she said, “Alright, I’m thirsty too. Let’s go over and drink some water.”
The two sisters-in-law rushed over. Madam Liu-Zhang went to drink water, but Madam Liu-Sun asked her son, “What’s wrong? Why are you so dirty? Weren’t you asked to deliver breakfast?”
When Liu Ying saw his mother, the tears that had just stopped flowed down again. Liu Ting said angrily, “Auntie, it was Fang Xi who pushed him. He even snatched the pancake that Grandma baked for us. Little Great-aunt was also there.”
Madam Liu-Sun’s face couldn’t help but turn cold. She asked Liu Ying, “Did your cousin Xizi snatch it?”
Liu Ying nodded with tears in his eyes.
Madam Liu-Sun gritted her teeth and stood up to look at her mother-in-law. Second Great-aunt Liu’s expression was not good either, but with Liu Daqian in front of her, she did not dare to shout at Liu Erqian like before.
Seeing that Ah Ling was still working, Liu Daqian said, “Work first. I’ll get Ah Lang to go back and get breakfast. I’ll call her over at noon to ask.”
Everyone knew that the ‘her’ referred to Madam Fang-Liu.
Seeing that Liu Daqian was willing to step forward, Second Great-aunt Liu’s expression improved.
However, there was no need for Liu Daqian and the others to look for her. Madam Fang-Liu came straight over, her expression even uglier than Second Great-aunt Liu’s. When she saw Mu Yangling pulling a plow for the Liu clan in the fields, her expression turned even uglier. She sneered and said, “Sure, Big Brother is close to Second Brother’s family, and is chummy with the Mu family. Eldest Sister is even living in the Mu Residence now. So I’m the only outsider in the family, right? Why is she helping you but not me when we all live in the same village? Our Fang family is in a more difficult situation than yours. She only knows to send meat to her eldest great-uncle and second great-uncle, but didn’t even bother to send a piece of vegetable to me, her third great-aunt? What sin did I commit in my previous life…”