Chapter 18: Making a Scene

At that time, he vaguely agreed, not taking it to heart at all.

His own family's affairs, his own family members were happy with it, why should he, having nothing better to do, meddle in other people's business?

But after all, his status was there. Shen Third Master was his cousin from his uncle's family, and also the Village Leader, so naturally, he couldn't not give him face.

Therefore, he agreed on the surface.

But he knew that if that stubborn girl Shen Mingxi really went to find him, the old man would definitely step in.

He still wanted to be rated as a Five-Good Family, so naturally, he couldn't let Shen Third Master know.

His face was gloomy, and he was just about to call Shen Yu out to take the stubborn girl away when Old Lady Shen, with a venomous look in her eyes, lunged at Shen Mingxi like a madwoman, "You cursed brat, I'll beat you to death..." Naturally, she kept cursing.

Shen Jiawen and Shen Qingshan, being young men, stopped Old Lady Shen from tearing at their sister, but they couldn't fight back, as she was their grandmother.

So, they took the beating.

Fortunately, being tall, the old lady couldn't reach their faces, only pounding on their backs as they shielded their sister.

Shen Mingxi didn't look at anyone else, only at Old Man Shen. Without a moment's hesitation, her eyes fierce, she said, "Grandpa, if grandma continues to beat and curse, I won't ask you anymore. I'll take this pot of dishwater to Third Grandpa. Don't think I can't get out of this door, unless you kill me and your two grandsons, unless you want all of Kaoshan Village to know..."

Her voice was loud, her gaze fierce, filled with the courage of someone who has burned their bridges.

Shen Baozhi's eyes flashed with a dark light; there was something off about Shen Mingxi.

Someone who had always been submissive, how could she suddenly resist?

A glint of interest passed through her eyes, quite curious to know what Shen Mingxi really wanted to ask.

At this moment, everyone, whether on the kang or on the ground, eating, stopped and looked at Shen Mingxi in surprise.

And the always gluttonous Wu Zhaodi, taking advantage of no one paying attention, quickly stuffed two oil dregs from the big sea bowl into her mouth.

Then she also looked towards the little aunt standing there.

At this moment, everyone's gaze was on Old Man Shen and Shen Mingxi.

Old Man Shen wished he could flip the table, his face turning green with anger, wishing he could beat Shen Mingxi to death.

But he had more to consider.

This was the time when the neighbors, front and back, were resting, and his Shen Mancang family didn't want to become a spectacle.

Pointing at his wife, his voice authoritative, he said, "Don't do anything for now."

Old Lady Shen, seeing her husband's expression, immediately understood, her face twisted as she looked at Shen Mingxi, eager to hear what the cursed girl wanted to ask.

The room, devoid of curses, suddenly became much quieter.

Then Old Man Shen, gritting his teeth, snorted, his gloomy gaze fixed on Shen Mingxi, and he suddenly banged the table, "Fine, you ask, let's see what you can ask?"

"Grandpa, the first question," Shen Mingxi pointed at the clear rice water, which was actually dishwater, enunciating each word clearly, "Why do you and grandma make your eldest son's family eat such dishwater, and for over ten years at that, under whose rules are you acting?"

Before Old Man Shen could speak, Old Lady Shen howled, "You cursed, worthless girl, your family is sick and dying, all freeloading ingrates, you only deserve this, dare to make a scene, and tomorrow you won't even get dishwater..."

Old Man Shen frowned but did not refute Old Lady Shen's words, as if he agreed with her.

The others watched with mixed feelings.

But not one of them stepped forward to speak up for justice.

Shen Jiawen and Shen Qingshan, however, grew increasingly angry.

Shen Mingxi coldly looked at Old Man Shen, she finally realized, Old Man Shen knew everything, but just coldly watched all the injustices happen under his nose.

Just like in her previous life!

Shen Mingxi's voice grew louder, filled with overwhelming anger, "The second question, our eldest branch has four able-bodied workers, all working full Work Points throughout the year, my mom and Third Uncle earned Work Points just one point short, Second Aunt and Third Aunt together only earned one point more than full Work Points, and only you in the main house earned full Work Points."

"I won't even count how much grain and money our eldest branch has earned over the years, I'll just talk about last year, our Shen Family of twenty people not only didn't spend a single cent on the grain we received, but also brought back 120 yuan in cash, if this grain and money were divided into six parts, our eldest branch of seven should get four parts, you in the main house of thirteen, at most get two parts, but what happened, grandma curses us every day as freeloaders, grandpa, I ask you, who are the real freeloaders?"

"The third question, my dad gave his job to Second Uncle, effectively giving him an iron rice bowl, this is brotherly love, but my dad is not in good health, always coughing, for so many years, has Second Uncle ever bought a single pill for his big brother, or a single candy for his children, I ask you again, who are the real ingrates?"

"The fourth question, you have three daughters-in-law, but for ten years, why is it only my mom who cooks, feeds the pigs, and tends to the vegetable garden?"

"The fifth question, the two chickens are fed by me, Gou Dan, and Yaya, why do they not get a single egg to eat all year round, the cucumbers in the vegetable garden, for a whole summer, we, like every year, are not allowed to touch a single one, while those who do nothing can eat them freely, grandpa, tell me, why is that?"

The girl's voice was clear yet loud, filled with grief and indignation, each word a knife, each word a tear, speaking so fast that it gave Old Lady Shen and Old Man Shen no chance to rebut.

Her eyes were ablaze with a fierce fire, as if in the next moment, she would turn this place into ashes.

The usually domineering and unreasonable Old Lady Shen was left speechless, her mouth agape and eyes wide.

The room fell silent.

So silent that one could almost hear the heartbeat.

Chen Li, supporting Shen Yu, stood dumbfounded and tearful by the door, Gou Dan looked up to his third sister with admiration, occasionally wiping his tears with his small black hands, leaving black and white streaks on his face.

Shen Jiawen and Shen Qingshan were the most shocked.

It seemed as if a powerful shockwave emanated from Shen Mingxi, the shockwave causing their minds to buzz incessantly, as if smashing through an iceberg-like barrier bit by bit, and their eyes gradually regained clarity.

Being twins, their feelings were the same at this moment.

It was as if their minds, muddled for many years, suddenly radiated a brilliant light.

Shen Qingshan, the most ruthless and action-oriented, pushed Old Lady Shen away, glaring fiercely at Old Man Shen, "Grandpa, you haven't answered my sister's questions yet."

Shen Jiawen, holding back overwhelming anger, picked up the bowl of rice water allocated to them, walked a few steps, and slammed it onto the kang table, "This is our dinner, almost every day the same, look at your food here, grandpa, can you eat it without choking?"

(End of Chapter)