They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 4: They're all eyeing her family's fertile land.
Xu Zhichun and Liang Mingxuan, the two sisters-in-law, exchanged a shocked glance.

Abandoned?

Where has it been neglected? Haven't the five acres of rice already been planted? The next step is to keep an eye on it so the fields don't dry out, check them every two months, pull out the weeds, apply manure fertilizer, and then wait for the harvest.

How did Zhang manage to put on such a benevolent expression and speak in such a condescending tone?
And that "share" part is brilliant. If this land really falls into their hands, who knows how much they'll share with their own families?

To be honest, in the past two years, the first and second wives have taken advantage of Liang Minglang's absence and made a lot of trouble. The original owner didn't dare to make too much of a fuss. After discussing with the original owner, Liang Minglang handed over the money for Liang Mingxuan's schooling to the village head. Later, the original owner couldn't stand being harassed by the first and second wives, so after selling the pigs and the grain during the autumn harvest, he simply handed the money over to the village head as well.

The first and second wives dared not speak out against their anger.

As for exactly how much silver she paid to the village head, Xu Zhichun's memory was fragmented; she couldn't recall.

Anyway, it seems like quite a lot. Besides what he earned from escorting goods, Liang Minglang also went into the mountains before leaving and hunted several wolf pelts to sell for money.

Anyway, the two sisters-in-law tightened their belts and lived frugally. As long as nothing major happened and the child did well in his exams and didn't need to repeat many years, they could at least support Liang Mingxuan to become a successful candidate in the imperial examinations.

Xu Zhichun smiled and was about to speak when Bai Shi arrived. "Zhichun, are you feeling better? I've come to see you!"

Zhang immediately rolled her eyes in disgust.

Xu Zhichun slipped out to greet her with a big smile: "Oh, Second Aunt is here! You've come all this way, why are you empty-handed!"

Bai froze: "."

Xu Zhichun coughed, "I'm so sorry, Second Aunt, I really don't know how to talk."

Bai snorted, her mood souring; she felt the woman was doing it on purpose.

Zhang said sarcastically, "I think Zhichun is right. How come you, as her aunt, came to see your injured niece-in-law empty-handed? Don't you have anything else? Not even eggs? You should at least bring a few."

Bai scoffed, "Tell me what you took, sister-in-law."

Zhang said matter-of-factly, "Our two families are different. I have three sons and a daughter, as well as an eldest grandson. There are many people in my family, and my youngest son is in school. The family expenses are high, so where would I find extra things? You are different. You only have two sons, and they are not in school. You don't have an eldest grandson either. Do you think you can't even save a few eggs? You're just stingy!"

Bai was already petty, and Zhang's boasting and sarcasm only amplified her anger, making her face contort with rage: "Just say what you want to say, what are you trying to say? It's none of your business how my family is doing. What's the point of Mingxiang going to school? He's two years older than Mingxuan, and he's not even as good as Mingxuan. Aren't you ashamed to say that?"

"Shut up! My Mingxiang is doing very well in school, much better than Mingxuan! You're not a scholar, what do you know? Just look at your mouth, when my Mingxiang becomes a high-ranking official in the future, you'd better not try to take advantage of him!"

Zhang couldn't stand hearing anyone say that her youngest son wasn't doing well in school, so she glared at Bai and retorted.

Xu Zhichun was speechless. You can argue all you want, why are you pulling my Mingxuan around? You think you're the only one protecting your son?

Fearing that Mingxuan, being a young boy, would be hurt by Zhang's words, she gently patted his shoulder and said softly, "Don't listen to your aunt's nonsense. Your sister-in-law knows you are the best."

Liang Mingxuan glanced at the two aunts who were arguing back and forth, nodded, and looked at Xu Zhichun with his dark and clear eyes: "Yes, I know."

Xu Zhichun was very pleased. "Good boy."

Xu Zhichun was in a hurry to stew chicken for lunch, and seeing that the two aunts had no intention of stopping, he had to interrupt: "Ahem, aunts, if you have nothing else to say, why don't you go back to your own homes and argue?"

Zhang and Bai both turned to glare at Xu Zhichun, both feeling stifled: This brat really doesn't know how to speak! How can she be so infuriating? And yet, she spoke the absolute truth, leaving them speechless.

Zhang held back for a while, then finally said angrily, "Alright, I should go now. It's settled then!"

Bai was even more anxious than Xu Zhichun: "What is it that you're talking about, sister-in-law? I'd like to hear it too."

Zhang sneered, "What's it to you? Why should I tell you?"

Xu Zhichun: "My aunt said she would take care of my family's paddy fields, but I didn't agree. Aunt, I can take care of them myself, so I don't need your help."

Zhang, still seething with anger from arguing with Bai, unleashed it all on Xu Zhichun: "Shut up! Stop being so ungrateful! How can you possibly take care of yourself in your current state? That's prime paddy field, don't let you ruin it! We farmers will be struck by lightning if we don't take care of our land. We're trying to help you out of kindness, and you don't appreciate it? What? Do you think we'd steal your land? Aren't the land deeds in your own hands? You're ungrateful, heartless wretch!"

Xu Zhichun was also furious. "No need, that's all! Since it's my land, I get to decide. If any of you dare touch my land, I'll go to the village head's house and cry. Minglang just left, and you're already bullying my sister-in-law and me. Don't you even give us a way to live? Are you trying to force me to my death?!"

It's just throwing a tantrum and crying; anyone can do that.
Life is like a play, and it all depends on acting skills; she can also perfectly blend into her environment.

Perhaps he had taken the act a little too far, and his emotions were stirred up. He became a little too excited, which aggravated his wounds, made him feel dizzy, and made his face pale. Xu Zhichun couldn't help but cover his head and groan, and his body swayed.

Liang Mingxuan hurriedly helped her up: "Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! Aunt, if anything happens to you, I will definitely go to the village head."

Zhang then remembered that she was already injured from jumping off such a high cliff, and had even narrowly escaped death yesterday. She panicked slightly and spat, "It's her own temper, what does it have to do with me? Don't talk nonsense. Since you don't appreciate my kindness, then forget it. I'm too lazy to worry about it. Don't come begging to me in the future, hmph!"

He left hurriedly, grumbling and cursing.

Seeing that she had left, Bai breathed a sigh of relief and said with a fake smile, "Niece-in-law, rest well. I'm going now too. If you need anything, come to us for help."

He then hurried away.

Otherwise? She wouldn't be happy to stay and lend a hand.

There's no way to reason with Xu Zhichun in this state. The eldest son's wife is far too impatient. Couldn't she have waited a few more days? Besides, the eldest son's wife wants to eat alone? No way!

Liang Mingxuan tried to help his sister-in-law into the house to sit down and rest, but Xu Zhichun waved her hand with a smile: "I was just a little dizzy from being so angry, but I'm fine now. Let's go make some chicken soup and stew. It's good to eat some good food to replenish our bodies. You should also replenish your bodies. Health is the foundation for studying. If you're not healthy, you can't do it. Eat more later."

Liang Mingxuan felt a warmth in his heart, nodded and said, "Sister-in-law, you should also take good care of yourself and not get angry."

"Okay, okay, don't be angry, don't be angry."

The chicken was quickly chopped into pieces, ready to be cooked.

Chickens raised on farms get plenty of exercise and are fed environmentally friendly food, resulting in them being very thin with little meat and no subcutaneous fat.

In modern times, such chickens would cost at least three times more than those from chicken farms, but Xu Zhichun felt that this amount was not enough to eat.

"Go to the vegetable garden, pick a radish, wash it, and bring it back. Also, cut two bunches of chives." After sending the child away, she could sneak chicken from the warehouse into the storeroom.

(End of this chapter)