Just a Paper Tiger

Zhang Yun saw Jin Yin there and thought that Old Madam wouldn't make her lose face in front of a junior. She even thought that even if she truly angered Old Madam, Jin Yin would surely advise Old Madam not to get angry.

Unexpectedly, Old Madam was so angry she wanted to divide the family, and Jin Yin showed no intention of dissuading her. She even lowered her head and played with her fingers, looking as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

This damned girl, she was truly too insensible!

At this moment, Zhang Yun's eyes were wide, constantly looking towards the back of the room door. Her sisters-in-law and brother-in-law were cooking outside the door; hearing the commotion, they should have come in to mediate, right? But Old Madam had been scolding for so long, and the two outside still acted as if they hadn't heard anything, even laughing heartily, talking about something joyful.

Damn it, did they really think they were as deaf as the old woman?

With no one to help dissuade Old Madam, Zhang Yun could only awkwardly say, "Mother, why must we divide the family? I'm not dissatisfied with Second Uncle's family; it's just that I don't cook as well as Auntie, and I don't want to waste good food."

"You make it hard to eat, even harder than Ying Zi? That girl can still go out and help, why can't you? Do you really think you're a young mistress from a rich family, needing servants? Let me tell you, the Zhou family doesn't support idlers. If you continue like this, lazy and picky all day, don't blame me, Old Madam, for truly dividing the family for your entire household. Save me from looking at your sullen face all day and bringing trouble upon myself."

After scolding, Grandmother Zhou took a few deep breaths, feigning genuine anger. Jin Yin quickly stepped forward to pat her chest and rub her back to comfort her, finally coaxing Old Madam to calm down.

Old Madam then saw Zhang Yun still sitting by the edge of the bed and angrily said, "What are you spacing out for? Not going out to work, are you waiting for me to call someone to divide the family?"

Zhang Yun pushed the door open resentfully and went out. Grandmother Zhou pulled Jin Yin's hand: "Second girl, don't be afraid, she's just being pampered, she doesn't have any great capabilities."

Jin Yin truly believed Second Uncle's words from last time that Grandmother could handle Zhang Yun. Looking at this situation, Zhang Yun was indeed a paper tiger. If Old Madam wouldn't be harmed by Zhang Yun, she had nothing to worry about. She infused a little more of her ability into Old Madam's leg. At this point, even with a splint, Old Madam could get out of bed and walk.

But the time was too short, and Jin Yin didn't want to arouse suspicion, so she didn't suggest Old Madam stand up and take a few steps.

Dinner was braised pork with potatoes and braised herring with tofu, accompanied by two overflowing basins of white rice. The whole family ate until they were full and shiny. The meat and rice were all bought by Hua Jian at the Commune and Supply and Marketing Cooperative in the afternoon. During dinner, Zhang Yun didn't dare to insinuate that the Hua family ate a lot, only looking at Zhou Xiao Ya and Zhou Xiao Yue with her eyes.

The two girls weren't afraid of her; the more she looked, the more deliciously they ate. Finally, Zhang Yun saw Zhou Xiao Yue pick up a piece of meat, then reached out her chopsticks to stop her, but unexpectedly, Zhou Xiao Ya tapped her hand, hurting her so much that she cried out "ouch," and her chopsticks fell.

"Xiao Ya, eat meat if you're eating meat, why did your chopsticks tap someone else's hand?" Zhang Yun covered her hand and glared angrily at Zhou Xiao Ya.

Zhou Xiao Ya looked unconcerned: "Eldest Aunt, I'm sorry, I saw someone trying to snatch my sister's meat and just tapped down without seeing who it was. I didn't think it was you."

Fang Yan Hong also laughed: "This really can't be blamed on our Xiao Ya. Who would have thought that Eldest Aunt, an adult, would do something like snatching meat from a child? How embarrassing would it be if such a trivial matter got out."

Grandmother Zhou also darkened her face: "Does the Zhou family lack food for you? Or clothes? Where's the meat in your bowl? You deliberately snatch from a child? You're truly ruining your future."

With that, Grandmother Zhou picked a piece of meat from her bowl for each child, not even missing the two little ones, Zhou Xi Wang and Wang Xiu Li: "Eat, if there's food, the whole family eats together. Our family doesn't have the bad habit of staring at other people's chopsticks."

Fang Yan Hong also took a piece for herself, put it in her mouth and chewed contentedly, then swallowed and didn't forget to praise: "Eldest Sister-in-law, Brother-in-law bought good meat. Next time you two come, call a day in advance, and I'll tell Si Fu to also cut a piece."

Zhou Lai Ying nodded: "Alright, next time when the wild vegetables come down from the mountain, I'll come back. You all cut meat, and I'll buy a chicken. After eating and drinking, we'll pick some wild vegetables to take back."

"That would be great. Picking wild vegetables is just in season. Eating some good food will give us strength for fieldwork."

The two exchanged words, setting the time for their next visit to their maternal home, making Zhang Yun both envious and jealous, feeling that everyone in the family was targeting her.

After eating, she returned to her room, looking at Zhou Si Cai, this honest and naive man. The more she looked, the angrier she got. She stretched out her leg and kicked Zhou Si Cai's thigh: "You damned idiot, you watch me get bullied all day and don't even know how to fart."

Zhou Si Cai hesitated for a long time before saying, "We're eating, farting isn't very good, is it?"

Zhang Yun's face turned red with anger, and she kicked him off the bed: "Do you want to infuriate me to death?"

Zhou Si Cai got up from the ground, dusted himself off, sighed, chose a thick coat from the wardrobe, put it on, and went out the door, squatting by the wall.

Zhou Lai Fu came out to pour out the foot-washing water and saw a dark figure squatting by the wall: "Eldest Brother, can't you sleep at night? Why are you squatting here?"

Zhou Si Cai waved his hand: "You go to sleep, I'll squat a bit longer."

"You've been squatting here so often. If Sister-in-law doesn't let you go back to your room to sleep, you just won't go back?"

Zhou Lai Fu truly hated that iron couldn't be made into steel. This eldest brother of his was too honest. One look and you knew he had been chased out by his sister-in-law again.

Zhou Si Cai held his head and said nothing. Zhou Lai Fu also had no way with his eldest brother, so he said: "There really isn't any space in the house. Can you make do for a night at the Village Clinic?"

Zhou Si Cai thought this idea wasn't bad. After all, the Village Clinic only had one male doctor, who usually stayed at the Educated Youth Compound. Just as he was about to nod in agreement, Zhang Yun pulled open the room door: "Zhou Si Cai, who chased you out? If you didn't want to come back, just say so directly! Don't frame others like that!"

Zhou Si Cai was speechless and couldn't answer. He wanted to say that Zhang Yun hadn't actually told him to leave at that moment, but she had kicked him to the ground. Wasn't that chasing him out? If he didn't go out himself, did he have to wait to be beaten, scolded, and clawed out by her?

Zhou Lai Fu heard the implication in Zhang Yun's words that she didn't want to admit she had chased her husband out, so he directly pushed Zhou Si Cai a little: "Eldest Aunt said she didn't chase you out, what are you still squatting outside for? Hurry back to sleep!"

Zhou Si Cai went into the house with the push. Inside, Zhang Yun's grumbling curses could be heard again, making Zhou Lai Fu frown into a 'Chuan' character.

Grandfather Zhou came out of the room with his pipe, standing in the courtyard and asking: "Eldest Son, your mother told me, you two are bickering again? Go to bed early at night, don't disturb the neighbors' peace."

After speaking, he turned and went inside, muttering: "These children nowadays are truly idle. With that energy, they might as well go plow two mu of land."

Grandfather Zhou thought his voice wasn't loud, but he was severely hard of hearing. What he thought was a whisper sounded like a megaphone.

A neighbor craned their neck and asked: "Seventh Brother, who's arguing in your house? Do they need someone to mediate?"

After a long while, not hearing Grandfather Zhou reply, the other person helplessly said: "Oh, he didn't hear anything again!"

Grandfather Zhou didn't hear, but Zhang Yun did, and finding it inconvenient to argue further, she directly blew out the oil lamp.