No one in the village stood up for Zhong Lanhua, and Zhang Zhaodi and her daughter wouldn't budge an inch, making Zhong Lanhua lose face.
Unwilling to leave just like that, knowing crying and causing a scene wouldn't help, she could only vent her anger on Xiao Yanci.
She angrily swung her hand, slapping Xiao Yanci's face.
With a loud smack, a five-finger mark was left on Xiao Yanci's face.
He stared blankly at Zhong Lanhua, eyes filled with rage.
Zhong Lanhua pointed at him and cursed, "You're so useless. You're tall and strong for nothing, not even as good as a little girl. She can kill a wild boar, why can't you?"
Originally, Su Yaoguang was quite displeased. But now, seeing Xiao Yanci publicly slapped, she suddenly wasn't in a hurry to chase away the troublesome Zhong Lanhua.
Zhou Wangshu noticed Su Yaoguang's good mood. He looked at Su Yaoguang, then at Xiao Yanci, stroking his chin in thought.
Could there be some grudge between these two?
It seemed that Su Yaoguang particularly disliked this outsider named Xiao.
Although Zhou Wangshu and Xiao Yanci had stayed together at a human trafficker's place, he had escaped time after time only to be caught and beaten into a bloody mess. He barely exchanged a few glances with Xiao Yanci, without even speaking a word. He didn't know what kind of person he was but was somewhat relieved that Su Yaoguang hadn't chosen him.
If Su Yaoguang had chosen him, he wouldn't know whose hands he'd fallen into. He was sure that there wouldn't be a better buyer than Su Yaoguang.
"If you're going to beat and scold your servant, do it at home. This isn't a place for you to act out. Get lost! Get lost! Leave immediately." Zhang Zhaodi grabbed a broom nearby and swung it over.
Zhong Lanhua quickly dodged, cursing as she did so, "All of you in this family have black hearts, taking advantage of us yet you won't admit it. Hmph, may you suffer stomach rot."
"Villagers, did you hear that? She just cursed us with stomach rot. If this troublemaker doesn't leave today, we won't sell our pork." Zhang Zhaodi announced loudly.
"Yi Huan's mother, why bother? If it were me, I wouldn't give it to you either! Your family has two grown men present; they clearly have more ability to kill wild boar than Yao Guang, but they were too scared to act! Even if your knife was made of gold, could it be worth more than two human lives? Just leave, don't affect us buying meat."
"Exactly. Just because you used the knife you think you can claim the boar? Now that's laughable. My son is waiting for this pork to cook, can you please not delay us?"
"You're really losing your conscience just for a bit of meat, siding with their family like that," Zhong Lanhua said unwillingly.
"Yi Huan's mother, could you be reasonable? Never mind, don't argue with her anymore, just drive her out! If this continues, we won't get any meat by nightfall."
Zhang Zhaodi was no longer polite, swinging the broom at Zhong Lanhua's face.
Zhong Lanhua screamed and ran out.
She wasn't sure about others, but she knew for sure that Zhang Zhaodi would ruin her face.
Zhong Lanhua always valued her well-maintained face and wouldn't dare take a risk.
Zhang Zhaodi looked back at Xiao Yanci.
He stomped away.
Zhang Zhaodi closed the gate and said to Su Yaoguang, "Girl, let's continue dividing the meat."
Finally, peace returned.
Outside, Zhong Lanhua's cursing at Xiao Yanci could still be heard. The villagers couldn't help but feel some sympathy for Xiao Yanci.
"That Xiao fellow really has a tough life! If it were Yao Guang who'd bought him back then, he'd be the one standing next to her now. Yao Guang treats her little husband so well!"
"That would only be if Yao Guang liked him. Yao Guang chooses her husband, while the Jiang Family picks their servants. One is the master, the other the servant; how could the treatment be the same?"
Zhou Wangshu watched Su Yaoguang's figure.
She was quite plain-looking, even less attractive than the maid who used to clean his yard. She was also rough and messy, her clothes covered in blood, not at all like a young girl.
However, she made him feel very at ease.
For now, it was safe here.
"Yao Guang's little husband, what are you daydreaming about?" Aunt Wang waved her palm. "Hurry and calculate how much these are for me?"
Zhou Wangshu snapped back and after a quick glance, said, "Thirty-five cents."
"Yao Guang, your little husband seems enamored with you, it looks like your relationship is quite good! When will you have the banquet?" the villagers teased.
"Our stove is cold and our pockets are empty, let's wait a bit until we have some more spare change," Su Yaoguang said, "Besides, we're still young!"
Bam! Bam! The door was knocked hard.
Su Yaoguang thought to herself, 'They're here,' and quickened her pace in distributing the meat.
"Zhang Zhaodi, Su Yaoguang, get out here!" Grandma Su's voice resonated from outside. "You heartless ones, took a wild boar and can't even think of your elders. My son is gone, and now you've stopped caring whether we old folks live or die, is that it? Get out here, come out now!"
"Yao Guang, your grandma's here. She's sure to make a fuss. You better take a pound of meat to her to avoid too much trouble."
"Auntie, you just take care of yourself first. I'll handle the family matters," Su Yaoguang said as she finished selling the last piece of meat.
She sold the ribs and pork head at a lower price. Wild boar meat isn't that tasty; she only kept the lard, liver, trotters, intestines, and two pounds of wild boar meat.
She had Zhang Zhaodi and Zhou Wangshu take the remaining items into the room for storage. Naturally, she stashed these Copper Coins away too.
At this moment, the last batch of villagers hadn't left yet. Su Yaoguang told them to wait a moment. When the knocking on the door resumed, she opened it. Grandma Su fell into the yard.
"Oh... my back... oh..." Grandma Su cried out in pain.
"Grandma, are you alright?" Su Yaoguang exclaimed anxiously, lifting Grandma Su up.
"Ah... pain, pain, pain... my back..." Grandma Su screamed.
Su Yaoguang, in her 'fluster,' tried to help Grandma Su, but she fell again.
"Ah... you little brat..." Grandma Su's face turned pale from the pain, yet her voice was full of energy.
"Grandma, what's happened to you? Grandma..." Su Yaoguang wiped the blood on her hands onto Grandma Su's clothes.
Seeing her new clothes ruined, Grandma Su widened her eyes, failing to catch her breath, and fainted immediately.
"Aunt Wang, my grandma fainted. I can't conveniently take her back myself, please help me send her back. Here's one cent as a thank you," Su Yaoguang said to the plump woman nearby.
"Alright, alright, leave it to me." Aunt Wang, happy to see the drama and even earning some money, carried Grandma Su on her back.
She sent off the guests, chased away the unwanted visitors, and closed the door.
Su Yaoguang turned around and saw Zhang Zhaodi standing dumbfounded under the eaves, while Zhou Wangshu looked at her with admiration.
"It's settled, let's clean up the yard and change our clothes!"