The next morning, Jiang Wan woke up feeling refreshed, while the women of the Su family all had large dark circles under their eyes and sallow complexions.
Madam Su wanted to laugh but couldn't, so she tried her best to suppress it. She wasn't foolish; she could tell Jiang Wan was deliberately tormenting her mother and sister-in-law. But she didn't feel any pity. If she had had such thoughts before her marriage, she would never have dared. However, after living in the Jiang family for two years, she had gained some courage and even dared to talk back to her mother. This was the confidence the Jiang family had given her.
As soon as Jiang Wan got up, she clamored for food, but the Su family had no breakfast because they had no grain left.
"I don't believe it. Yesterday I saw Brother Su carrying a large bag of grain. My parents and elder brother all saw it! Are you trying to starve me and my sister-in-law?" Jiang Wan stood up angrily. "Sister-in-law, let's go home. I'm hungry."
Madam Su had no desire to go to the Cheng residence, and when Jiang Wan said that, she immediately stood up with her. "Alright, let's go home."
Madam Su gritted her teeth, "Do it! I'll have someone make it for you, alright?!" "Tian Shi, what are you standing there for? Hurry and get the grain to make breakfast!"
Tian Shi clenched her fists tightly. "Mother-in-law, that grain..." That grain couldn't be touched! They had to take the grain back to the city to exchange it for money and then redeem the carriage. If they touched it, their accounts wouldn't match!
Madam Su gritted her teeth and said, "Go! I'll figure something out later!" Tian Shi had no choice but to turn and get the grain to make breakfast. She didn't dare to take much, only enough for Jiang Wan and Madam Su. Even the more than ten people in the Su family would have to make do with a bit of water.
After breakfast was ready, Jiang Wan served a bowl to Madam Su and took the remaining bowl for herself. The two sisters-in-law sat at the entrance of the shed and ate. The Su family's food was bland, but it was better than nothing for more than ten people who had nothing to eat. Jiang Wan deliberately pretended to eat with great relish, making the Su family's stomachs rumble with hunger. The children of the Su family were so hungry they cried.
The women of the Su family had no choice but to add water to the pot they had cooked in, scraping and scraping to get the residual bits stuck to the pot to float in the water. After boiling it, they ladled a bowl for each family member. Madam Su was soft-hearted, especially since these were all her relatives. As she ate, her family drank the water used to wash the pots, and her conscience was constantly tormented. She wanted to give her food to her family, but Jiang Wan quickly snatched it. "Sister-in-law, if you can't finish it, give it to me. The Su family's bowls are too small, and I'm not full."
And so, the Su family watched as Jiang Wan ate the other half bowl of rice from Madam Su. After a disturbing breakfast, the Su family prepared to go to the Cheng residence in the city. Madam Su had thought about it. It was unlikely Jiang Wan would help them speak, but if they brought Jiang Wan, Madam Cheng would surely give them face. So, after thinking about it, she decided to bring Jiang Wan along. However, to prevent Jiang Wan from causing trouble, before they set off, she said to Jiang Wan, "We're going to the magistrate's house to handle some business. When we get there, you go play on the side and don't talk nonsense, alright? When we come back, Auntie will buy you candied haws."
Jiang Wan readily agreed. Madam Su smiled with satisfaction. No matter how clever she was, she was still just a little girl. How could she not control her?
When it was time to leave, Jiang Wan started making things difficult again. "Where's the carriage? Where's our carriage? It's so far. Do you expect my sister-in-law and me to walk?"
Tian Shi quickly stepped forward and said, "Wan Wan, the carriage hasn't been returned yet. How about I carry you?"
Jiang Wan pointed to Madam Su. "Then what about my sister-in-law? She's so heavy. Walking such a long distance, do you want to harm the eldest grandson of the Jiang family? Sister-in-law, let's not go!"
Fine! So Madam Su had no choice but to borrow a chair from a nearby family and have Madam Su sit on it. Her sons and daughters-in-law took turns carrying her into the city. Madam Su felt embarrassed to sit on it. Not to mention whether it was appropriate to be carried like this, she couldn't bear the stares of people along the way. But if she didn't sit, Jiang Wan would make a fuss and refuse to go.
Madam Su glared at Madam Su. "Sit when I tell you to! What's with all this fuss! Hurry up, don't delay important matters!"
So Madam Su had no choice but to brace herself and sit on it, her face blushing from the curious glances of passersby along the way. Jiang Wan, on the other hand, was quite at ease, lying on Tian Shi's back and treating her like a horse. She grabbed Tian Shi's collar and deliberately said, "Giddy up! Horse, run faster! Run quickly!"
Tian Shi gritted her teeth in anger, of course, she refused to run. Jiang Wan then kicked and hit her on the back, making a fuss and refusing to comply. Madam Su, who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, roared at Tian Shi, "Are you dead or deaf? Wan Wan told you to run, why aren't you running quickly!"
Tian Shi had no choice but to run, her eyes red with anger. Jiang Wan was not light, and Tian Shi's body was weak from fleeing famine. After running for a short while, she couldn't run anymore, panting with her mouth wide open. Jiang Wan, however, was relentless. "Why isn't the horse running? Run quickly! If you don't run, I won't go!"
Tian Shi started crying in anger. No one had ever bullied her like this! Some passersby who didn't understand the situation looked at Jiang Wan disapprovingly. "Little girl, how can you be so thoughtless? How can you be so mean to people?"
Hearing this, Jiang Wan's little face crumpled, and she quickly jumped off Tian Shi's back. "It's my fault. I won't go. I'm going home to find my mother." As she spoke, she turned to leave.
Tian Shi quickly grabbed her, panting. "Wan Wan, don't go. I'll run, I'll run, alright?"
Jiang Wan tilted her head and asked, "Really?"
Tian Shi nodded and squatted on the ground. "Get on."
The passersby couldn't stand it and advised Tian Shi, "You shouldn't spoil children like this." Tian Shi glared at them. "I'm willing to do it. It's none of your business. You have nothing better to do!"
The passersby were stunned by the scolding. When they came to their senses, they were furious. "Fine, we're being nosy. You deserve to be exhausted!" Jiang Wan smugly made a face at the passersby and patted Tian Shi's back. "Giddy up!"
Tian Shi gritted her teeth and started running. Jiang Wan giggled with joy, making the passersby shake their heads. Then, they looked back and saw Madam Su being carried in a chair by her brothers and sisters-in-law, and they began to doubt their eyesight in shock.
Finally, the Su family, in a disheveled state, arrived at the entrance of the Cheng residence. Jiang Wan got off Tian Shi's back and eagerly held onto Madam Su, saying to the doorkeeper of the Cheng residence, "Young man, I'm here to visit Aunt Cheng. Please inform her."
As soon as the doorkeeper saw her, he ran over to bow. "Greetings, Miss Jiang, Madam Jiang. You two can go straight in. There's no need to announce yourselves." With that, he quickly had the main gate opened and respectfully invited Jiang Wan into the mansion.
As Jiang Wan walked, she pointed at Madam Su. "She also wants to see Aunt Cheng." Madam Su was shocked by the doorkeeper's respectful attitude towards Jiang Wan. Seeing that Jiang Wan had mentioned her, she quickly came to her senses, tidied her clothes, and hurried to follow. However, when they reached the entrance, the doorkeeper stopped her. "Is the main gate for you to walk through? Go through the side gate!"
Madam Su was a little displeased. "I'm with them." The doorkeeper's eyes widened. "Look carefully at where this is!" Madam Su was startled and truly came to her senses. She quickly shrank her neck and dared not speak. The doorkeeper opened the side gate a crack, and Madam Su squeezed through the gap. Just as the side gate was about to close, Su Lian squeezed in. "Wait, there's me too!"
Tian Shi and her two sisters-in-law also hurried to follow, but the doorkeeper pushed them out. "How dare you! Believe it or not, I'll have you dragged to the yamen and thrown in jail!"