"Mother, what's wrong?" Yun Daman ran in and asked.
Madam Gu nudged Yun Wangcai with her chin. "Look, they've come to acknowledge their relatives!"
Yun Goudan wiped his hands on his sleeve and sauntered over, clapping Yun Daman on the shoulder.
"Daman, we were in the wrong before. You're a magnanimous person, don't hold it against us!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Daman slapped his hand away with a 'snap,' his face grim. "We don't have relatives like you. Get out! Get out of here!"
Yun Goudan's expression stiffened. He felt as though he had suffered an immense humiliation, utterly ashamed and filled with indignation.
Just then, Liu Cuirong came to the main house for a stroll.
Seeing Yun Wangcai's family coming to acknowledge their relatives, she said sarcastically, "Well, well, whose three dogs are these? Daring to trespass into our Yun family?"
"Bitch, who are you calling a dog?" Lu Jinping was furious, her expression gradually contorting.
Liu Cuirong glanced at her, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Whoever barks the loudest is the dog!"
Lu Jinping was struck by lightning, her eyes almost spitting fire.
She flung the sunflower seeds in her hand at Liu Cuirong's face and lunged at her, cursing, "Bitch, I'll choke you to death!"
This was a case of shame turning into rage.
Her little schemes were clicking away, but the Yun family wasn't buying it at all.
Lu Jinping was looking for a vent for her anger, and Liu Cuirong had walked right into the line of fire.
The two women immediately started tearing at each other, scratching and clawing, cursing each other's mothers and ancestors.
"Bitch, I'll rip your mouth open! See if you dare to curse people again!"
Lu Jinping, spitting saliva, her eyes bulging like a toad's, had Liu Cuirong pinned beneath her.
She was known in Dashui Village as the 'number one shrew,' skilled in fighting, throwing tantrums, and street brawling.
But Liu Cuirong was no pushover either.
Despite her pregnancy, she possessed astonishing strength.
With a fierce roar, she declared, "You little slut, I'll make sure you never leave here alive today!"
With a 'thump!'
"Ouch!"
Liu Cuirong executed a somersault, turning defense into offense, and pinned Lu Jinping beneath her.
Little Xi Tian, nestled in Madam Gu's arms, wiggled her little hands and cheered with happy babbling.
Go, second sister-in-law.
This was like winning one battle to prevent a hundred more.
If they couldn't subdue Yun Wangcai's family today, they would only become more audacious and aggressive in the future.
Liu Cuirong landed two resounding slaps, turning Lu Jinping's face into a swollen mess.
Her hair was disheveled, and her face was covered in handprints.
"Call me Grandma!" Liu Cuirong threatened, clenching her fist.
Lu Jinping gritted her teeth. "I won't!"
"Slap!"
Liu Cuirong punched Lu Jinping square in the face, causing blood to gush from her nostrils and her lips to split.
Madam Gu and Yun Daman watched silently from the side, making no move to intervene.
The villagers were utterly stunned.
They hadn't expected the Yun family to have such a high-powered daughter-in-law.
Aunt Zhang looked at Madam Gu with a hint of pity.
"Goudan, go drag that madwoman away!" Yun Wangcai's brows furrowed so deeply they could have trapped a fly.
What a wimp, his own wife was screaming in pain, and he was just watching the show.
Yun Goudan rushed over in a few steps, grabbed Liu Cuirong's hair, and cursed sternly, "Harlot, let go of my wife!"
Seeing this, Yun Daman instantly exploded with anger.
Dare to hit my second sister-in-law?
You're asking for death!
After the women's battle concluded, the men's confrontation began.
The old Yun family once again became the focus of the entire village.
Some roared with laughter, some sighed in disbelief, some tried to mediate, and some simply sat back with tea to watch the show.
Fights were common in the village before.
But for some reason, when the old Yun family fought, it was particularly lively and had a special... feeling!
Perhaps this was the most authentic rural life.
Little Xi Tian's cheeks ached from smiling.
This was the happiest day since her transmigration.
Meanwhile, Old Man Yun, who was selling monkeys in the county town, was completely unaware of the commotion at home.
"Dad, we've been squatting here all morning, and no one's buying these monkeys!" Yun Erman looked around, his face clouded with worry.
Old Man Yun held his pipe. "What's the rush? These city folk have never seen a monkey before, who would dare to eat one?"
The father and son squatted on the side of the main street, a tattered cloth spread before them, on which the brown monkey lay stiffly.
Many commoners gathered around, curiously asking, "Old sir, what are you selling?"
Old Man Yun frowned. "What are you talking about? This is a monkey, it's very nourishing!"
"A monkey?"
"Can this thing be eaten?"
"Yes, if it can be eaten, what are its benefits?"
Old Man Yun blew a smoke ring, his expression calm. "It nourishes the brain. Regardless of age or gender, anyone who eats it will become smarter!"
An old woman carrying a basket still couldn't understand. "Can you explain it more simply? My son is preparing for the imperial examinations. If eating monkey meat can really help him pass, I'll buy a piece to try."
Yun Erman curled his lip, impatiently saying, "Hey, it's like this: after your son eats the monkey's brain, he'll grow another head!"
Is that simple enough?
Thinking with two heads, wouldn't he be smart?
The old woman's expression froze, and she broke out in a cold sweat.
What you're saying is human language?
She quickly slipped away!
Old Man Yun smacked Yun Erman on the back of the head. "Stop your nonsensical babbling!"
The customer was scared away.
At this moment, a luxurious carriage drove down the street from the end.
"Oh, isn't that the Prefect's carriage?"
"Everyone, please make way, don't collide with Prefect Chen's carriage!"
Heyang County had no county magistrate.
After the previous magistrate died of illness, the court had not sent an official to take over.
Thus, the entire Heyang County, as well as the surrounding cities, towns, and villages, were managed by Prefect Chen alone.
A prefect was an official of the fourth rank, also called a governor, equivalent to a mayor of a prefecture-level city, and held great power.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of Old Man Yun. A large hand lifted the curtain, revealing a gentle smiling face.
"Old brother, how much are you selling this monkey for? How much silver?" Prefect Chen asked with a smile.
He recognized it as a brown monkey at a glance and assumed he had eaten it before.
Old Man Yun put down his pipe and chuckled. "Your Excellency, you name the price!"
If he asked for too much, he feared the Prefect would be displeased. If he asked for too little, he feared he would be at a disadvantage.
Prefect Chen pondered for a moment and held up three fingers.
Old Man Yun was stunned.
What did he mean, three hundred coins?
That was already quite a lot.
After all, the monkey had been dead for a day and a night.
If it wasn't sold soon, the meat would likely spoil.
Just as Old Man Yun was about to agree, Prefect Chen smiled and said, "Three taels of silver!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
This monkey meat was more valuable than mutton or pork?
Then they might as well give up everything else and go into the mountains to catch monkeys!
But there were no such creatures in the nearby forests.
"Alright, deal, deal!" Old Man Yun was so happy he couldn't close his mouth. He and Yun Erman lifted the monkey onto the carriage.
Prefect Chen smiled kindly. "Old brother, if you can catch any more monkeys in the future, feel free to send them to my manor!"
"Definitely, definitely!" Old Man Yun nodded repeatedly.
After Prefect Chen left, the Yun father and son bought several jars of wine and a section of pork, then hurried back to the village.