After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 194 More Difficult Than Ascending to Heaven

"Do you really think you can turn things around on me, you ungrateful wretch?"

She chuckled softly to herself.

However, as night fell and Lady Zhao came to collect the clothes and shoes, a horrifying scene unfolded—ants swarmed the garments, and a snake as thick as a thumb slid out from the leg of a pair of trousers, causing her face to turn deathly pale, nearly screaming in fright.

With trembling fingers, she pointed at the pair of shoes that had been washed, her throat feeling blocked by a stone, difficultly swallowing her saliva.

Instinctive fear prevented her from touching any of it directly; she dared only to nudge it cautiously with a firewood stick from afar.

As the stick gently prodded the shoes, several black and red centipedes repulsively crawled out.

"You poisonous woman, you wretch!"

Lady Zhao shrieked hysterically, ready to settle accounts with Xie Xinghua.

But she hadn’t taken more than a few steps when she saw Xie Xinghua chopping wood vigorously, the cleaver in her hand reflecting a cold light. Xinghua’s deep, dark eyes stared at her like a cold pond, sending a chill up Lady Zhao’s spine.

She instinctively swallowed her saliva, and all the curses she had ready at her lips were forcibly swallowed back down. In the end, she could only slink away, muttering to herself, "This is insane, truly insane."

With nowhere to vent her raging anger, Lady Zhao returned to her room only to discover that Jiang Xunzhong had taken it upon himself to send the innocent Dazhuang to Fang Qin, known for her bad reputation.

Thinking of Fang Qin’s past humiliation and lost innocence, Lady Zhao’s anger erupted like a volcano.

She quickly made her way to Fang Qin’s room, intent on taking Dazhuang back.

As she pushed the door open, Lady Zhao saw Fang Qin gently teasing Dazhuang. The child’s innocent laughter was like the warm sun of springtime, filling the entire room with coziness.

Yet to Lady Zhao, this scene was a piercing pain in the heart, each laugh stabbing into her like needles.

Although Fang Qin had somewhat recuperated after several days of rest, she still appeared fragile, lying on the bed. Facing Lady Zhao’s sudden intrusion and rough tugging, she could only bear it in silence, a hint of helplessness and sorrow flashing across her eyes.

Lady Zhao jerked with force, pulling the wailing Dazhuang tightly into her embrace as if she wanted to meld him into her chest. Then she whirled around, with enraged, wide-open eyes, and grasped a handful of Fang Qin’s disheveled hair with her talon-like fingers, spitting out venomous words like arrows: "You shameless harlot, dare to tarnish the bloodline of the Jiang Family, lay hands on my precious grandson?"

Her voice echoed throughout the courtyard, filled with undeniable rage and authority.

"The house has sturdy ropes, the walls stand high, and the river at the village head flows fast. If you possess even a shred of shame, why don’t you end it yourself rather than living disgracefully, making the world laugh at the Jiang Family’s crooked gate?"

Lady Zhao’s words were laced with undeniable disdain, each like a sledgehammer crashing down onto Fang Qin’s trembling heart.

"Changxi’s bones are barely cold, and yet here you are, so frivolous. How can his restless spirit find peace? Heartless schemer, I curse you, may you, wicked woman, never find peace!"

The curses of Lady Zhao fell like hail, cold and piercing to the ear.

For a moment, the courtyard was filled with Lady Zhao’s abuse, Fang Qin’s helpless sobbing, and the shocked screams of others; their voices mixed together, weaving a dismal tapestry of family strife.

Such commotion was nothing new to Jiang Xunzhong; a trace of helplessness crossed his brow as he let out a slight sigh: "Alas, truly a sin."

The neighbors in the village, upon witnessing this scene, kept their distance, fearful that the family storm would harm the innocent and bring them unnecessary bad luck.

After all, gossip and rumors spread faster than anything else.

When Fang Qin was forcibly dragged home with her clothes in disarray, even though there was much private speculation, without concrete evidence, no one dared to jump to conclusions.

But Lady Zhao’s outburst not only confirmed the unsavory rumors about Fang Qin, but also placed her at the center of the storm, becoming the talk of the village after meals.

Jiang Ziling busied himself in the kitchen, where a pot of zongzi exuded an enticing aroma, yet the figure of Su Yu was nowhere to be seen returning home.

For him, the external disturbances seemed unrelated to himself; his only concern was for the safety of Su Yu, the woman who traveled abroad, and whether she was well.

Xie Xinghua appeared oblivious to Lady Zhao’s madness, focused on her cooking as if the kitchen were her sanctuary.

By the time the meal was ready, Lady Zhao, tired from her ranting, found herself irresistibly drawn to the kitchen by the rich aroma of the food.

She saw Xie Xinghua carrying out significantly more food than usual and frowned, a trace of suspicion flashing through her eyes, but she ultimately held her tongue.

Xie Xinghua, sensing her gaze, curled her lips in a mocking smile, "This meal, do you picky eaters dare to eat it?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhao involuntarily recalled the breakfast noodles that had upset her stomach terribly, her face turning a shade of green as she inwardly cursed her luck.

Jiang Xunzhong, unable to bear Lady Zhao’s fussiness over the table full of food, was the first to pick up his chopsticks and taste the food, attempting to break the awkward atmosphere, "How many times have you checked it? What could possibly be wrong? I think, if you’re so unsure, you might as well cook yourself from now on."

At that, Lady Zhao angrily set down her chopsticks and muttered discontentedly, "I, a mother-in-law, have to do everything myself, what kind of dignity is that!"

"I see that wretched girl has made up her mind to go against me, we need to come up with a strategy."

Determination filled Lady Zhao’s voice.

Jiang Xunzhong quickly intervened, fearing another upheaval, "Calm down! Once the second son’s family finds Da Ya, she’ll naturally cool off."

He was truly weary of this endless strife and longed for a return to tranquility.

Lady Zhao agreed outwardly, but inwardly sneered with contempt, silently laughing, "Find her? Ha, I’m afraid that’s harder than ascending to heaven."

She had already made her calculations, and a new showdown was about to begin.

At this moment, Su Yu, following the Dumb Granny, stepped into the world beyond the heavy gates. The estate was called Hibiscus Garden, and from this elegant name alone, one could feel a breath of fresh and refined air.

Although it did not occupy as much land as those illustrious mansions of the Young Master Tutors, in Su Yu’s eyes, it was undoubtedly the home of a family with both wealth and status.

After a day’s long journey, her stomach was growling with hunger, and looking at the splendid Hibiscus Garden, she believed she would be able to enjoy a sumptuous feast there on this holiday.

"Oh my, my stomach isn’t forgiving, so please, Dumb Granny, order the servants to prepare some delicious food. After all, it is a holiday, and we must properly celebrate."

Su Yu’s tone carried a mix of anticipation and relief, as if a day’s tiredness had been dispelled by the splendor of the mansion.