On an autumn afternoon, the sun warmly shone on Tang Family Village, under the big tree at the village entrance some people were chatting leisurely, and a few children were playing and frolicking, creating a peaceful and harmonious scene in the village.
However, within this harmonious scene, a middle-aged woman came striding fiercely towards us, holding a club as thick as an arm, breaking the peace and harmony in an instant.
Everyone recognized her, she was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Tang Family, Wang Jinhua, who often bullied the other two families, relying on her position as the eldest sister-in-law.
Seeing her unusual behavior today, people couldn't help but wonder who had provoked this madwoman again.
"Looks like she's heading towards the third household; those mother and daughters are in trouble again," someone remarked.
But the villagers just watched without intervening, because any wrong move would invite torrents of abuse from this tigress, who was a true shrew.
Seeing that Mrs. Wang was approaching, those curious villagers slowly gathered round, although not daring to get too close, they kept some ten or twenty paces away, watching from afar.
In the countryside, besides working in the fields, people had little to do, so any lively event was of great interest to them. By the pond, a young man was leaning slantwise against a tree trunk, originally holding a book in his hands. Sensing something was amiss, he furrowed his brow slightly, after thinking for a moment, he put away the book and headed in another direction.
By this time, Mrs. Wang had already reached the door of the straw house. Though she was fat, she moved quickly. As she walked, she shouted, "Tang Wanwan, you stinky girl, come out here."
Getting no response after two shouts, she immediately stood with hands on her hips upon the half-collapsed courtyard wall of the Tang's third household and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Tang Wanwan, you little slut, get your ass out here. Don't think that hiding in the house will prevent me from finding you."
In the house, Lady Chen and her eldest daughter, Tang Wanwan, were doing needlework. Hearing the elder sister-in-law shouting outside, Lady Chen's hand trembled, and the needle pierced her hand, causing blood to flow. "Mother, don't bother with that mad dog," Tang Wanwan frowned and put her mother's finger in her mouth to suck.
"Quick, go behind the door."
"Mother, the elder sister-in-law is just looking for trouble on purpose, I won't hide."
Lady Chen was so anxious she was almost in tears, she grabbed her daughter and shoved her behind the door, sternly saying, "Not a word."
"You two also hide." Tang Xiao Yi and Tang Xiaorou, eight-year-old twins, were most afraid of the roaring threats from the elder sister-in-law. Every time she came to the house, it brought nothing good, so hearing their mother's words, the two youngest ones swiftly hid under the bed.
"Help me out." The voice of their brother, Tang Wei, came from inside, but he couldn't move by himself. Because of an accident, his legs were broken, leaving him bedridden for years. Hearing the arrogant sound of the elder sister-in-law outside, he wanted to struggle to get out. Unfortunately, he couldn't even reach his crutches, so he could only pound his legs fiercely with his hands, his face showing bulging veins.
Tang Wanwan didn't dare to respond, fearing her elder aunt would hear. At this moment, intense conflict raged within her, she wanted to go out, but was too afraid, trembling from head to foot, her hands shaking from nervousness.
"Where is everyone, trying to hide the murderer, bring them out to me now." The elder aunt's voice getting closer and closer.
"Elder sister-in-law, Wanwan is really not at home, may I ask what happened?" Lady Chen's voice was gentle and quiet, forming a stark contrast with Mrs. Wang's lewd and harsh voice.
"What happened?" Mrs. Wang's voice elevated a few notches, her triangle-shaped eyes shot a cold light, reminding Lady Chen of the mountain's man-eating venomous snakes. Seeing Mrs. Wang glance into the house, Lady Chen stood her ground, blocking the doorway with her body. "Humph, you as a mother might not know what good deeds your daughter has done, she tried to poison my Cheng'er. Luckily, his life is big. Otherwise, even if she died ten times, it wouldn't atone for my son's life."
"Where's that murderer Tang Wanwan, call her out right now, I'm going to find the Clan Leader and send her into the ancestral hall to be dealt with by clan rules." Seeing Lady Chen silently guarded the doorway, refusing to budge, her voice became anxious.
The Tang Family was a major surname in Tang Family Village, and it was the most prestigious in the village. The Tang Family had hundreds of people, occupying half of the village's land, controlling all the lucrative businesses. As for other surnames in the village, most were outsiders who moved in, working for the Tang Family as long-term laborers. Those who worked long enough settled here, getting married and having children, establishing their roots here.
The Tang Family had clan rules: fraud, theft, kidnapping, lasciviousness, gambling, and poisoning were all punishable. Anyone, regardless of age or gender, caught breaking these rules would be drowned in the pig cage and repay with their life. Even if someone spoke in defense, the death penalty could be spared but not the living punishment.
Thinking of the pitch-black underground cell of the Tang Family, and the elder inside who looked like a living corpse, Lady Chen trembled all over. She immediately denied, "That's absolutely impossible, my Wanwan only cooked two meals today and didn't go anywhere else."
"Just cooked two meals?"
Mrs. Wang drawled, a malicious glint flickered in her eyes, seeing her eyes fix on her own body as if stripping her bare, exposing her in front of everyone. "No, no..." Before she realized she misspoke, it was too late to retract her words.
Sure enough, Mrs. Wang's face turned dark, she stepped forward without a word and slapped Lady Chen hard. "Humph, getting caught in your lie, hurry up and bring the person out, or it won't just be a slap."
Tears sparkled in Lady Chen's eyes, she held her face in one hand, feeling her teeth loosen, a metallic sweet taste filled her mouth, and her face burned with pain.
She stood her ground, saying, "No way, elder sister-in-law, you must have made a mistake. My Wanwan wouldn't dare kill even a chicken, how could she do such a thing."
"Someone saw it with their own eyes, stop defending her."
"Move aside."
"I won't, my daughter didn't kill anyone."
...
"Are you really not moving, I have a witness?"
"Elder sister-in-law, I beg you, please spare Wanwan, I know my daughter wouldn't and couldn't do such a thing." Lady Chen pleaded bitterly.
"Are you moving aside?" Mrs. Wang directly threatened Lady Chen's face, the two glared at each other, even the air seemed frozen.
"Fine, don't blame me for being ruthless." Unexpectedly, Mrs. Wang swung the club at Lady Chen's frail body. Lady Chen didn't dodge, clenching her teeth and enduring.
On the third hit, Tang Wanwan finally couldn't bear it and rushed out.
"Stop, come at me if there's anything."
"Good, you came out just in time, come with me to the Tang family ancestral hall." Mrs. Wang sneered coldly, reaching to grab her.
"Mother, does it hurt, hurry back inside, why are you so foolish." Seeing her mother being hit because of her, Tang Wanwan's heart ached with a sharp pain, her hatred for Mrs. Wang grew deeper.
"I'm fine, I can hold on, Wanwan, you shouldn't have come out." As Mrs. Wang's stick landed on both mother and daughter, they seemed not to feel any pain.
"Mother, I've done nothing wrong, I'm not afraid." Tang Wanwan smiled and pushed her mother inside, locking the door. She had cut off her own escape route.
"Wanwan, Wanwan."
...