Qin Sang replied indifferently,
"Ordinary families certainly can't afford to buy water, but I know Steward Huang. Getting a bit of water is no big deal."
Tian Hongmei's eyes turned red with envy. Her own family could barely afford porridge, yet Qin Sang's family had the money to buy water from the Steward just for their livestock.
Comparing oneself to others really was infuriating.
Qin Sang, however, did not intend to let her off so easily.
"Village Chief, that method can only be used tomorrow once the well starts producing water again. But look at today—so many people have no water to drink because Tian Hongmei hauled it all back to her house. We can't let everyone go thirsty all day; people will die of thirst."
The crowd chimed in one after another:
"That's right, Village Chief! Tian Hongmei must be made to share today's water."
"Village Chief, you can't be biased and protect her just because she's your own family."
Tian Hongmei sensed trouble and tried to turn back into her courtyard to shut the gate, but someone blocked it with their hand.
The Village Chief gave her a stern look.
"Open the gate. Let's see exactly how much her family hauled."
Several men rushed into Tian Hongmei's house. Tian Hongmei was pushed aside, wailing loudly,
"Ah, it's a robbery! You godforsaken lot, I don't want to live anymore..."
The men who rushed in shouted,
"Village Chief, it really was her family who took all the water! The water vats, basins, buckets, and even the teapots are all full!"
Qin Sang felt no pity for the wailing Tian Hongmei on the ground. To cut off someone's livelihood was as bad as killing their parents; if you cut off others' means of survival, don't blame them for doing the same to you.
Moreover, in today's situation, even if the water in the well hadn't been taken by Tian Hongmei, the fact that her family had it while others didn't meant she was the one who took it, regardless of the truth.
This was precisely why Qin Sang had gone through the trouble of secretly filling her water and generously bartering for grain.
The villagers hauled out the water vats, buckets, and basins from Tian Hongmei's house. Ignoring her as she cursed heaven and earth, the Village Chief supervised while two villagers distributed half a bucket of water to each family.
Qin Sang wasn't shy either; she took two scoops of water and carried her light bucket home. Of course, as she neared her house, she added a bit more to it.
Before she even entered, she heard the sound of Da Huang scratching at the gate. When Qin Sang pulled it open, she saw Da Huang wagging his tail at her.
Qin Sang fed him a few pellets of dried meat and warned,
"Don't go out to play, do you hear me? Be careful, or someone might kill you for your meat."
Aside from Hunter Xu's family, it was likely no one in the village had tasted meat in a long time. How could they not be tempted when they saw Da Huang?
Especially since Da Huang was so plump and sturdy; he looked delicious just by looking at him.
The whole family was already up and had plenty to do, especially in the fields, which had to be worked while it was still cool in the morning.
Qin Sang tended the fire in the kitchen. Although she was responsible for the whole family's breakfast, it was easy; she just had to exchange items from her space. She was mostly just putting on an act in the kitchen, while also refilling the depleted oil, salt, and seasonings.
Steam rose as the sweet aroma of steamed buns wafted out. In the courtyard, Da Huang suddenly began barking loudly toward the gate.
Qin Sang extinguished the fire in the stove, wiped her hands, and walked outside.
Da Huang was usually very well-behaved and never barked without reason. For instance, when Hunter Xu and his men passed by to hunt in the mountains, or when villagers went to gather herbs or came to trade for grain, Da Huang wouldn't even bother to lift his head. Barking like this meant there was definitely someone unfriendly outside.
The courtyard gate was pounded with a series of bangs.
Da Zhuang, San Gui, and the others in the backyard fields quickly rushed to the front courtyard.
"Widow Tian, open the gate! I know you're home!"
Qin Sang recognized that shrill voice—it was Tian Hongmei.
After the scene she caused this morning, what was she doing at their house now?
Tian Dazhuang stepped forward and opened the gate, revealing a large group of people gathered outside.
Tian Hongmei looked furious. She pointed a finger at Qin Sang in the courtyard and began to curse:
"Widow Tian, you godforsaken woman! What did my second and third brothers ever do to you for you to strike them so cruelly? You're a murderer!"
Behind Tian Hongmei was an ox cart. Qin Sang recognized the old man driving it; it was Old Man Xu.
Two men were lying on the cart—none other than Tian Yuanshan and Tian Jinshui. Their faces were bruised and swollen, with bloodstains at their nostrils and the corners of their mouths. They looked miserable.
Surrounding the ox cart were the wives and children of the two brothers, all of whom were glaring at Qin Sang with rage.
"Widow Tian, we all share the surname Tian! How could you be so ruthless?"
"Just because you're a widow yourself, do you want to make us all widows too? Look at what you've done to my husband!"
"Oh, father of my children, please wake up! If something happens to you, what will become of us poor orphans and widows?"
Suddenly, wails and cries broke out all around Qin Sang's courtyard.
The crying of women and children merged into a cacophony, drawing many villagers over.
"What happened here?"
"How did The Shan Shui Brothers end up like this?"
"Da Zhuang's Mother beat them? No way."
Tian Dazhuang could not stand such a false accusation.
"My mother did not beat them! Stop talking nonsense!"
Tian Hongmei feigned wiping away tears while shouting angrily,
"Of course your mother didn't beat them herself, but she called those Local Ruffians to do it!"
Tian Dazhuang's eyes widened.
"That's not true! Those Local Ruffians were clearly called by the two of them to rob my mother!"
Tian Hongmei was stunned. Before she could react, Tian Youdi and Da Huas Father also stepped forward.
"That's right! Yesterday, we went with Da Zhuang's Mother to deliver goods. On the way back, we were waylaid by a group of Local Ruffians. After The Shan Shui Brothers failed to extort her, they conspired with the town's Local Ruffians to rob their own fellow villagers."
"As soon as I got back yesterday, I told my father."
"My father is the Village Chief. He said that according to village rules, for something like this, they should not only be handed over to the magistrate's office but also expelled from the village. We were just waiting for them."
"Exactly, I can testify to that."
Tian Hongmei's eyes darted around. She swung her arms in a wide arc as she retorted,
"Bullshit! What kind of testimony can you give? You've received so many benefits from Widow Tian, of course you'd speak up for her."
"Who saw my brothers conspiring with Local Ruffians? But this old man here saw with his own eyes that those Local Ruffians who beat my brothers kept mentioning Widow Tian's name!"
"Do you still dare to say Widow Tian didn't hire them to commit murder?"
Old Man Xu hadn't expected that by just watching the commotion, he would be pulled into something involving his regular customer, Qin Sang.
Now that the aggrieved party had mentioned him, Old Man Xu could only wave his hands and explain,
"At the time, outside the medical clinic, that group of Local Ruffians from town who collect protection money rushed over and pinned the two of them to the ground, beating them. I only heard them say:"
"'Beating you like this can be considered venting some frustration for Auntie Qin.'"
"They also warned:"
"'If you ever dare to cause trouble for Auntie Qin again, we'll make you pay.'"
"The fight was intense. Only after the Local Ruffians left could the doctor step forward to treat them. It's been a day now, and once they said their conditions were stable, they hurried me to help bring them back."
"Anyway, I've delivered the people. Hurry up and lift them down, and settle the fare for the cart!"
As Old Man Xu spoke, he looked at his regular customer with a face full of guilt. He felt terribly awkward and just wanted to leave; how was he to know that 'Auntie Qin' was Qin Sang?
Tian Hongmei raised her voice even louder, her finger nearly poking Qin Sang's face as she jumped about like she had lost her mind.
"Everyone heard that, right? The witness is right here! What else does Widow Tian have to say for herself?"
"A life for a life! These are two lives—how is Widow Tian going to pay for them?"
"Widow Tian, I advise you to cough up the money for my brothers' medical treatment right now. Otherwise, if my two brothers die, I'll take this to the magistrate's office and make two people from your family pay with their lives!"