Free Web NovelChapter 52: Chapter 52: Old Debts (Part 1)
The more Wen Xiu thought about it, the angrier she became. She didn’t hold back, questioning Chen Suxiang directly. "The money for the wood to build your wardrobe, chests, and sideboard—it’s been so many years. When do you plan on paying us back? And that’s not all. How many other small advantages have you taken from our family over the years? My husband makes straw mats, fans, and vegetable baskets to sell. How many of those have you taken? You didn’t just use them for yourselves; you even dared to ask for them to give away as gifts... You’re utterly shameless. We used to let it slide because our families are connected by marriage. But you tell me, isn’t all that enough to make up for the years you fed us those salty, inedible meals?"
In the past, Wen Xiu had always given in to Chen Suxiang. Even when Chen Suxiang spoke harshly and acted all high and mighty, Wen Xiu would just pretend to be deaf and blind. And why? It was because she was afraid that if they fought, it would only make life harder for her daughter under her mother-in-law’s thumb, causing her to suffer even more.
Pah! To think some people could be so insatiable. You let her have her way, and she starts thinking your family is actually afraid of her. Now that Wen Xiu had nothing holding her back, why would she continue to swallow her grievances and make herself suffer?
As if that wasn’t enough to provoke Chen Suxiang and her daughter, Wen Xiu shot them a sidelong glance, mimicking their own disdainful expression. Her tone was vicious. "Now that I think about it, I almost forgot this part of the debt. I won’t nitpick over the labor costs or all those little odds and ends, but it’s high time you paid back the money for the wood you’ve owed us for years, right? If you really can’t afford it, then hurry up and return the wardrobe, chests, and sideboard. I’ll haul them out onto the street and sell them at a discount just to recoup my costs. And if everyone thinks they’re too filthy and unlucky to buy because they came out of your Gu Family’s house, I’ll just chop them up and give them away as firewood. Even then, I wouldn’t let you have them."
"Mom, why even bother trying to sell them? Anything the Gu family has used is bound to be unlucky. We’re decent, upstanding people; we can’t do something that would cheat others like that. I say we just go borrow an axe, chop it all up for firewood, and give it away."
The other members of the Zhang family had been furious at Chen Suxiang’s words, but they hadn’t expected Wen Xiu’s counterattack to be so potent; they couldn’t help but laugh. Lin Qin was also disgusted by the Gu mother and daughter’s arrogance, and seeing her mother-in-law take the offensive brought a wave of relief, dispelling much of the stifling anger she’d felt. She put a hand on her sister-in-law, who was about to speak, and unhesitatingly stepped forward to back up her mother-in-law.
"You... you..." Chen Suxiang’s face flushed crimson. She trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Wen Xiu and Lin Qin.
"’You’ what? A life for a life, and paying back a debt. Isn’t that just the way of the world?"
Wen Xiu slapped Chen Suxiang’s hand away and glared at her, her aura overpowering. She looked utterly defiant. "If you have something to say, then say it. What’s the big idea, pointing those pig trotters at people? Are you planning to get physical because you’re losing the argument?"
With her eldest son and husband there as backup, Wen Xiu was practically hoping Chen Suxiang would be the one to throw the first punch.
’Go on, start something,’ Wen Xiu thought. ’It would be the perfect chance for our family to vent all the anger we’ve held in for years.’ She stared at the Gu mother and daughter with eager anticipation, which made their hearts skip a beat. Then, a glance from the corner of their eyes landed on Zhang Wei Qiang. Seeing his threatening expression, they suddenly recalled him saying he wouldn’t mind hitting a woman. They flinched. ’Oh, heavens, we almost fell for their trap.’
Having experienced just how terrifying Zhang Wei Qiang could be, the mother-daughter pair immediately abandoned any thought of resorting to violence. If a fight broke out, their entire family probably wouldn’t be enough for this God of Killing to handle.
They couldn’t mess with Wen Xiu, but they couldn’t afford to lose face, either. Chen Suxiang and Gu Jinhua were masters of the principle of picking the weakest target. After her expression shifted through shades of livid and red, Chen Suxiang quickly composed herself and aimed her fire directly at Zhang Minzhen.
Chen Suxiang slapped her thigh and began to wail with the flair of a seasoned actress. "Oh, the injustice! What kind of daughter-in-law is this shameless? Married for over a decade and can’t even produce a son, yet she still thinks she’s better than everyone and that she’s in the right? Her own husband is still lying in the hospital, and she dares to bring her family to our door to cause a scene! Such an immoral, heartless woman! Oh, heavens, why don’t you just send someone to reap her soul, cast her down into the eighteenth level of hell, and have her tendons pulled and bones flayed..."
"Shut your mouth! Haven’t you caused enough of a scene?"
Seeing Chen Suxiang carry on like that, the faces of the Zhang family turned completely grim. Just as they were about to retaliate, they saw Gu Wu step out and roar at Chen Suxiang.
Banking on the fact that outsiders were present, Chen Suxiang assumed Gu Wu would be too concerned about his pride to lay a hand on her. So she craned her neck defiantly and retorted, "Which part of what I said wasn’t the truth? How is that causing a scene? If we’re talking about disgrace, the real disgrace is the one who can’t even bear a son..."
SLAP.
Before she could finish her sentence, a heavy slap landed across her face.
Chen Suxiang clutched her face, staring at Gu Wu in disbelief. She was deeply humiliated that he would show her such disrespect in front of the Zhang family.
Gu Jinhua had shrunk like a frightened quail the moment Gu Wu appeared, and now she didn’t dare make a single peep.
Gu Wu shot Chen Suxiang a fierce, warning glare, completely ignoring her resentful gaze. He then turned, nodded to the members of the Zhang family, and met Zhang Dazhuang’s eyes. "Please, come in. Whatever the issue is, let’s all sit down and discuss it calmly."
"Alright."
Zhang Dazhuang nodded as well.
"Go prepare some cups of sugar water," Gu Wu ordered, frowning as he saw the resentful mother and daughter lingering at the side while he led the group forward.
"Heh, no need," Wen Xiu scoffed in response to Gu Wu’s words, too annoyed to even bother concealing her disdain. She shot a mocking, sidelong glance at Chen Suxiang and Gu Jinhua. "We didn’t come here today for a drink; we came to collect a debt. So even if you did bring out some water, who knows if it would have spit in it, or something else weird? Who would dare to drink it? Let’s just skip it and save everyone the trouble."
Chen Suxiang and Gu Jinhua’s faces went pale with fury, but they couldn’t lash out.
"You should say a little less, too," Zhang Dazhuang murmured to Wen Xiu, his tone mild but just loud enough for everyone to hear. Then, he looked up at Gu Wu with an apologetic shake of his head. "We’re not thirsty, my friend. Please, don’t trouble yourself."
Gu Wu didn’t insist. He gave a slight nod and said nothing more.
They proceeded in silence.
The Gu Family’s homestead was large, so their house was built in the style of a small, traditional courtyard residence. Just past the entrance stood a carved wooden screen wall. Beyond it lay a small, open-air courtyard where the family had dug their own well. Next to the well was a long slab of bluestone, raised on rocks, large enough for two people to wash clothes or vegetables at once.
Across the courtyard was the main hall. It had no door and was furnished with a narrow table with drawers, a square "Eight Immortals" table for meals, and four long benches.
The two families sat down at the Eight Immortals table.
COUGH COUGH.
Zhang Dazhuang coughed to clear his throat, then initiated the conversation with Gu Wu. "Regarding our two children, I’m not sure if you’re aware of the situation?"
He knew Gu Wu rarely involved himself in household matters, so he truly wasn’t sure if the man knew what his eldest son had done.
Gu Wu nodded.
