Chapter 28: It Would Be a Waste Not to Be a Spy

On a small country path.

Gu Xiaorou cast a seemingly casual glance at Du Qingqing.

"Sister Qingqing..."
"Hmm?"
"Why did Cheng An give you honey?"
"Ah? This..."

Du Qingqing’s pretty face flushed slightly. She gave a gentle smile and said, "The child is sentimental and knows how to be grateful. It shows he has a pure and kind nature; he is a good boy."

Is it just pure and kind?

Gu Xiaorou thought of her father’s warnings. For some reason, her heart felt a bit sour...

...

Meanwhile, at the Cheng household, the conflict had only just begun!

Early the next morning, before Cheng An was even awake, he heard someone calling at the gate.

"Old Third, Cuiyun! Are you home?"

Madam Liu hurried out, pushing the door open. "Second Sister-in-law? Why are you here so early?"

"Is this early?" Yao Chunhua’s face was solemn. She grabbed Madam Liu’s hand and began pulling her outside. "Hurry up, the village chief is already here. Today, no matter what, we must get the land divided!"

"This..." Madam Liu felt a momentary tremor. Despite how firm she had appeared earlier, now that the day had arrived, the fear of being dominated by Old Madam Han for all those years made her heart race uncontrollably.

"What’s wrong?" Yao Chunhua grumbled with dissatisfaction. "We already agreed on this. Are you going back on your word? Besides, this is for your own good. If you really don't want the land, then consider it as if I said nothing. I'm leaving!"

"Don't, Second Sister-in-law!" Madam Liu tugged at her arm. As soon as Cheng Dashan came out, she urged, "Quick, call Xiao Liu! We’re going to the main house! That land has always had a share for our family; why shouldn't we take it?"

"Have you lost your mind?" Cheng Dashan glared at his wife. "Dividing the land is one thing, but why bring the child?" What if things turned physical? Wouldn't that be putting their son in harm's way?

"What do you know?" Madam Liu frowned, scolding him. "It's precisely because this matter is difficult that we need our son there! Have you forgotten? That wheel incident, and what happened yesterday—weren't those all solved by our son?"

That was true! Although their son was only eight, he was a genius! Subtly, the couple’s first reaction to any trouble had become to seek out their son.

Cheng Dashan immediately agreed. "You're right, we must take him. He can read! If there’s any signing or finger-printing to be done, we won't be easily cheated."

"Then let's go!"
"Agreed!"

Cheng Dashan turned back into the house, adding, "You and Second Sister-in-law go ahead; we’ll be there in a moment."

Madam Liu ran toward the Cheng house with Yao Chunhua.

"Cuiyun..." Yao Chunhua’s expression was strange as she turned to ask, "Your Xiao Liu has only been studying for half a month, and he can already read?"

"He knows quite a lot!" Mentioning her son, Madam Liu instantly gained confidence. She puffed out her chest and said, "Don't look at his age; Teacher Du at the academy has praised him more than once, saying our boy has a sharp mind and is a prodigy!"

"He's that good?" Yao Chunhua blinked.

"Would I lie to you?" Madam Liu rolled her eyes at her and said seriously, "Teacher Du said that just a few days after entering the school, our Xiao Liu could fluently read the primers and even write poetry!"

"This..."
"That really is a genius!"

Yao Chunhua nodded, feeling a bit stifled. Even though she didn't know a single character, she knew that writing poetry wasn't something just anyone could do. The father and son of the eldest branch were prime examples—after all those years of studying, they ended up with nothing to show for it.

And as for Cheng Xiaoyuan, that went without saying. Yao Chunhua had gone to town late last night and learned quite a bit about Cheng Dahai’s affairs and how Cheng Xiaoyuan was a complete wastrel. What was hateful was that for years, they had spent their money and labor supporting the eldest branch, only to end up with this? A man of low character, a son who squandered his studies, and Qin Dongzhi, who had been riding roughshod over the family for years... It was infuriating! Thinking about it made her feel humiliated.

...

When Cheng An and his father arrived at the Cheng house, the room was already in an uproar. Old Madam Han lay on the bed with her eyes closed, her legs trembling—whether from genuine anger or an act, it was hard to tell.

"Who agreed to divide the family?" Cheng Dahai pointed a finger at Cheng Dahe, cursing, "You shameless beast, it’s fine that you’re moving out! But Second Brother, are you planning to follow his lead?"

"Who is really the shameless one here?" Yao Chunhua strode into the room, ignoring the village chief, Wang Defu. She glared at Cheng Dahai and spoke loudly, "Big Brother, do you want me to repeat all the filthy things you’ve been doing outside to everyone here?"

"You bitch!"
"How dare you slander your elder brother?"

Cheng Dahai acted as if his tail had been stepped on, instantly flying into a rage. Yao Chunhua looked at him as if he were a clown and sneered, "I went to town last night and heard quite a few interesting stories. Does Big Brother want to hear them?"

Impressive! Cheng An watched his Second Aunt with amusement. First, his Second Uncle had managed to anger Old Madam Han into a faint, then his Second Aunt had delivered a fatal blow to Cheng Dahai, and his cousin Cheng Lai kept adding fuel to the fire... His family was full of talent! He had deliberately leaked a few things about Cheng Dahai yesterday, but he hadn't expected Yao Chunhua to actually investigate it. And in just one day... Talk about efficiency!

"You..." Cheng Dahai was at a loss for words.

Qin Dongzhi retorted, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting, Yao Chunhua? Isn't it just that my husband borrowed some money? It's not like he said he wouldn't pay it back! You want to use this to threaten us into dividing the family? You’re truly delusional!"

"Borrowed money?" Yao Chunhua didn't get angry; instead, she laughed until she was doubled over. In her eyes, Qin Dongzhi was nothing but a clown who had been sold and was now helping to count the money. She sneered, "Sister-in-law is truly something else! For those who didn't know, one would think you were the one calling the shots in the Cheng family!"

"Shut your mouth, you bitch!" Cheng Dahai was completely panicked. He hurriedly cut her off, saying, "Fine, we’ll divide the family! Why all this useless talk? But let me be clear: once the family is divided, you are no longer part of the Cheng family! If you run into trouble later..."

This was a threat. Qin Dongzhi used to love using this tactic. Relying on Cheng Dahai’s status as a *tongsheng* (a scholar who passed the entry-level exam), she not only acted like a tyrant at home but was also arrogant outside, constantly saying things like, "Once my Dahai passes the *xiucai* exam..."

Country folk had never seen important officials, so a *xiucai* was an unattainable existence to them, someone who could even decide their fate. But could Cheng Dahai actually pass? In the past, not only Yao Chunhua but even Madam Liu had been terrified, worrying that if Cheng Dahai really became a *xiucai*, he might get a position in the yamen and take revenge on them.

But now that they had seen Cheng Dahai’s true colors, there was nothing left but disgust.

"I dare to divide the family, so why would I be afraid of trouble?" Yao Chunhua stood tall, glaring at Cheng Dahai, and sneered, "Stop talking nonsense. Divide the land we are owed, and from now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other. Otherwise, don't blame me if I can't keep my mouth shut!"

"Divide your mother's..." Qin Dongzhi started to curse.

*Slap!*

Cheng Dahai slapped her to the ground. His expression was now openly vicious. "Get out, you brainless thing! Don't you see our mother isn't even speaking? If you say one more word, I’ll divorce you immediately!"

"You..."
"You hit me?" Qin Dongzhi stared in disbelief.

Cheng Dahai ignored her. He offered a sheepish smile to the village chief, Wang Defu, saying, "I apologize for the display," and then led everyone to the fields to divide the Cheng family’s farmland into three parts.

"This isn't right!"
"It should be divided equally..." Madam Liu was dissatisfied with the poor-quality land they had been allocated.

"Mother." Cheng An tugged on his mother’s sleeve and whispered, "Let it be. Didn't we come here today... just to stand our ground and reclaim our dignity?"

"But I just can't swallow this anger!" Madam Liu’s eyes were red with grievance. "Why should all the good things go to the eldest? Why have your father and I worked so hard for so many years, only to end up making clothes for someone else?"

Like her son, she didn't care about that bit of land or the so-called "family assets"—she just wanted justice for all the years of unfairness and mistreatment!