Chapter Thirty-Nine: They've Started Fighting Again!

Comrade Ma Cuicui has made a name for herself once again, and the village aunties now have fresh gossip to chew over.

“Tell me, what’s going on with Ma Cuicui? Last time, she was found in a pit up the mountain and carried back home; now she’s been caught dangling from someone’s wall, trying to steal. Tsk tsk, Ma’s reputation is utterly ruined!”

Beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance, the usual crowd was chattering away.

“Isn’t that the truth! This time, it’s not only the Lin family that’s furious—didn’t the Tian family lose things last time too? Now both families have come together. Tsk tsk, what a mess!” One bystander cracked sunflower seeds, gloating over the drama.

Hearing this, the local rogue chimed in, “Hey, it’s normal for the Lin family to seek revenge; after all, Ma Cuicui was caught on their wall! But the Tian family didn’t even see the thief, yet they want compensation. Shameless, really! Tsk tsk!” She was used to the Tian family’s shameless antics, but couldn’t resist a jab.

“Poor Brother Ma, I wonder how he’ll handle this! Raising such a daughter—but isn’t Ma Cuicui about to get married? I heard it’s to Big Pockmarked Zhang’s family from the next village!” The third gossip recalled Ma Cuicui’s engagement and added his two cents.

At the mention of Big Pockmarked Zhang’s family, everyone felt uneasy. Who didn’t know that household had a formidable matriarch? Though Zhang himself was nothing special, his mother was no pushover—she could outtalk anyone, regardless of who they were. Stingy as she was, she was notorious for her sharp tongue.

But whether she would involve herself in this matter was anyone’s guess.

While the crowd at the village entrance gossiped passionately, the Ma household was equally lively.

“I say, Ma Degui, how are you going to handle this? Our family’s lost quite a lot of things! What about compensation?”

At these words, it was clear the Tian witch was causing trouble again—she seemed to be everywhere!

Indeed, it was none other than the infamous Tian witch herself. Hearing that the Lin family had caught Ma Cuicui in the act, attempting to scale their wall at night, she seized the opportunity to reclaim losses from her own previous theft. She abandoned her chores and marched over with her daughters-in-law to demand repayment.

“Ah, old Tian woman, what money are you after? Are you trying to swindle us again?”

Ma Degui, having just dealt with the Lin family, was out of patience; now this troublesome old woman was stirring up more trouble.

“Swindle? Ha! Everyone knows your daughter’s a thief, caught red-handed sneaking around the Lin family’s wall at midnight! I bet she stole our money too—shameless brat, always up to no good!” spat Tian’s eldest daughter-in-law.

It was clear they were cut from the same cloth—her words were venomous.

“Ha! You old witch, what are you talking about? Don’t think you can outtalk me with that rotten mouth! If we’re discussing petty crimes, who can compete with your fourth son? Don’t forget he’s still in prison! If it weren’t for him gossiping and undermining Lin Sanlang’s leadership, would the Changjiang dam have burst? Useless at everything except causing trouble!”

The Ma family women weren’t meek; insult her daughter, and she’d skin you alive.

The Tian family were the village’s notorious troublemakers. The dam burst on the Changjiang, drowning many, seven or eight from the village alone. When Tian’s fourth son was arrested, villagers didn’t know the details, but Ma’s husband had also worked on the dam. Luckily, a recurring illness sent him home days before the disaster, sparing him. Had he not escaped, how would she and her child have survived?

A whore wanting to erect a memorial arch? Don’t even think about it. Today, they’d speak plainly—if you want a fight, see if you’re up for it.

Ma’s retort startled everyone, and anger flared instantly.

Reactions varied, but the Tian witch was shocked, seized by a single thought—how did she find out? Wasn’t it supposed to be tightly concealed? How did this wretched woman know?

“Ma, are you saying my son was drowned by Tian’s fourth?” an elderly woman cried out in agitation.

The Tian witch was speechless. Your son died in the flood, not because of mine!