Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 4 - 4 4 Harassing and Entangling

In her past life, Guiying had stirred up trouble on numerous occasions. Back then, Chiang Xiao had been so consumed by a delirious fever that the chaos barely registered. By the time her health returned, her grandparents had already been bullied into submission. To settle the matter, they had been forced to compensate the Ding Family with a bolt of high-quality fabric and a basket of their carefully hoarded eggs.

Simultaneously, a malicious rumor regarding her reputation had begun to spread like wildfire through the village.

The mere memory of that gossip and the misery that followed caused a bitter rage to simmer within Chiang Xiao. Steeling herself, she sat up, climbed out of bed, and moved toward the door with determination.

At that moment, another figure entered the Chiang Family’s main hall—it was Song Xiyun, the wife of Chiang Songhai’s nephew from the neighboring branch of the Old Chiang Family.

Upon entering, she scanned the room, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.

“Oh, I was wondering who was making such a fuss. Sister Guiying, what brings you here? Isn't it time to start the fire? Da Qiang will surely be hungry for his dinner when he returns from the fields.”

In the village, evening meals were prepared early, usually beginning around five o’clock.

Song Xiyun was notoriously lazy and frequently dropped by at this hour to nose around. Her real motive was to see what her second uncle and aunt were cooking; if the meal looked appetizing, she would find a pretext to scrounge a portion for herself.

Her mother-in-law was well aware of these habits but chose to ignore them.

“None of your damned business!” Guiying, already incensed, rolled her eyes and snapped back. Whether her husband had his meal or not was certainly no concern of Song Xiyun’s.

Song Xiyun pursed her lips but took no offense. Instead, her gaze wandered across the room before she drifted toward the stove area.

“Auntie, let me help you tend to the fire.”

Ge Liutao was far too preoccupied to deal with her. Seeing Guiying attempting to force her way into Chiang Xiao’s bedroom, she moved quickly to block the path once more.

“Guiying, regardless of the problem, can we not wait until Little is feeling better?”

“No way!” Guiying’s eyes bulged with fury as she shoved the older woman. “Two days have passed already. Who knows how long that damned girl intends to lie there? Let me tell you, don't think you can dodge paying me back by feigning illness! My Da Ni is heading to town the day after tomorrow, and she needs that new dress!”

She was a sturdy woman possessed of significant strength, and her shove sent Ge Liutao stumbling backward.

Chiang Songhai reacted instantly, catching his wife just in time. He broke into a cold sweat; a fall at her age could result in a devastating injury—this was no trivial matter.

He turned on Guiying, shouting, “Hey, Da Qiang’s wife, let’s speak reasonably. Why are you resorting to pushing people around?”

“What’s stopping me?” Guiying felt a brief flicker of guilt, but seeing that the woman hadn't actually fallen, her arrogance returned twofold. She puffed out her chest and dared Chiang Songhai, “Why don't you try pushing me back?”

She began to wail loudly, “I want everyone to witness the heartlessness of the Chiang Family! My Da Ni kindly went to rescue someone, only for her clothes to be torn to shreds, and now the Chiang Family’s Young Lady hides behind a fake illness to avoid compensation! If I had known, I would have told my Da Ni not to bother and just let her be dragged away by the Water Ghost in the stream…”

Those final words struck a raw nerve. Chiang Songhai’s teeth clenched and he instinctively raised his hand, ready to deliver a slap.

She was practically cursing his granddaughter to drown!

Seeing the raised hand, Guiying aggressively thrust her chest forward, continuing her tirade, “What, you want to strike me now? I’m laying it all out today; this isn't over until you pay for my family’s clothes! You want to get violent? Go ahead! Hit me!”

Given her robust build and ample bosom, her provocative stance made it look as though she were intentionally offering herself up to Chiang Songhai’s strike.

Song Xiyun, who had just peeked under the pot lid, glanced over at the shouting and remarked, “Second uncle, you mustn't hit her. A man who beats a woman will be spat upon and drowned by the villagers’ scorn!”

Just as she lifted the door curtain, Chiang Xiao saw Guiying standing with her chin tilted in brazen defiance, taunting her grandfather. He was flushed with rage, held back only by her grandmother’s tight grip.

A wave of fierce emotion surged through Chiang Xiao. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, she lunged at Guiying, slamming her shoulder with full force directly into Guiying’s protruding chest.