Qin Yueshi hurried to intervene, "Mother! Stop hitting her, I beg you to stop. She is your granddaughter too!"
"I didn't... I didn't eat it..."
Pitiful sobbing kept coming from Qin Shuan'er.
"A child so young and already practicing mischief deserves punishment! She needs a lesson she won't forget in order to prevent embarrassment in the future." Leaning by the kitchen door, Mrs. Qin-Chen watched the ruckus with cold detachment.
Remembering her husband Qin Xiao, the second son of the Qin family who works as a shopkeeper in county town, she smirked mockingly.
Let them churn the pot, the more chaotic it gets, the happier she is.
She would prefer it if they split up, she didn't want to wait around in this household.
Why should Qin Xiao enjoy good food and drinks in county city, while she has to stay in their old home, taking care of his child and serving these two old folks? And worst of all, these old folks disrespect her all day long, treating her like she's invisible?
"You're talking back to me? See if I don't beat you to death!"
With the backup of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Qin-Li's beatings and scolding not only didn't stop, but intensified.
The kitchen was in total chaos. Qin Yueshi was knocked to the ground, Mrs. Qin-Li was swinging her fists at Qin Shuan'er who was dodging and crying. The spectacle of one person beating and another running was quite a scene.
Su Pan'er was shocked; all this fuss over a few eggs, utterly ridiculous.
"Stop!"
Catching her bearings, she rushed over in two steps and pulled Qin Shuan'er behind her. With a dismissive look at Mrs. Qin-Li, she sternly said,
"Old shrew, have you had enough of your ranting?"
The curses stopped abruptly!
Mrs. Qin-Li felt like she was doused with a bucket of icy water after being glared at by Su Pan'er's ruthless eyes. Shivering, she involuntarily took two steps back.
Realizing the person she was facing was known for her abnormal strength and was capable of physically lifting a man single-handedly, she was afraid of confronting her.
Mrs. Qin-Li was reluctant to antagonize her any further.
Mrs. Qin-Chen, leaning on the kitchen door, had been eagerly anticipating the drama, was not ready to let this end peacefully.
"Su Pan'er, what are you trying to do? You have no respect. Who are you shouting at? Are you really planning to hit your mother-in-law?"
Ignoring Mrs. Qin-Chen, Su Pan'er retorted: "Who are you? Interferers, get lost!" She didn't need to stir up troubles.
"You!..."
Mrs. Qin Chen's face distorted, "Su Pan'er, what's with your tone? I am your sister-in-law! You ungrateful thing."
"Oh, I didn't know I had such a sister-in-law!"
Su Pan'er looked at them with scorn. "These are what I ate. If you dare, come after me! Beating a child so harshly over some food, if she were to be seriously injured, would it be worth it?"
She would take responsibility for her actions. She wouldn't let the little girl take the blame.
Mrs. Qin-Li was so infuriated, she could hardly breathe!
"What? What do you mean 'some food'? Those were for the old man and Wan'er to replenish their energy!"
Mrs. Qin-Li was heartbroken.
The old man had to have pork belly and an egg every morning to have the energy to work; her daughter Qin Wan'er, who was to marry into a wealthy family, needed one to build up her physical strength; her eldest grandson Qin Gui, who was studying at private school, needed one and the future success of the Qin family relied on him; Qin Yi also needed one... when she thought of the amount of money she spent on these, she was so angry that she grinded her teeth.
Each egg costs a single coin, pork costs fifteen coins per pound; with the household's expenses and debts, she even denied herself a taste, and this fool devoured it all.
Thinking of her actions this morning and adding old grievances, made Mrs. Qin-Li furious to the point of turning pale.
"Tch! You make it sound like it's nothing! You don't know the cost of living. You actually ate so much. The Su family isn't any good either. They even dared to throw such a troublemaker into our Qin family. Wait for it! I have a bone to pick with them…"
Su Pan'er was getting impatient. A married daughter belongs to her husband's family. Who is this old hag looking to cause trouble with?
She reached out, grabbed her collar and threw her straight out of the kitchen.
"Are you mad over a few eggs? Here, they are back to you!" Brushing her hands together as though dusting off bacteria.
"Ouch! You damn wretch!"
Although not hurt, Mrs. Qin-Li felt humiliated. She got up from the ground pointed at Su Pan'er and began to curse after glaring at the spectators who were attracted by the commotion.
"What do you mean 'a few eggs'? That's four copper coins... Alright! Since you think they're so insignificant, produce four coppers. I want to see what you're capable of!"