"Chen Shengjun, I heard your sister-in-law sleeps on the same kang as the four of you brothers. In the pitch black of night, has she ever crawled into the wrong quilt?"
"Oh, if your sister-in-law ever crawled into the wrong quilt, then the three of you brothers would have really taken advantage of your eldest brother."
"Chen Shengjun, tell the truth: has your sister-in-law ever crawled into your quilt?"
"Hahaha... she must have! Otherwise, why would Chen Shengjun be so pent up that he’d go after Aunt Qiu?"
"Chen Shengjun, I have to say, that’s quite low of you. Aunt Qiu is Guoping’s mother. If you actually managed to get what you wanted, wouldn’t you be Guoping’s stepfather?"
"Stepfather my ass. He’d be beaten to death by Uncle Dasheng and Brother Guoping long before he succeeded."
...
Chen Shengjun was surrounded by a group of men who jeered and mocked him, their words growing increasingly vulgar.
Chen Shengjun’s veins bulged with rage, and he gritted his teeth. "I do not sleep on the same kang as my brother and sister-in-law. I sleep in the small grass hut, and there is a partition in my brother and sister-in-law’s room. My sister-in-law could not possibly crawl into the wrong quilt. Have some mercy with your tongues! Stop slinging mud at my sister-in-law. Do not let your words drive her to a point where she cannot go on living."
One man retorted indignantly, "Chen Shengjun, we were just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?"
"Exactly. We’re just having a laugh; how is that lacking mercy?"
"Chen Shengjun, you dare scold us? Are you looking for a beating?"
"Enough, don’t hit him. Look at how pathetic he is; he couldn't even beat Yuanchun. I have no interest in laying a finger on him."
Just then, the village chief arrived late.
Qiu Guihua and Ding Xiaotao stopped and made to release Mother Chen.
But Mother Chen was itching for a fight and kept on cursing, "Feng Yuanchun, you little bitch! You dare hit my son? I’ll tear your face off, you little slut..." *Smack! Smack! Smack!*
Liu Qingqiu, who had been watching from the sidelines without joining the fray, rushed over and slapped Mother Chen several times. "You old hag! My daughter hit your son because he had it coming; he deserved it! You dare curse my daughter? I’ll fight you to the death!"
Liu Qingqiu was not used to fighting and had little strength. As Mother Chen shoved her, she began to topple, but Ding Xiaotao’s sharp eyes and quick reflexes caught her in time.
Ding Xiaotao was furious. "You old wench, you dare strike my second sister-in-law? I’ll fight you!"
She and Qiu Guihua pounced on Mother Chen again and gave her a sound thrashing.
The village chief felt a headache coming on. "Stop! Stop at once! Dasheng, Sansheng, hurry up and pull your wives away!"
Feng Dasheng didn't move. "Village Chief, this isn't my wife's fault. It’s Shengjin’s mother who’s absolutely begging for a beating. Our Yuanchun didn't provoke her, yet she bullied her and cursed her. You heard the filth she was spewing earlier. My Yuanchun is a young maiden; how could she endure such abuse? My wife was just enraged and wanted to vent her niece’s grievances."
Mother Chen immediately started wailing. "Oh, there is no justice! Two sisters-in-law ganging up on me—they’re trying to take my life... Village Chief, you cannot be biased. If Ding Cuilan doesn't give me an explanation for this, I’m going to go live and eat at her house!"
Grandma Feng, who had stayed home to wash the dishes and clean the pots, arrived at the warehouse a few steps later, only to overhear Mother Chen’s words.
Furious, Grandma Feng ran over and spat directly into Mother Chen’s face. "In your dreams! Daydreaming in broad daylight, are you? You dare talk about eating and living in my house? See if I don't beat the shit out of you!"
"You old hag, I..."
Mother Chen looked fierce and wanted to lunge at her, but she feared Qiu Guihua and Ding Xiaotao, who were eyeing her like tigers, so she dared not move.
She lowered her eyes and swallowed her pride. "Village Chief, you tell us then: how is this to be settled?"