"Chapter 15"

"Sang Luo paused and scrutinized Li Shi. Now she understood where Shen Jin got his begging traits from."

"Such insolence was new to Sang Luo, erasing any bit of patience she had cultivated in her years of seclusion in the mountains."

"Before she could decide whether to retort, Shen Jin’s face popped up beside Li Shi."

"Mother, she didn't want it for eating; she took half a bowl of fish to Granny Chen. I saw it!"

"Mother, I want to eat fish too."

A smug, mocking smile fixed on Mrs. Li's face. Her lips pursed, and her gaze gradually turned cold, spitting out a few words through clenched teeth.

"A thankless wretch, disloyal to this family."

Her words were slow, each one dripping with scorn.

Shen Jin, following alongside, stuck out his tongue and mimicked in a mocking tone: "The thankless wolf!"

Sang Luo's expression cooled, her gaze shifting over the faces of Mrs. Li and her son, finally meeting Mrs. Li's eyes.

"Aunt, it would be better to speak more politely. I've heard that Shen Lie replaced my uncle on the battlefield at the age of sixteen. When you say these things, just think, if it had been your husband who went then, it would be you in a dire situation now."

Sang Luo, appearing very serious, tapped her forehead: "Look at me, forgetting what I've heard about Shen Lie being a decent person. Surely, if Uncle had died in battle, Shen Lie wouldn't stoop to the low of kicking out his aunt and cousins, right, Aunt?"

"Li Shi's eyes narrowed into slits, her temples throbbing with rage as she glared at Sang Luo, 'Are you cursing someone to die? How disrespectful can you be? So all the food we’ve given over these months has just gone to the dogs, hasn't it?'"

"Sang Luo replied with a mocking smile, 'Just stating the facts, Auntie. Can’t even handle a simple truth? What about our Shen An and Shen Ning? Their brother sacrificed his life, and you cast them out to fend for themselves. Who should they turn to?'"

"And look at how you speak, calling us beggars and ungrateful wretches. I’d like to respect you as an elder, but do you really act like one?'"

"Her voice was clear and articulate, drawing the attention of neighbors who began to peek out to see what the commotion was about."

"Li Shi, dumbstruck and unable to retort, her face flushed red as a liver, trembled and pointed at Sang Luo, then suddenly covered her face and wailed, 'What an ungrateful return for our kindness! We’ve taken care of the eldest family's three kids for years, and this is how they repay us?'"

"The commotion grew, drawing Shen San out of his house in a hurry. Seeing the gathering crowd, he clenched his fists to suppress his anger and barked, 'What’s all this ruckus so early in the morning?'"

"Turning to Sang Luo, he scolded, 'Li Shi kindly took you in during the famine to provide you shelter, and you don’t even show the basic respect and gratitude you owe?'"

"A master at pinning blame."

"Sang Luo, an orphan raised in harsh conditions, retorted sharply, 'Uncle Three, don’t use that to press me. Everyone knows what Auntie Three intended by exchanging half a bag of grain for me as Shen Lie’s wife. If her intention was truly benevolent, I would have been grateful beyond measure.'"

"‘As for gratitude, had Auntie Three truly given me a lifeline during my escape, I would have been eternally thankful.'"

"But everyone in the village has seen what my life has been like since arriving in Shili Village, haven't they? Just the other night, I almost starved to death on the mountain. Shen An came begging for grain in the middle of the night, and you, Uncle and Aunt, just pretended not to hear. This isn’t me blaming you; Shen Jin himself said so. If not for the kindness of Chen Grandpa and Grandma who brought food in the dead of night and saved my life, I, Sang Luo, would now be joining my deceased parents, brothers, and the husband I never met, underground."

"So, please don’t wave the banner of obligation and gratitude in front of me from now on."

Shen San and Li Shi had never known Sang Luo to be so sharp-tongued and fiery, and they were left speechless.

Li Shi reacted first, spitting towards Sang Luo before saying, "Such a sharp tongue, we can’t argue with you! But in any household, once a branch is split off, they must fend for themselves. It's your responsibility to stand on your own after separation. How can that be our fault? Are we owing you something?"

Sang Luo refused to take the blame, "Your words, Aunt, depend on how the separation was done. With no fields, no land, just an uncultivated mountain, it would take a miracle to feed three mouths. Look around the village, who else splits their family like this? A couple of small bags of grain, expecting me to feed Shen An and Shen Ning until we can afford to buy and cultivate our own land?"

"Yes, we are the younger generation. If you claim everything accumulated by the family, owing us nothing, except for the government-granted mountain that should have been ours, I wouldn’t complain. But calling us beggars and ungrateful wretches is too much. I was nearly starving to death, and even if Shen An begged for food for his unworthy sister-in-law, did it even make you open your door?"

"If you can be so cold as to disregard the lives of the younger ones, then don’t pretend to be the elders. Once a family splits into two, we may greet each other if we meet, but basic courtesy is still required. Isn’t that right, everyone?" Sang Luo raised her voice with the last question, addressing the neighbors who were watching.

Her voice rang out loudly, addressing the neighbors directly at the end. Shen San and Li Shi looked around to see everyone at their doors, watching the drama unfold, gossiping and whispering among themselves.

Though Shen San couldn’t hear clearly, he knew they were not saying anything flattering.

He felt a surge of anger, his ears buzzing, almost to the point of vomiting blood.

Chen Granny, hearing the commotion, came out and listened to the entire exchange. She had been tolerating these two for months, thinking it was someone else’s family matter and kept silent.

"I just couldn't hold back anymore when I heard Li Shi calling you a beggar and a thankless wretch."

"Enough, Shen San. We both fled here together back in the day and became neighbors. Let me, an old woman, say something. Some things shouldn't be overdone. I won't mention other issues, but your elder brother died protecting your family's food and water. Little An's mother also couldn't bear the shock and followed him in death. You two survived thanks to your brother's protection. You acknowledge that, don't you?"

"Not to mention, you changed Ah Lie's name so he could go to war in your place. Everyone in the village knows this."

"So, from now on, when it comes to matters involving Little An, Ah Ning, and Ah Lie's wife, you and your wife should first examine your consciences. Ask yourselves if you can live with your actions and if you'd dare face your brother, sister-in-law, and nephew in the afterlife."

"Shen San and Li Shi's faces changed colors drastically – from red to black, black to white, white to blue, blue to purple... a truly colorful display."

"Shen San's face became a palette of colors, finally swelling to the color of liver."

"He could try to assert his authority over Sang Luo, but he had no ground to stand on against Chen Granny, who knew their family's history and had fled with them. In the end, he could only storm off, pulling his wife and son with him and slamming the courtyard door shut."

"Sang Luo just smirked, unaffected by their dramatic exit."

"Chen Granny, after watching Shen family's door slam shut, walked over to Sang Luo, pulled her towards her house, and gave her a disapproving look."

"Are you daft? No matter how dishonorable their actions, they have seniority over you. Arguing with them like this, do you not care about your reputation?"