Chapter 33

Chapter 33

"You! You ungrateful wretch, what did you say?" Zhao Guifen was already angry, and when her eldest son spoke up, she became even more infuriated.

Wang Qinghe stood firm, meeting his father Wang Shoucheng's scrutinizing gaze. "Dad, there's no room for negotiation on this matter."

Wang Shoucheng: ...

This daughter-in-law might really be the seductress that the old woman claimed!

But provoking the eldest wouldn't benefit anyone now.

With that in mind, Wang Shoucheng relented. "Alright, it's settled then. Xiuxiu is still sick, and we're not a family that grinds people down. You take the other four into the mountains. When it's almost dark, come down the mountain with the eldest.

Between now and winter, we can save quite a bit."

As the head of the household, once Wang Shoucheng agreed, Zhao Guifen didn't dare to object any further.

With the decision made, the family hurried to prepare.

Bai Xiuxiu and Wang Qinghe returned to their room with their two children while Wang Qinghe gathered the items they would need for hunting in the mountains.

"Do you remember our plan from last night?" Bai Xiuxiu asked him.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qinghe smiled and kissed her. "Mm, we'll hunt some game on the first day. Then we'll gradually bring back less until finally, we return empty-handed, forcing them to support us."

Bai Xiuxiu was pleased. "Remember that! They owe us this. Once they can't bear supporting us anymore, we'll make them offer to separate us from them willingly."

Wang Qinghe looked at his wife, seeing the undisguised hatred on her face toward the Wang family, and he had no intention of contradicting her.

The entire Wang family bound together wasn't as important as she was.

He nodded gently, his eyes fixed on her, and whispered, "I'll follow your lead."

One good thing about the Wang family was their strong sense of action.

Within half an hour, the whole family set out in a grand procession.

On the way, Zhou Jiaojiao felt a twinge of discomfort seeing her distant eldest brother, Wang Qinghe.

Why did Bai Xiuxiu have such a good fate? She didn't have to go into the mountains, and her husband was willing to protect her?

Wang Qinghe was handsome and capable. The only downside was that he couldn't speak well and wasn't favored by the elderly couple of the Wang family.

If it weren't for Bai Xiuxiu, if she showed him more care, perhaps he would treat her better!

Her own husband could provide her with a good life, and Wang Qinghe was good-looking.

These two things weren't mutually exclusive.

Thinking this, Zhou Jiaojiao felt a glimmer of anticipation. That lazy, vicious, and stingy eldest sister-in-law should die sooner rather than later! As long as the eldest sister-in-law died, she was confident that she could win Wang Qinghe's heart with her skills.

Then, with his help, she and her husband could live a comfortable life.

Wang Qinghe soon disappeared from their sight as they ascended the mountain.

Once on the mountain, Zhao Guifen remembered the wild boar incident and decided it was best to be prepared!

She surveyed the group of daughters-in-law who had accompanied them up the mountain. "Everyone, let's stick together today. If anything happens, we can watch each other's backs!"

If they encountered another wild boar, she would run first, and the larger group would decrease her chances of being attacked!

Zhao Guifen thought about this and felt content.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiaojiao immediately became unhappy, hoping to walk with her mother-in-law so she could hide some valuable items along the way.

Compared to Zhou Jiaojiao, Zhao Cuihua readily agreed. "Mom, we'll do whatever you say. We'll walk together. If something happens, you go first; don't worry about us! We're young and tough!"

Zhao Guifen glanced at Zhao Cuihua.

Hmm, the third daughter-in-law could occasionally say something pleasant.

"Alright, stop flattering me. Liu Xiaoe, Chen Fang, you two follow closely. Be careful when walking on the mountain. Don't trip like last time; we don't have enough money to pay for your medical bills."

Zhao Guifen still felt pangs of regret thinking about the several cents they spent on their treatment last time.

The fourth daughter-in-law, Chen Fang, remained silent with a cold expression.

Liu Xiaoe's eyes welled up with tears upon hearing this, feeling secretly aggrieved. Wasn't it because she didn't have a son? The third daughter-in-law hadn't been scolded.

Because the third daughter-in-law had a son!

The eldest sister-in-law stayed at home because she also had a son!

"Old Fifth's wife, you walk ahead with Mom. Those few are clumsy; don't let them trip again." As soon as Zhao Guifen finished speaking, she slipped and tumbled down the mountain slope.

"Mom!"

The others quickly chased after the rapidly rolling Zhao Guifen.

Fortunately, there were no rocks nearby, or Zhao Guifen might have suffered severe injuries!

She rolled all the way to the base of an old pine tree, where she groaned and her vision went black, nearly fainting.

"Mom, are you alright?" Liu Xiaoe called out cautiously, barely containing her laughter. Who knew who was truly the clumsy one!

Zhao Guifen groaned a couple of times before opening her eyes and berating her daughters-in-law. "Can't you see for yourselves if I'm alright? Help me up instead of standing there!"

As she ranted, the others hurried to assist her.

As they got up, Zhou Jiaojiao's sharp eyes spotted the lingzhi where Zhao Guifen had just collided!

"Mom, quick look, isn't this lingzhi?"

Zhao Guifen had just been helped up when she heard her younger daughter-in-law say this, and was momentarily stunned.

Turning back to look, it really was! There were over ten palm-sized lingzhi here.

"What are you all standing there for? Why aren't you picking them?" Zhao Guifen was both delighted and heartbroken.

Delighted that such valuable items could be sold, heartbroken that they had to be shared with the eldest son and his wife. It was infuriating that the wives of the third and fourth sons were so foolish and not on her side!

Otherwise, if the family divided the items, how could the eldest son's household have any share?

After they picked the lingzhi, Zhao Guifen looked at the total of sixteen plants and suddenly felt invigorated! Although she had rolled down from the mountaintop and looked disheveled with scratches on her face.

But in front of the lingzhi, it seemed less unbearable!

She patted off the dust on her body, and Zhao Guifen walked down like a victorious rooster, head held high and full of arrogance, with Liu Xiaoe supporting her.

They hadn't gone far when she suddenly lost her balance and fell again.

Not only her, but Liu Xiaoe also fell with her.

The two rolled down from halfway up the mountain to the bottom, and Liu Xiaoe, who was unlucky, hit a rock directly, with Zhao Guifen landing on top of her.

Like dumplings falling into boiling water, they rolled at great speed.

When the people behind chased down, Liu Xiaoe was almost knocked out.

After several people chased down, Zhou Jiaojiao made an effort to hide her excitement!

If they were so unlucky, they would surely find something good today.

"Mom, are you alright?" Zhou Jiaojiao's voice was gentle as she took the initiative to help them up.

Liu Xiaoe, who had been used as a cushion by Zhao Guifen, was half-dead.

Her entire back was numb: "Save, save me."

Zhao Guifen got up and brushed off the dust on her body: "Why are you so useless? I fell twice, and I'm fine! You couldn't even support me properly, what else can you do?"

"Exactly, Second Sister-in-Law, how can we go back like this after just coming to the mountains?" Zhou Jiaojiao echoed, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

"Mom, I'll go check ahead." Saying this, she ran off.