My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 6

The next day was overcast.

Zheng Yao had rested well the night before and woke up early that morning. After packing her belongings, she hesitated for a long moment before finally opening the drawer and taking out the jewelry box inside.

In her memories, Bai Yuanzhu was a refined and beauty-loving woman. Her father had been utterly infatuated with Bai Yuanzhu, showering her with gifts every few days clothes, jewelry, handbags.

If Bai Yuanzhu wanted something, her father would inevitably present it to her.

As a result, after years of hard work and toil, he hadn’t managed to save much. If she hadn’t later forced him to freeze Bai Yuanzhu’s credit cards, there might not even have been enough money left to pay her tuition.

Thinking about her love-brained father, Zheng Yao shook her head, dispelling those thoughts from her mind, and opened the jewelry box.

It was nearly full.

She took out the most inconspicuous jade bracelet tucked in the corner and closed the box without a second thought.

This was a family heirloom, passed down through generations. Though the quality wasn’t particularly fine, Bai Yuanzhu rarely wore it. Despite her dislike for it, she hadn’t forgotten to take the bracelet with her when she left their home.

As for the rest, Zheng Yao had no interest whatsoever.

Even though every piece of jewelry was undoubtedly expensive most likely gifts from her father.

Just as she finished putting things away, hurried footsteps sounded outside, followed by Wang Yong’s voice: “Miss Zheng!”

His tone was frantic, clearly indicating something had gone wrong.

Zheng Yao quickly opened the door. “What is it?”

“There was a landslide last night, it blocked the road.” Wang Yong avoided her gaze. “We probably won’t be able to leave today.”

At this, Zheng Yao’s expression darkened.

Couldn’t leave?

How could they not leave?!

She had already changed outfits twice yesterday, and none of her clothes had been washed. Now, she had no clean clothes left to change into.

“If the road’s blocked, just clear it. It’s still early get more people on it. Money isn’t an issue,” she said quickly.

Wang Yong looked troubled. “It’s not about money or manpower, Miss Zheng. Let me take you to see for yourself. You’ll understand once you see it.”

Frowning, Zheng Yao turned back to grab her things and followed Wang Yong outside. Behind her, Shen Baiyi’s footsteps sounded. Seeing her follow, Zheng Yao pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Her mood was foul, if she opened her mouth now, it would be like a machine gun firing indiscriminately.

The landslide had occurred along a stretch of road by the river.

A large section of the hillside on the other side had collapsed, blocking half of the river itself.

Wang Yong didn’t dare take her too close, stopping at a distance and speaking helplessly, “The soil in that area is loose not just on the slope, but even the road surface looks soft. It could cave in at any moment. Trying to clear it now would be dangerous. If lives were lost.”

Zheng Yao remained silent.

Seeing her lack of response, Wang Yong said softly, “Miss Zheng, we’ll have to postpone our return.”

When Zheng Yao still didn’t react, Wang Yong’s heart pounded nervously, and he couldn’t help calling out again, “Miss Zheng?”

“Hmm.”

Zheng Yao took a deep breath, gave a perfunctory reply, and waved her hand. “Go back.”

She needed to be alone.

After staring at the massive pile of collapsed earth for a long while, Zheng Yao was about to take a step forward when someone suddenly grabbed her hand.

She turned her head and saw Shen Baiyi holding onto her, her face full of tension. Zheng Yao’s expression darkened. “Let go.”

With that, she yanked her hand free.

“That area is very dangerous.” Shen Baiyi quickly released Zheng Yao’s hand, her face filled with unease. “There was an uncle in the village who died in a landslide before.”

Zheng Yao retorted expressionlessly, “What, do you think I’m that stupid and reckless in your eyes? Would I go near a place you just said was dangerous?”

As she spoke, she bent down, her right foot still taking a small step forward before squatting to tie her loosened shoelace.

Once done, Zheng Yao didn’t spare Shen Baiyi another glance and turned to walk back.

Hearing the footsteps quickly following behind her, she stopped with a darkened expression, only for the person behind to bump into her clumsily, like a reckless calf.

“I’m sorry!”

Shen Baiyi apologized swiftly.

Zheng Yao remained unmoved, her face clearly showing impatience: “Stop following me.”

Shen Baiyi hesitated again, looking as if she wanted to speak but didn’t dare. Zheng Yao hated her timid demeanor and snapped, “If you have something to say, just say it! Why are you acting so wishy-washy?!”

Shen Baiyi mustered her courage: “This is the only way home.”

“…”

Heat instantly rose to Zheng Yao’s face.

Clenching her jaw, she quickened her pace with a frosty expression.

Mindful of the old man from yesterday, Zheng Yao didn’t wander around outside today. Though her face burned with embarrassment, she obediently returned to the Shen household.

All the way, Shen Baiyi’s footsteps trailed behind her.

Back at the Shen residence, Zheng Yao bent down to pick up the clothes she had thrown on the ground. Luckily, she hadn’t tossed them outside last night otherwise, she wouldn’t even have a change of clothes for the evening.

Grim-faced, she carried the clothes outside, only to see Shen Baiyi sweeping the courtyard. The bruises on her hands stood out glaringly. It was unclear whether she had applied any ointment last night, they still looked just as severe.

And it wasn’t just the bruises from being caught in the door. Her bamboo-thin arms bore several other bruises of varying sizes, their origins unknown.

But that wasn’t her concern.

Forcing the thought aside, Zheng Yao was about to ask where the laundry detergent was when Shen Baiyi set down the broom and approached: “Let me wash them.”

Zheng Yao scowled. “You’ll wash my clothes? How presumptuous. Who are you to me? Why should you wash my clothes?”

With that, she tossed the clothes into the basin.

Acting like some downtrodden wife with that spineless attitude, even if others didn’t bully her, she’d practically invite it. Was this really the kind of person Shen Sanguang had raised? The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew. Zheng Yao said coldly, “Bring me the laundry detergent.”

But Shen Baiyi hesitated. “Miss Zheng, I only have laundry soap.”

“…”

Laundry soap would have to do. She couldn’t afford to be picky in this situation.

Zheng Yao had rarely washed her own clothes growing up, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t handle such a simple task. The laundry soap was just hard to use, a large yellow block that left stains on her white clothes every time she rubbed it in.

It always made her worry about dyeing her clothes.

Thankfully, disaster was averted.

After a quick scrub, she hung the clothes on the hangers Shen Baiyi had prepared. But the sky remained overcast, and she wasn’t sure if they’d dry by evening. Zheng Yao pinched the bridge of her nose, her head throbbing painfully.

A more pressing issue now was food.

For the past few days, she’d been surviving on instant meals and small bread rolls, but her supplies had run out today.

Wang Yong had already been sent by her to deal with the landslide, so he probably wouldn’t have time to prepare food for her.

That meant she had no choice but to eat at the Shen family’s place for lunch today unless she wanted to go hungry.

One day was manageable, but if the mudslide took several days to clear, she’d be stuck in this village for who knew how long.

If she stubbornly refused to eat even a single grain from the Shen family, wouldn’t she starve?

She had pride, but she wasn’t stupid. She needed to figure something out. With that thought, she stood up and walked outside.

“Miss Zheng.”

The moment she stepped out of the Shen family’s gate, Shen Baiyi’s voice drifted over like an unwelcome ghost.

Zheng Yao’s eyelid twitched. Did this kid spend all day watching her? The moment she made a move, he’d pop up out of nowhere.

“I’ll be starting lunch soon. Are you going out now? Do you like braised eggplant? Would you like me to make some for lunch?”

As if it were already settled that she’d be eating at their place, Zheng Yao felt an inexplicable irritation, like her tail had been stepped on. “Mind your own business. I won’t eat a single grain from your Shen family.”

Her words were firm and resolute, but once she’d walked a distance and cooled down, regret began to creep in.

Setting up such a flag in this situation she was afraid she’d end up slapping her own face sooner rather than later.

Shaking off the thought, Zheng Yao stopped a child.

For some reason, the kids here all seemed timid around her. Shen Baiyi was like that, Xiao Hui was like that, and even this unfamiliar child in front of her looked at her as if she were a ghost.

“Where’s Xiao Hui’s house?”

She tried to keep her tone gentle.

The child quickly pointed in a direction before darting off like a frightened rabbit.

Was she really that scary?

Xiao Hui’s house wasn’t far from the Shen family’s. Suppressing her frustration, Zheng Yao walked to the shabby-looking courtyard and knocked on the gate. “Is Xiao Hui here?”

An elderly woman came out, her gaze full of wariness. “Who are you?”

The old woman looked well into her years and likely hadn’t attended last night’s banquet, so she didn’t recognize Zheng Yao.

Zheng Yao took out some money and handed it to her. “Hello, my surname is Zheng. Because of the landslide, I might not be able to leave for a few days. Could I eat at your place?”

But the old woman remained suspicious. “You’re the girl who made a scene at the Shen family’s place?”

Zheng Yao froze.

Was she already that infamous?

Just as she was about to try another household, Xiao Hui suddenly ran out from inside and tugged at his grandmother’s hand. “Grandma, let the sister eat with us!”

A few minutes later, the old woman finally relented.

Zheng Yao handed over the money, but the woman refused to take it. While the old woman went to the kitchen to prepare, Zheng Yao gave the money to Xiao Hui instead. “Here, take this. It’s for my meals.”

Xiao Hui nodded and accepted the money.

Seeing the way the boy’s eyes brightened as he took it, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “You’re not planning to pocket it all for yourself, are you?”

Xiao Hui shook his head but didn’t explain further, dashing off to his room with the money. When he returned, it was nowhere to be seen.

Zheng Yao didn’t press further.

Before long, the sounds of cooking came from the kitchen.

Unable to resist, she took a few steps closer and glanced inside, only for her brows to furrow immediately.

The kitchen was in terrible condition filthy, cluttered, and reeking of something spoiled.

The old woman was currently reaching into the pot, pinching a vegetable leaf between her fingers to taste it. Seeing the black grime lodged under her nails and in the crevices of her fingers, Zheng Yao instantly felt her scalp crawl.

Apparently satisfied with the seasoning, the old woman scooped the vegetables onto a plate, then grabbed a spoon to taste the soup from another pot.

After tasting it, she poured the remaining soup from the spoon back into the pot, added another handful of salt, stirred it, and took another sip.

Her stomach churning, Zheng Yao quickly took a step back, refusing to look at the scene in the kitchen any longer.

But the image wouldn’t leave her mind. She covered her mouth, unable to suppress a dry heave.

Xiao Hui glanced at the kitchen, then back at Zheng Yao, seemingly puzzled by her extreme reaction.

Zheng Yao turned away, wiping the involuntary tears that had welled up in her eyes from the retching.

She stood in silence, torn between leaving and staying.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts by the corner of the wall, the old woman’s hoarse voice called out from behind, “Time to eat!”

Xiao Hui’s face lit up with a smile as he came over to tug at her. “Sister, let’s eat.”

Zheng Yao: “…”

Sister really didn’t feel like eating right now.

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