Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 384 - 203: Sneaking a Bite (Part 2)

Sure enough, Meizi’s voice rose a notch. The crisp, pleasant sound reached Granny Hua’s ears, making her scalp prickle and sending a shiver down her spine.

"Mom, how can you say that? No matter how poor we are, we still have to act with decency. Maintaining good relationships is a big deal! My own mother always said that if you don’t know how to treat people right, no one will want anything to do with you. Besides, it’s about give and take. Changxing just sent us fish and eels the other day, and he’s brought them over before that, too."

When Li Changming heard what his mother said, he knew it wasn’t right. He was about to interrupt her, but Meizi was faster. She unleashed a torrent of words that immediately stuffed whatever Granny Hua was about to say back down her throat.

Li Laoda also wanted to scold his wife, but just like his son, he was no match for his daughter-in-law’s quick tongue.

After she finished, Meizi looked at everyone’s stunned expressions and suddenly gave a mischievous little smile. "I saw Changxing go out fishing again this morning!"

The broad smile on her face made her slyness seem almost childish and innocent, her little scheme as plain as day.

Li Changming saw his father trying to stifle a laugh and cover it with a cough before lowering his head to eat. His younger brother, Changliang, also had a smirk on his face, making the situation incredibly awkward. He wanted to change the subject and distract his wife, lest she sit there gloating over her own cleverness.

But before he could even speak, Li Changxing’s voice drifted in from the courtyard. "Big Uncle, eating?"

He walked in as he spoke, carrying a small basket, a brilliant smile on his dark, ruddy face.

Li Changming scrambled to his feet to greet him. "Changxing, you just got back? Have you eaten yet?"

Li Changxing glanced at the food on the table and smiled. "Not yet, just about to. I brought you all some fish."

Hearing his words, Li Laoda and Li Changliang both got strange looks on their faces as they fought to hold back their laughter. Li Changming, however, was mortified and stammered, "Heh... you’re too kind..."

Meizi had already leaped up and run over to him, laughing. "Changxing, thank you! I won’t stand on ceremony, then. I’ve been dying for some fish! I was just about to tell Brother Changming to go cast the nets tomorrow."

Seeing how open she was, Li Changxing laughed. "What’s there to be polite about? Didn’t you send all those herb cakes to my mom? Man, Sister-in-law, those cakes were amazing! If you ever make them again, you have to remember to send some my way. My mom even said she wants to go pick some wormwood to make them herself."

Taking the basket, Meizi waved her hand enthusiastically. "Deal! Next time I go pick wormwood, I’ll invite Auntie to come along. Mom, are you done eating? Why don’t you go clean these fish? We should get them ready while they’re fresh, otherwise their guts will spoil."

At the sight of the fish, Granny Hua temporarily forgot her earlier displeasure. It had to be said that since Meizi married into the family, the meals had become much more delicious, a fact that she was very happy about. So whenever Meizi asked her to help prepare food, she never refused.

She took the fish basket from Meizi, went into the house to grab a pair of scissors, and headed outside to clean the fish.

Meizi called after her, "Mom, be quick about it! We still have to wash the dishes and feed the pigs!"

"Alright! I know," Granny Hua called back reflexively as she hurried away.

Why was she being so obedient?

Because over the past several days, Meizi had made a pair of cotton-padded shoes for Li Laoda, Li Changliang, and even Granny Hua herself, and was now starting on unlined shoes. If she were to protest any of Meizi’s arrangements, Meizi would immediately let out a reproachful shriek, wailing things like, "These shoes are a disgrace!" or "Mom is so slow with her needlework, she can barely make a few pairs a year!" all in a terrifyingly loud voice.

Granny Hua had gone from initial resistance to reluctant acceptance, and finally to her current state of compliance. It had gotten to the point where just the sound of Meizi’s shrieking gave her a headache, and she would scurry off to get busy. This was because Meizi always had reason on her side. More importantly, Meizi didn’t give a whit that she was her mother-in-law; she said and did whatever popped into her head. Oftentimes, before Granny Hua could get a single word out, Meizi would have already unleashed a torrent of them. The scene just now was a perfect example.

Li Changxing stared, dumbfounded, at Granny Hua’s retreating back. He then glanced at Meizi, who was eating calmly as if nothing had happened, before turning to Li Changming with a look of utter disbelief.

Li Changming knew exactly what his cousin was thinking. ’Anyone would be confused seeing how Mom acts now.’ He ignored the questioning gaze and simply urged, "If you’re not eating with us, you should hurry on home. Aren’t you hungry?"

Li Laoda and his two sons were long accustomed to Meizi’s antics, so they paid it no mind, unless she did something even more astonishing.

Still full of suspicion, Li Changxing went home and told his mother, Cheng, about the change in his aunt. Cheng just laughed. "That’s nothing," she said. "She’s been much more diligent these days, always coming over to the well to do the washing. And while she’s washing here, you can still hear Meizi back at the house, yelling at her to hurry up."

Neither mother nor son could figure out what had caused Granny Hua to have such a change of heart.

Of course, Granny Hua hadn’t changed her nature at all; she was simply at her wit’s end with Meizi. Trying to be direct with Meizi was useless—Meizi was far more blunt herself. Beating around the bush was even worse, as she’d just ignore it and do things her own way. And if Granny Hua tried to throw a tantrum, Meizi would just give her a look like she’d seen a ghost, and Granny Hua’s ears would be subjected to a high-pitched sonic assault.

Although Granny Hua was doing more work, her gluttonous nature hadn’t changed a bit. Meizi didn’t restrict how much she ate, but the days of Granny Hua helping herself to the best food first, as she had always done, were over.

But she just couldn’t control her cravings. Take those herb cakes, for instance. Because they were made with bits of cured meat, they were far more fragrant than usual. The smell alone made her stomach rumble and left her desperate for a bite.

That night, she finally gave in. She snuck into the kitchen, fished out two herb cakes, and warmed them up. Just as she was savoring them, a tall figure suddenly blocked the doorway. The shadow it cast seemed to make the light from the oil lamp inside the kitchen shine even brighter.

With her mouth still full of cake, Granny Hua’s heart leaped into her throat. She froze, not knowing whether to swallow or spit it out. Her eyes went wide as she stared blankly at Li Changming standing in the doorway, completely at a loss for what to do.