Song Dingxiang [Completed]

C26. Grandma is Mighty.

Chapter 26

"Mom, this must be something said by Fourth Uncle's family!" Song Zhiyang's wife, Zhu shi, cried and complained in the room, "They're just angry that my son-in-law broke off the engagement with their family's Dingxiang and went to Taohong. Now that my son-in-law has passed the imperial examination, they want to slander my son-in-law and my daughter. Mom, what should we do about this, sob..."

Gao shi said angrily, "Old man, isn't your brother going too far? It wasn't our fault that the engagement was broken off in the first place. It was their family's Dingxiang who fell into the river and was saved by another man. The Xu family looked down on her! Now look at all the gossip outside, saying all sorts of nasty things. Your brother used to be all smiles and seemed like a good person, but now... people's hearts are deceitful!"

Song Xingren took a puff of his pipe, lifted his eyelids to look at his wife, and said, "So what? Did you see them say it?"

"Who else would hate Taohong as much as their family does? It's pure jealousy. Oh, their granddaughter's husband went off to the army, that's not our doing. In the blink of an eye, our granddaughter's husband passed the imperial exam, and that's a future official. How could their family not be jealous, not be angry?"

Gao shi fumed, "Ever since our Taohong married into Xu family, they've been looking down on us and talking behind our backs. If we were rich, would we not give them good gifts? I say, don't send them anything in the future, can their family handle it?"

"That's right, mom. When we sent New Year's gifts last year, their family even looked down on our gifts. They all looked at me as if there were knives in their eyes," Song Xingren's eldest son, Song Zhishen, also said, "We've been sending them gifts like this for years, and they never said anything. Suddenly this year, they're acting all weird. Is it not because Taohong married well?"

Wu shi frowned, suppressing her displeasure and said, "Head of the household, you should hold your tongue. This matter may not necessarily have been spread by Fourth Uncle's family..."

"I think you're just making excuses. Who else could have said such things besides their family?" Song Zhishen looked displeased.

Zhu shi cried again, "Exactly, exactly. Two years ago when their Dingxiang came to deliver New Year's gifts, oh, the way they talked was clearly criticizing our family. Can they blame us for marrying off a short-lived ghost? I think she's just not content and wants to make things difficult for our Taohong... Dad, mom, Taohong is your granddaughter, you have to stand up for her..."

Just as she had cried a few times, someone outside loudly asked, "Is Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law at home?"

Song Zhiyang, who had been silent, glanced outside and said, "Fourth Aunt is here..."

Zhu shi immediately stood up, full of anger, "They still have the face to come? I want to see on what grounds they're coming!"

Li shi brought her eldest daughter-in-law, eldest granddaughter-in-law, and Song Dingxiang to stand calmly at the door. However, their faces didn't look good, with a gloomy expression and a cold aura.

Zhu shi opened the door curtain and mockingly said, "Oh, Fourth Aunt, what brings you here? It seems you only come when there's trouble. Normally, you doesn't bother visiting our humble home."

Li shi beckoned to her, saying, "Come here."

Zhu shi pursed her lips and took a few steps forward, asking, "What's your command, Fourth Aunt?"

Gao shi also came out, trying to force a smile but failing, and asked, "What's the matter, Fourth Sister-in-law?"

Li shi walked forward, stood in front of Zhu shi, then suddenly raised her arm and slapped Zhu shi across the face. Despite her age, Li shi, being from a prosperous family, was still quite strong from her daily activities.