Volume One, Chapter 20: The Matron’s Visit

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Yu Nian’an glanced back at her small cottage. Though it could not compare to the multi-story houses or villas, it gave her a faint sense of belonging. No matter who it was, no one was allowed to set their sights on her home.

The well was scheduled for completion tomorrow, and with the three-day holiday about to end, the yard would be empty. During the day, she would have to work in the fields again, and she didn’t know when that girl would come back with news. Worried that Old Lady Wang might come by while she was out, Yu Nian’an checked the sturdiness of the courtyard gate and planned to first visit the commune to buy a new lock.

What she did not expect was that just as she left, Old Lady Wang headed straight toward her place.

The Wang family’s house was old, with only two bedrooms: one for Wang Yaozu and the old lady, the other for Wang Jianjun and his wife.

As for Wang Zhaonan, after growing up, he had hung a curtain in a corner of the main room, barely making it a place to sleep.

Upon hearing from Yu Dingguo that Yu Nian’an had lost her parents, the old lady immediately decided to come here. As the maternal grandmother, she would take care of her orphaned granddaughter. No one could find fault with that. Later, she could arrange a marriage connection for her. Once the others left, the house would be hers.

With money and a home, she could finally find a wife for her eldest grandson.

At the thought of this, two more creases appeared on Old Lady Wang’s smiling face.

Hearing her plan, Yu Dingguo had an idea. Seeing that only the two of them were in the house, he immediately declared, "Grandma, I feel close to you. To be honest, I want to marry Anmei, but she has always refused."

“You?” Old Lady Wang sized him up from head to toe. His plain clothes and greasy face made him look like a loafer. Such a man, what money could he possibly have?

She had been hoping that since Yu Nian’an was young, they could negotiate a good price.

Yu Dingguo saw through her thoughts and recalled the money Yu Nian’an was secretly carrying. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Since it was a gamble anyway, better to get a definite answer from the old lady than to sell her cheap to someone else.

Besides, he had no interest in that shabby little house, so why not hand it over to the old lady?

The two agreed and finally settled Yu Nian’an’s lifelong matter for a high price of twenty-five yuan.

On the way to the Yu family commune, Yu Dingguo remained worried. “Grandma, Anmei has a fiery temper. She’s not easy to handle. Will she really listen to you?”

“I am her grandmother!” Old Lady Wang snorted coldly. If she could manage the Wang household, she naturally could control this little orphan girl.

Because Wang Yaozu had a head injury and there was concern about further trouble, Wang Jianjun and his wife stayed home to take care of him instead of accompanying the others.

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When Wang Zhaonan returned home, he learned that Grandma had already left with that man. While tidying up in the kitchen, he told his mother what had happened at Yu Nian’an’s place. The two of them concluded that the old lady had been used as a pawn by this cousin.

At that moment, Old Lady Wang sat in the courtyard, scolding Uncle Jianping and his two nephews.

“Bah! There’s a well in the village, so why do you have to come dig one here? Don’t think I don’t know — you’re taking advantage of my girl being alone and easy to bully, rushing here to work for pay, right?”

Old Lady Wang wielded her years of foolishness, making the three men’s faces flush with anger. Had Yu Nian’an been home, they would have left long ago.

Seeing the three silent, Old Lady Wang got more excited. Using the excuse they came to coax work, she threatened to have them pay back all the wages.

Uncle Jianping finally understood why Wang Jia’an had once chosen to sever ties and leave that family.

This old lady was simply too unreasonable!

But since she was Yu Nian’an’s real grandmother, he couldn’t say much.

While the old lady raged outside, Yu Dingguo slipped quietly into the unlocked house, hoping to find the hidden money.

After all, he didn’t truly want to marry Yu Nian’an.

A few days ago, he had seen the new batch of educated youth in the village — good looks, good figures, and most importantly, all with city household registration. Any one of them would bring countless benefits. Why spend two hundred yuan on a bride?

Just as Yu Nian’an returned, she encountered Uncle Jianping and the others leaving. She was puzzled, “Uncle, is the well finished?”

The three were silent, their faces somewhat sour.

Uncle Jianping sighed and said gravely, “Girl, you’d better go home and check.”

Yu Nian’an immediately sensed something was amiss. After bidding them farewell, she hurried back home.

Inside, an unfamiliar old woman sat under the eaves, eating the pork cracklings Yu Nian’an had rendered last night. The main door stood wide open.

“A thief?” Yu Nian’an thought of what was hidden inside and nearly lost her breath. Ignoring the pork cracklings, she rushed inside and caught sight of Yu Dingguo kneeling on the kang, his backside raised.

The bedsheets and quilt were tossed aside, and the wardrobe’s contents had been pulled out.

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Seeing the scene, she immediately hurled the lock she had in her hand.

The iron lock was harder than a brick, but its aim was off, nearly knocking Yu Dingguo out.

“Yu Nian’an! What are you doing? Trying to kill someone?”

“I should be asking you that! You’ve turned my room upside down. Are you stealing?” Yu Nian’an’s gaze was icy as she challenged him.

At those words, Yu Dingguo was instantly displeased. But before he could retort, Old Lady Wang spoke up first, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“This is what happens when children grow up without parents — lacking manners. I’m the old lady here, and you didn’t even come to say hello. You deserve a slap!”

She then stepped forward, raising her hand to strike Yu Nian’an.

But she clearly forgot this was not the Wang household, and Yu Nian’an was not Wang Zhaonan.

Before the slap could land, Yu Nian’an grabbed her hand, twisted it behind her back.

Considering the woman’s age, she did not exert the force she had when hitting Yu Dingguo, but still made her cry out in pain.

“Yu Nian’an! You little brat! How dare you lay hands on me? I am your grandmother! You heartless wretch…”

The old lady ranted on, but Yu Nian’an found it just noise, feeling sorry for the original owner. This was the only family she had left, and yet they were such people. Better to have none at all.

She pulled the old lady toward the door, casting a glance at Yu Dingguo. “You, aren’t you coming out? Should I call someone to get you?”

Caught red-handed, Yu Dingguo knew he was in the wrong, covered his head, and followed them out.

Outside, Yu Nian’an glanced at the pork cracklings, which were nearly gone, then looked at the old lady’s shiny, oily lips and felt a pang in her heart.

The old lady, sensing she had met her match, immediately changed expression and began to wail and shriek.

“Oh dear, unfilial granddaughter hitting her elder! Such misfortune for the family!”

Annoyed by the noise, Yu Nian’an covered her ears and advised, “Old lady, you’d better rest. There’s no one else around here. Even if you shout your lungs out, no one will hear.”