Move and You're Dead

Liu Su'e gave a cold snort. "I remember you calling us harbingers of calamity. What are you trying to do by tricking us into going back now? We're not going."

Zhang Guilan smiled faintly. "Look at that temper of yours. What Mother said wasn't a lie. Where's Fourth Brother?"

Zhou Fusheng came in from outside, his face cold. Zhang Guilan looked at him and said:

"Fourth Brother! Mother talks about you every day at home, and Father misses you too!

They say you haven't even thought to come back and see them. Now that you're living well, you've forgotten the whole family."

Zhou Fusheng looked at them. "What exactly are you trying to say? Whatever it is, I'm not going back."

Zhang Guilan sneered. "Father and Mother only wanted you to come back for a meal. I didn't expect you to have such a temper."

"We've already split the family. Why would we come back for a meal?" Zhou Wanwan snorted coldly.

Zhang Guilan pointed a finger at her nose and cursed:

"You harbinger of doom, you harbinger of calamity, you money-losing burden! If it weren't for you, how could our household have been so unsettled?

Father and Mother said you can all come back, but not this little one.

This little one really will get you killed someday. She's too pretty, and that makes her likely to attract trouble."

Zhou Wanwan was speechless. What on earth had happened in her previous life to give Old Madam Zhou such a misconception?

Liu Su'e shouted, "What gives you the right to call our Wanwan a harbinger of calamity? She's clearly our family's lucky star! We don't want to eat at your house either. Get out of here, now!"

Zhou Fusheng also shouted, "That's right! We're not going. It's not as though we can't put food on the table."

Zhang Guilan sneered.

"Why do you think we're inviting you back for a meal?

It's only so the people in the clan can bear witness when we drive your whole family out of the Zhou Clan.

You really think you're somebody, don't you? Hurry up and come with me!"

Liu Su'e was truly angry when she heard that. For a farming family in ancient times, leaving its clan was like a tree losing its roots. Not only was survival difficult, but they would also suffer humiliation for the rest of their lives.

Zhou Fusheng's face turned red with anger. "Why do you have to be so ruthless? Why are you trying to drive our whole family to our deaths?"

Zhang Guilan looked down at them and said:

"Aren't you so capable? Now you know what it is to be afraid?

I heard you bought this house. As long as you're willing to give the deed to our mother,

we won't drive you out of the Zhou Clan. How about it?"

Zhou Wanwan understood now. Old Madam Zhou had set her sights on their house.

Zhang Guilan surveyed the courtyard.

"This courtyard is quite nice. I rather like it. But why plant so many useless flowers?

I heard you built a few livestock sheds too. Those sheds are quite nice. Later, we can raise a few pigs and some chickens."

Zhang Guilan wanted to go inside for a look, but Liu Su'e picked up a broom from beside her.

"So you've completely thrown away all shame, have you?

I'll fight you to the bitter end! Since you won't let our family live, we won't let you have it easy either."

Zhang Guilan screamed, "Liu Su'e, you shrew! How did you become like this? Whether you come back or not, the Zhou Clan will drive you out."

Zhou Wanwan suddenly spoke up. "Let's go now. If the Zhou Clan wants to drive us out, they have to have a reason, don't they?"

Zhang Guilan shouted, "What reason do we need? We'll just say you're unfilial to your parents and disrespectful to your elders."

Zhou Wanwan sneered.

"Fine! Take us back. I'd like to ask where they saw any lack of filial piety to our parents.

If you dare write that down, I dare set fire to your Zhou Clan's ancestral hall. I mean what I say."

Zhang Guilan burst out laughing. "You? You harbinger of calamity, you can try."

Zhou Wanwan pulled out a crossbow. "Fine, I'll try. Hurry up and lead the way. Otherwise, if my hand slips, I don't know what might happen."

Zhang Guilan was scared out of her wits. "Y-you mustn't pull it! What on earth is that thing? It's fake, isn't it? If you really kill me, that's a crime. You'll go to prison for it."

Zhou Wanwan snorted coldly. "Eldest Aunt seems to have forgotten that under the laws of the Great Xia Kingdom, when a child under ten injures someone, no matter how serious the circumstances, the child is exempt from guilt and punishment."

This time, Zhang Guilan was truly afraid. Her legs went weak.

"Wanwan, let's talk, let's talk this over. None of these things are for me to decide. Your grandmother decides everything.

Anyway, everyone at home listens to her now."

Zhou Wanwan gave her a faint glance. "You're no good either. Hurry up and lead the way."

Liu Su'e trembled with fear and walked silently behind them with Zhou Fusheng, neither daring to make a peep.

When they reached the Zhou house, Old Madam Zhou was embroidering in her room. Hearing Zhang Guilan's voice, she asked mildly, "Have they come?"

Zhang Guilan hurriedly replied, "Mother, they've all come back with me."

Old Madam Zhou gave a hum and said:

"Fusheng, we're all one family. I've always meant well. I only wanted our whole family to live well together.

This drought will last several years, and many, many people will die. Your family certainly won't survive it.

But as long as you're willing to come back, I'll give you a chance. You must treasure it, though, or your whole family will die.

Can you bear to see your three sons die? As for that money-losing burden of yours, I've changed my mind. Just let her live or die on her own!"

Liu Su'e roared:

"What gives you the right to leave my daughter to live or die on her own?

You only want us back so we can work like oxen and horses for your family. What gives you the right?"

Old Madam Zhou's face tightened.

"What right do you have to speak in this family? Didn't you agree to my terms by coming back?

The house you bought this time is quite nice. I plan to let the eldest son's family move in first."

Zhou Wanwan looked at Zhang Guilan with a faint smile. "Eldest Aunt, do you want to move into our house?"

Sweat broke out on Zhang Guilan's face, and she hurriedly shook her head. "No, I won't move in."

Old Madam Zhou looked at Zhang Guilan, her face dark. "Eldest's wife, what do you mean by that? Are you deliberately undermining me?"

Zhang Guilan wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Mother, I advise you to keep your voice down. I'm scared to death right now. Boo-hoo..."

Zhou Wanwan snorted coldly. "Zhang Guilan, don't move. Move and you're dead."

Zhang Guilan collapsed to the ground. Zhou Wanwan raised the crossbow and aimed it at Old Madam Zhou. "Grandmother? Let's have a proper talk about driving us out of the Zhou Clan Lineage."

Old Madam Zhou's pupils narrowed slightly. Looking at the crossbow, she said, "You actually have a crossbow in your hands?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled. "Grandmother, I have to say, you know more than most old ladies. You've even seen this fine thing before, so you should know how powerful this crossbow is."

Zhou Wanwan fired a bolt straight past her. With a bang, the bronze mirror beside her shattered.