Although Lin He has transmigrated from modern times, she is still just a little seven-year-old bun here, meaning she cannot afford to be too conspicuous for the time being.

That absolute piece of trash relative, He Shi, certainly deserves to be dealt with harshly; there will be many such scenes later, darlings, so please don't rush things.

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That afternoon, He Shi indeed arrived alone at the home of her mother-in-law, Madam Zhao, carrying a basket. Old Master Lin was out, and only Zhao Shi was home. Seeing He Shi approach, Zhao Shi smiled and said, "The eldest daughter-in-law has arrived. Quick, come in and sit down."

He Shi set the basket aside and said, "Mother, I brought a few things, nothing much. You know our situation; this is all I could manage."

Zhao Shi smiled and replied, "Things are much better at home now. Has the eldest found any work yet?"

He Shi answered, "Not yet. With this cold winter, jobs are hard to find. Four mouths eating away at our savings—who knows when this life will ever see an end."

"Didn't you rent land from the Xia Landlord? Once spring arrives, you can sow the fields, and you have laborers in your household. You certainly won't starve."

The moment He Shi heard her mother-in-law mention renting land, anger flared within her. If they had money to buy land, why wouldn't they offer some help? An unbearable surge of resentment found no outlet for He Shi, so she deliberately adopted a sarcastic tone. "Yes, Mother, we can only rent land to farm. It's not like Father and you, who have the means to buy land yourselves. Renting and farming is far inferior to owning. Father and Mother will be well off next year; you won't even finish the grain you grow on your own land."

Zhao Shi immediately detected the edge in He Shi's voice, and her face instantly fell. She spoke up, "Eldest daughter-in-law, what are you talking about? Your father and I intend to buy a small plot of meager land for our retirement. I've discussed this with the eldest and second sons. We country folk buy land for our old age. When did it become your place to comment on this?"

Seeing Zhao Shi speak in such a manner, He Shi’s voice also grew louder. "Mother, that's not right. When our family was doing well in the past few years, you lived and ate under our roof, and your eldest and I never said a word. Now that our family has fallen on hard times, you have money to buy land yet hoard it. You'd rather see us rent than lend us any silver. Surely the money you saved was accumulated while living in our home, right?"

She paused, then continued, "Mother, over the years, I suspect you've subsidized Er Niu, the third son's family, and the two younger sisters-in-law quite a bit, haven't you? All the savings from eating and living at our house—you've subsidized them with it all. I never fussed about it back then, but now that our family has nothing left, you should at least provide a little help to us, even if you support the others."

Zhao Shi glanced at He Shi and replied, "Eldest daughter-in-law, then what do you suggest I should do?"

He Shi thought for a moment, hesitating slightly. To openly defy her mother-in-law in this era was a major transgression. But remembering how much easier life would be if they owned a few acres of land, she steeled herself. "I think Mother should give us the silver she has on hand so our family can buy a few acres. Da Jiang is your eldest son, and Qingshan is your Lin family's eldest grandson. That money rightfully belongs to us. We will be responsible for your old age in return."

Zhao Shi gave a cold laugh. "If I refuse to give it, what do you plan to do?"

He Shi gritted her teeth. "If Mother insists on buying land for herself, then I will no longer be responsible for supporting you in your old age. There are three sons in total; we have supported you for over ten years. Even if the responsibility is divided equally among them, my duty will have been fulfilled. Mother, you should think this over carefully."

Zhao Shi, seeing He Shi’s insolence today, gasped sharply and fainted. Seeing Zhao Shi collapse, He Shi felt a pang of dread. If anything happened to Zhao Shi, she wouldn't have an easy life either. She quickly checked her mother-in-law’s breathing; thankfully, she was still alive, and He Shi finally relaxed.

Just then, Da Jiang and Er Niu walked in. Seeing Zhao Shi on the floor with He Shi standing there looking relieved, they sensed something was very wrong. Er Niu and Da Jiang rushed over to help Zhao Shi up, pinching her philtrum to rouse her. Da Jiang stared fiercely at He Shi and demanded, "What exactly happened? Why is Mother on the ground?"

He Shi dared not speak, merely shaking her head. Da Jiang didn't press her, as Zhao Shi had already begun to stir. She looked at He Shi standing there, pointed, and rasped, "Get out!"

Da Jiang immediately understood that his wife must have done something terrible to make his mother faint. He said coldly, "Aren't you going out? Why are you still standing here?"

Once He Shi left, Da Jiang and Er Niu helped settle Zhao Shi onto the bed to rest. They then asked her what had transpired. Zhao Shi recounted the entire exchange to Er Niu and Da Jiang. Da Jiang's face grew darker with every word, and Er Niu’s expression soured as well.

Da Jiang felt deeply ashamed, unable to face his mother and brothers. He finally spoke up, "Mother, please don't be angry. Whatever Yu'er's mother said, you shouldn't pay any mind. She truly went too far this time. I will deal with her when I get back."

Zhao Shi knew that Da Jiang usually feared his wife, so she didn't reply, merely patting her eldest son's hand. Da Jiang stood silent for a moment, told Er Niu to take good care of Zhao Shi, and then returned home.

When he arrived home, He Shi acted as if nothing had happened. She was sitting by the table, happily cracking melon seeds and chatting merrily with Yu'er.

Seeing Da Jiang return, she even said, "What did your mother say to you? Does she still plan to buy that land? She’s clearly just looking for trouble; she won't even know how to enjoy good fortune when it comes."

Da Jiang, uncharacteristically losing his temper, grabbed He Shi and shoved her, delivering several hard slaps across her face. "You wretched woman! I’ve tolerated you too much. Today you actually managed to anger Mother until she fainted. I told you repeatedly that Father and Mother are buying land with their own retirement money and that it was none of your business. How dare you go demand money from her today? On what grounds? Over the years, Mother and Father lived under our roof and did so much for us. Besides providing meals, you never showed a shred of filial piety. Only in the past two years have Father and Mother had more leisure time going to town, yet you claim you were supporting them!"

He paused to catch his breath and continued, "Since Qingshan got into trouble, Father and Mother have been supporting us consistently. Otherwise, you’d have starved to death somewhere already, yet you complain about them subsidizing this and that. Even if they did, it’s their own money; it has nothing to do with you. Since we returned, we’ve relied entirely on the second brother’s help, yet you repeatedly went to them to borrow money and never came back empty-handed, and you still nitpick about the second brother’s household! Are you even human?"

He stopped again, gasping for air, then pressed on, "Think for yourself about the good deeds you’ve done in our family all these years. You’re unfilial to your parents and utterly cruel to my brothers. Look at the gifts the second brother’s family brought today—they weren't light; they must be worth at least one or two hundred dà qián. The third son’s family, a single woman raising two children, she even brought handmade sachets, yet you still find fault. What did you send back for the Laba Festival? A few eggs—how dare you show your face?"

Da Jiang was a farmer and powerfully built; those slaps immediately left He Shi's face swollen. He Shi was stunned by Da Jiang's actions. Since their marriage, Da Jiang had never lost his temper like this. Today, he had struck her right in front of their children.

When He Shi snapped back to reality, she immediately collapsed onto the floor, wailing dramatically. "You brute! I only said a few casual words, and you hit me like this in front of the children! I won't live anymore; this life is impossible to endure!"