Chapter Nine: Lying Through One's Teeth

As soon as she spoke, not only Li Fulan, but even Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia were taken aback.

“Re—really?” Li Fulan asked uncertainly.

Just a moment ago she had been adamant about not giving them away, so why had she changed her tune so quickly?

“Of course,” Lin Sangqian nodded. “It’s only two eggs; it’s right to show respect to Second Aunt.”

Li Fulan’s eyes darted about, seizing the chance to say, “Then I want three!”

“You!” Liao Shuxia was so angry she nearly stamped her feet. This old woman was pushing her luck!

Lin Hongda squeezed her hand, signaling her to stay calm.

With his understanding of his daughter, he sensed there was more to this than met the eye.

Li Fulan quickly took three eggs and put them in her basket, refusing the persimmons and heading out the door. As she passed Liao Shuxia, she let out a disdainful snort, nearly causing Liao Shuxia to burst with fury.

Li Fulan walked toward the entrance. After exchanging a glance with Lin Hongda, Lin Sangqian hurried after her.

When Li Fulan reached the door, Lin Sangqian spotted several women approaching, baskets of laundry in their arms. She grinned, her smile cold and eerie, then suddenly wrapped her arms around Li Fulan’s waist and burst into loud, wailing sobs.

“Second Aunt, please, I beg you! Don’t take our eggs! If you do, my parents and I will starve!”

Li Fulan was startled, her hair standing on end. “What are you doing? Let go of me!”

“Second Aunt, please give our family a chance to survive!”

Hearing the commotion, the women came over.

“What’s going on?” Aunt Wu called out. “Second Lin’s wife, what are you up to?”

Perhaps because Lin Sangqian had nearly been sold off by Lai Ruyu, the villagers now felt sympathy for her.

“I—I haven’t done anything!” Li Fulan hurriedly explained.

Lin Sangqian wiped her tears and said, “I know Second Aunt is an elder, and it’s only right to give her good things. But I’m so hungry! There are just three eggs. I wanted to share one with each of my parents. Second Aunt, please, at least leave us one!”

“You little brat! What nonsense are you spouting?” Li Fulan was nearly beside herself with rage.

“Second Lin’s wife, you’re clearly in the wrong here,” Aunt Wu said with displeasure. “Everyone knows Third Lin’s family’s situation. It’s lucky they’re not starving. Now they finally have three eggs and you’re trying to snatch them? Is that how an elder should behave?”

“Exactly,” Aunt Wu’s sister-in-law chimed in. “You’re going too far. Are you trying to drive them to their deaths?”

“No, I’m not!” Li Fulan hastily defended herself. “Don’t listen to this little troublemaker. Their family still has several eggs!”

“There are none left, not a single one!” Lin Sangqian cried miserably. “Just these three. If Second Aunt takes them, we’ll go hungry again tonight!”

“You! How can you lie like that?”

Aunt Wu’s face darkened. “I think you’re the one lying. Third Lin’s family is lucky to have three eggs. Where would they get more?”

“If you don’t believe me, just check the kitchen yourself!” Remembering the eggs left in the kitchen, Li Fulan mustered some bravado.

“Fine, I’ll check. If there aren’t any, you’ll have to answer for it!”

Aunt Wu’s temper flared. She strode inside, finding Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia standing in the kitchen doorway, heads bowed, looking aggrieved.

Aunt Wu entered, scanning the kitchen. There was no sign of any eggs.

“Aunt Wu, look, they’re right there on the stove…” Li Fulan followed, but her voice faltered when she saw the empty stove.

“Where are the eggs? Show me!” Aunt Wu stared coldly at her.

“No, this can’t be! There were definitely several left!” Li Fulan panicked, rummaging about. “How could they disappear?”

“Second Aunt, please don’t search any further, I beg you!” Lin Sangqian pleaded pitifully. “If you really want those three eggs, just take them. We’ll find another way.”

“So you were waiting for me to fall into your trap, you little wretch!” Li Fulan’s chest heaved violently; she wished she could tear Lin Sangqian apart then and there.

“You steal from others and still curse them? Second Lin’s wife, you’re shameless!” Aunt Wu mocked her, then snatched the basket from Li Fulan’s hands, lifted the cloth, and found three eggs inside.

Aunt Wu took out the eggs and handed them to Lin Sangqian, tossing the basket back at Li Fulan and scolding, “Don’t ever try to steal from others again!”

Honestly, the eldest Lin’s family wanted to sell their niece, and the second Lin’s family tried to steal food—how could these two families be so outrageous?

“Aunt Wu, you really have no right to meddle so much. This is a Lin family matter!” Li Fulan protested.

“Fine, if I have no right, I’ll fetch the village chief and let him see how you bully your own brother’s family!” Aunt Wu shot back, unyielding.

Li Fulan’s heart skipped a beat.

She was clever enough to recognize that the situation was no longer in her favor. If she kept pushing, things would only get worse.

If the village chief really got involved, it would be serious.

Thinking it over, she forced a smile. “Aunt Wu, really, I was only joking. Third Lin’s family is struggling so much—how could I take their eggs? Niece, you keep the two persimmon cakes as well. If you ever need anything, just come to Second Aunt! I’ll be going now!”

With that, Li Fulan set down the basket and hurried off.

“Pah!” Aunt Wu spat toward her departing figure. “Always trying to take advantage—even her own brother’s family isn’t spared.”

“Aunt Wu, thank you for your help just now,” Lin Sangqian said with a bright smile.

Now, Li Fulan would likely be scorned by the villagers just as Lai Ruyu had been.

“Child, there’s no need to thank me. I just can’t stand her behavior. Besides, your family truly has it hard,” Aunt Wu sighed.

She had always wanted to help, but every family had its own troubles, and she had to look after her own first.

“Aunt Wu, regardless, you helped me just now. These three eggs are for you.”

Lin Sangqian said this and pressed the eggs into Aunt Wu’s hands.

“This won’t do!” Aunt Wu exclaimed, hastily trying to return the eggs. “How could I take your family’s eggs? Keep them for yourself!”

“Aunt Wu, please take them. You see, we actually have more in the house.”

Lin Sangqian motioned for Lin Hongda to bring out the eggs he had hidden earlier.

“This…” Aunt Wu stared, speechless.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Wu, I did trick you just now,” Lin Sangqian stuck out her tongue. “But I just couldn’t bear to give the eggs away for nothing to someone like Second Aunt.”