The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 562 - 561: Old Habits Die Hard

Chapter 562: Chapter 561: Old Habits Die Hard

"Yo, Auntie Fan, carrying such a big pig’s trotter, is there a special occasion at home today?"

Several neighboring aunties saw the Liang mother carrying the hefty pig’s trotter and teased her with a laugh.

"What special occasion, I bought it at a street stall at the crossroad. They said it was from their own pig that fell to its death in the mountains, half the price of the market. We haven’t had meat in the house for a long time, and the kids need some nutrition."

Hearing her say that, the neighboring aunties also swarmed toward the alley, afraid they’d miss out on the bargain.

Afraid to be too slow and miss the good deal.

Liang mother hummed a tune, happily heading home.

It had been seven or eight days since the quarrel with Shen Hongmei, and no one from the court or the police had come looking for her, which convinced her that the matter was over. That’s why she was finally willing to spend money to buy a big pig’s trotter to calm her nerves.

During this time, she was so worried she couldn’t eat or sleep properly, and she had lost a lot of weight.

Furthermore, her daughter now had a job and began to bring money into the family.

All of this made Liang mother feel content.

She boiled a large pot of hot water, soaked the soybeans, and then cleaned the fat pig’s trotter. She chopped it into small pieces with a cleaver.

With many mouths to feed at home, if the meat was chopped too large, it would be gone after just a slice per person.

After chopping the meat, the soybeans were almost ready, so she put them in the big pot together, adding water and old ginger, and placed it on the coal stove to stew.

It would stew until evening, until the pig’s trotter was tender and the soybeans were mushy, and the meat melted in your mouth.

Hiss.

Liang mother swallowed her saliva forcefully, took the keys to lock the door, and prepared to pick up her grandchildren from kindergarten.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw several neighbors gathered around, boasting about the meat they purchased, each smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum.

Liang mother joined them.

To the left, Aunt Zhou bought a whole slab of ribs; to the right, Sister Li bought ten pounds of fat pork belly; and opposite, Aunt Liu bought a pig’s head and five pounds of pork lard.

Liang mother watched with interest, just as happy as she was with her own purchase.

After finishing the discussion about the meat, a neighboring auntie suddenly asked about Liang Kean’s marital prospects.

"Kean has been matchmaking for so long, and none have been successful? I think you shouldn’t be too picky. Kean is at that age, and with the family’s circumstances, it’s good enough if a girl is willing to marry in."

The neighbor meant well, but to Liang mother it was incredibly harsh and heartbreaking.

Her youngest son, Liang Kean, was the one she had invested the whole family’s efforts to educate through college, once her pride and reputation.

Before Liang Kean graduated from college, who didn’t envy her for having such a capable and promising son?

But as time passed, with Kean still unmarried, everyone’s envy turned to mockery and gossip.

Liang mother couldn’t stand losing face, so she spitefully criticized every matchmaking candidate, especially emphasizing the issue of Shen Hongmei having had an abortion.

They said not to talk about it, but she insisted on doing just that!

"...you tell me, would you accept such a daughter-in-law? Anyway, our family won’t!"

All middle-aged women who were mothers-in-law themselves, they could relate and naturally shared her scorn for a match like Shen Hongmei.

Listening to the neighbors’ criticisms, Liang mother felt pleased.

She still didn’t believe she couldn’t deal with that good-for-nothing woman.

From now on, she would secretly speak behind the back, just to see what that Shen family could do to her.

While she was thinking this, a postal bicycle stopped in front of her.

"Fan Wensu, registered mail!"

Being illiterate, Liang mother received the mail and asked the postman to help her check who sent it.

The postman glanced at the return address on the envelope and answered, "Sent from the court," before riding away.

Liang mother was stunned by the word "court."

"Auntie Fan, why would the court send you a letter?"

"Hiss, you haven’t got involved in a lawsuit, have you?"

Liang mother’s head buzzed; she had no idea how to respond.

Seeing her remain silent, the neighbor simply took the letter from her hands, ready to open it.

By the time Liang’s mother realized it, it was already too late—

"Fengcheng People’s Court summons... Cause of action, invasion of others’ privacy and reputation rights dispute..."

One nosy onlooker not only read the contents of the summons out loud but also did so especially loudly, promptly drawing a crowd of rubberneckers around them.

"Let me have a look, what’s going on?"

Just like that, the court summons, which to Liang’s mother felt like a death knell, was passed from hand to hand.

Liang’s mother was both angry and anxious, and in a fit of anxiety she actually fainted.

...

When Liang’s mother came to, an hour had passed.

The whole family had received the news and all took leave to rush back home, and even the grandsons and granddaughters from the nursery were picked up and brought back.

The grandsons and granddaughters, not yet of age to understand, let alone know of the family’s misfortune, were playing in the yard, carefree and laughing.

Seated in Liang’s mother’s room, the Liang family’s three sons, along with Liang Xiling, the siblings, looked gloomy.

The two daughters-in-law were busy preparing lunch in the cramped little kitchen.

Liang Xiling was the first to notice Liang’s mother regaining consciousness, "Mom, are you awake?"

At her words, the three sons, who had been in dismal spirits, all turned their gazes toward the bed in unison.

Liang’s mother recalled what happened before she fainted and quickly sat up, "The letter?"

Liang’s eldest son pointed his chin towards the old, paint-peeling cabinet against the wall, "It’s over there."

Liang’s mother hastily grabbed the letter and handed it to Liang Kean, "Kean, take a look quickly, what does it say on this letter?"

Liang Kean didn’t take the letter; he already knew its contents.

Not only did he know, but the entire neighborhood also knew.

Because his mother had been gossiping, he was now too embarrassed to even step outside.

Liang Xiling couldn’t help but speak out, "Mom, Shen Hongmei really sued you, we’re done for now!"

Liang’s mother felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

She looked anxiously at her youngest son, Liang Kean, "Kean, didn’t Chen Liang say he’d help plead for us? Why would she still sue me? How could she go back on her word like this?"

Liang Kean was at a loss for words.

He wasn’t sure whether Chen Liang had actually attempted to plead on their behalf; he hadn’t been able to reach Chen Liang in the past few days.

Liang’s eldest son said, "Talking about this now is useless, we should find a lawyer for mom first."

Liang’s mother, not willing to give up, said, "Isn’t there any other way?"

"Mom, no matter how many ideas we come up with, none can match the damage done by that sharp tongue of yours," said Liang’s eldest sister-in-law, entering the room with heavy sarcasm in her tone.

Following right behind, Liang’s second sister-in-law added, "Mom, you’re not young anymore, why can’t you keep your mouth shut?"

Normally, if the daughters-in-law dared to speak to Liang’s mother this way, the three sons would have intervened long ago.

But today, they were silent as if they’d lost their tongues.

They too harbored resentment and dissatisfaction towards Liang’s mother.

Despite knowing the trouble a lawsuit could bring, she failed to restrain herself and continued blabbering to the neighbors.

Now, it was out in the open that their family was facing a lawsuit over gossiping, and who knows how many people outside were laughing at them.

Liang’s mother weakly defended herself, "How was I to know she would really sue me? What kind of messed up world is this? You get punished for telling the truth while someone like her, a bastard, is protected by the law. It’s just not right."

Her ignorance and foolishness infuriated everyone in the family.

But they couldn’t just ignore the situation.

Liang’s eldest son glanced at Liang Kean, "Kean, why don’t you try talking to Shen Hongmei again to see if she’ll listen?"