After the family split up, my stepmother and scumbag father begged me to come home.

The news spread faster than the wind.

In less than half a day, the entire Qinghe Village knew that Wang Hehua was going to arrange a marriage for Lin Qianqian.

In the poisonous potato field on the hillside, groups of two or three women huddled together, digging in the soil while gossiping, their mouths never stopping even as they worked with their hoes.

"Have you heard? Wang Hehua is going to tell Qianqian about Wang the butcher's son, the one who killed someone."

"Oh dear, isn't that pushing Qianqian into a fire pit? Wang the butcher's son's first wife died less than half a year after she married into the family. I heard she was covered in bruises. Her family made a scene, and they only paid ten taels of silver to settle the matter."

"That's right. Wang Hehua is so heartless; she's only after that little bit of dowry money. If Qianqian marries into that family, she probably won't even be able to save her life."

"Tsk tsk tsk, poor Qianqian, her biological mother is dead, her father is useless, and her stepmother is even worse..."

"Hey, do you guys think Qianqian might really be forced to get married by her grandma?"

"It's hard to say. The old lady of the Lin family is quite formidable. No matter how capable Qianqian is, she's still just a young girl. She can't fight city hall."

The women exchanged glances, sighed in unison, but didn't stop digging in the dirt.

When the news reached Ding Yuxiang's ears, she was brewing medicine in the kitchen.

The medicine pot was bubbling away, and the bitter smell filled the entire kitchen. She suddenly stopped fanning herself with her palm leaf fan, and her eyebrows furrowed into a knot.

This was sent to her by someone through her mother; she said it was medicine that could help her have a son.

Wang Hehua? What business is it of their second wife's affairs?

Everyone knows that men from all around are lining up to marry Qianqian. That brat has a poisoned potato business in her hands; marrying her is like marrying a money tree. Wang Hehua jumping in to propose marriage now—even a blind man could see what she was up to.

Ding Yuxiang slapped the palm-leaf fan on the stove, stood up, and walked out.

She wasn't feeling sorry for Qianqian. But why should that bitch Wang Hehua get the second wife's maid? If only she could get her hands on the dowry money…

She quickened her pace.

Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, Wang Hehua was talking animatedly with several women, gesturing wildly as she described the three shops of the famous butcher Wang's family.

"Butcher Wang said that as long as Qianqian agrees, the bride price will be twenty taels! Twenty taels! Just think about it, that's enough to buy a house in town. I feel sorry for Qianqian. She lost her mother and just wants her to marry a good man."

"Sister-in-law, you should worry more about Rou Rou! She's a year older than Qian Qian!" Ding Yuxiang's voice cut coldly from behind. "Stop thinking about our second wife's daughter. She has parents; her aunt doesn't need to worry about her."

Wang Hehua turned around and saw Ding Yuxiang standing three steps away with her hands on her hips, her expression worse than the stench of a stone in a latrine.

She snorted, a sneer playing on her lips, and spoke slowly, "So now you know she's your second wife's daughter? If you hadn't tormented those siblings every day, would they have had to separate at such a young age? Stepmother? Humph, how many stepmothers are good to their stepdaughters?"

These words were like a pinch of salt, precisely sprinkled on Ding Yuxiang's wound.

"What about the stepmother?" Ding Yuxiang's voice rose eight octaves, her face flushed red. "You're deliberately ruining my reputation! Don't try to make it sound better than it is; aren't you just after Qianqian's dowry? Let me tell you, no way! Her father isn't even dead yet, who gives the eldest son's family the right to tell us what to do?"

She took a step forward, her finger almost poking Wang Hehua's nose: "Don't think I don't know, you introduced that butcher's son to Qianqian, didn't you take a bribe from him? You heartless wretch, finding a wife-beating man for Qianqian, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Wang Hehua's smile vanished, stung by the attack. "When did I receive any benefits? You're slandering me!"

"I'll insult you? Who in this village doesn't know who you are, Wang Hehua? Would you be so happy if there wasn't something in it for you?"

"You stepmother, how dare you talk to me like that? Don't you know how you treat Qianqian?"

The two voices were louder and louder, attracting passing villagers to stop and form a large circle around them.