"But what about your in-laws? They're all busy and you're not home working, yet you've come back to your maiden home to help..."
Chen Lishu smiled, "My sister-in-law is home on vacation, and it's only for a few days. They won't say anything."
Wu Chunmei nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
The matter was settled.
Chen Lishu went home and briefly told Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufu. Upon hearing that Old Mrs. Chen was ill and Chen Lishu was returning to help care for her for a few days, neither of them objected. Li Xiulan even wanted to buy some canned goods to visit the Chen family, but Chen Lishu stopped her.
The next day, Chen Lishu packed a couple of changes of clothes and went to the Chen family's home.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she heard Old Mrs. Chen scolding someone. Not long after, Chen Lifei and the other younger children came out crying. Seeing her arrive, they immediately treated her like a relative and swarmed around her.
"Big sister, Grandma asked us to buy things again. She scolded us when we said we had no money," Chen Lifei said tearfully.
Chen Lishu gently comforted her, wiping away her tears. "Where is your second sister?"
Chen Lijuan replied, "Second sister went to the river to wash clothes."
"Big sister is here now. You should go find your second sister."
Upon hearing that they no longer had to serve Old Mrs. Chen, the younger children all happily nodded and ran off.
"Grandma, how are you feeling today?" Chen Lishu asked with a smile as she entered. She put her bundle into the cabinet, apparently intending to stay and take care of her sincerely.
Old Mrs. Chen was pleased. She slightly opened her drooping eyelids and said, "I need to pee. Go get the chamber pot for me."
Chen Lishu chuckled. "Grandma, let's be frank. I know you're not sick. You just want to cause trouble for my family and vent your anger. I'll be honest with you too. I've come here this time intending to see you off directly."
In the countryside, to "see someone off" meant to send them to their death. Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen immediately put on a stern face. "What did you say, you little brat? I am your grandmother. Get out quickly and call those little girls over for me. I don't need your service anymore."
Chen Lishu moved a stool and sat by the window, taking out a book. "Grandma, I've sent everyone away. It's just the two of us in the house. If you want to do something, do it yourself. I'll read my book. You'd better not make any noise, or I'll get unhappy and might hit someone. I've prepared everything so that nothing can be discovered."
As she spoke, Chen Lishu took out the long needle Li Xiulan used for stitching shoe soles. It gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Chen Lishu smiled at Old Mrs. Chen, revealing a set of equally cold, white teeth, and said grimly, "This thing leaves no traces when it's poked into someone. Grandma, do you want to try it?"
Old Mrs. Chen looked at the needle, then at her, and her scalp immediately tightened. She had no doubt that this little beast meant what she said and would dare to stab her if she didn't comply.
Seeing that she had become obedient, Chen Lishu lowered her head and began to read.
"I'm hungry. Go make me some food." As it was already noon, Old Mrs. Chen's stomach growled, and she couldn't help but speak.
Chen Lishu looked at her watch. It was almost twelve o'clock. Although she wasn't very hungry, she thought the younger children must be hungry too. They hadn't returned yet, likely out of fear of Old Mrs. Chen.
With this thought, Chen Lishu got up and went to the kitchen for a look, preparing to make some cornmeal noodles. She had cabbage at home, which she could chop up and add to the soup.
Soon, she washed her hands and began to cook. As soon as the noodles were in the pot, Chen Liyuan and Chen Lifei entered the courtyard carrying basins, followed by the younger children.
Smelling the aroma of food, they all sniffed and came in.
"Big sister, what delicious food are you making? It smells so good." Chen Lijuan, supporting Chen Lizi who had just learned to walk, couldn't help but swallow as she looked towards the stove.
"Big sister is making cornmeal noodles with vegetables. Go wash your hands quickly, and we'll eat."
The younger children obediently responded, washed their hands, and waited by the table. Chen Lishu soon brought the basins and began to serve everyone.
"Second sister, where are you going?" Chen Lishu asked as she saw Chen Liyuan get up with her bowl.
"I'm taking it to Grandma." Although extremely reluctant, she still had to face it.
"No need to take it. If she's hungry, she'll come down and eat herself." Chen Lishu called her back, telling her to sit down and eat peacefully.
Chen Liyuan had always listened to Chen Lishu. If she said not to take it, she wouldn't. She sat down and started eating.
Old Mrs. Chen was still sitting on the kang, craning her neck, waiting for someone to bring her food. However, outside, they were almost finished eating, and no one paid her any attention. She was hungry and angry, but as soon as she got off the kang, it would prove her illness was a pretense. She endured it and stayed on the kang all day, not moving.
When Chen Mantun saw her, he quickly poured her a bowl of water. Old Mrs. Chen took the bowl and drank it down in one gulp, then asked for another. After she had drunk her fill, she started to repeatedly call for Wu Chunmei to bring her the chamber pot. Chen Lishu watched everything and did not stop her. She knew clearly that even if she prevented them from doing it, it would still not stop them.
After Old Mrs. Chen had taken care of her needs, she finally felt a bit better and began to complain to Chen Mantun and his wife: "... Hurry up and drive her out. I don't need her to serve me anymore. She's determined to send me to my grave!"
Facing the gazes of Chen Mantun and Wu Chunmei, Chen Lishu looked wronged. "Mom, Dad, you know how my grandma looks down on me. You can ask Liyuan and the others how well I've treated her."
Chen Lishu had already instructed them. Upon hearing Chen Lishu say this, they immediately started speaking in a rush: "Mom, Dad, Big sister treats Grandma so well. She even cooks delicious food for her."
"She even went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy canned goods."
"And..."
Old Mrs. Chen felt a blockage in her chest listening to the younger children tell blatant lies. Her face turned a purplish-red color.
Chen Mantun and his wife didn't doubt her. They even felt that their eldest daughter's filial piety was truly rare.
At dinner, because Old Mrs. Chen had been hungry all day, she had long forgotten to be picky. She picked up her bowl and started eating ravenously. For the first time in a long time, the family ate a peaceful meal.
To make it convenient to care for Old Mrs. Chen, Chen Lishu specifically sent the younger children to Chen Mantun's room. She slept beside Old Mrs. Chen that night.
In the middle of the night, Old Mrs. Chen tried her old trick again. As soon as she opened her mouth to shout, she felt a sharp pain in her arm, like a needle prick.
In the darkness, Chen Lishu's two bright black eyes, like ghostly fire, came closer. Her voice was a low, eerie whisper. "Grandma, if you dare to make another sound, I'll have to take other measures."
As she spoke, Chen Lishu raised the pillow in her hand. "What if I don't control my strength and you just pass away like this? Everyone knows you've been seriously ill, so they probably won't suspect anything else, right?"