She looked delighted, "Can it be cut clean?"

"Of course it can," Chu Jiaojiao replied with a cheerful smile, "As long as Aunt Hua wants, I can make Zhou Xiuying and that old hag suffer a loss while trying to pull a trick."

Wen Ran was curious too, "How are you going to do it?"

"Zhou Shanshan," Chu Jiaojiao touched her chin, "I know a bit about her."

"Hmm?"

Chu Jiaojiao explained, "My mom’s family lives close to Zhou Shanshan’s home, and just two months ago, when my mom visited them, she heard that the Zhou Family struck it rich."

Wen Ran became interested, grabbed a handful of five-spice melon seeds from the table, and shoved it into Chu Jiaojiao’s hand, "So, tell us more in detail."

Chu Jiaojiao looked at the aromatic melon seeds in her hand, then at Wen Ran’s bright eyes, and couldn’t help but laugh.

This little intellectual really is just like the rumors say.

"Alright, I’ll tell you what I know in detail, and we’ll analyze what’s really going on with the Zhou Family..."

The Zhou Family is one of the impoverished households in the Mao’er Village Brigade.

They are the extremely poor kind, where, during tough times, the whole family has to tighten their belts to barely make it through.

Logically, families like this usually have too few able-bodied workers.

With no one to work, no one to take up responsibilities, that’s the direct cause of such a situation.

But in the Zhou Family, it’s the complete opposite.

The Zhou Family has no less than six sons.

The reason they’re so poor and struggling is purely because of laziness.

The whole family, as a cluster, is as lazy as can be.

When working in the fields, they barely make any effort and loaf around. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Moreover, they can’t keep their hands clean, indulging in petty thefts frequently.

It causes consistent complaints from the Mao’er Village Brigade members, yet they can’t do anything about the Zhou Family.

This family truly is lazy, but they are united as well.

If you confront one member, by the afternoon, the whole brood will show up at your door seeking vengeance.

Who in their right mind would dare mess with such a bunch of scoundrels?

Poor, yet domineering.

If you don’t know the background, so be it. But once you do, even Li Xiaohua would be trembling in fear.

Wen Ran wondered, "Aunt Xiaohua, why do you look so shocked? Aren’t you sisters-in-law? Logically, you should know Zhou Xiuying’s background."

Li Xiaohua was startled, snapped back to reality, and awkwardly laughed, "Hahaha, right, I—I do know indeed."

Knowing is one thing, they were sisters-in-law.

She could just avoid them before, but now...

This is blatantly pointed at her face.

Wah wah wah, what to do, dealing with such unruly people is truly unlucky.

Wen Ran: "..."

This aunt is probably someone who enjoys acting.

Chu Jiaojiao glanced at Wen Ran, "Do you have any ideas?"

"Me?" Wen Ran was surprised, "You’re asking for my opinion?"

"Yes," Chu Jiaojiao smiled slyly, "I’ve heard you have plenty of ideas, let’s discuss it now."

Wen Ran smacked her lips, "How?"

"If they’re already bullying us blatantly, if we don’t retaliate, they’ll truly see us as easy prey!"

To Chu Jiaojiao’s indignant words, Li Xiaohua’s family didn’t dare make a sound.

Yes, they really are easy prey, anyone can squeeze.

"Fight fire with fire?"

Saying it is one thing, executing it is somewhat challenging.

Chu Jiaojiao nodded, "Right, that’s exactly it, fight fire with fire."

She looked at Li Xiaohua and said, "The Zhou Family has been poor for decades, but ever since half a year ago, life has gradually become affluent.

Especially two months ago, the clothes they used to wear couldn’t even cover their behind, now they dress neatly."

Chu Jiaojiao sneered, "I don’t believe the Zhou family could get rich overnight, it’s more likely that..."

Zhou Shanshan traded herself for goods and exchanged her out.

If so, when it comes to romantic entanglements, it’s the easiest way to create trouble.

Like having a child.

Following this logic, Zhou Xiuying’s constant complaints about Zhou Shanshan being unmotivated, along with hidden secrets, make sense.

The secret that’s hard to hide is the child.

As the months go by, the weather gets hotter, clothes thinner, the belly...

Li Xiaohua wanted to cry, "Isn’t this just making us cuckolds, wah wah wah, not only wronging my son, but also making him raise their illegitimate child."

If it wasn’t for Mrs. Xiao and Wen Ran accidentally hearing about this, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Not only would they be cuckolds, but they’d also be making a joke out of Chu Jiaojiao.

Chu Jiaojiao was speechless about this, after all, she just wanted to find a straightforward, honest, and drama-free family to marry into.

Why is it so difficult?

Wen Ran had been mostly relaxed today, seeing Chu Jiaojiao racking her brain, she couldn’t be happier, "I say, just switch places."

"Hmm?"

Chu Jiaojiao became interested, "What do you mean?"

"Isn’t Zhou Shanshan eager to get married? As long as we make sure she gets married, and not have the pregnancy in the Zhou Family, isn’t that enough?"

Wen Ran offered a mischievous plan, "She can choose people, so can we."

Chu Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up, "You mean..."

Wen Ran smirked, "Exactly, I’m thinking of candidates. That old widower living in the straw hut, how about him?

I heard his luck isn’t great, he married three wives, all died from illness.

He seems to have accepted his fate now, doesn’t even talk about marrying, living alone."

Chu Jiaojiao chuckled, "I know a scoundrel too, can use him as reference later."

"Perfect."

...

The Xiao Family.

Zhou Shanshan indeed is pretty. She stroked her yet-to-show belly with a smile, "Can I meet Xiao Li first?"

For this request, Zhou Xiuying beamed, "Oh, why bother seeing him first? Wait for that family to come over for the birthday, and just have a look then."

Zhou Shanshan frowned, "After all, we’ll be spending our lives together, what if I don’t like how he looks?"

Mrs. Xiao Sr.: "..."

Seeing Zhou Shanshan being so picky, Mrs. Xiao Sr. rolled her eyes, "Come on, given your situation, you don’t have the luxury to be choosy.

Even if you don’t like Xiao Li, you have no other option."

Mrs. Xiao Sr. hinted, "You can afford to wait, but your belly can’t."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shanshan’s face darkened, "No, Granny, I think, I haven’t offended you, have I?

Why are you nice when accepting gifts, then turning around and acting indifferent?"

With confidence, she was not afraid of Mrs. Xiao Sr., pointed at the table full of pastries and bacon, and sneered, "If your family isn’t willing, just say so.

I’m bringing so many things, surely there are people who want them."

Mrs. Xiao Sr.’s face turned entirely green.

She didn’t expect Zhou Shanshan to be tougher than herself.