Chapter 21: It’s Quite Fun to Be a Troublemaker

When the two of them returned to the entrance of the medical clinic, the woman surnamed Sun was still there wailing. It was only because the guard, Liu Zi, was lenient; any other bailiff would never have been this patient.

Seeing Song Qiang and Li Mumu return, Liu Zi’s face lit up with relief, as if he had finally been saved. "You're back? Did you manage to get everything?"

Song Qiang smiled; they certainly hadn't gotten everything, but they had acquired what was immediately necessary.

"Thank you, brother! This is for you!" Li Mumu handed over a piece of sugar cake.

Liu Zi chuckled and took the items Li Mumu had been carrying. "Since you’re back, let's go."

"I won't go! My son, my Yunzhe, my heart and soul! What will I do now that you're dead?"

Sun’s voice was hoarse from screaming. If she had spent even half that time properly disciplining her son while he was alive, things might not have come to this. On one side was the Gu family, who caused no trouble and occasionally shared food; on the other was the Li family, who were constantly causing trouble and lacked any sense of propriety. Even without Magistrate Liang as a backer, the guards naturally favored the Gu family.

"Hurry up." Liu Zi finally brandished his whip, signaling that if she continued to make a scene, he would punish her.

Only then did Sun rise while clutching her son’s corpse, casting a hateful glare at Li Mumu. Song Qiang was quick-witted and pulled Li Mumu behind her. "What are you looking at?"

Sun bit her lip, her expression twisted and terrifying.

On the way back, Song Qiang took out a packet of snacks and gave it to Liu Zi to share with the other guards. Everyone was curious about the sheep they had purchased, and Song Qiang patiently explained the benefits of having it along the journey.

Li Mumu returned to the Gu family’s camp to find her "scum" father covered in bruises and cuts, with not a single patch of unblemished skin left. Lin Siyan, however, remained completely unscathed. Her mother was sitting with her head bowed in deep thought. Li Mumu sat beside her, not disturbing her, while the sound of Sun’s heart-wrenching wails echoed in her ears.

Finally, the old matriarch of the Li family spoke with a sour, sarcastic tone, "Dead is dead. At least he won't suffer anymore. Unlike some people, who have food and livestock—is this even exile? They’re living better than ordinary folk."

Seeing that the Gu family didn't respond, she continued, "It’s your own fault for not having a decent maternal family to send you medicine and money, otherwise Yunzhe wouldn't have died."

Sun glared viciously at Gu Yuru, as if it were their fault her son had died. Li Yuan, enjoying Lin Siyan’s gentle whispers, looked at Gu Yuru and her children as if they were his enemies.

Since the two families were gathered together, Song Qiang heard every word. As she tidied the rice, she retorted, "That’s right, my sister is lucky to have a good family behind her. Sister, come over and eat."

This was like poking a hornet's nest. The Li family exploded.

Mrs. Zhao spat on the ground. "What are you so proud of? Do you still think you're a General's wife? Bah, you're in the same boat as the rest of us."

Li Sheng also glared at the Gu family, though he lacked the energy to sustain it, as he was starving.

"That's where you're wrong. Even if I'm no longer a General's wife, at least we have food," Song Qiang said, her tongue sharp, striking straight at their sore spots.

"We have food too," Mrs. Zhao scoffed.

Where could they have possibly gotten food? Li Mumu was puzzled, but then she noticed two people missing from the Li family: her little aunt and her eldest uncle's daughter. From the nearby inn, the sounds of men and women drinking, gambling, and engaging in lewd, unspeakable acts drifted out of the open windows.

Song Qiang shook her head, then exclaimed, "Oh my, why is there so much rice? It doesn't feel like ten catties." She swore she wasn't bragging. "And these snacks, I don't remember buying this many."

"And this spiced beef and roasted chicken—I don't recall buying these either!"

Zhang Yi chuckled. "Are you implying the seller gave you extra for free? Perhaps you were just too busy and forgot."

Song Qiang scratched her head. She truly didn't remember buying them. But since they were strangers, no one would give things away for nothing. It must have been as her sister-in-law said—she had simply forgotten in the rush.

Li Mumu curled her lips into a secret smile from the sidelines. However, she noticed a fierce glint in her uncle's eyes; he was staring fixedly at the food, licking his lips.

Song Qiang cut a piece for Li Mumu. Since they had it, they had to eat it quickly; in this heat, it would spoil if left too long. Li Mumu was intentionally provocative, walking around the Li family with the fragrant spiced beef, making them drool.

Lin Siyan was particularly affected. Being three months pregnant, her appetite was ravenous, and she hadn't had a proper meal in two days. She was desperate for the beef.

"Are you hungry?" Li Yuan asked.

Li Mumu, standing just a meter away, clearly saw a flicker of annoyance in Lin Siyan’s eyes. Of course she was hungry—what a stupid question. They had walked all day, and their lunch had been thin porridge with more sand than rice. Anyone would be hungry, let alone a pregnant woman.

Yet, Lin Siyan insisted on keeping up appearances. She shook her head and said, "I'm not hungry. Even if I were, I wouldn't want you to be troubled on my account, Yuan-ge."

Li Mumu guessed that her "scum" father was hungry too.

"Mumu, come here."

Unexpectedly, Li Mumu didn't dodge. "Father."

"Give the meat to your Aunt Lin. The little brother in her belly needs to eat. Father has always loved you the most, be a good girl."

Li Yuan still felt a bit guilty, glancing around as he spoke.

Li Mumu, to everyone's surprise, did not refuse. "Okay."

To deceive his own naive daughter for the sake of his mistress's child—only her "scum" father could do such a thing. After handing over the roasted chicken leg, Li Mumu ran over to the old matriarch of the Li family.

"What are you here for?" the old woman asked displeased, looking at her grandson's corpse and wishing it were someone else who had died instead.

"Mumu brought meat for Grandma."

"Meat?" The old woman’s eyes lit up. "Where? Bring it out!"

Li Mumu shook her head, pointing with agonizing slowness toward Lin Siyan, who was eating happily while she and Li Yuan engaged in a show of "letting each other have it." It was just a chicken leg that Li Mumu had licked and poisoned; she didn't know why they were pretending to be so generous.

"Mumu wanted to give it to Grandma, but Father wanted to give it to Aunt Lin. Mumu is afraid of Father," Li Mumu said, bowing her head to hide her smirk.

Wasn't this supposed to be a picture of filial piety? Wasn't this the perfect daughter-in-law she had chosen?

The old matriarch flew into a rage and strode over. "Third son, do you still have any respect for me as your mother?"

Li Yuan froze and cleared his throat. "Mother, what are you talking about?"

"Do you not know what I'm talking about? Your mother hasn't eaten, and you've given all the food to her?"

"Mother, no... you know Siyan's condition... why are you bickering with her?"

Usually, she wouldn't bicker, but things were different now. Li Mumu curled her lips. It was time for her mother's heart to die completely.