Stepmother in charge: Making a fortune through farming and raising her children to fight back

"What's going on?" Yun Zhenzhen pushed through the crowd and walked towards the yard.

A villager nearby kindly reminded her, "Sister Yun, it's Xiao'e's parents who are here, and they insist on asking her for money."

"That's right. I've been making a scene at your house for quite some time, and no one can persuade me to leave."

Yun Zhenzhen walked into the yard, and sure enough, it was Zhang Qiang's family standing there.

Old Zhang and his workers stood in the front to help block the chaos, so there was no big fight. Not only Old Zhang, but also Old Mrs. Qin stood in the front with her two sons, scolding the whole family.

The yard, which had just been quiet for a while, was in chaos again.

Several men tried to stop them, and the Zhang family couldn't take Xiao E away. But Old Lady Qin showed no mercy and slapped Zhang Qiang twice in the face, causing his face to become red and swollen instantly.

"Shameless bastards, who told you to come to my daughter-in-law's house to cause trouble?" Old Lady Qin hadn't finished her words when she slapped him again: "I'll beat you to death. I let you, a bastard, stir up trouble. I'll beat you so hard that you won't dare to come here again..."

After beating him, Old Lady Qin shook her hands impatiently: "You have such a big face, I can't even slap you enough."

After being beaten, Zhang Qiang refused to go back and could only run to his parents crying and complain.

Seeing Yun Zhenzhen come in, Old Lady Qin sat down on the stool next to her: "Since you are back, I will leave this matter to you. I will sit down and rest for a while. I am exhausted."

Yun Zhenzhen: “…”

I think you can still fight for dozens more rounds.

Seeing her come back, the Zhang family members beside her hurried over to ask for an explanation: "Mr. Yun, look at what your mother-in-law did. She beat my son's face so hard that it's swollen. She must pay compensation."

Yun Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow and looked at the two old men and one young man: "Didn't you stretch your face out to let my mother hit you? Why are you paying compensation?"

"You..." The woman was speechless. "You are simply unreasonable. And your mother-in-law is such a madwoman."

"Really? You came to my house and caused trouble, so you deserve to be beaten. Do you want me to ask the village chief to come and judge the matter?" Yun Zhenzhen glanced at her sideways.

When the woman heard the name of the village chief, she immediately lost her temper. The old man next to her poked her with his arm a few times and said, "Don't forget why you came here."

Yes, how could I forget about this.

Old Lady Zhang cleared her throat and spoke righteously, "Don't worry, I didn't come here today to cause trouble. My Xiao'e has worked in your house for so many days. Isn't it time to get paid?"

Before Yun Zhenzhen could say anything, Aunt Zhao stepped forward and sneered, "We agreed beforehand that everyone's wages would be paid every ten days, and it's only been two or three days, and you're already showing up. You're obsessed with money, aren't you?"

The people around nodded when they heard this. Many young and middle-aged people from families come here to help, and they all know how often they get paid.

"That's right, isn't it time yet?"

Old Lady Zhang turned her head to look at Zhang Qiang and asked in a low voice, "Didn't you say that the damn girl hid the money for herself and didn't give it to us? Why hasn't it been settled yet?"

"I don't know either." Zhang Qiang stammered, "Mom, we can barely make ends meet now. My sister didn't bring the money back to us earlier. It's not wrong for us to ask for it. It doesn't matter whether we give it to her sooner or later."

When Old Lady Zhang heard this, she agreed, then said confidently, "I don't care. My daughter Xiao'e has worked for you for so many days, and I must see the money today."

"Okay." Yun Zhenzhen agreed readily. "Originally, we agreed to pay you thirty coins a day, but you guys made such a scene today that you delayed my house construction for an entire day. If we calculate it at thirty coins per person, there are nearly forty people here. Pay them that first, and I'll give you Xiao'e's wages."

After saying that, Yun Zhenzhen stretched out her hand and asked her for money.

"You're talking nonsense." When Mrs. Zhang heard that she had to pay compensation, she panicked and said, "Where would I get the money to pay you?"

"The progress has been significantly delayed, and you've damaged quite a few of the newly-made adobe bricks on the ground. I haven't even calculated the cost yet."

Yun Zhenzhen sneered: "Tell me, how do you want to compensate?"

After hearing this, Old Man Zhang could no longer sit still and wanted to take his son and run away quietly.

"The monk may run away, but the temple cannot. If you don't compensate me, I will sue you to the county level and bankrupt you."

"Anyway, I have money and time, but I don't know if you can afford it."

The onlookers also started to make noises: "That's right, you have to pay compensation."

"Yes, we all saw it just now. It was your Zhang family who came to pick it up."

Old man Zhang quickly pulled his son and quietly slipped out from the crowd. Old lady Zhang also wanted to run after them, but was stopped by the onlookers.

"How come we haven't even agreed on compensation yet? Don't leave!"

Seeing that she was in a dilemma, Old Mrs. Zhang regretted her decision. Her son was useless and the family relied on the old couple to make a living from the fields. Even if she sold her house, she could not afford to pay so much. Thirty people, nearly one or two taels of silver, it would be better to skin herself alive.

Old Mrs. Zhang thought it would be better to pretend to faint and get through it later. Suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind.

"Isn't my Xiao'e working for you? Just keep her here and pay her back when you're done."

Yun Zhenzhen sneered: "I forgot to tell you, because of the scene you caused today, I don't plan to use Xiao E anymore."

Xiao E, who was standing by and crying, was also shocked when she heard this. She was about to beg for mercy when she was comforted by Aunt Zhao.

"That won't do." Old Mrs. Zhang came over and cried. Although she hadn't seen any money yet, with so many people working here, she would definitely be able to get more in the future.

It's all my fault for being possessed by the devil and being called over to cause trouble.

"Sister Yun, please don't. Xiao'e is very hardworking and can do any job. She can even do hard labor like moving bricks."

Yun Zhenzhen looked at her coldly without saying anything.

Seeing that she didn't express her opinion, Mrs. Zhang gritted her teeth and said, "If it really doesn't work, you can just give her a lower salary."

No matter how small a mosquito is, it's still meat, right?

Farmers work in the fields and earn only a few cents a day.

Hearing this, Yun Zhenzhen looked at her lazily: "Alright, I won't argue with you about what happened today. From now on, I will give Xiao'e five cents a day and ask her to help cook. But I have to make it clear that you are not allowed to set foot in my house again. If you dare to cause trouble again, not only will I not give you money, but I will also send you all to the government."

When Old Mrs. Zhang heard this, she shuddered and quickly agreed.

After the matter was resolved, everyone made way and Old Mrs. Zhang ran home dejectedly.