Zhou Jianhua turned his head away with extreme reluctance, outright refusing to greet Lin Xiaoxiao.

Niu Chunying was furious. She smacked Zhou Jianhua again. "You stubborn boy! What's wrong with you? Hurry up and say hello!"

Although Lin Xiaoxiao didn't understand the reason, she knew that forcing a teenager to do something he was unwilling to do could easily backfire. "It's alright," she said. "He doesn't have to."

Niu Chunying, however, wasn't having it. "This kid is really asking for a spanking! He was thrilled all the way home hearing his uncle was back. How come he's turned mute now that he's seen his aunt?"

Zhou Huai'an frowned and stopped Niu Chunying from scolding the boy further. "Let's go and get some rest first."

Niu Chunying reached out and pinched Zhou Jianhua's ear, forcing her tall son to bend down in pain, grimacing and struggling.

"You little brat! How dare you talk back? Let's go. Home!" She continued to scold him as she dragged him home by the ear.

Naturally, Zhou Jianhua was resentful. He turned his head back and shot a hateful glare at Lin Xiaoxiao, muttering under his breath, "Dog spy."

Niu Chunying punched him again. "Who are you calling names? You've really got some nerve now!"

Lin Xiaoxiao found herself both amused and exasperated. She didn't know what she had done to offend Zhou Jianhua, but where did this "dog spy" label come from?

Zhou Huai'an apologized, "I'll talk to him later."

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't too bothered. "It's fine. I'm just puzzled. Why is he so hostile towards me? I don't think I've ever met him before, have I?"

Zhou Huai'an also found it strange. After all, Zhou Jianhua had never met Lin Xiaoxiao—not the current her, nor the person she was before.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't dwell on it further. Feeling tired from standing in the yard, she turned around and went back inside to lie down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Zhou Huai'an didn't follow her in. He stood in the yard for a while. After Niu Chunying had finished dealing with Zhou Jianhua, he went over to call him out, and the two walked towards the outskirts of the village together.

The fifteen-year-old Zhou Jianhua was already 1.7 meters tall but was as thin as a rake. He trailed behind Zhou Huai'an with his head drooping.

Zhou Huai'an remained silent until they stopped at the ridge on the village's edge. He turned to look at Zhou Jianhua. "Why are you so hostile towards her?"

Zhou Jianhua stiffened his neck. "Uncle, she's so pretty. She must be a spy sent by the enemy to (beguile) you!"

Zhou Huai'an knitted his brows. "What nonsense is this? Talk properly!"

Zhou Jianhua, defiant, retorted, "But you were obviously involved with Aunt Cai Xia. Why didn't you marry her? Why did you have to marry this city ?"

A hint of anger flashed in Zhou Huai'an's eyes, and his tone turned stern. "What does Luo Caixia have to do with this? Speak properly! And now, she is your aunt. She is neither a spy nor a... siren."

Zhou Jianhua grew even more aggrieved. "Then why does everyone in the village say you and Aunt Caixia were dating? She cried secretly so many times after hearing you got married. She's so good, and you didn't marry her! You've let the villagers call you a (heartless betrayer)!"

As he mentioned "heartless betrayer," Zhou Jianhua's eyes reddened. If Lin Xiaoxiao weren't a spy, how could his uncle be labeled with such a shameful name? His brilliant and heroic uncle must not have the slightest stain on his reputation.

Zhou Huai'an frowned deeply. He disliked explaining things that never happened and always believed that rumors would die with wise men. But now, the situation seemed more severe than he had thought. "Who told you that Aunt Caixia and I were ever involved?"

Zhou Jianhua stared at his uncle in disbelief. Was he now denying even that? He thought of all the tears Aunt Caixia had shed, how she had waited for his uncle all these years, always bringing treats to their family. And now, for that woman, his uncle wouldn't even admit to the relationship.

Stubbornly, he (turned his neck away), refusing to look at Zhou Huai'an and declining to answer his question.

It was only then that Zhou Huai'an realized this matter needed to be clarified thoroughly. He didn't care for himself, but he couldn't let Lin Xiaoxiao bear the blame unjustly.

On their way back, they encountered Third Grandpa heading up the mountain to gather firewood. Zhou Huai'an told Zhou Jianhua to go home first while he went to help Third Grandpa with the firewood.

Lin Xiaoxiao lay down for a while but couldn't fall asleep. Just as she turned over to get up, she heard Niu Chunying's loud voice calling, "Huai'an's wife, are you asleep?"

Lin Xiaoxiao responded and got up to open the door.

Niu Chunying came in carrying a plate of peanuts, (melon seeds), and red dates. "I brought these back from my (mother's home). Here's some for you. The countryside doesn't have much to offer."

Lin Xiaoxiao politely invited her in.

Niu Chunying made herself at home, sitting on the edge of the kang with the plate. "When Mom said you were coming back the other day, I didn't believe it. If I'd known you were arriving yesterday, I wouldn't have gone to that wedding banquet."

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't sure how to respond to that. "It's fine, we're not in a hurry to leave."

Niu Chunying hesitated but couldn't hold back. "I heard you came back this time to divide the household?" (fen jia - meaning to split the family property and live separately).

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded. "Yes, that's the idea."

Niu Chunying sounded a bit envious. "Dividing the household is good. But since you'll be living in the city anyway, it doesn't make much difference. You'll be on your own."

It wasn't like her own situation, where the whole family was stuck together in one pot, and no one dared mention dividing the household. Despite her tough demeanor, even Niu Chunying didn't dare bring it up.

Zhou Changyuan, her husband, believed deeply that as the eldest son, he should live with his parents, and all family earnings should be managed by them.

As for the third son's family, Zhou Chang'an was lazy and loved to take advantage without giving anything back. His annual work points were the lowest, so the grain they received was naturally less. Therefore, his family was unwilling to split up.

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't entirely clear on Zhou Huai'an's specific reasons for wanting to divide the household either. She simply listened to Niu Chunying with a smile, offering no opinion.

After chatting for a while, Niu Chunying went out to busy herself with preparing dinner.

With nothing else to do, Lin Xiaoxiao gathered the dirty clothes, carried them outside, and went to wash them by the well.

Zhou Jianhua, after returning home, sat in his room sulking. He instructed his two younger brothers, who were playing cards on the table, "You are not to call that woman 'Aunt'! Think about how good Aunt Caixia has been to us."

The two younger boys didn't overthink things. "But she is our aunt."

Zhou Jianhua glared. "I said no means no! If you call her 'Aunt,' you're traitors!"

The two younger boys immediately fell silent. Neither wanted to be a traitor.

Through the window, Zhou Jianhua saw Lin Xiaoxiao washing clothes. A mischievous idea suddenly popped into his head. He went inside and picked up the tabby cat sleeping on the kang. Then, he took some leftover firecrackers from the top of the cabinet that hadn't been set off during the New Year and tied them to the cat's tail.

He crouched down, opened the door a crack, aimed the cat towards Lin Xiaoxiao, and lit the firecrackers.

The firecrackers exploded. The startled cat screeched and fled in terror, straight towards Lin Xiaoxiao.

Lin Xiaoxiao had just squatted down when the firecrackers went off, startling her. Before she could react, she saw the tabby cat charging at her. Unable to dodge in time, she fell flat on her backside.

Zhou Jianhua and his two brothers stood in the doorway, laughing heartily.

Lin Xiaoxiao was instantly furious. If he had a problem with her, he should confront her directly. What was the point of bullying a cat?

She scrambled up, rushed over, and dragged Zhou Jianhua out. "Go! Catch that cat and apologize! Otherwise, you'll have to deal with me one-on-one!"

Niu Chunying heard the noise and came out of the kitchen, so angry that she grabbed a rolling pin and was about to hit him. "You little brat! Asking for a beating, aren't you?"

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't try to stop her. The child's behavior was truly infuriating and deserved consequences.

But just then, someone rushed in. "Sister-in-law, you mustn't hit him! Beating him like this could hurt the child!"

The person spoke while stepping in front of Zhou Jianhua, shielding him.

To Lin Xiaoxiao's surprise, it was Luo Caixia!