Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

When Fifth Granny heard the implication in He’s words—that she wanted her to leave—her face immediately darkened. "Dashuan’s wife, what are you saying? Siding with an outsider to talk back to your own family elder? Is that any way for a daughter-in-law to behave?"

He’s temper flared. "Well then, Fifth Aunt, do you want Dashuan to divorce me, too? Do you want to help him take a concubine? I try to be respectful as I should, but it seems the more polite I am, the more in-laws I suddenly acquire! Usually, not a single one of you shows your face, but now all these ’elders’ have crawled out of the woodwork to spout endless nonsense."

At that moment, drawn by the loud argument, quite a few people came out from the main hall.

Huai Zi’s maternal grandmother asked in a low voice, "Huai Zi’s mother, what is all this? Talk of divorcing wives and taking concubines? Do people have nothing better to do with their full stomachs?"

Although He was furious inside, she couldn’t bring herself to air the dirty laundry in front of so many people. ’It would just give them more to gossip about, and it’s utterly humiliating,’ she thought. So, she forced a smile. "Mother, it’s nothing important. Fifth Aunt was just telling a story about some man who got restless after making a little money. He started raising hell, divorcing his wife to take a concubine, and throwing his household into turmoil. I was just saying how despicable that is."

Huai Zi’s maternal grandmother’s eyes swept over Fifth Granny, then landed on Liu Yunlan, who stood nearby with a dark expression. She understood the situation perfectly. Saying no more, she spoke only to He. "Go on and eat. You’re neglecting your guests. People will laugh." With that, she turned and walked away, completely ignoring Fifth Granny.

He also smiled at the people who had come out. "Everyone, please, go back to your seats. I noticed you all love the meatballs, so I was just about to bring some more out."

The crowd quickly thanked her, all agreeing that the meatballs were delicious and flavorful.

The wife who had been flattering He earlier laughed and said, "Auntie, please bring plenty! We’ll be shameless and take advantage of your generosity to eat our fill. Who knows when we’ll have another chance to feast like this. You mustn’t laugh at us, Auntie."

He quickly exchanged some pleasantries with her, and the other wives and older women went back inside to continue with the feast.

He then turned to the stove to get the meatballs for the tables. As she did, she asked Liu Yunlan, "Why aren’t you at the feast?"

Liu Yunlan replied, "It makes no difference where I eat. I can keep an eye on things from here, and if anyone out there needs something, I can take it to them right away."

"I’m sorry to have troubled you," He said quickly. She thanked her once more, then carried the dish out, still ignoring Fifth Granny.

Liu Yunlan also shot the old woman a cold glance before sitting down behind the stove to eat her own meal.

Seeing that He was ignoring her, Fifth Granny was tempted to leave in a huff. But then she remembered she hadn’t eaten her fill yet. And, just as that other woman had said, it wasn’t often she could eat to her heart’s content like this. So, she swallowed her anger and went back to the table with a sullen face to continue eating. As she ate, she thought, ’When I get back, I’ll have to tell the old man. This wife of Dashuan’s needs to be disciplined. She has no respect for the Zhang family’s elders and relatives.’

He sat at another table. From across the room, she watched the woman sitting there with a stony expression, her chopsticks never stopping. The way she was eating, without the slightest hesitation, was both infuriating and comical. ’Later,’ she thought, ’I need to have a good talk with the kids’ father. We need to keep our distance from these difficult, clueless relatives from now on.’

Some of the people at the tables had figured out what was going on, while others were oblivious. Everyone pretended not to notice and focused on their food.

Juhua was in the room with Pu Pao, watching over Banli and Cong. She had vaguely heard the argument outside but paid it no mind, continuing with her sewing and instructing Pu Pao.

"Are you hungry?" Juhua asked, noticing the little girl glancing toward the door. "Don’t worry, I had Sister Yunlan save some food for you. You can eat after everyone else is done. You wouldn’t be able to eat in peace right now anyway."

Pu Pao quickly shook her head. "I’m not hungry. I ate something with my mother earlier. Young Madam, I think I heard people arguing outside."

Juhua said, "I doubt it. Some people just sound like they’re fighting when they talk. You must have misheard."

Pu Pao looked a little doubtful but didn’t press the matter, continuing to stitch the diapers with her sewing needle.

After the meal, once the guests had gradually departed and only a few close relatives remained, He finally brought up the matter in the room with her mother and Zhang Dashuan.

Zhang Dashuan frowned. "Fifth Aunt is just being a busybody. Since when are our family’s affairs her business? If she says anything like that again, just show her the door. If we listened to her, she’d turn our entire family upside down. Who wants her granddaughter for a concubine? She has no shame saying such a thing. Does Juhua know about this?"

He huffed indignantly. "Even if she doesn’t know yet, she will soon—you think Yunlan won’t tell her? You need to make up your mind and stand firm. This isn’t over. Knowing Fifth Aunt’s personality, she’ll go home and fill Fifth Uncle’s ear with nonsense, and then he’ll come here to give you a lecture. He’ll probably try to meddle in this whole affair, too. And don’t forget, there’s also First Uncle, Seventh Uncle... a whole crowd of them."