Chapter 21: A Troublesome Entanglement

"My mother and I had already agreed on this; how can you just change your minds like that? Does your family have any sense of integrity? Why are you so unreliable?"

Wang Guifen stood in the Lin family courtyard, her voice shrill and laced with dissatisfaction and accusation. With her hands on her hips, her face was twisted in indignation.

Lin Junsheng rubbed his temples, feeling his headache intensify. He knew in his heart that this was likely another one of his mother's behind-the-scenes schemes. Li Aimei always loved seeking help from "busybody" types like Wang Guifen, but the result was almost always more trouble than it was worth.

Before Lin Junsheng could offer an explanation, Li Aimei rushed out of the kitchen, looking flustered.

"Sister-in-law, stop shouting. Let's discuss this properly," she said, hurrying over to Wang Guifen to try and soothe her.

Wang Guifen was relentless, her voice rising even further. "Why shouldn't I shout? I worked so hard to find someone for you, and you just say you don't want them anymore? Are you playing me for a fool? Do you have any idea how much running around and effort I put into this?"

Li Aimei’s face flashed with helplessness. She knew Wang Guifen's temperament well. But this time, it truly wasn't up to her—the news that her daughter hadn't kept herself pure had already spread throughout the village. If word got out, the arranged bride-swap would never work.

She gently tugged at Wang Guifen’s sleeve and whispered, "Sister-in-law, we didn't intend to back out, it's just that..."

"Just what? Do you think the person I introduced wasn't good enough? Or did you find a better option?" Wang Guifen cut her off. "Let me tell you, if this falls through, don't expect me to help you again!"

Hearing this, Li Aimei’s face turned anxious. She hurriedly grabbed Wang Guifen's sleeve again, her eyes filled with urgency. "Don't say that, sister-in-law! You can't do this! My son, even though his leg is a bit crippled, has a good heart and is very diligent. You’re the best matchmaker in the township; if you don't find him a good girl, what is he supposed to do for the rest of his life?"

Wang Guifen raised an eyebrow, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face. She had intended to use this opportunity to arrange a bride-swap between Li Aimei’s children and a family in the next village. She hadn't expected Li Aimei to go back on her word and marry off her pretty daughter elsewhere. In this day and age, what normal person would marry her crippled son?

"Hmph, Li Aimei, don't push your luck!" Wang Guifen flicked her sleeve, shaking off Li Aimei’s grip, her tone impatient. "Your boy, besides having a crippled leg, is silent and mopey all day. Which girl would want to marry him? I, Wang Guifen, may love money, but I won't lose my conscience just to act as a matchmaker!"

Li Aimei’s heart sank at these words. She had been counting on Wang Guifen to take pity on them and find a good girl for her son. Now, it seemed that hope was completely shattered.

"Sister-in-law, you can't say it like that..." Li Aimei tried to plead her case, but she was interrupted by Wang Guifen’s insults toward her son.

"Enough, enough! Stop nagging!" Wang Guifen waved her hand impatiently. "If your boy wants a partner, let him go find one himself! I’m done getting involved in this mess!"

A flicker of rage ignited in Lin Junsheng’s eyes, burning like a wind-fanned flame. How could he endure such humiliation? Wang Guifen’s words were like a blade thrust deep into his heart.

Lin Junsheng suddenly picked up the plastic basin filled with blood-stained chicken feathers. Though his gait was slightly uneven due to his leg, his movements were resolute. The bloody water in the basin sloshed with his every move, mirroring the turmoil and anger within him.

"What... what are you doing?" Wang Guifen’s voice held a note of panic; she clearly hadn't expected such a reaction from him.

Lin Junsheng gave a cold laugh. "What am I doing? Don't you know? Do you really think I, Lin Junsheng, am made of clay?"

Wang Guifen’s face turned livid. She glared at him. "You cripple, speak clearly! Don't think you can scare me with this."

At this moment, Li Aimei stepped forward, shouting in anger, "Who are you cursing? What right do you have to insult my son like that?"

Wang Guifen sneered, her eyes full of contempt. "So what if I call your son a cripple? Look at what kind of people you are—the beam is crooked, so the rafters are too!"

Lin Junsheng gripped the edge of the plastic basin, his knuckles turning white. The mixture of chicken feathers and blood in the basin formed a shocking sight. Like a mudslide after a mountain storm, he poured the contents toward Wang Guifen with unstoppable force.

Wang Guifen’s scream pierced the quiet of the small courtyard. Her face twisted in terror, her eyes showing deep disgust at the repulsive scene. Though she jumped back with surprising agility to avoid the worst of the slop, the bloody water splattered onto her clothes. A pungent, indescribable stench immediately filled the air.

"You... you bunch of swindlers!" Wang Guifen’s voice trembled with rage. She knew she had lost the upper hand in this sudden "battle." "Don't think that just because there are more of you, you can scare me. This isn't over!"

Just as Wang Guifen tried to salvage a shred of her dignity, Lin Junwan rushed out like a whirlwind, brandishing a gleaming kitchen knife. The sharp blade caught the light, sending a chill through the air. Wang Guifen’s memory flashed back to their last conflict, when a sickle in Lin Junwan’s hand had nearly struck her.

Fear forced her to retreat, and she eventually turned and fled the courtyard, still muttering curses and harboring a deeper, brewing resentment.

Lin Junwan watched her go and stamped her foot in frustration. "She’s absolutely unreasonable! Mom, stay away from people like that in the future, or you'll just invite more trouble."

Li Aimei sighed, her expression full of helplessness. "Sigh, that may be true, but we weren't entirely in the right either, after all..."

"Mom!" Lin Junwan cut her off, her tone filled with dissatisfaction. "She said all those things about my brother, and you're still defending her? His leg was injured saving the livestock; how dare she insult him like that?"

Li Aimei shook her head, unwilling to continue the topic. She blamed herself—she had forgotten that this matchmaker was still working on their behalf. But Wang Guifen was truly unreasonable; she hadn't even let her explain before attacking her son. As a mother, she couldn't stand by and watch that happen.

"Sigh."

"Alright, alright, the past is the past. I’ll make a big plate of chicken for you both. It’s been a long time since our family had a good meal with meat."