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Gu Chunzhu put the sweet potatoes back into the basket and went out to open the door. It was Su Wangqin's mother, Old Mrs. Su, her hair was neatly combed up and wrapped in a round bun behind her head.

She was kicking and shouting at the door. Gu Chunzhu immediately opened the door causing her to fall.

She glared at Gu Chunzhu fiercely as she got up.

"Mother, why are you here? The children's father hasn't returned from the mountains yet." Gu Chunzhu was agitated. She just crossed over and encountered another stubble.

After Su Wangqin returned from the border carrying two children, Old Mrs. Su did not want to bother taking care of them and separated the family.

This ruthless approach of the Old Mrs. Su had been the talk of the villagers for a long time.

Since his separation, Su Wangqin has handed over rice every three months to feed Mrs. Su and Mr. Su as support. Today is the day so Old Mrs. Su came to ask for food.

"Don't worry about him coming back, just take out a bucket of rice for me so I can leave this freezing and broken house." Old Mrs. Su rubbed her hands together because it was so cold. She didn’t even bother looking at Gu Chunzhu and the children.

Gu Chunzhu knew that this old lady only had money and food in her eyes, so she did not plan to stop her from searching. She moved to the side and said, "Mother can come in and see, there's only a handful of rice in the rice bowl, you can only make a few mouthfuls of porridge with it."

Old Mrs Su really charged in.

She opened the wooden lid of the rice crock, put her head in and had a look, she then reached in and grabbed the remaining rice.

Whilst annoyedly throwing the bit of rice she caught into the rice bowl, she cursed, "You lazy mother, you only know how to eat and starve me and the old man to death."

"Our family is poor, our winter food is not enough, we can only drag on for a few days, you still have two sons at your home! They will never starve you to death." Gu Chunzhu was very puzzled, Old Mrs Su must have exploited Su Wangqin in daily life.

"Pah! I can't really rely on those two stupid ..." Mrs Su spat on the ground, she changed her expression and looked at Gu Chunzhu: "The two of them naturally handed in, so It's your turn "

"But mother also saw it, there is no rice." Gu Chunzhu shrugged, her eyes were cold.

Both children were starving and thin, though there was a reason for the abuse of the original owner, Granny Su, who was their grandmother even exploited them, which made the home even worse.

Old Mrs. Su rummaged their home, taking trivial steps, moving her hands extremely fast, she muttered, "Hand over the money to buy food." Gu Chunzhu didn't obstruct her. What money is there anyway.

Granny Su searched for a long time but she didn't even find a crumb in her house. Finally, her roaming eyes saw the basket of cold sweet potatoes on the table. She rushed forwards with large strides and lifted the basket.

A small hand grabbed the basket. Xiaocheng stood in front of Mrs. Su, his face tense, "this is our sweet potato."

"Whatever you have is also mine, your father was born to me. It's filial piety not to starve his mother to death, yet he still supports you two" Old Mrs. Su drilled Xiaocheng and An'an's forehead. Her saliva flying on the two children's faces.

After that, she yanked the basket of sweet potatoes.

Xiaocheng was a weak and small child. At the moment Mrs Su yanked the basket in such a violent manner, he fell in the corner, hitting his forehead on the corner of the table. His forehead was bloody.

"Xiaocheng." Gu Chunzhu hugged Xiaocheng in her arms in panic. She glared at Old Mrs Su angrily and said quietly, "we don't know when the child's father will come back yet you still want to take the basket of sweet potatoes. Are you not afraid of us three dying from starvation and coming after you?"

"Eldest daughter in law, who are you scaring?!" Old Mrs Su rolled her eyes and straddled the basket of sweet potatoes around her waist. Her iron heart determined to take it away.

Gu Chunzhu knew that she couldn't let Mrs. Su take away these sweet potatoes. It was cold in the winter and they didn't have anything. Maybe when Su Wangqin returned, he would only see three dead bodies.

She simply clenched her fist, got up, and ran in front of Old Mrs. Su.

She opened her mouth and shouted, "Mother is about to kill us. Its winter yet you want to take our last sweet potatoes. What will the people say? Who will dare to marry Su's family in the future if you starve your daughter in law and grandchildren."

"Shut up for me!" Granny Su was so angry, she covered Gu Chunzhu’s mouth and hurriedly pulled her inside the house, "You cheap bitch, dare to ruin our Su family's reputation! If it affects any marriage, I'll skin you alive!"

Gu Chunzhu's lips curved into a smile, her method worked.

Su Duoer was a daughter born a few years after Granny Su gave birth to three sons. She's spoilt rotten. She's almost fifteen this year, and it was time to talk about her marriage. Mrs Su can't make any mistakes.

"Go back inside!" Gu Chunzhu was pushed into the room by Old Mrs. Su. Seeing that she was about to hit the table, she held Xiaocheng in her arms.

Old Mrs. Su stood in front of Gu Chunzhu with her hands on her hips. She threw her basket angrily on the ground and frowned, "Eldest daughter in law, today I will not take your food and wait until the Eldest comes back. You should control your broken mouth! If you go out and talk nonsense, I will make the Eldest beat you up!"

"Yes, this one understands." Gu Chunzhu stood firm, holding Xiaocheng, she bent down to pick up the basket of sweet potatoes.

While picking up the sweet potatoes, Xiaocheng who was held by her struggled to leave her arms, Gu Chunzhu put him on the ground.

There was a fingernail sized wound on Xiaocheng's forehead. The blood kept flowing. She felt very distressed as she glanced at Mrs. Su. "Mother we have no medicine in case the wound become serious"

" Gu' Shi (Gu girl), I don't have any silver on my purse" Mrs Su was already furious for not getting anything.

Gu Chunzhu looked at the stingy Mrs. Su and reluctantly gave up.

Old Mrs. Su looked at the impoverished home and could only leave empty handed. Gu Chunzhu watched as the two children looked at the sweet potato basket, their eyes beaming.