After the main feast ended, the villagers, full of food and wine, went home to rest, planning to return in the afternoon for the second round.
Clara was also quite satisfied. Once she was full, she took Deb by the hand and strolled openly out of the house to digest her meal, leaving the clearing of bowls and dishes to others.
Of course, unless she volunteered, no one in Liew Clan Village would dare to call on her to do chores.
Old Madam Mo and Sister-in-law Mo could only watch helplessly as this "new wife" leisurely walked away. They had been hoping for a chance to corner her, to lecture her a bit, but the opportunity never came.
As for Lester Liew—when he saw Clara leave, he actually let out a breath of relief.
With Clara gone, he could now play to his strengths!
In Kate's room, Granny Wang had been invited to perform the three-day washing ceremony for the newborn. Because of the cold weather, the doors were shut, charcoal braziers burned, and everyone gathered inside the warm chamber to watch.
Seeing the main hall empty, Lester brought the three Mo relatives inside to sit down and asked bluntly:
"Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, when are you heading back? The road is long—you'd better leave early, avoid traveling at night."
Old Madam Mo's brows shot up. "Lester, are you so eager to drive me off? I came to see my grandchildren—what are you afraid of? That we'll make trouble for your little wife?"
Lester gawked, then gave her a thumbs-up. "Madam, you're truly impressive. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone call Clara a 'little wife.' When she gets fierce, even the lot of you wouldn't be able to withstand her!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sister-in-law Mo had been itching since the moment she set foot in the Liews' household, and at last she had her chance. She raised her voice:
"She's just a newcomer—what right does she have to act so high and mighty? Look at how pitiful my nephews have become under her bullying! Today we're here to demand justice for my younger sister. Her body isn't even cold yet, and you all are ganging up to mistreat her children?"
The whole courtyard erupted in shock.
Adam, Ben, and Chad stared at their aunt, dumbfounded. What had they said that made her think so badly of their mother? A twinge of guilt crept into their hearts.
Fortunately, Clara had already gone out. The mountain village in early spring had its own bleak beauty, and she enjoyed an afternoon playing with Deb in the fields, entirely unconcerned with the ruckus at the ancestral home.
After all, it wasn't she who had wronged their mother. As for Lester—well, he had it coming.
So while the old house rang with quarrels, Clara spent a carefree afternoon in the countryside.
When she finally returned and saw that the Mo family still hadn't left, she couldn't help frowning at Lester.
A whole afternoon, and still unresolved?
Lester had tried—he had thoroughly scared them—but Old Madam Mo had insisted on meeting Clara before leaving.
Clara sent Deb off to play with Rosie, then strode into the hall.
Whatever Lester had said to them, it had worked. The moment the Mo trio saw Clara approach, they all sat up straight, eyes wary and hostile.
Clara stopped before Old Madam Mo and lowered her gaze slightly. "What is it you want?"
Those dark eyes unsettled the old woman. She swallowed nervously before stiffening her back and forcing out her elder's authority.
"My daughter died young. Now only her four poor children remain. I've spoken with their uncle—we want to take them back for a few days, let them spend time with their mother's family."
"No." Clara didn't even pause to think, nor did she seek anyone else's opinion. Her rejection was immediate and absolute.
The domineering air of it startled the Mo trio. Lester hadn't exaggerated—his new wife truly was a terrifying shrew!
Which only made them more determined. How could they leave the children in her hands?
They'd already heard from the villagers that Adam and Ben would soon be studying at the Ding clan academy. Those boys had a bright future ahead of them.
And since they carried Mo family blood, of course they should grow close to their maternal kin. That way, when they rose to prominence one day, they wouldn't forget to lift up their mother's family as well.
Their calculating intentions were so blatant Clara was speechless. Such obvious scheming, and so clumsy.
Seeing they were about to argue further, Clara turned directly to the boys. "Do you want to go to your grandparents' house?"
Her voice, when addressing children, was softer than usual—but not affectionate, more like one speaking with genuine care for little ones.
Chad looked to his elder brothers. Adam and Ben spoke together without hesitation: "We want to stay at home."
Only then did Chad dare to voice his own heart. He ran into Clara's arms, burying his head against her chest. "Chad doesn't want to go to their house. Chad wants to stay home."
Clara spread her hands at the Mo trio. "The children don't wish to go with you. Let it be. After supper, Lester will see you on your way."
Old Walter Liew and Martha also came over, politely adding that since the children were unwilling, that was that. After all, they had their grandparents here to watch over them.
Seeing no money to be had and no children to take, Old Madam Mo snorted in anger and stormed toward the door. "Enough! We can't afford to eat your Liew family's food!"
Brother Mo and Sister-in-law hurried after her, but not before sneering over their shoulders:
"Your wife is dead, and you Liews have no sense of loyalty or old ties. Heartless as this—you'd better beware Heaven's punishment!"
That was the last straw for Lester. He stormed after them, shouting:
"You're the ones who'll be punished by Heaven! Your whole family deserves it! Wolves in human skin, pretending to visit but scheming all along—nothing but weasels wishing the chickens a Happy New Year!"
"When the children were starving a few years ago, where were you? And now that our home is thriving, with something to gain, you come running? I don't need such relatives—get out, before you taint my household's luck!"
His tirade left Brother Mo and Sister-in-law panting with fury, but they still tried to add:
"You've ruined my nephew's good fortune, brought nothing but misfortune!"
Old Madam Mo gasped, clutching her chest, nearly fainting. Her son and daughter-in-law rushed to steady her.
But their momentum was gone. All they could do was leave one last empty threat behind:
"Lester, watch yourself—my sister will come seeking you in the night!"
At first Lester paid it no mind. All evening he basked in the joy of his one-against-three "victory."
It wasn't until midnight, when he awoke from a nightmare screaming, that the words returned to him.
"Wife, save me!!" he cried.
The whole household was jolted awake.
Clara burst into his room like a gust of wind, blade in hand. She loomed over his bed. "What happened? Who's trying to kill you?"
Seeing that familiar, protective figure, Lester longed to throw himself into her arms for comfort.
But before he got within half a meter of her, she kicked him square in the chest.
"Argh—!"
He crashed back onto the bedding, clutching his ribs. The pain at least jolted him fully awake, and with a long exhale, he realized it had only been a dream.
By then, Adam had lit the lamp. The flickering light revealed Lester's sweat-drenched, deathly pale face—his supposed handsomeness shining in a most pathetic way.
(End of Chapter)
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