The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

All eyes at the table immediately focused on Qin Sanniang's hand.

With comparison comes hurt; Wang's hand instantly looked like a chicken claw—black, withered, and ugly.

Wang glared fiercely at Qin Sanniang: "Hmph, marrying a man who digs in the dirt, let's see how long your fair and tender hands last!"

"Oh, your words are so sour," Qin Sanniang fanned herself with her hand, flaunting proudly at Wang: "Though we both married into Haizi Village, our fates differ. Look at me—my husband dotes on me; even when the oil bottle spills at home, he won't let me clean it. Naturally, my hands stay tender and beautiful. Unlike you, treated like livestock by your man, doing all the fieldwork and raising children. Naturally, you can't compare to me."

"You! Hmph, nonsense! When Tang's family was robbed by bandits, someone had to do the work at your place. I don't believe that lazy Zhang Zhuzi would do it!" Wang said, glaring.

"Tsk, Zhang Zhaocai that brat does it. My husband wouldn't dare make me work!" Qin Sanniang stretched out her hand, showing off to everyone: "Look at my freshly painted nails, this balsam flower color is so pretty!"

Everyone looked at Qin Sanniang's fair hand and red nails, truly beautiful. Zhu Saozi was actually quite envious, looking down at her own hand: "If my hands were that white, I'd paint my nails too."

Wang spat and glared: "Then harden your heart and make your son do all the work."

Zhu Saozi quickly shook her head: "No way, I just can't bear it."

Wang glared at Qin Sanniang: "That's right, heartless person, fair hands! Zhu Saozi, your heart isn't dark, so your hands aren't white. Unlike some people who abuse their husband's son—no wonder their hands stay fair."

Wang was referring to Qin Sanniang's abuse of Zhang Zhaocai.

Now the villagers all knew that since Qin Sanniang entered the Zhang family, Zhang Zhaocai's good days were over.

Since Tang disappeared, Zhang Zhaocai had become the family's laborer, living worse than pigs and dogs.

Because of this, the villagers disapproved of Qin Sanniang. No matter how cruel, a stepmother shouldn't be that harsh.

She wouldn't let Zhang Zhaocai eat enough or dress warmly, chased him to sleep in the wood shed, made him work day and night, and frequently beat him harshly. The villagers couldn't stand it.

But Qin Sanniang was unmoved by Wang's ridicule and said, "Wang, how dare you say that? I remember your family once had a daughter left by the first wife, named Li Huahua, right? When you abused Li Huahua back then, why didn't you say your heart was dark? Let's not be like crows disliking black pigs, okay?"

Qin Sanniang's words reminded everyone of Li Huahua. She was once a well-known pitiful person in the village, but Li Huahua was lucky to enter Yuan Jie's family and cut ties with her biological father and stepmother. Now she was doing quite well, living a life completely different from Zhang Zhaocai's.

Soon, the dishes arrived, as plentiful and delicious as usual. Everyone began eating heartily.

Zhang Zhaocai, wearing tattered clothes, cautiously approached the table, hoping to eat some as well.

Qin Sanniang saw Zhang Zhaocai coming and immediately kicked him to the ground with a look of disgust: "You dirty thing, stay away from me! Who told you to come over? Get lost! With that miserable look on your face, do you want to make the whole village laugh at your stepmother?"

"Father, mother, I'm hungry..." Zhang Zhaocai sat on the ground, starving, his eyes flashing stars, and his stomach growling.

The villagers all turned to look, whispering and pointing at Zhang Zhuzi and his wife. Zhang Zhuzi felt embarrassed since that was his biological son, so he quietly urged Qin Sanniang, "Sanniang, why not let our son eat some? After all, this banquet isn't paid for by us."

Qin Sanniang thought it over and agreed. Since she had already given the bride price, one more person eating was just taking advantage. So she allowed Zhang Zhaocai to come eat.