Upon hearing Fang Yao’s threat to pack up and return to her parents’ home, Old Mrs. Xu’s wrinkled face trembled three times. She thought to herself that if Fang Yao were allowed to leave, it would be difficult to get the betrothal gifts back. Either way, the money would be wasted, and Xu Qingzhou would lose a living, breathing wife!
Immediately, she waved her hand grandly and ordered Wang Hua beside her: “Go, call Manjiang and his family of three over right now. Tell them to compensate Fang Yao!”
Wang Hua, also afraid that Fang Yao might leave on the spot, hurried over to the neighboring house.
Soon, Wang Cuilian arrived with Xu Manjiang, followed by Xu Jianshu and his family of three.
Wang Cuilian immediately slapped her thighs and sat down on the ground, as if her family were the victims: “Li Xuemiao was nearly driven to death by you yesterday, and now she’s still lying in our house. The doctor said that if things go wrong, she could end up mentally impaired or disabled, and it would all fall on our family! Fang Yao, you beat up Manjiang last night too. Do you have to cling to this one mistake and drive our whole family to ruin? We can’t afford to pay you, but my life is right here. Why don’t you just take it?”
Fang Yao had seen enough of her shameless antics in her previous life. In the end, it was nothing more than a tactic to gain greater benefits at the lowest cost.
If you believed her and gave an inch, what awaited you was her taking a mile, pushing her luck even further!
She snorted coldly and stood beside Old Mrs. Xu: “When we were discussing the wedding date, our family always insisted on avoiding Xu Qingzhou’s schedule, but you insisted otherwise, which led to Xu Manjiang mistaking the bride. Ultimately, the fault lies with you. If you’re truly sincere about making amends, then compensate with real money. Don’t try to fool anyone with your worthless life—no one cares for it!”
“You…” Wang Cuilian’s face and neck flushed red again from Fang Yao’s words. She turned to Wang Hua and tried to stir up trouble: “Sister-in-law, listen to what she’s saying! Manjiang made a mistake, but we’re all one family after all. Once the door is closed, there’s no distinction between inside and outside! Are you really going to let this shameless girl act so arrogantly in our home? She’s only just arrived, and she’s already like this. In the future, won’t she be walking all over Qingzhou? With our Qingzhou’s qualities, what kind of girl couldn’t he find? Why insist on this money-grubbing one?”
Wang Cuilian calculated in her heart that if she could drive Fang Yao away, even if compensation had to be paid, she could later talk to Wang Hua and save Xu Qingzhou’s share!
However, she didn’t know that when Wang Hua had arranged Xu Qingzhou’s marriage, it was Xu Qingzhou who had been unwilling. It was only after Wang Hua insisted that the marriage with Li Xuemiao was finalized.
Last night, when Li Xuemiao was mistakenly sent to the Bridal Chamber, Wang Hua had feared that Xu Qingzhou would use it as an excuse to back out of the marriage. Fortunately, Xu Qingzhou had taken the initiative to marry Fang Yao, which put her mind at ease! If Wang Cuilian drove Fang Yao away with her temper, wouldn’t Wang Hua be left in the lurch again?
Thus, the usually generous and easygoing Wang Hua refuted Wang Cuilian: “Sister-in-law, stop talking nonsense. When someone commits a crime, they face legal consequences. Since Manjiang made a mistake, he should bear the corresponding responsibility. Even if we are one family, this grievance cannot be suffered in vain.”
“Exactly! Second daughter-in-law, I called you here not to let you muddy the waters. Qingzhou’s promised wife was taken by your Manjiang, and Fang Yao’s reputation was tarnished as well! You should pay the compensation!” Old Mrs. Xu also spoke up to reprimand her.
Wang Cuilian, seeing the entire family siding with Fang Yao, felt aggrieved and covered her face, sobbing loudly, "You're trying to drive me to my death…"
Xu Jianshu wanted to argue with Fang Yao, but as she was a woman and a junior, he couldn't bring himself to lower his pride. He could only stand stiffly to the side, his expression rigid.
Xu Manjiang had been glaring fiercely at Fang Yao since he entered the room, his face still bearing the bruises from the beating he received the night before—red and purple patches, swollen like a half-stewed pig's head.
He walked over to Wang Cuilian and helped her up from the ground.
Pointing accusingly, he said indignantly, "Fang Yao, don't act all high and mighty after taking advantage! If you really had any backbone, you'd take your bag and leave! Why stick around in my house with my cousin? In the end, you're just after my brother's conditions. Have you ever thought that if I hadn't been willing to marry you, you wouldn't even have the right to step into our Xu Family's door? What are you pretending for here?"
Looking at his provocative and arrogant face, Fang Yao really wanted to rush over, give him another good beating, and tear his mouth to shreds!
But then she thought, hitting someone would hurt her own hands too—it wasn't worth it.
"Is this the attitude of someone who's made a mistake? It seems the lesson wasn't enough to make you reflect. Fine, I've changed my mind now. You won't get a single cent less than two thousand in compensation. If you don't pay, I'll go to the county town and report it, let the officials come and settle this!"
Fang Yao made a show of walking out, though she was already certain the Xu Family wouldn't let her leave.
Old Mrs. Xu, proud and concerned about face her whole life, would never allow a scandal to spread and escalate to the county town. And Wang Cuilian—no matter how much she made a fuss, when it came to serious trouble, she'd shrink back, especially when it involved her precious son, which was like taking half her life!
Sure enough, before Fang Yao had taken two steps, Old Mrs. Xu rushed down and stopped her.
"Fang Yao, my dear child, don't go. Grandma will make sure justice is done for you today!"
After saying this, Old Mrs. Xu grabbed her walking stick and struck Xu Manjiang, her neck veins bulging with anger. "You're the one who caused this mess, and we're here cleaning up after you. How dare you say such heartless things? Do we have to send you away before you'll calm down? I'll beat some sense into you, you useless thing!"
Old Mrs. Xu struck him four or five times in a row. Xu Manjiang endured the pain, not daring to fight back, but glared at Fang Yao with dead-fish eyes full of malice.
Wang Cuilian, torn between heartache for her son and fear of him going to jail, ultimately chose to compromise.
"Mom, stop hitting him. We'll pay her, we'll pay!"
"If you'd agreed earlier, wouldn't it have saved him this beating?" Old Mrs. Xu, exhausted from the effort, panted as she returned to sit on the edge of the bed.
Wang Cuilian wiped her tears and looked at Fang Yao, her gaze still unfriendly but no longer as arrogant as before.
"Fang Yao, if you marry Qingzhou, you'll be part of our Xu Family, and you'll have to call me Second Aunt. We'll have a long time ahead, seeing each other day in and day out. Do you really want to take things to the extreme? We can't afford the two thousand you're asking for. If you'll take one thousand, I'll give it to you right now!"
Fang Yao curled the corner of her lips and took two steps back. Knowing Wang Cuilian as she did, once a grudge was formed, there was no hope for peaceful coexistence in the future!
Since they were bound to break ties eventually, better to make it quick and clean now!
"Aunt, I initially left some leeway, but you pushed your luck and forced me to tear off all pretense. Now that the stick has struck you and you feel the pain, you come to me talking about feelings? Well, today I’ll make sure you remember this lesson—if you’re even a single cent short of two thousand yuan, this matter is far from over!"
"Fang Yao, you’re raising the price on the spot—this is clearly extortion!" Xu Manjiang, having forgotten the pain once the wound healed, pointed an accusing finger again.
Old Mrs. Xu, quick as lightning, struck him with her cane once more. "Shut your mouth!"
Xu Manjiang closed his mouth with a grim expression, filled with deep regret. How could he have ever taken a liking to Fang Yao? She seemed like a simple, honest girl, but who would have thought she not only resorted to violence but also had such a fiery temper!
Fang Yao couldn’t care less what he thought of her. Today, she was determined to thoroughly crush their arrogance.
She had never stooped to shameless tactics, but when dealing with people like them, it was only fitting to give them a taste of their own medicine. She narrowed her eyes slyly and let out a scornful chuckle.
"That’s right, I am extorting you! From now on, remember to steer clear when you see me, or I’ll extort you until your whole family is left without a stitch to wear!"