Song Xiaoyu felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Fortunately, the medical space she had possessed in the apocalypse had transmigrated with her. Otherwise, being thrown into an unfamiliar ancient world would have left her completely at a loss.
“Mother, this is medicine for treating injuries. Once you drink it, the wounds on your body will heal very quickly.”
Zhou Rong was already overwhelmed with joy after seeing her daughter return to normal. Without asking any questions, she uncorked the bottle and swallowed the medicine in one gulp.
“Huh?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“My stomach really doesn’t hurt anymore! Even the handprint on my face seems to have faded!”
She touched her abdomen before rushing to the bronze mirror to examine her reflection.
Song Xiaoyu maintained a serious expression.
“Mother, I made that medicine according to the teachings of the immortal in my dream. I have inherited his medical knowledge. I truly know how to heal people now. From today onward, we’ll hold our heads high and never let others bully us again.”
Zhou Rong clenched her teeth, resentment filling her eyes.
“Xiaoyu, don’t worry. All these years, I endured everything because I thought your Uncle Beishan deserved our support. After all, when your father fell into the river back then, it was your Uncle Beishan who saved his life. Your father always felt indebted to him.
“But now, your grandmother has gone too far. Seeing that your father can no longer hunt, she’s trying to destroy our entire branch. The debt we owed your Uncle Beishan was repaid long ago. We don’t need to endure this any longer.”
A hint of surprise flashed through Song Xiaoyu’s heart.
She had not expected her mother to be so clear-headed. At least she was not blindly obedient and foolishly filial.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
The bedroom door was pushed open.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, come out quickly! Father-in-law is back and wants to speak with you!”
Xiao Zou’s voice rang out, unable to hide the delight she took in the situation.
When the mother and daughter entered the main hall, they found Old Master Song sitting in the seat of honor, smoking dry tobacco.
His real name was Song Dawang, and he was the original owner’s grandfather.
“Xiao Rong, I heard you ruined the marriage arrangement your mother-in-law made for Xiaoyu?”
The moment he opened his mouth, he had already assigned all the blame.
Zhou Rong instinctively stepped in front of her daughter.
“Father, Xiaoyu is my flesh and blood. The Liu family wants her to marry their dead son as a ghost bride. Isn’t that the same as sending her to her death?”
Song Beishan immediately put on a righteous expression.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, that’s not the right way to think about it.
“Niece Xiaoyu has always been different from ordinary people. Even if she married normally, what decent family would want her? Rather than letting her spend her life as a fool, wouldn’t it be better for her to ascend to the Western Paradise early? At least she can earn some bride price for the family and repay the thirteen years we spent raising her.
“Besides, the Li family is demanding twenty taels of silver. How exactly do you plan to gather it? Surely the entire family shouldn’t tighten their belts and starve through winter because of a disaster caused by an idiot?”
Ascend to the Western Paradise early?
What a pleasant way to describe murdering someone.
Song Xiaoyu stepped out from behind Zhou Rong and sneered.
“I’ll handle my dispute with Li Erniu myself.
“But tell me, who gave you the right to place the burden of supporting this family entirely on my father’s shoulders?
“For years, who earned the money for this household? Who risked his life hunting in the mountains? Every bite of food you eat, every piece of clothing you wear, every coin spent by this family came from my father’s hard work.
“As for my marriage, my parents haven’t even spoken yet. What business is it of a bunch of parasites like you?”
The room instantly fell silent.
The members of the second and third branches stared at her in shock.
Not one of them reacted immediately.
Outside the doorway, villagers had already gathered to watch.
Old Madam Zhang clicked her tongue in amazement.
“Has the eldest branch’s girl stopped being a fool?”
“It certainly looks that way. Listen to how clearly she speaks!”
The villagers loved nothing more than a good spectacle.
Whenever there was trouble, they would appear faster than anyone.
Seeing so many people gathered outside, Old Master Song felt his dignity being challenged.
“You little wretch!”
He slammed his hand against the table.
“How dare you speak to me like that? Even your parents wouldn’t dare show me such disrespect!”
Song Xiaoyu immediately fired back.
“If I’m a little wretch, then what does that make you? An old wretch?
“My parents don’t curse at you because they’re decent people who refuse to stoop to your level.
“You want to sell me to fund Uncle Beishan’s future. Why should I keep tolerating a biased old man like you?”
The crowd outside erupted into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“Serves him right!”
“Old Master Song always acts superior. Looks like he finally met his match!”
Zhou Rong saw her father-in-law’s face turning purple with rage and hurriedly tried to reason with him.
“Father, just last month Beichen sold his hunting catch for fifty taels of silver and handed all of it over to the family. The twenty taels needed for compensation can definitely be paid…”
Before she could finish, Old Master Song slammed his pipe heavily onto the table.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The sharp sounds made everyone jump.
“Enough!”
“All of you shut up!”
“That money is reserved for Brother Beishan’s studies in town next spring. Not a single coin can be touched!
“The marriage agreement with the Liu family has already been made. We cannot break our word. Otherwise, people will say our Song family is dishonest and ungrateful!”
At that very moment, Song Beichen returned from town.
His injured leg had not yet healed, and he had been brought back on a cart by his younger brothers.
As soon as he reached the doorway, he heard every word.
His father, whom he had respected and obeyed his entire life, was forcing his granddaughter toward death again and again.
Even now, Song Beichen still clung to a final sliver of hope.
“Father.”
His voice was hoarse.
“Xiaoyu is my only child. As for Brother Beishan’s study expenses next spring, we can find another way later.”
Before Old Master Song could answer, Song Beishan rushed forward.
“Eldest brother Beichen, that’s easy for you to say.
“You’re crippled now. The doctor already said you may never stand properly again. How are you supposed to hunt and earn money?
“I’ve spent years studying day and night. I’m confident I can pass the spring examinations in one attempt. If I miss this opportunity, who knows when I’ll get another chance?
“Once I become an official, our entire family will benefit. Eldest Brother, all you need to do is wait and enjoy the rewards.”
Old Master Song nodded repeatedly.
“Exactly.
“Eldest Son, don’t be foolish.
“Your Brother Beishan is the only educated hope of our family. As his elder brother, it’s your responsibility to support him.
“And besides…”
He waved dismissively.
“Xiaoyu is only a girl. If something happens to her, you and your wife can always have another child.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Zhou Rong’s face turned pale.
Even Song Beichen froze.
Song Beishan seized the opportunity.
“Eldest Brother, have you forgotten?
“When I jumped into the river to save you, I suffered a high fever for three months afterward.
“You swore back then that you would support my studies until I passed the examinations.
“Surely you’re not the kind of man who breaks his promises.”
He looked completely confident.
Over the years, that incident had become his favorite weapon.
Whenever he brought it up, Song Beichen would give in.
But before Song Beichen could respond, Song Xiaoyu stepped forward.
“My father has his own family to support.
“He has a wife and a daughter.
“Why should he work himself to the bone like an ox or a horse just to feed a pack of ungrateful wolves?”
Her sharp gaze swept over Song Beishan.
“Even if you did save my father once, the food, clothing, and education he has paid for over the past decade would amount to well over a thousand taels of silver.
“That debt was repaid long ago.
“If you truly saw him as your brother, you wouldn’t drag up that tiny favor every few days.
“You don’t see him as family.
“You see him as an endless source of money.”
The crowd outside immediately exploded with discussion.
“Exactly!”
“So that’s the truth!”
“Song Beishan calls himself a scholar? All his learning must have gone to waste!”
“I never realized Old Master Song treated his eldest son this badly.”
“They spoil the third branch like treasure while treating the eldest branch like beasts of burden.”
The father and son who had always enjoyed admiration suddenly found themselves the target of ridicule.
Their faces burned with embarrassment.
Just then, Song Beihai and Xiao Wang returned, carrying Old Madam Wu on their backs.
The village doctor had forced her to vomit in time. Most of the muting medicine had been expelled.
Although her throat was still hoarse, it did not stop her from screaming.
“Eldest Son!”
Her shrill voice pierced through the courtyard.
“If you dare disobey me, then your entire branch can separate from this family and get out!”
Song Beichen stared at her in disbelief.
For years, he had worked tirelessly without complaint.
Only now, after his daughter’s words awakened him, did he finally realize the truth.
His parents had never truly cared about him.
The last warmth in his heart vanished.
Filled with sorrow, he bowed his head.
“Father. Mother.
“Since you refuse to leave Xiaoyu a path to live, then your son can only be unfilial.
“Please allow our branch to separate from the family.”
A trace of approval flashed through Song Xiaoyu’s eyes.
At least her father was not beyond saving.
Their family was united, and they would not become a burden to her in the future.
From this day forward, she would protect them.
Old Madam Wu had never expected her obedient eldest son to rebel.
Her expression turned even colder.
“Fine!”
“Since you insist on choosing that little fool over your parents, then don’t blame me for being ruthless.
“If your branch separates from the family, you won’t take a single thing with you.
“Get out and live in the abandoned thatched hut at the edge of the village!”
The gathered villagers gasped.
“My heavens!”
“It’s the middle of winter!”
“That hut leaks from every side whenever it rains!”
“How heartless can she be?”
“With Brother Song’s injured leg, how is his family supposed to survive there?”
“If a storm comes tonight, they could freeze to death!”