Father Jiang, released by Zhao Rui, sat on the ground spitting out mouthfuls of dust, then wiped his face in disgust. He glared viciously at Jiang Nan, wanting to strike her again, but under Zhao Rui’s watchful eyes he finally held back. When that man had pinned him down, he couldn’t move an inch—the strength was terrifying. He could imagine how painful a beating from him would be. So he ignored Zhao Rui and arrogantly ordered Jiang Nan: “Tell me, how much money are you giving?”
Jiang Nan laughed, squatted down, and tapped the ground with her hatchet. “Letting your son off wasn’t enough?”
Then she called out to Li Xu: “Xiao Xu, ‘send’ Jiang Yuanzhi a couple of kicks, let Old Comrade Jiang see our ‘sincerity.’”
Li Xu nearly burst out laughing at his sister’s gangster-like tone. But he obeyed, stepping forward. Just as he was about to kick Jiang Yuanzhi’s fat belly, Mother Jiang threw herself over her son to shield him.
So Li Xu changed direction and kicked Jiang Yuanzhi’s thighbone twice.
Jiang Yuanzhi wanted to clutch his leg, but his knees still hurt from when Jiang Nan and Li Xu had knelt on them earlier—he couldn’t bend them. He could only grimace and roll slightly on the ground, pinned down by his mother’s weight, nearly suffocating.
Father Jiang, furious and distressed, tried to get up to check on him, but Zhao Rui pressed his shoulder down, squeezing so hard his shoulder blade ached.
“That’s your own brother!” Father Jiang cursed Jiang Nan, gasping in pain.
Jiang Nan smiled: “That’s why I said your family never learns. I’ve stressed many times—we severed ties. You’re not my parents, and your son is not my brother. Don’t waste time. Speak up quickly, and I’ll send you all out cleanly. If not, fine—Yuanzhi can suffer more, and you two can carry him home.”
“Big sister, are you just going to watch this wretched girl disrespect her elders and bully your own brother?” Father Jiang, helpless, turned to Aunt Jiang for help.
Aunt Jiang snorted coldly: “Now you remember you’re my brother? When you stormed into my house, bullying my niece, where was that respect? Be smart—tell Xiao Nan the truth, and your son will suffer less. Otherwise, don’t call me. I stand with my niece. I don’t care if unrelated people live or die!”
Father Jiang, humiliated, lashed out, listing Aunt Jiang’s supposed faults—how she hadn’t returned to her parents’ home, hadn’t supported them in old age, hadn’t helped him, and had stolen his daughter.
Hearing him twist facts and slander Aunt Jiang, Jiang Nan lost patience. She slammed the hatchet against his thighbone. Father Jiang cried out in pain, finally silenced.
Jiang Nan sneered, stood up, and brushed imaginary dust from her pants. “Looks like you won’t cry until you see the coffin!”
Saying this, Jiang Nan turned with the hatchet and advanced on Jiang Yuanzhi again.
This time, Mother Jiang seized her chance, lunging to scratch at Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan caught her wrist, twisted it back, and instantly robbed her of her viciousness—she cried out in pain.
Jiang Nan smiled. She had spent good money learning free combat; if she couldn’t handle a middle-aged woman who only knew how to claw faces and pull hair, that money would have been wasted. When she was weak, she could only rely on words and wit. Now that her body had recovered, she wasn’t about to let anyone bully her.
Holding her mother in one hand, Jiang Nan’s face twisted into a snarl as she swung the hatchet down at Jiang Yuanzhi. Though she used only the flat and back of the blade, the ferocity of it made Father Jiang break out in sweat, his body going limp. Hearing his son’s screams and pleas—“Dad, give her the thing, save me!”—he finally cracked.
“Fine! Someone wrote a letter to the house!” Fumbling, he pulled the letter from his pocket. He had brought it to confront Jiang Nan, worried she would deny the money. But this wolfish girl gave no room for negotiation—she had driven them out and raised a blade!
Zhao Rui, standing close, took the letter from him, carefully checked the stamps and postmarks, and read the contents. Then he nodded to Jiang Nan: “It’s real.”
Jiang Nan sneered at her father: “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to say so from the start?” Then she twisted her mother’s arm, dragged her to the door, and with a deft motion flung her out.
Li Xu and Zhao Rui, in perfect sync, each grabbed Jiang Yuanzhi by the collar, forcing him up, while another hand clamped Father Jiang’s shoulder, making him stand. Together they hauled the pair to the door and shoved them out, slamming it shut with a loud “bang.”
The Jiang family of three, along with curious villagers clutching their lunches, were left outside.
Jiang Nan took the letter from Zhao Rui but didn’t open it immediately. Instead, she urged the Li family to continue eating. After such a scene—terrifying yet exhilarating—the family was still buzzing, their appetite gone. Even the two children stared at Jiang Nan with shining eyes, as if she were a hero who had defeated villains.
Jiang Nan laughed. She had worried that today’s bloody confrontation and her ferocious face might frighten the children. Unexpectedly, they were bold. “Auntie, we still need to eat,” she reminded.
Aunt Jiang pointed at her, sighing helplessly. After today, her niece’s reputation for being fierce and “unfilial” would spread again after so many years. She sighed, carried the dishes back to the kitchen to reheat, and invited Zhao Rui, who had helped, to stay for the meal.
Zhao Rui declined. He had left his own lunch halfway to come over. His mother would reheat it for him, and it wasn’t too late to return now. Then, despite the Li family’s repeated attempts to keep him, Zhao Rui left.
Outside, the Jiang family of three were crying to the villagers about Jiang Nan’s cruelty. When they saw Zhao Rui come out, they shrank back in fear, not daring to speak. He gave them a cold glance, pushed through the crowd, and went home.
At the Zhao household, Mother Zhao and Zhao Chuanze had also gone to see what happened. Mother Zhao, widowed young, knew well that if a woman weren’t tough and fierce, she would be bullied. So she wasn’t shocked by Jiang Nan’s behavior—she even admired and liked her a little.
But Zhao Chuanze was different. He felt a growing fear of Jiang Nan, especially the image of her raising the blade toward his brother’s lower body—it kept replaying in his mind. He quietly covered his own little part, thinking: *I offended that bad woman. What if she comes to chop mine?* He secretly warned himself to stay far away from her in the future.
Back at the Li household, Aunt Jiang and Sun Xiuzhen busied themselves in the kitchen. Jiang Nan washed the hatchet and her hands, while Li Xu used a pig-manure shovel to scoop up the urine-soaked dirt and dump it into the latrine.
After everyone finished tidying up, they sat down to eat. Only then did Jiang Nan open the letter.
The handwriting was wild and shaky, clearly written by someone unskilled, with no recognizable habits. But inside, it clearly stated that she had taken 700 yuan when leaving the Cheng family.
Li Xu leaned over to read with her. Jiang Nan handed him the paper and focused on the envelope. There was no sender’s address, only a city postal code.
Li Xu flipped the letter back and forth several times, finding nothing, and asked: “Sis, there’s nothing to see here. Do you have any clue who’s trying to set you up?”
Jiang Nan didn’t answer. She toyed with the envelope, her eyes darkening. It could only be the Cheng family.
A few days later, Jiang Nan chose a rest day to go out. Aunt Jiang asked where she was going. When she heard Jiang Nan was heading to the Cheng household, she guessed it was to deal with the letter and insisted she take Li Xu along for backup.
So Jiang Nan and Li Xu went into the city. On the bus to the machinery factory, they encountered a man boarding with Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Mingsheng.
The bus was crowded, with no seats left. The man and the children happened to stand right beside Jiang Nan and Li Xu. Jiang Nan had no intention of giving up her seat to the children, so she sat firm.
The two kids spotted her, their cheerful smiles vanishing instantly. They clung to the man’s legs, glaring at her angrily.
Jiang Nan deliberately curled her lips in a mocking half-smile. To the man, it looked like she was scaring the children. His eyes turned sharp as he gave her a warning look.
Jiang Nan found it amusing—she wondered which of Cheng Yixin’s suitors this one was. Actors in the TV drama and real people didn’t look the same—that was the trouble. Without names, she couldn’t match them.
After getting off the bus, Jiang Nan deliberately led Li Xu to follow behind the man and the Lu siblings. Even though the man slowed his pace to match the children, they never passed him.
Li Xu didn’t understand, but trusted his sister had a reason, so he followed quietly without urging.
The man, though he didn’t look back, sensed their presence. The children kept making faces at them, which annoyed him. He couldn’t figure out what this pair wanted.
Fortunately, the Cheng household soon appeared. Once he dropped the children off, he could confront the two without worry.
Cheng Yixin calculated the time the children would be home and kept adjusting her makeup in front of the mirror. She couldn’t dress too obviously, lest the man realize she had prepared just for him, sense her feelings, and distance himself. But she also couldn’t be too casual, exposing flaws and losing all charm.
Thinking this, Cheng Yixin looked at her blushing reflection and blamed the man for being too principled—it gave her headaches. He was endlessly tender with Xiaoxiao and Mingsheng, but with her he was curt, always keeping his distance. The first time he took the children boating, people teased them for looking like a family. After that, whenever he took the children out, he refused to let her join.
Cheng Yixin dared not push too hard, afraid of driving him away. She could only try to leave a good impression when he came to drop off or pick up the children, hoping for a chance to get closer.
Today was no different. She stepped out to greet them, but when she saw her former sister-in-law trailing behind the man and the children, her smile nearly faltered.
“Thank you again for today,” Cheng Yixin said to the man, then urged the children to thank him too.
Watching them cling to his hand, bouncing happily and chattering about how they didn’t want to part, Cheng Yixin’s heart sank. She wanted more time with him, but Jiang Nan’s half-smile told her today was not the right moment.
Jiang Shao had always avoided too much contact with comrades’ widows. Every time he delivered the children, he left immediately. Today was no exception—especially since two troublesome people were following him.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Nan greeted him first: “Yixin, aren’t you going to introduce this comrade to me?”
At her words, Cheng Yixin grew wary. The two children clung tightly to the man’s legs, their eyes saying clearly: *He’s ours, not yours!*
Jiang Nan found it amusing. Without waiting for Cheng Yixin’s reply, she asked directly: “Comrade, your surname? Which unit do you work in?”
Jiang Shao kept his face cold, glaring at her: “Jiang Shao. Public Security Bureau.”
But this ill-intentioned woman wasn’t intimidated. Her eyes lit up with curiosity.
How could Jiang Nan not be intrigued!
Seeing how much Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Mingsheng relied on and adored him, she had assumed he was Cheng Yixin’s second husband—the drama’s male lead. But he wasn’t. And Cheng Yixin didn’t seem to have a suitor surnamed Jiang. Plus, his profession was police?
Jiang Nan pulled out the letter from her bag, smiling inwardly. What a coincidence!
“Comrade Jiang, since you’re friends with Cheng Yixin, could you help me—her former sister-in-law—with a small matter?” Jiang Nan asked with a smile.
The moment Cheng Yixin saw the letter, her pupils shrank, and her throat tightened. She forced her voice to remain calm: “Comrade Jiang, I’m not friends with her. Please don’t use my name to trouble him. And Comrade Jiang is very busy—don’t take up his personal time.”
Then Cheng Yixin turned to Jiang Shao: “Thank you for taking care of the children these past days. I had planned to host you today, but some unexpected visitors came to the house, so it’s inconvenient. We’ll have to wait until next time.”
Only then did Jiang Shao realize who the strange woman was—Xiaoxiao and Mingsheng’s former aunt. No wonder the children reacted that way. After all, strained relationships between aunts and nephews weren’t uncommon. He could understand.
Seeing that Cheng Yixin didn’t want him involved, Jiang Shao prepared to leave.
But Jiang Nan stepped sideways, blocking his path. “Don’t be in such a hurry, Comrade Jiang. I love having an audience when I settle accounts. Right now things are quiet, the neighbors haven’t come out—why don’t you stay and watch?”
The veins on Jiang Shao’s forehead bulged. *What kind of ridiculous reason is that?* But then he asked: “Are you trying to make trouble for my comrade’s widow?”
If that was the case, he truly couldn’t walk away. He and Lu Lin had served in the same unit, surviving missions together, forging deep bonds. Later they were assigned to different units and contact dwindled.
After Lu Lin’s death, Jiang Shao knew his family was financially stable, and his wife’s family was well-off too. The children would be cared for, so he hadn’t felt the need to send monthly support as he did for poorer comrades’ families. Unexpectedly, after his injury forced him to transfer to Ancheng, the first case he handled was Lu Lin’s widow.
To be honest, Cheng Yixin’s case wasn’t serious. They seized a dozen clothes, and she insisted they were helping classmates. His family had connections, and he knew the higher-ups were already studying economic reforms—such activities would soon be legal, even encouraged.
To prevent Lu Lin’s children from having a criminal mother that could ruin their future, he and Cheng Yixin’s brother worked together to protect her.
Now someone claimed they wanted to trouble Cheng Yixin—he couldn’t ignore it.
Jiang Nan noticed his shifting expression and said casually: “At the moment, I don’t know which member of the Cheng family did this. But your comrade’s widow is the most likely.”
At that, Cheng Yixin lost her composure. “Comrade Jiang, you and my brother divorced over half a year ago. You’ve come to our door more than once to cause trouble. What exactly do you want from us?”
Jiang Nan laughed. “Yixin, listen to yourself. When have I ever come without reason? Every time it’s because *you* provoked me first. I’m just returning the favor.” She wasn’t about to take the blame.
Seeing Jiang Nan about to drag up old scandals, Cheng Yixin quickly said to Jiang Shao: “Comrade Jiang, please go. This is our family’s private matter. I can handle it. Thank you for your willingness to help.”
But Jiang Nan wasn’t letting him leave. Li Xu stepped forward, blocking the man’s way.
Though he looked arrogant, Li Xu was inwardly terrified! Just look at those muscles, that build—he couldn’t possibly win. If only he’d dragged Brother Rui along too!
After the standoff dragged on, someone from the Cheng household finally came out.
Mother Cheng greeted Jiang Shao first, then saw Jiang Nan. Her face was weary, her heart filled with one thought: *What trouble is she here to stir up again?!*
Cheng Denglin, however, was surprised. “Xiao Nan, is something wrong?”
Jiang Nan had already visited to see Cheng Hao earlier this month. Coming again today could only mean she had business.
Without a word, Jiang Nan handed him the letter.
Cheng Denglin opened it with suspicion, then grew serious. “Are you alright?” he asked with concern. He knew well how troublesome his in-laws were. Xiao Nan, carrying so much money alone, was like a piece of fat meat in their eyes—how could they resist taking a bite?
“Nothing serious, just a fight,” Jiang Nan said casually. She looked around at the Cheng family, then asked Cheng Denglin: “Tell me, who do you think sent this letter to my hometown?”
Cheng Yixin’s heart skipped.
Cheng Denglin fell silent. Jiang Nan’s visit meant she suspected the letter had come from the Cheng household.
Mother Cheng, listening to their cryptic exchange, grew impatient. She only wanted Jiang Nan gone quickly, lest she ruin their family’s image—especially Cheng Yixin’s—in Jiang Shao’s eyes.
So she snatched the letter from Cheng Denglin’s hand, glanced at it, then looked at Jiang Nan with feigned confusion. “Xiao Nan, you’re accusing our family based on this scrawl?!”
The envelope and paper were ordinary, with no markings. The handwriting didn’t match anyone in their household. Why blame them? Couldn’t it be that Jiangnan had provoked someone outside, flaunted her money, and been targeted?
Jiang Nan sneered. “The key point is the ‘seven hundred yuan.’ Only five people know the exact amount of my savings.” She raised her hand, folding down her thumb: “The postal clerk—and the four of you.”
“That… that doesn’t prove it was us!” Mother Cheng tried to argue.
Jiang Nan replied: “Let’s set aside that I don’t even know the clerk, nor bear any grudge. Even if it were her, would she really go out of her way to mail from a city post office instead of her own? Clearing her is easy—just check if she was on duty that day. So, what about your family?”
The Chengs’ faces darkened.
Father Cheng snapped: “Xiao Jiang, after living together all these years, do you really see us as such vile people?”
At his words, Jiang Nan clapped her hands. “Good. Based on your, Aunt Cheng’s, and Denglin’s ignorance and anger, I can almost rule you out. Which leaves… you, Cheng Yixin.”
Everyone turned to Cheng Yixin. She lied without flinching: “This is nothing but your baseless suspicion, Comrade Jiang. Our family never did such a thing. How can we prove we didn’t? Stop making trouble.”
Jiang Nan smiled and stepped closer. Cheng Yixin met her gaze without fear.
Suddenly, Jiang Nan grabbed her by the hair, forcing her head down.
Everyone was stunned.
Cheng Yixin cried out in pain, screaming.
Mother Cheng gasped in horror and rushed forward to help, but Jiang Nan yanked Cheng Yixin back, making her cry out again. Mother Cheng dared not approach further.
Father Cheng, Cheng Denglin, and Jiang Shao stepped closer, but none dared to pull Jiang Nan away. They could only try to reason with her: “Xiao Jiang/Xiao Nan, what are you doing?!”
Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Mingsheng rushed at Jiang Nan to save their mother, but were shoved aside by Cheng Hao, who appeared out of nowhere. If Jiang Shao hadn’t caught them from behind, they would have fallen.
Jiang Nan felt gratified—it hadn’t been in vain, all the good food and fun she’d given him these past months. She lowered her head to Cheng Yixin, who was clutching her wrist, trying to pry her hand away. “Yixin, when you were reported and taken to the Public Security Bureau—was that caused by me?”
Cheng Yixin didn’t answer. Jiang Nan tightened her grip, and Cheng Yixin, not wanting more pain, shook her head.
Jiang Nan asked softly: “Then why drag me into your misery? Are you a princess? I divorced your brother over half a year ago. I deliberately chose a place far from your family to live and work. How can you turn me from your blood bag into your punching bag? That’s not reasonable, is it?”
“Xiao Nan, what nonsense are you spouting?!” Mother Cheng shrilled, glancing at Jiang Shao and the gathering neighbors, her voice sharp with blame.
Jiang Nan lifted her head. Jiang Shao looked at them with a complicated expression, while Cheng Denglin’s face was predictably weary and resigned.
Then Jiang Nan shoved Cheng Yixin forward by her hair, knocking her into her mother’s arms, and laughed: “Next time you paste a stamp, remember to use glue from the post office—not your household paste. Your mother boils it with sugar so the children can eat it.”
Mother Cheng froze.
Cheng Hao snatched the envelope from his father’s hand, tore off the stamp, and licked it. “It really is sweet!”