Old Madam Cheng shot her son and daughter-in-law a sharp look, wishing she could beat them on the spot.
She had given the meat patties out of kindness, never expecting them to bring trouble upon Ye Xiu’e.
“I’m sorry, Xiu’e. I failed to discipline them properly and caused you trouble.
Once I get them home, I’ll make sure they receive a proper lesson.”
The moment Cheng Da and his wife heard that, they visibly shrank back.
Old Madam Cheng ruled the household.
Life was not going to be pleasant for them anytime soon.
Their resentment toward Su Wangcai and Xu Shi grew even stronger.
Since Old Madam Cheng had already apologized, Ye Xiu’e couldn’t really say much more.
She had arrived in time, and no real damage had been done.
Though she still felt wronged, so many people had witnessed everything.
Cheng Da and his wife had already ruined their reputations.
And Old Madam Cheng was a capable woman—she certainly wouldn’t let them off easily.
Amid the villagers’ insults and scolding, she dragged the couple away.
Their faces were bright red, and neither could lift their heads.
At last, the truth had come out.
The villagers were preparing to leave.
“Wait! Everyone, please don’t go yet.”
Ye Xiu’e’s voice rang out.
The crowd immediately stopped.
More drama?
Of course they stayed.
Su Wanwan’s eyes lit up.
Her mother was clever.
She hadn’t even thought of this move.
“I don’t agree!”
Another voice suddenly sounded from outside.
Old Madam Su had arrived.
“Xiu’e, what happened today was the eldest family’s fault.
But you can’t just talk about splitting the family whenever something happens.
As the saying goes, harmony in the family brings prosperity.
How will you and Wanwan survive on your own if you move out?”
Old Madam Su launched into another emotional performance.
She had been hiding behind the back window and had witnessed everything.
She thought the plan would succeed.
Instead, it had backfired spectacularly.
If Ye Xiu’e moved out, she’d lose that ten-yuan monthly subsidy.
Not to mention the two hundred yuan pension money she still owed.
The thought made her heart ache.
No matter what, she couldn’t let them separate.
Some villagers who didn’t know the full story nodded in agreement.
In this era, dividing a family was considered a very serious matter.
Even He Liang tried to persuade her.
“That’s right. Once Su Wangcai and his wife return, I’ll personally educate them.
I’ll make them apologize.
As for splitting the family, you should think it over carefully.”
Ye Xiu’e laughed coldly.
“If Old Madam Cheng hadn’t arrived in time today, they would’ve swallowed me alive.
And now you want to brush it all aside with a few words?
It’s not that easy.”
Seeing that reason wasn’t working, Old Madam Su switched tactics.
“Xiu’e, Youcai only left one child behind.
I’m already so old.
Can’t you show a little consideration for me?”
Some villagers immediately began sympathizing with her.
“She’s right, Xiu’e. At least she can help look after the child and cook meals.”
Unfortunately, those words only made Ye Xiu’e angrier.
She walked over to Su Wanwan and rolled up her sleeve.
A collective gasp filled the room.
Dark bruises covered the little arm.
One after another.
The sight was shocking.
Ye Xiu’e rolled up the other sleeve.
It was just as terrible.
“Do you all see this?
This is what you call helping to raise a child?”
The moment she saw those injuries again, tears welled up in her eyes.
Su Wanwan quickly adjusted her sleeves and wrapped her arms around her mother.
“Mommy, don’t cry. Mommy, don’t cry. Wanwan doesn’t hurt anymore.”
The touching scene, combined with the little girl’s maturity, only made everyone angrier.
“Wanwan is such a good child! How could anyone be cruel enough to do this?”
“What kind of monster beats a child like that?”
Even He Liang was furious.
He slammed his palm against the table so hard that everyone jumped.
“Old Madam Su!
When Comrade Ye told me about this earlier, I didn’t believe it.
Who would’ve thought you were this vicious?
Do you know this counts as child abuse?!”
Old Madam Su hadn’t expected Ye Xiu’e to completely tear away all pretenses in front of so many people.
“She was disobedient, so I disciplined her.
What child doesn’t get beaten?
Why is she suddenly so precious?”
Her words instantly sparked public outrage.
Parents did occasionally discipline children.
But what she had done went far beyond ordinary punishment.
She had nearly beaten the child to death.
He Liang slapped the table several more times.
Poor table.
Su Wanwan silently felt sorry for it.
“Old Madam Su!
This is child abuse.
If the authorities determine you’re guilty, you could be arrested!”
Now Old Madam Su finally became frightened.
Losing face was one thing.
Going to jail was another.
That absolutely couldn’t happen.
“Team Leader He, isn’t that a bit exaggerated?
I wasn’t abusing her.
I was only disciplining her.
I won’t do it again.
Please don’t have me arrested!”
He Liang snorted.
“You really are a family full of black-hearted people.”
At that moment, Ye Xiu’e spoke.
“Team Leader He, do you still have any objections to me separating from this family?”
He Liang fell silent.
He had assumed the Su family could provide protection for this lonely mother and daughter.
Instead, they had brought nothing but slander and suffering.
This was the family of a fallen soldier.
When Su Youcai died, higher authorities had specifically instructed them to take good care of his wife and child.
The villagers no longer objected either.
Everyone agreed that the Su family had gone too far.
They wholeheartedly supported the separation.
“Fine!
We’ll split the family.
I’ll personally inventory the household assets.
Everything that belongs to Comrade Ye and her daughter will be given to them.
Not a single grain of rice will be withheld.”
Old Madam Su immediately began wailing.
“Oh heavens! We can’t split the family!”
“Hold on.”
Ye Xiu’e cut her off.
“Before you cry, return the two hundred yuan pension money you still owe me.”
The reminder only made Old Madam Su cry even harder.
Su Hongxia was standing right there.
The excuse about lending her the money couldn’t be used anymore.
Where was she supposed to get two hundred yuan now?
Su Hongxia merely watched coldly from the side.
She didn’t defend her own mother.
Old Madam Su had always favored sons over daughters.
When Hongxia lived at home, she’d suffered plenty herself.
She knew exactly how Old Madam Su treated Ye Xiu’e and Su Wanwan.
If they wanted to separate, she had no objections.
When He Liang heard there was still pension money involved, he immediately demanded an explanation.
After listening to Ye Xiu’e’s account, he exploded again.
He ordered Old Madam Su to return the money immediately.
But she simply didn’t have it.
Under pressure, she finally confessed everything.
The poor table suffered yet another beating.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“You mother and son really are cut from the same cloth!
One of you used the pension money to build a house and wouldn’t even let them live in it.
The other spent the rest buying himself a bicycle.
Not a shred of guilt between you!
Your skin must be so thick even a shovel couldn’t scrape through it!”
The villagers eagerly joined in.
“Exactly!”
“This Su family’s shamelessness has truly opened our eyes!”
Old Madam Su’s face alternated between red and white.
Since there was no money left, He Liang came up with a solution.
“Fine.
Since Su Wangcai spent their pension money,
the two rooms he’s currently occupying will be given to Comrade Ye and her daughter.
When he returns, he’ll move out immediately.”