Xie Jinzhu was nearly knocked off course by the whip, frantically dodging while crying out in grievance, “Second Aunt, calm down!”
“I was just minding my own business at home, how is this my fault?”
“Second Sister, she…”
“If it weren’t for you, would my Er Ni have been so despised by her in-laws?!”
Second Aunt raged, “It was to raise money for you that Er Ni borrowed a large sum from her in-laws. Now she’s having a difficult labor and can’t give birth, but the Liu family says all the money was diverted to you—they refuse to call a doctor!”
“If it’s not your fault, whose is it? You’re the one who harmed her!”
In the biting wind that whipped against her face, flashes of realization struck Xie Jinzhu’s mind—she finally understood that this body of hers might not be as innocent as she thought.
Xie Jinzhu froze in shock.
Second Aunt’s wails were deafening.
Xie Jinzhu finally learned the whole story.
Xie Er Ni had married into the Liu family and given birth to two sons; the one she was struggling to deliver now was the third.
The first two sons had been born smoothly, but at this critical moment, something went wrong.
Second Brother-in-law had come home drunk and gotten into an argument with Xie Er Ni, nitpicking over every trivial matter about the Old Xie Family. Somehow, the couple ended up fighting!
Xie Er Ni had already been shaken by the news that her younger brother had become an eighth sister. With this added turmoil, she immediately went into premature labor due to the shock!
But the baby simply wouldn’t come, and the mother was visibly fading.
Only then did the Liu family send word to Second Aunt, and several members of the Xie family rushed over to help.
But without money, nothing could be done!
Second Brother-in-law had already taken a mistress outside. He had only pretended to be decent before, hoping Xie Jinzhu would make something of herself.
Now that Xie Jinzhu had failed, he was hoping for both mother and child to die!
He was just waiting for Xie Er Ni to pass away so he could bring his mistress home!
Second Aunt watched as her daughter grew weaker and weaker, her soul nearly leaving her body in panic.
But the Liu family, fearing they wouldn’t be able to collect the debt if Xie Er Ni died, seized Second Uncle Xie and demanded money. No matter how they pleaded, the Lius refused to call a doctor first.
As she spoke, Second Aunt broke into sobs again.
Xie Jinzhu took a deep breath and forced out a hoarse sentence, “Second Aunt, we have money now.”
The crying from the cart paused slightly. Xie Jinzhu declared firmly, “Whether it’s what we owe or what Second Sister needs, we can afford it all now.”
“We’ll hire the best doctor and prescribe the best medicine. Second Sister and the baby will definitely be fine.”
Second Aunt covered her face, unable to speak, as the oxcart sped along the narrow path toward its destination.
When Xie Jinzhu rushed to the Liu family with a doctor and good medicine in tow, the Liu household was in an uproar.
Second Brother-in-law truly believed Xie Er Ni wouldn’t make it. Not wanting to miss any opportunity, he shouted reeking of alcohol, “Pay back the money!”
“You must pay back the money first!”
Second Uncle Xie, worried about his daughter whose cries were growing weaker inside, yet unwilling to sour relations with his son-in-law, swallowed his anger and said, “We acknowledge the debt.”
“Whatever Er Ni took back to her family, we’ll…”
“Bah!”
“Since when are you people who keep your word?”
Old Lady Liu snapped angrily, “A whole family of troublemakers and jinxes! You got a fake grandson and treated him like a treasure, nearly ruining our family in the process!”
“How many good things has Xie Er Ni stolen from our house over the years? How much silver has she secretly funneled back to her own family? Do you really think I didn’t know?”
“Everything your fake son has built was made from what belongs to our family!”
Before, they had sweet-talked her, saying that once the Xie family’s top scholar made something of himself, their hardships would finally be over.
But now?
The Old Xie Family doesn’t even have a legitimate son to carry on the line. What’s there to cling to from an in-law family that’s bound to die out?
These Xies aren’t even fit to step through the Liu family’s door!
Xie Xiao Liu had come to take care of her second sister last night. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but retort, “But the things Second Sister took back were all things you willingly gave her.”
“You used to hope to benefit from her too, always praising Jinzhu in your words. Clearly…”
Slap!
Old Mrs. Liu slapped Xie Xiao Liu across the face, then planted her hands on her hips, fuming. “Who gave you the right to speak?!”
“You lowly little wretch… Ouch! Ouch!”
“Oh my goodness!”
“Jinzhu!”
“Who are you calling a wretch?”
Xie Jinzhu grabbed Old Mrs. Liu’s flailing arm, twisted it behind her back, and forced her to her knees with a loud thud.
Amidst the gasps from those around them, she slapped Old Mrs. Liu twice across the face. “Try cursing again! Try hitting her again!”
Old Mrs. Liu’s head was ringing from the blows, her eyes wide and unblinking.
The others were equally stunned, staring in disbelief.
Xie Jinzhu shoved her aside and said sternly, “What are you all standing around for?”
“Call the doctor in to save her!”
Second Aunt quickly grabbed the doctor and tried to usher him inside, but Second Brother-in-law blocked the doorway, shouting, “No!”
“I won’t allow it unless the silver is returned today!”
Whether Xie Er Ni lived or died didn’t matter.
What mattered was the cold, hard cash!
Second Aunt and Madam Wang were so furious they tried to claw at him, but he shoved them aside. Xie Jinzhu caught Madam Wang just as she was about to fall, her expression darkening as she stepped forward. “Are you going to move or not?”
Second Brother-in-law’s eyes were red as he yelled, “You still think you’re some scholar? What’s there to be proud of?”
“You’re nothing but a rat everyone wants to chase away now, you…”
“Fine.”
Xie Jinzhu rubbed her wrist and smiled, cutting off Second Brother-in-law’s furious tirade with a meaningful tone. “You brought this on yourself.”
Xie Jinzhu suddenly lunged forward, grabbed Second Brother-in-law by the collar, and amid a chorus of shocked cries, slammed him hard to the ground!
She blocked his flailing fists, aimed at his pig-like face, and pounded it several times with heavy, resounding blows.
“You won’t let the doctor save her, is that it?”
“Ouch! Ouch!”
Xie Jinzhu threw a few more punches, panting slightly. “You’re hoping for two lives to be lost, aren’t you?”
“My second sister and her child will definitely live today, but whether you die or not depends entirely on how tough your bones are!”
Madam Wang ran out of the room and was stunned by the scene. “Oh… Jinzhu, you…”
Old Mrs. Liu had just scrambled to her feet when she saw her son being beaten. Howling, she charged forward. “You damned wretch!”
“I’ll fight you to the death!”
“How dare you touch her, you Liu woman!”
Old Mrs. Xie charged in with a stick, positioning herself behind Xie Jinzhu, and swung it at Old Mrs. Liu like she was hoeing the ground.
“If you so much as scratch my granddaughter, I’ll smash your bones to pieces as an offering!”
Everyone present was a woman. Second Uncle Xie was at a loss, unsure whom to stop, and was anxiously pacing when he heard Old Mrs. Xie shout, “Third Daughter-in-law, come help!”
“Hold this old hag down! I’m going to skin her alive!”
Madam Wang, who usually seemed gentle and frail, hesitated for only a moment before rushing over. “Right away!”
“Mom, I’m here!”
Inside the house, Second Aunt temporarily handed the unconscious Xie Er Ni over to the doctor, her eyes gleaming with ferocity as she gritted her teeth: “Little Six.”
“Come, let’s go fight with Mom!”