Their words were like needles stabbing into the hearts of the Lu family.
Grandma Lu’s expression instantly darkened.
“What exactly are you here for? If you came to watch a joke, then leave immediately!”
But Old Madam Ye ignored her completely.
She walked to the bedside and looked down at Ye Mengyi with a fake smile that never reached her eyes.
“Mengyi, Grandma knows you’ve suffered marrying into this family… but what can be done? Your fate is simply bitter.”
Then her tone suddenly changed as she turned toward Lu Qingshan.
“Lu Qingshan, we came today because we want to discuss something with you.”
Lu Qingshan’s voice was low and cold.
“What is it?”
Old Madam Ye cleared her throat.
“Mengyi married you, and our Ye family didn’t ask for a single coin of bride price. Logically, you should have paid one, but we know your family is poor and can’t afford silver.”
Yang Yun quickly picked up where she left off.
“That’s right! Our Ye family is very reasonable! So here’s the deal, Lu Qingshan—we won’t force you to pay the bride price anymore. But since Mengyi married into your family, you must agree to one condition.”
Lu Qingshan frowned deeply.
“What condition?”
A sly smile curled across Yang Yun’s lips. Her eyes swept over Ye Mengyi as though inspecting property that still belonged to her.
“It’s simple. Even after marrying into the Lu family, Mengyi is still part of the Ye family. From now on, every spring planting and autumn harvest, she must return to help cut wheat and work the fields. And during holidays and festivals, the gifts owed to us must not be lacking either.”
The moment the words left her mouth, everyone in the room understood.
They had come to take advantage of them.
Lu Qingshan’s face turned instantly dark. Veins bulged sharply at his temples.
His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He had never imagined Old Madam Ye and the others could be this shameless.
Grandma Lu trembled with rage. Her cane slammed repeatedly against the ground.
“You’ve gone too far! Mengyi already severed ties with your family! There was even a written document! On what grounds should she still work for you and bring you gifts?!”
“On what grounds?” Old Madam Ye puffed up her neck, triangular eyes glaring wide. “Because we raised her! Ye family blood runs through her veins! Without our family, she would’ve starved to death long ago!”
“You raised her?”
Xu Ru could no longer hold back.
She stormed forward and shoved Old Madam Ye, Yang Yun, and Feng Yan aside before planting her hands on her hips furiously.
“How exactly did you raise her? Don’t you know yourselves?!”
The angrier she became, the louder her voice rang.
“When her father, Scholar Ye, was alive, at least she could still breathe easy! But after he died, how did you treat her? These past years in the Ye household, when has she ever eaten her fill or worn warm clothes? In winter she only had one thin layer to wear! Every day before dawn you dragged her up to work! The slightest mistake earned her beatings and curses! And you still have the nerve to say you ‘raised’ her? You’re utterly shameless!”
“That’s right! You’re completely shameless!”
Sun Yanfang’s eyes reddened as she joined in. Thinking about everything Ye Mengyi had endured made her chest ache painfully.
Lu Dahe, Lu Erhe, and Lu Sanhe all looked furious, fists clenched tight.
But as men, it wasn’t proper for them to brawl verbally with women, so they could only endure it, though the fury in their eyes nearly burst into flames.
“Enough.”
Lu Qingshan finally spoke.
His voice was cold as ice.
“The severance document was written clearly from the very beginning, witnessed by the village elder. From now on, Mengyi has no connection whatsoever with your Ye family. No support in life, no mourning in death. You’d better not forget it.”
Ye Mengyi sat on the edge of the bed, trembling with anger. Her chest rose and fell violently.
She lifted her head, eyes burning red with fury as she glared at the three women.
Though her voice was weak, it carried chilling hatred.
“You know better than anyone how you ‘raised’ me!”
“After my father died, you treated me like livestock. I ate pig food, wore rags, and in the dead of winter you forced me to wash clothes in the river until my hands cracked with frostbite! It would’ve been one thing if you only mistreated me, but you even searched through and sold away the few keepsakes my father left behind!”
Every word was sharp and resolute.
“Since I’ve severed ties, I will never work for you again. I won’t give you a single needle or thread ever again! Stop dreaming!”
After speaking, she struggled to sit up straighter, but the burst of anger pulled painfully at her still-healing body. A wave of dizziness struck immediately.
“Mengyi!”
Lu Qingshan hurriedly caught her, supporting her body before turning furiously toward Old Madam Ye and the others.
“If you keep causing trouble, don’t blame me for being rude. Get out right now!”
Old Madam Ye had been left speechless by Ye Mengyi’s words. Her face alternated between red and pale before she finally exploded again.
“Rebellious! Absolutely rebellious! What an ungrateful little wolf! I raised a white-eyed wolf!”
As she cursed, she lunged forward to claw at Ye Mengyi.
But Lu Erhe grabbed her arm and flung her aside heavily.
“Get out!”
Lu Erhe’s growl sounded almost beast-like.
Ye Mengyi glared at the three women, hatred nearly spilling from her eyes.
“Stop dreaming! Even if I starve to death, I will never again have the slightest connection with your Ye family!”
The three women clearly hadn’t expected her attitude to be this firm.
Yang Yun jumped angrily.
“You ungrateful wretch! We raised you for all these years for nothing!”
“For nothing?”
Ye Mengyi laughed bitterly.
“I’ll say it again. I will never forget the suffering and humiliation I endured in the Ye family. If you continue causing trouble here, I’ll report you to the village elder! I’ll accuse you of trespassing and bullying innocent people!”
Her words carried such frightening force that the three women didn’t dare respond immediately.
They all knew the village elder was famously fair.
If this matter truly reached him, they would gain nothing from it.
Lu Qingshan also rose to his feet and stood protectively in front of Ye Mengyi, his gaze sharp as blades.
“My Lu family may be poor, but we are not people others can bully at will. Mengyi is my wife. I will protect her properly. If you dare come harass her again, don’t blame me for what happens.”
His voice carried unmistakable killing intent.
The three women instinctively stepped backward.
They knew Lu Qingshan was a hunter with real skill. If they truly angered him, he might genuinely use force.
Old Madam Ye gritted her teeth and shot Ye Mengyi a vicious glare.
“Fine! Very fine indeed! Just you wait!”
Feng Yan and Yang Yun still tried to push forward, but Lu Dahe and Lu Sanhe blocked them.
The Lu brothers had already exhausted their patience. Shoving and pushing, they drove the three women toward the courtyard gate.
“You Lu family dare hit people?! Outrageous! I’ll report you!”
Old Madam Ye shrieked curses sharply—
only for Lu Qingshan to directly shove her out the front gate.