Grandma Ye immediately recognized who had come.
It was Anran’s real mother. Hah! With her fierce and domineering attitude, anyone who didn’t know better might think she was claiming some huge advantage.
Grandma Ye stepped directly in front of Li Zhaodi.
“I say, you little vixen, your mouth sure is sharp, but don’t forget—you already gave your little girl to our family.
“And you even signed the severance contract. We also gave you food. If you keep causing trouble, I won’t hesitate to bring this to the village chief.”
Li Zhaodi heard “village chief” and wasn’t afraid at all.
Many villagers from Xinghua Village had gathered to watch the commotion.
Ye Anran stepped out of the house and saw Li Zhaodi clenching her fists. Her powers had just returned to normal! She had been planning to deal with Li Zhaodi in a few days—but now Li Zhaodi had taken the initiative to barge into her home.
Wang Xianger, worried that Anran would be scared, quickly took her hand and led her into Grandma Ye’s room.
“Little treasure, stay safe inside. Mother will take care of her outside.”
Ye Anran obediently nodded and sat on the bed, waiting.
Seeing that the little one hadn’t come out, Grandma Ye relaxed a bit, fearing Li Zhaodi might frighten Anran.
Wang Xianger marched over to Li Zhaodi, rolled up her sleeves, and grabbed a handful of her hair.
“You dare talk trash about my daughter? That’s my girl, and you have nothing to do with her. How dare you come into my house and act wild?”
Li Zhaodi and Wang Xianger started fighting fiercely. Ye Sanhe pretended to intervene but secretly tripped Li Zhaodi.
Li Zhaodi fell, and Wang Xianger immediately sat on her stomach.
Ye Anran quietly tiptoed to the doorway, watching the chaotic scene.
Usually gentle and soft-spoken, Wang Xianger was now sitting on Li Zhaodi, slapping her face left and right with a flurry of blows.
Li Zhaodi, already aching in her lower back from the fall and pinned under Wang Xianger, had no strength to resist.
Her mind went fuzzy, ears ringing, and she couldn’t hear Wang Xianger’s words at all.
While slapping her, Wang Xianger shouted,
“How dare you curse my daughter! How dare you! You shameless woman, you abused Anran! And now you come to scare my little girl? Even if the King himself were here, I’d still slap your face!”
Li Zhaodi could only curl her arms over her head in defense. Seeing she’d had enough, Grandma Ye pulled Wang Xianger up.
“That’s enough. Let your lesson teach her. Don’t really make things worse.”
Wang Xianger, still pretending to be aggrieved, wiped imaginary tears and began wailing:
“Neighbors, you have to do something! Anran is now my daughter!
“She even saved my son’s life before. I treat Anran like my treasure. When she first returned, she was covered in bruises and scrawny from being beaten. I may not be her biological mother, but it broke my heart!”
The villagers, listening, began to look differently at Li Zhaodi.
Wang Xianger continued her plaint:
“From now on, the child will stay with me. Even if she can’t become rich, at least she won’t be abused!
“And the severance contract and the grain we gave were all official. She has nothing to do with the Wang family! Li Zhaodi, you couldn’t stand anyone else having anything good, and now you come here to harass my girl. How cruel!
“Please, everyone, help me!”
Most of the onlookers were villagers from Xinghua Village. Even those from Wangjia Village were just a few nosy women or young wives. Naturally, the villagers sided with the Ye family, cursing at Li Zhaodi.
Qin Laopo, who was closest to the Ye family, stepped forward and kicked Li Zhaodi.
“You malicious woman! No matter what, the little girl is your own, but you abused her…
“She’s now part of the Ye family, and yet you come here to bully her? Hmph! If you die from being beaten, it’s your own fault.”
Li Zhaodi, barely getting up from the ground, glared at Qin Laopo.
“You old hag! Mind your own business! If you dare touch me again, don’t blame me for being rude.”
Qin Laopo bristled.
“Oh? Really? Come on then!”
She squared her hands on her hips and charged at Li Zhaodi.
Li Zhaodi recoiled, completely outmatched by the aggressive and spirited Qin Laopo.
Already bruised and battered, Li Zhaodi’s body felt like it was falling apart.
She shouted at Wang Xianger,
“You vixen! I’m the little girl’s real mother! If she caught a wild chicken, it should be for me! What’s wrong with me asking for it?”
Grandma Ye snickered.
“Wang family daughter-in-law, go home quickly. If you keep causing trouble, you’ll be the one losing face. The severance contract was signed in front of the village chief. Even if you complain to the county, they won’t side with you.”
Li Zhaodi knew there was no use arguing further. She glared at Ye Anran standing by the door.
“You brat, catching wild chickens and giving them to the Ye family instead of your own home! Don’t think you can escape me.”
She turned and left.
Ye Sanhe, still angry, kicked Li Zhaodi hard in the lower back.
“Hmph! How dare you threaten my daughter?”
Ye Dahe rushed over to stop him.
“Enough, Sanhe. Let her go. Your wife already taught her a lesson; that should make her remember.”
Grandpa Ye glared at Sanhe.
“Go back inside.”
Sanhe, frustrated, clenched his fists but had no choice and returned indoors.
Grandpa Ye and Grandma Ye then bowed to the villagers and escorted them out before returning inside.
Ye Anran ran over to Wang Xianger, her eyes sparkling.
“Mother, you’re amazing!”
She even swung her tiny fists like a little boxer, left and right.
Seeing her daughter so delighted and recognizing her, Wang Xianger’s heart swelled with pride. She hugged her little girl.
“Of course, Mother can protect Anran! Remember, never be afraid of the Wang family.
“Your father and I already got the severance contract for you. You have nothing to do with the Wang family anymore.
“If those wicked parents ever try to use family ties against you again, just ignore them and don’t be afraid. Got it?”