Chapter 72: Kneel and Bow

Bai Xi shook her head inside the room. What warning? The blow should come unexpectedly; a warning only makes people wary! Li Jia listened anxiously to the commotion outside, not noticing the thoughtful look on Bai Xi’s face.

“Impossible!” Aunt Wang, seeing that Niuluo Village not only refused to pay compensation but also wanted to drive them away, scrambled up from the ground and shouted with hands on her hips, “You haven’t even given us an explanation, and now you want us gone? No way!”

Chen Daliu shouted back just as loudly, “Get lost, no explanation!”

“You were the ones who started the fight—you owe us compensation.”

“That’s right! You have to pay!”

“We won’t pay. If you want to sue, go right ahead!” Chen Daliu, looking utterly unconcerned, showed none of the respect he usually had toward Bai Xi.

“Exactly! We have no money, only our lives!”

“You insulted our young mistress, insulted our ancestors. We haven’t held you accountable for that, and now you want explanations from us?”

“If you don’t leave now, do you believe we’ll beat you up again?” The speaker couldn’t hold back any longer and started looking around for a suitable weapon.

“Come on then! Go ahead and kill me if you dare!” Aunt Wang wasn’t easily intimidated. Faced with so many from Niuluo Village, she showed no fear at all.

When had she ever suffered such humiliation? Ever since her three sons grew up and married, nobody dared look down on her in their village. She never expected to be bullied and beaten here in Niuluo Village.

It’s just a wild child with no parents—what’s so untouchable about that? If I’m not allowed to say it, I’ll say it all the same!

“Everyone says Niuluo Village people are reasonable and principled—so this is your idea of being reasonable? Is that so?”

“What nonsense about ‘young mistress’! She was the first to criticize my grandson. She’s just a girl, a burden, not made of gold. She spoke ill of my grandson, so why can’t I speak about her?”

What’s wrong with a bit of cursing? In their own village, a beating would be considered mild.

“Shut your mouth, you old hag!”

“You old wretch, you old shrew! You’re the one who’s a burden—our young mistress is precious, more valuable than gold!”

“That’s right. Don’t say our young mistress never said anything bad, but even if she did, so what? Whatever our young mistress says is right. Others would be lucky to hear her words, so what are you making such a fuss for?”

Old Mrs. Li shouted as well, “A married daughter is like spilled water. Your family took a hefty bride price from us back then—you basically sold your daughter! Now you have the nerve to come here and take advantage of us. Beating you is letting you off easy.”

“Besides, Li Jia’s son is my grandson, not yours. Yet here you are, shamelessly freeloading and causing trouble.”

As she spoke, Old Mrs. Li felt a surge of anger, wishing she could grab Aunt Wang and give her another beating. The young mistress hated quarrels and fights most of all, and now, after finally visiting, this mess had erupted. How would she ever be able to face the young mistress again?

The more she thought about it, the darker her expression became. If she hadn’t been held back, she really might have charged forward for another round.

Li Jia hadn’t originally borne the Li surname; she adopted it after marrying in. Everyone knew that when Li Jia got married, Aunt Wang demanded a hefty bride price from Old Mrs. Li. Had it not been for Li Jia’s pitiful, honest nature, and her son’s affection for her, Old Mrs. Li would never have yielded.

They’d intended to sever ties for good, but Aunt Wang’s skin was thicker than a city wall, always coming around to take advantage. That was tolerable, but today she dared insult the ancestors of Niuluo Village and denigrate the young mistress—utterly unforgivable.

Hearing all this, Li Jia took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, courage shone in her gaze. She looked pleadingly at Bai Xi, asking her to watch over the two children, then ran outside herself.

Bai Xi had intended to go out as well, but seeing Li Jia rush out, she stayed behind to watch the twins.

Aunt Wang’s family kept clamoring at the villagers of Niuluo Village, demanding compensation, apologies, and money—or else they’d go to the authorities.

Yet led by Chen Daliu, Niuluo Village refused to pay, and their anger grew. The only reason they hadn’t beaten the Wang family again was because Aunt Wang and her daughters-in-law had already suffered a round.

Li Jia rushed out and, without a word, knelt before Aunt Wang and knocked her head to the ground three times, producing three loud thumps. Straightening, she spoke while everyone from Niuluo Village looked on in stunned silence and Aunt Wang wore a smug expression: “Mother, I’ll call you mother one last time. Please take my brothers and sisters-in-law and leave. Stop causing trouble. From now on, don’t come again. Let’s just pretend you never gave birth to me, all right?”

Aunt Wang’s face instantly darkened, and she began cursing, “What? You ungrateful brat, I raised you with my own sweat and tears, and today I brought the family to see you, to support you in your husband’s house! You don’t know what’s good for you…”

“Your mother was beaten here and you didn’t help me—you’re driving us away? Why did I ever give birth to something like you…?”

“Mother, just now my sister-in-law kicked me really hard,” Li Jia’s third sister-in-law quickly interjected, complaining. “My chest still hurts.”

Hearing this, Li Jia’s third brother glared at her. If she hadn’t knelt a bit far off, he’d have gone over to punch and kick her himself.

Unbelievable! Married off just a few years, and she dares lay hands on her sister-in-law? It’s been too long since she was disciplined. He vowed to find a chance to drag her back and teach her a lesson.

“What? You ungrateful brat, you dare hit your sister-in-law? Wicked thing, worthless creature…”

“…I should have given birth to an egg instead—a boiled egg can at least be eaten…”

“I’m telling you, don’t think marriage has made you tough. If you don’t pay me fifty yuan today, I’ll sell you off, believe it or not?”

“If it weren’t for me choosing a good family for you, would you be living this good life now? And now you want to cut ties—your conscience must have been eaten by dogs…”

Faced with the vile curses from her mother, brothers, and sisters-in-law, Li Jia’s face remained expressionless, save for the despair she couldn’t hide in her eyes.

“No wonder you’ve been married so long and only have two sons now. Someone as heartless as you—those two little ones will either be snatched by wolves or drown in a well. Don’t expect anyone to care for you in old age.”

The moment Aunt Wang spat out these words, Li Jia, still kneeling, suddenly looked up and glared at her. Old Mrs. Li, eyes wide with fury, shouted at Aunt Wang, “Enough! You old shrew, get out—get out of my house, get out of Niuluo Village!”

Li Jia felt her heart, long since cold, freeze into ice. Only the caring look in her husband’s eyes gave her hope to go on living.

Say what you want about me, but how could you curse my children so cruelly? Her son was still so young, just born, knowing nothing. Was this really her own mother?

“Are you really my mother? How could you curse my children like this?”