Old Su was fuming!

At first, when Tian Aixiang and the other Tian family members came to cause a scene with Su Qing, he had naturally heard it. That day, they had demanded Su Qing pay for medical and nutritional expenses. Not only did Su Qing refuse, but she even snapped his tobacco pipe. Old Su had been holding a grudge about it ever since. So, he was actually hoping Tian Aixiang and her family would turn Su Qing’s life upside down. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

But as he listened, he realized something was wrong. Tian Aixiang had actually blurted out what Old Su and Shi’s mother did that night. To make matters worse, the Tian family was clamoring to go to the Public Security Bureau.

This was getting out of hand. It was one thing for people to gossip about what happened, but if it went to the Public Security Bureau and someone else from the Su Family got arrested over it, then the Su Family would completely lose its footing in Lihua Village.

Having one Su Tao was already enough to disgrace the Su Family.

Having been publicly shamed by Old Su like that, Tan Jinni wouldn’t stand for it. She said to Old Su, "Father-in-law, you’re not being fair. Why do you think our Tian family came all this way? Wasn’t it to help your Su Family? How can you side with an outsider against us?"

As she spoke, Tan Jinni nudged her husband. "Say something! Don’t just stand there like a pole."

Tan Jinni’s husband, Tian Guicang, who was also Tian Aixiang’s older brother, had always been a man of few words. He wasn’t much of a talker on any given day, usually just going along with whatever his wife said. He had only come today to add to their numbers. After all, he could never win a shouting match, and as for fighting... his two sons were better at it than he was.

Nudged by Tan Jinni, Tian Guicang stammered to Old Su, "F-Father-in-law, today..."

Before Tian Guicang could finish, Old Su waved his hand dismissively. "Enough nonsense. Get out of here. Su Tao committed a sin and got what she deserved. The Su Family accepts that. Who told your Tian family not to teach their daughter right? A mother actually letting her own daughter pull a knife on someone, only to end up like this. I only regret that our Su Family ever agreed to this marriage with your Tian family in the first place."

Tan Jinni grew anxious when she heard this. How did this turn into an attack on the Tian family’s reputation? This wouldn’t do; her two sons weren’t married yet. "Father-in-law, that’s uncalled for. What do you mean our Tian family doesn’t know how to raise a daughter? Su Tao is your Su Family’s granddaughter! Besides, didn’t she learn about pulling knives from Su Qing? Su Qing has absolutely nothing to do with our Tian family."

Leaning against the doorframe, Su Qing couldn’t help but laugh when she heard Tan Jinni. "And now you’re dragging me into this? What, am I some kind of role model? Does everyone just copy whatever I do? Besides, I’ve never pulled a knife on anyone to kill them. I go into Baihua Mountain all the time. If someone from your Tian family goes into Baihua Mountain later and falls off a cliff to their death, are you going to blame that on me for going into the mountains every day?"

"You damn girl, who are you cursing?" Tan Jinni shot up, glaring angrily at Su Qing.

"Weren’t you the one who said she learned everything from me? I was just following your logic. What, you can’t take it? I’m an innocent young woman, and you show up at my door trying to sling mud at me for no reason. I’m the one who should be upset," Su Qing said, rolling her eyes inelegantly.

"You..." Just as Tan Jinni was about to speak, Zhao Youcai arrived. "Do you people from the Tian family have nothing better to do? Coming to our Lihua Village to stir up trouble? I’m going to go find your captain later and ask him if he’s trying to pick a fight with our village. Always looking for trouble, day in and day out."

Zhao Youcai had been called over by the villagers and had already learned what was happening on his way. He was completely fed up with both the Tian and Su families. He’d never seen people who could cause so much trouble.

"Captain Zhao, what’s wrong with us coming here to seek justice for Su Tao?" Tan Jinni retorted stubbornly.

"Su Tao? She’s a murderer. You’re seeking justice for a murderer? What, you want to go to jail too? I think you have an ideological problem. I’m going to ask your village’s captain later if it’s time you all had a moral and ideological education class," Zhao Youcai said, his eyes wide with anger.

Hearing this, Tan Jinni immediately backed down. ’Who wants to be on the same ideological level as Su Tao? That’s an insult!’ All she had really wanted today was to get some money.

But now it was obvious she wasn’t going to get any money.

Zhao Youcai shot Tan Jinni a glare, then turned to Tian Aixiang. "Did you instigate this today? I think you need an ideological education class too. Your daughter Su Tao ended up in this situation; it’s probably related to your upbringing."

"No, no." Tian Aixiang was frightened by Zhao Youcai’s words and quickly pointed at Tan Jinni. "Captain, my sister-in-law instigated me. I wasn’t originally planning to come looking for Su Qing. My sister-in-law said that if we could get some money out of Su Qing, it would be easier for my Lihui to get married in the future. I got carried away and came along."

’So I’m the bad guy no matter how you look at it, is that it?’ Tan Jinni exploded with rage at Tian Aixiang’s words.

"Tian Aixiang, if I ever get involved in your damn business again, I’ll take your last name! From now on, don’t you dare come back to your parents’ home. I’ll beat you every time you show your face." Tan Jinni was so furious she started cursing at Tian Aixiang. Then she shoved Tian Guicang. "Let’s go. We’re going home. And don’t you dare mention your sister to me again. What sister? You don’t have a sister anymore. If anyone comes to our house claiming to be your sister, you throw them out! Or else, you’ll have to answer to me."

"Jinni, I didn’t say anything." Tian Guicang glanced at Tian Aixiang but ultimately said nothing more, following his wife and two sons out of Lihua Village.

Seeing her brother’s family leave without her, Tian Aixiang’s heart began to pound with panic. It only just dawned on her that she had deeply offended her sister-in-law. ’What am I going to do?’ She was already disliked by her husband’s family. If she alienated her own family too, would there be any place left for her?

Tian Aixiang was panicking. Just as she was about to say something, Old Su roared, "Shunli’s wife, if you keep talking like your sister-in-law and defending that girl Su Tao, then you can divorce my son Shunli! Our Su Family can’t afford a granddaughter like Su Tao, and we can’t afford a daughter-in-law like you either!"

"Father!" Tian Aixiang was stunned. She looked at Old Su’s grim face, pressed her lips together, and didn’t dare say another word. ’Forget it. I’ll try to placate my sister-in-law later. For today, I just need to handle one side first.’

Although Tian Aixiang resented the Su Family for treating her poorly, she didn’t dare get a divorce. In this day and age, what kind of reputation could a divorced woman have? Besides, she had a daughter like Su Tao.

The scene instantly fell silent. Only then did Zhao Youcai say, "All right, everyone scatter. It’s over."

Then, he added a warning to the Su Family, "If you use this stuff to bother Su Qing again, I’ll settle the score for everything, including what happened before."