Chapter 12: Seeking Justice

Chapter 12: Seeking Justice

Having been called "Mother-in-law," Qian-shi reluctantly stepped out, with several little heads peeking out from behind her.

"Mother, what’s going on!"

Before Qian-shi could even reach Li-shi, Jiang Ning had already rushed over and slapped her squarely across the face.

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned.

Qian-shi clutched her face and shrieked, "You foul woman! You dare hit me! I’ll fight you to the death!"

"Come on then! Who’s afraid of who!" Jiang Ning was also going all out, mimicking the original owner's style but with even more ferocity. Although these children weren't born to her, they had been calling her "Mother" for days, and she had developed real feelings for them. She absolutely could not let Qian-shi off lightly.

Yang Sizhuang had been peeking from outside, and fearing Jiang Ning would suffer, he quickly ran off to fetch reinforcements.

Old Man Yang hadn't intended to speak up, but seeing the two about to come to blows, he shouted, "What is all this noise? If you want to fight, get out of here and do it!"

"Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, it’s bad! Mother and Second Aunt are fighting!" Yang Sizhuang’s voice arrived before he did.

The brothers, who were busy working, heard the call and ran toward the old house. Before they even got close, they could hear the shouting and cursing coming from inside.

"Jiang-shi, you jinx, you home-wrecker! You cursed thing, we’ve already split the family, yet you still dare to covet my family’s things! Do you even deserve it? Bah! And another thing! When did I ever push you? Don't try to pin that on me! Shameless!" Qian-shi’s voice cracked from the shouting.

Jiang Ning pinched her throat and roared even louder than her, "The rain cape belongs to our branch, and you can't deny it even if you try! I didn't want to bicker with you about pushing me, but since you don't want to show any respect, I’ll settle the old and new scores together today! It was you who pushed me, causing me to hit my head and nearly lose my life! Pay up! If you don't pay, I’ll tear you apart!"

"Come on then! Do you think I’m afraid of you? Shameless!" Qian-shi wasn't afraid at all.

Jiang Ning was not the original owner who only knew how to wag her tongue; she immediately grabbed a bamboo stick from the courtyard and went after Qian-shi.

In the past, the two would argue and make a scene, but they had never actually resorted to weapons. Everyone was stunned, not expecting her to be playing for real.

Only after being struck did Qian-shi react, letting out a howl like a slaughtered pig, running and dodging, "Yang Lao'er, are you a dead man? Why aren't you stopping this crazy woman!"

Jiang Ning truly couldn't stand Qian-shi’s foul mouth. Seeing the bamboo stick snatched away by Second Brother Yang, she immediately lunged at Qian-shi, focusing on an unexpected, life-or-death assault.

Second Brother Yang could take the stick, but he didn't dare touch his sister-in-law! Watching his own wife being pinned down and beaten by Jiang Ning, he jumped in anxiety, "Mother! Third Brother’s wife, hurry up and pull Big Sister-in-law away!"

Jiang Ning knew she would be stopped, so before Li-shi and Zhou-shi could intervene, she slapped Qian-shi a few more times, beating her face until it was swollen.

When Li-shi and Zhou-shi finally pulled Jiang Ning away and saw Qian-shi’s horrific face, they were both terrified. Li-shi instinctively wanted to scold Jiang Ning, but when she met Jiang Ning’s eyes—which were burning with a murderous, lightning-like intensity—she swallowed her words and wailed, "What a disaster! What a disaster! It never ends..."

"It’s not ending! She caused me to crack my head and nearly die! And today she brought those little brats to beat my children. If I don't take half her life, my name isn't Jiang!" Jiang Ning was so agitated that her fists were clenched and the veins in her neck were bulging, startling even Second Brother Yang and Third Brother Yang.

They knew Jiang-shi was tough, but they never expected her to be this reckless when she went crazy. How come they never knew she was so protective of her young? If they didn't satisfy her today, Qian-shi would never be able to step out of the house again!

Li-shi was truly worried now and hurriedly looked at Old Man Yang, "Aren't you going to do something!"

Old Man Yang’s face was dark as he puffed on his pipe, saying nothing.

Although the eldest daughter-in-law’s character was poor, the second branch wasn't exactly kind either. He knew how the eldest daughter-in-law had been injured; regardless of the cause, the second branch was responsible. Later, they had blocked her from returning to the old house and even took advantage of the situation to demand the eldest branch be split off—that was already going too far. If the eldest daughter-in-law had actually died, it would be one thing, but now that she was back, full of life and seeking justice, even he, the head of the family, felt ashamed to face her.

Now the second branch had even beaten the eldest branch’s children. Although he hadn't seen the grandchildren, Jiang-shi’s words were firm, and it was likely true. If he were to preside over this, he should be siding with the eldest branch. But the second daughter-in-law had been beaten so badly—could he really encourage the eldest to beat her to death?

Seeing Old Man Yang remain silent, Qian-shi lay on the ground, crying and cursing Jiang Ning. Both her cheeks were swollen, and it was impossible to understand what she was saying.

Qian-shi’s children had long been terrified by their eldest aunt’s ferocity and were all hiding like turtles.

When Yang Datou and his group rushed into the courtyard, the battle was already over. They had thought their mother would be bullied, but they never expected her to take on ten people alone and beat the second aunt into a pig’s head. This combat power...

Seeing everyone had arrived, Old Man Yang finally spoke, "Eldest daughter-in-law, this matter was indeed our fault. Tell us, what do you want?"

Jiang Ning had been waiting for these words, and she smiled immediately, "It’s simple! She forced me out of the old house, so she shouldn't be allowed to live here either! The second branch must be split off! Also, she must apologize to my children!"

"What?" Everyone looked stunned.

Qian-shi shrieked, "In your dreams! Those wild children with mothers but no upbringing don't deserve an apology from me!"

Jiang Ning rushed over and kicked Qian-shi a few more times.

Even though Second Brother Yang tried to block her, he wasn't as fast as Jiang Ning, and Qian-shi was hit again. A shrill howl erupted in the courtyard once more.

After such a scene, Qian-shi’s face looked like a demon’s, and she was on the verge of an explosion.

Yang Datou and the others, however, felt incredibly vindicated.

Jiang Ning sneered, "Father, Mother, if you didn't hear me clearly, I can say it again: Qian-shi must apologize! Also, they are all sons. Even though Datou’s father is dead, it doesn't change the fact that he was your son! Since you’ve split our branch off, there’s no reason to keep supporting the second and third branches. My meaning is simple: the second branch must be split off and move out of the old house. Father and Mother can live with the third branch; that would make me feel better!"

"In your dreams! I won't move even if I die!" Qian-shi was so angry she crawled up from the ground, ready to fight Jiang Ning to the death.

Second Brother Yang quickly grabbed her, "Stop making a scene!"

"Yang Lao'er! Are you even a man? Look at how your wife has been bullied! Why did I ever marry a coward like you!" Qian-shi knew Jiang Ning was not to be trifled with, so she vented all her anger on Second Brother Yang.

Seeing Qian-shi not only bullying the eldest branch’s children but also belittling her son, Li-shi finally exploded, "Qian-shi! You dare curse my son in front of me! Have you lost your mind? If you don't like my son, get back to the Qian family! If it weren't for marrying you, our Yang family wouldn't have so many problems! I must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck!"

Qian-shi looked at Li-shi in disbelief, tears of grievance falling, "Mother, it was clearly the eldest sister-in-law who was unreasonable and started the trouble, how can you say that to me!"