Chapter 198: Take turns

His sudden move shocked everyone present.

Cheng Shuanzhu shouted instinctively, “Third brother, what are you doing?”

Cheng Jingmo immediately stepped forward, shielding Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie behind him.

He put down the suitcase he was holding and said calmly, “Shuansuo, move aside.”

Cheng Shuansuo brandished the kitchen knife in his hand. “Today, if you dare abandon this family, don’t think about leaving!”

Cheng Jingmo maintained his tone, “Move aside. If I want to leave, you can’t stop me.”

Yu Xiangnian was initially startled by Cheng Shuansuo’s knife but quickly regained her composure.

She had always been reluctant to get involved in the Cheng family’s affairs, but now that Cheng Shuansuo was threatening them with a knife, she felt it was time to teach him a lesson.

“Cheng Jingmo, stop wasting time with him. Tie him up and take him to the township government!” Yu Xiangnian said, looking at Cheng Shuanzhu. “We’ll charge him with obstructing a soldier from serving. Let him taste prison food!”

Cheng Shuanzhu whispered, “Dad,” implying that Cheng Huazi should quickly call Cheng Shuansuo back.

Cheng Huazi glared at him, signaling him to be quiet.

“Shuansuo, what are you doing? Come back!” Cheng Huazi said sternly.

Cheng Shuanzhu understood that this was a ploy for Cheng Shuansuo to play the villain while Cheng Huazi would later play the good cop.

Their aim was clear: to ensure Cheng Jingmo continued supporting the family.

But Cheng Shuansuo didn’t heed Cheng Huazi.

“Charge me?” Cheng Shuansuo sneered, “Fine! Let the township government charge him with being unfilial! Our parents raised him for seventeen years, and now that he’s successful, he wants nothing to do with them!”

Cheng Jingmo genuinely didn’t want to fight with his family. He simply shielded Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie, stepping back to increase the distance between them and Cheng Shuansuo.

“And you!” Cheng Shuansuo pointed the knife at Yu Xiangnian, “My wife was right; you’re a vixen! Jingmo has forgotten his parents because of you!”

Daring to point a knife at her and insult her?

Yu Xiangnian couldn’t tolerate it anymore. She looked around and saw the carrying pole Cheng Jingmo used to fetch water leaning against the kitchen door.

She quickly ran over, grabbed the pole, and swung it at Cheng Shuansuo.

The pole was long enough that Yu Xiangnian could strike from a distance, and Cheng Shuansuo took two solid hits.

Of course, Yu Xiangnian dared to act because she knew Cheng Jingmo wouldn’t let her get hurt.

Cheng Shuansuo, holding the knife, didn’t dare slash at anyone and instead tried to chop the pole.

At that moment, Cheng Jingmo disarmed him, saying, “Shuansuo, enough!”

Cheng Jingmo was visibly annoyed.

Yu Xiangnian, still holding the pole, landed a few more heavy blows, forcing Cheng Shuansuo to step back repeatedly.

Cheng Jingmo then grabbed the pole, “Stop hitting. We’re leaving.”

He tossed the knife and pole aside and went to pick up the suitcases.

Unexpectedly, Mu Huanzhen ran over, picked up the knife, and held it to her neck.

“Jianwa, if you don’t acknowledge this family today, you’ll have to step over my body!”

“Wife, what are you doing? Let Jianwa leave!” Cheng Huazi stood there, his face dark and stern.

Zhang Hongli played along, clinging to Mu Huanzhen’s leg, “Mom, don’t do anything stupid! If Jianwa abandons us and you leave too, we really won’t be able to go on!”

Cheng Jingmo’s steps halted.

His disgust for this family peaked at that moment.

To keep the monthly money, they resorted to every possible tactic.

He stood there, holding the suitcases, his eyes filled with cold anger.

Yu Xiangnian felt the same way as Cheng Jingmo.

This family relationship should have been severed long ago!

She stepped forward, “Do you want to exhaust the last bit of sentiment Cheng Jingmo has for this family?”

Mu Huanzhen held the kitchen knife to her neck, “Does he have any feelings for this family? He came back this time just to cut ties!”

Yu Xiangnian retorted, “Don’t project your dirty thoughts onto others. We came back this time to see you and reconnect. It’s your constant scheming that has completely disheartened him.”

Mu Huanzhen cursed, “It’s you, you vixen, who has instigated him! Jianwa used to listen to his father so well, but ever since he married you, he’s changed! Now, for the sake of your little family, he won’t even care for the family that raised him for seventeen years!”

A vixen?!

Ha! So that’s what they’ve been calling her behind her back. Fine, she’ll embrace it then!

Yu Xiangnian sneered, “You’re worried he won’t care for you? Then go ahead and die! While he’s still here, let him mourn you one last time.”

“You!” Mu Huanzhen was so angry she was gasping for breath, unable to speak.

The Cheng family members were all shocked.

Normally, they’d never heard Yu Xiangnian say a harsh word. Who knew that when she did, it would be so cutting!

“Come on! You already have the knife at your throat. Just pull it hard!” Yu Xiangnian urged impatiently.

Everyone knew Mu Huanzhen wouldn’t actually commit suicide; she was just trying to force Cheng Jingmo to give in.

“If you can’t do it yourself, let the person holding you do it.” Yu Xiangnian said to Zhang Hongli, “Don’t worry, everyone will testify that it was her own decision to die. You’d just be helping her.”

Zhang Hongli quickly let go of Mu Huanzhen’s legs, afraid of accidentally causing her harm.

If something happened to Mu Huanzhen, she wouldn’t escape blame.

“You wicked woman!” Mu Huanzhen finally managed to spit out.

“Sure, call me whatever you want!” Yu Xiangnian said indifferently, continuing to urge, “Hurry up! We need to make you a coffin before dark and inform the neighbors to come and mourn. If you delay any longer, there won’t be enough time!”

By now, the commotion had attracted the neighbors, who were gathered outside watching.

“Jianwa’s wife doesn’t usually say much, but when she does, no one can match her.”

“Seeing Huanzhen so angry, I feel relieved.”

“Exactly, she always looks down on people and is relentless when she has the upper hand!”

Mu Huanzhen was livid, her face turning purple. She trembled with anger, the hand holding the knife shaking.

Cheng Jingmo stood silently behind Yu Xiangnian, knowing she was better at handling these situations.

Yu Xiangnian mimed slitting her own throat with her hand, showing Mu Huanzhen how to do it.

“Keep your hand steady. See? Just a firm slice here will do it!”

Mu Huanzhen was stuck in a tough spot, her eyes welling up with angry tears.

“Jianwa!” Cheng Huazi remained unmoved, “If you want to leave, then go. But why torment your mother like this? No matter what, she raised you for seventeen years. That can’t be changed!”

Yu Xiangnian, already standing in front of Cheng Jingmo, met Cheng Huazi’s gaze without fear.

“How are we tormenting her? She’s threatening to kill herself, and all of you—her husband and children—are just watching, doing nothing! Are we, as outsiders, supposed to risk our lives to save her?!”

At that moment, there was a commotion from the crowd outside.