“Duomei… Duomei, come down quickly! You’re going to scare me to death!” Zhang Xiaoyue’s cries echoed from downstairs.

Xu Duomei saw her mother and knew her well.

No matter what happened, her mother would only cry.

Although her mother was very kind to her and her sister, often saving her own food to give to them, Xu Duomei wished her mother would be stronger, even if it meant arguing with Grandma.

She wanted her mother to stand up for them, to argue and fight back. “Mom, I don’t want to be beaten anymore. I don’t want to go collect firewood in the dark after school. I don’t want to see Grandma eating meat while I only get soup. I don’t want to see you and my sister sick and unable to get treatment, just waiting to die. Mom, I… I don’t want it anymore… sob sob sob…” Xu Duomei became increasingly upset and ended up crying uncontrollably.

Zhang Xiaoyue was truly frightened.

At that moment, she heard Grandma Xu’s voice.

“You little brat, who are you trying to scare? Do you want everyone in the compound to know about our family problems? You ungrateful… ah…”

Before Grandma Xu could finish her scolding, Zhang Xiaoyie, who had just recovered from a serious illness, charged at her and knocked her to the ground.

Zhang Xiaoyue was strong from years of hard work, while Grandma Xu had become weak after years of not doing much labor.

Before anyone could react, Zhang Xiaoyue had already slapped Grandma Xu twice.

Although Zhang Xiaoyue was usually a gentle and respectful person, a mother’s protective instincts could make her strong.

Even though Zhang Xiaoyue had been timid her whole life, she couldn’t stay weak when her daughter was in danger.

“Ah… ah…” Grandma Xu screamed and struggled, but couldn’t get free.

However, she didn’t scream for long.

Zhang Xiaoyue was pulled away by others. With so many people around, it was impossible for Zhang Xiaoyue to continue hitting Grandma Xu, especially with Xu Weilin present.

Once Zhang Xiaoyue was pulled away, Grandma Xu rushed at her to fight back, but couldn’t get through as everyone was holding her back.

Normally, Xu Weilin would have let Zhang Xiaoyue give way to Grandma Xu, since she was his mother and an elder.

He would have preferred Zhang Xiaoyue to say less to avoid trouble.

Hearing his daughter’s words and seeing her now on the roof ready to jump, Xu Weilin felt as if he had just discovered who his mother truly was.

He couldn’t help but speak up, “Mom, can you please stop talking? Listen to what you’re saying! Duomei is still up there. Are you trying to push her to her death? She’s my daughter, your granddaughter.”

“What are you saying? You ungrateful child! I raised you, fed you, and now you’re speaking to me like this?” Xu’s mother, shocked and unable to believe her ears, had even forgotten about going to hit Zhang Xiaoyue.

She was good to her son—she bought him meat and eggs whenever she could.

She never imagined that her son would speak to her this way.

Xu’s mother angrily beat her chest, crying out, “Are you trying to kill me with anger? You heartless child… Oh heavens, why is my life so miserable? What sins have I committed…?”

In front of everyone, Xu’s mother lay down on the ground, crying and wailing.

Before Xu’s mother had beaten Zhang Xiaoyue unconscious, she had a good relationship with the neighbors around their home.

She was generally friendly and accommodating to others.

However, she was harsh with her granddaughter and daughter-in-law, but not with others.

The neighbors didn’t know about her mistreatment of Zhang Xiaoyue and Xu Duomei.

But after the incident where Zhang Xiaoyue was beaten unconscious, people’s attitudes toward her changed.

They were no longer as friendly, which made Xu’s mother uncomfortable.

She was someone who enjoyed being social and mingling with others, but now she found herself isolated and no longer eager to socialize.

She blamed Zhang Xiaoyue and Xu Duomei for her current situation.

She saw them as weak and cowardly.

So, when her son returned from his mission, she continued living as she always had.

But now, her timid granddaughter was causing a scene, threatening to commit suicide on the roof in front of everyone.

Her pride was completely shattered.

She was furious and felt utterly humiliated.

“Mom, I’m begging you, please stop causing trouble. Duomei is still up there. Why must you create a scene now…?”

“Ungrateful child, you ungrateful child! Are you trying to force me to jump off the building too? Fine, I’ll go right now, I’ll go…” Grandma Xu yelled as she got up from the ground and headed towards the clinic.

The soldiers quickly formed a line to block her.

If Grandma Xu had gotten to the clinic, Xu Duomei might have really been in trouble.

The situation was getting serious.

“Enough!” the military leader shouted.

He addressed Xu Weilin, not Grandma Xu, saying, “This is the military, not a place for family squabbles. Comrade Xu, if you can’t handle your own family matters, you shouldn’t worry about national affairs. We don’t have time to deal with your family’s issues every day.

Once your daughter is taken care of, you should leave the military. Just imagine if this situation gets out—what will people think of us?

This is a sacred place meant to keep people safe, but now?

The mother-in-law has beaten the daughter-in-law to the hospital, and the daughter is threatening to commit suicide in the clinic.

What will the higher-ups think of us? Is there no discipline in this place?”

Upon hearing these words, Grandma Xu stopped her aggressive behavior.

She was bold but also easily intimidated.

Although Grandma Xu had calmed down, Zhang Xiaoyue was still crying, “Duomei, please come down. Everything will be fine if you come down, Mom… Mom…”

She couldn’t say more because she couldn’t promise anything.

Xu Weilin quickly took over, “Duomei, please come down. I’ll buy you anything you want—meat, eggs, whatever. Just come down, okay?”

Xu Duomei heard her father’s words but didn’t react.

In the past, meat and eggs would have been her desire, but now, there were things more important to her. “Dad, can you really agree to everything I ask for?”

“Yes, just come down and tell me what you want. I’ll agree to anything,” Xu Weilin replied.

“Then can my sister join the army and live with us?” Xu Duomei asked.

“Of course, that’s no problem,” Xu Weilin immediately agreed.

“Can my sister also go to school?” Xu Duomei asked again.

Hearing this, those present felt a pang of sadness.

They thought the little girl might make some extravagant demands, but her requests were all about her sister.

Everyone thought, “This girl is really kind-hearted.”

“Can I also have your salary… give your salary to Mom? I don’t want Mom and my sister to be sick and not have money for doctors, waiting to die,” Xu Duomei continued.

She was terrified of such a situation.

“No…”

“That’s not acceptable,” Grandma Xu interrupted Xu Weilin, “Of course, my son’s salary has to be given to me.”

“Mom…” Xu Weilin was disappointed. “Can’t you consider the situation? Do you want to force Duomei to her death? Do you want me to bury my Children with my own hands?”

Grandma Xu pressed her lips together.

Even if her son agreed, she would not.

Seeing his mother silent, Xu Weilin continued, “Duomei, I promise you, I will agree to anything you ask. Just come down, okay?”

Xu Duomei looked at Grandma Xu and shook her head. “What if you agree now, but don’t keep your promise later?”

Xu Weilin replied, “I’m a soldier. I keep my word.”

“Then you also have to promise me that Grandma won’t hit me, Mom, or my sister again,” Xu Duomei said, starting to make more demands.

Although she asked for many things, they seemed reasonable to others.

“I promise, Duomei. I will make sure your grandmother won’t hit you, your mom, or your sister. I guarantee it,” Xu Weilin said, without hesitation.

Xu Duomei thought for a moment and asked her final question, “Dad, can you make Grandma go back and not live with us?”

“That…” This question troubled Xu Weilin.

He could agree to everything else, but he couldn’t force his mother to leave.

Seeing her father’s hesitation, Xu Duomei, despite her young age, could read the situation.

“Duomei, here’s the deal. I promise you that Grandma won’t hit you, your mom, or your sister. If Grandma does hit you or the others again, I will agree not to live with her. Is that okay?” Xu Weilin proposed.

He really didn’t want to force his mother out, but he was willing to give her a chance.

If things didn’t improve, he would be firm.

Xu Duomei hesitated; she was truly afraid of Grandma.

At this moment, the military leader spoke up, “Little girl, I promise you that if such things happen again, I will ensure your grandmother goes back home. If not, I’ll have your father return to farming. Is that okay?”

The military leader was the highest authority in the army.

This kind of incident was unprecedented and had caused quite a stir, drawing his attention.