Before even reaching home, a loud commotion could be heard from the entrance, mixed with the cries of children.

Looking up, the courtyard gate was surrounded by a dense crowd.

Three or four people were tugging at Qiao Yunting, who was desperately trying to protect the two children in his arms, leaving him unable to fight back.

A wooden stick was about to strike his head when Qiao Xin’s expression changed.

She quickly stepped forward and shouted:

“Stop!”

She grabbed the wooden stick just in time, used a bit of skill, twisted her wrist, and kicked out with her leg, sending the person flying several meters away.

The person landed on the ground, curled up, clutching their stomach in pain, unable to get up for a while.

Qiao Xin’s face was cold. Wherever her gaze landed, the crowd instinctively backed away.

“What’s all this fuss about? Did the sky fall?”

A sharp voice rang out:

“Oh, my dear in-law, you’re finally back! We thought you were hiding inside, too scared to come out. You arrived just in time. I heard you’re planning to move away, but my daughter, Baozhu, can’t bear to leave her dear old parents. She doesn’t want to go with you to enjoy a good life. The two kids feel the same way. So, why don’t you just let them stay?”

The speaker was Lin Baozhu’s mother, Lin Qinshi—Qiao Xin’s supposed in-law.

But despite being in her fifties, she painted her face thickly with makeup, her gestures exaggerated and artificial, making one feel nauseous just looking at her.

Yet, she seemed quite pleased with herself.

Qiao Xin didn’t answer directly but instead turned to the concerned parties.

“Third daughter-in-law, is this your decision as well? Third son, what about you?”

Lin Baozhu delicately dabbed the corners of her lips with a handkerchief and spoke in a deliberately soft voice, “Mother, I can’t bear to leave my parents!”

Oh, just great. Like mother, like daughter—the pretentiousness was definitely inherited!

Qiao Yunting looked a little disheveled. His handsome eyes were filled with sarcasm.

“Hah, what a touching sentiment. Do you still think you’re an unmarried girl? You’ve been married for years. Didn’t your father ever teach you that a married woman follows her husband?”

Then he let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Forget it. Since you don’t want to go with me, I won’t force you. But what about the children?”

Lin Baozhu’s eyes welled up with tears.

She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Lin Qinshi.

“The children carry the Qiao family name, not the Lin name.”

“I see.” Qiao Yunting’s voice was firm. “Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t force anyone. Just don’t regret this decision later. Fourth and Fifth, say goodbye to your mother.”

The two little boys, almost four years old, had already seen and understood what was happening.

They realized their mother was leaving them.

Their teary eyes filled, and in an instant, the tears came pouring down.

“Mother…”

But Lin Baozhu seemed rooted to the spot, unwilling to step forward.

She lowered her head and twisted the handkerchief in her hands, saying nothing.

Qiao Xin had seen enough—it was clear that her daughter-in-law was determined to leave. The divorce was inevitable.

Qiao Yunting’s eyes turned red.

His phoenix-shaped eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

To say he wasn’t sad would be a lie, but more than anything, he felt regret.

This was the woman he had been so desperate to marry. Just how blind had he been to think she was a good person?

He turned to face Qiao Xin, dropped to one knee, and bowed deeply.

“Mother, I have been unfilial. I wish to divorce Lin Baozhu. Please allow it.”

Qiao Xin sighed. “Are you sure? Once you make this decision, there’s no turning back.”

“I’m sure.”

Since both parties had made up their minds, there was no need to force the issue.

“They say it’s better to tear down ten temples than to break up a family, but since you both agree, I won’t interfere. Write a divorce letter—it’s the least you can do to end this properly.”

She asked Zhang Shi to fetch writing materials and handed them to Qiao Yunting.

He didn’t hesitate. In a few strokes, he completed the divorce letter and signed his name.

The Lin family hadn’t expected him to agree so quickly. They thought he would put up a fight. It wasn’t until they held the divorce letter in their hands that they realized—he was truly letting her go without a fuss.

They were about to leave when Qiao Xin stopped them.

“What about the injuries on my son’s body?”

Lin Baozhu hesitated for a moment, eager to leave, and blurted out, “Mother, my brother accidentally bumped into him.”

Qiao Xin smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Don’t call me that so affectionately, as if we’re still family. I am no longer your mother, Miss Lin. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Then, with a loud “smack,” she slapped Lin Baozhu hard across the face.

The air went still. Everyone was stunned.

No one had expected Qiao Xin to suddenly hit someone.

“A divorce is a divorce, but ganging up on my son? That’s unacceptable. Do you think he has no one to back him up?”

Lin Qinshi, realizing her daughter had been slapped, let out a shriek and charged forward to attack Qiao Xin.

But Qiao Xin quickly twisted her arm and pinned her down, rendering her immobile.

Before the older woman could start cursing, Qiao Xin shoved a lump of mud into her mouth.

Unable to curse or fight back, Lin Qinshi was utterly furious!

And the worst part? Not a single one of her sons dared to step forward to help.

Qiao Xin’s swift, decisive actions completely shocked the troublemakers into submission.

She glanced at Qiao Yunting, who was staring at her in amazement.

She quickly looked away.

“Remember this—if anyone dares to bully him again, this will be the result. We have nothing to lose, so if you push us, I will fight to the death to protect my son. Try me if you don’t believe it.”

Lin Baozhu, clutching her swollen face, instinctively muttered, “You… you wouldn’t dare…”

Qiao Xin chuckled. “Want to test me?”

Her words were calm, but the Lin family members felt their blood run cold.

Any thoughts of demanding compensation instantly vanished.

They had never imagined that someone so easygoing could be so terrifying when pushed.

Qiao Xin shoved Lin Qinshi back toward her family and dismissed them all, sending the onlookers away as well.

Then she turned to Qiao Yunting and pointed to a bamboo basket by the wall.

“Third son, carry the basket home.”

Qiao Yunting’s eyes were red as he sniffled, sounding like a child.

“Mother…”

Qiao Xin looked at him in disgust. “What? Regretting it now? Look at you, acting so pathetic!”

“No… I just hate myself for being so blind back then!”

“Tsk tsk, at least you’ve learned something. Seems like this divorce wasn’t a bad thing after all.”

Qiao Yunting blushed. “Mother~~”

She patted his shoulder. “Everyone loves a fool once or twice when they’re young. So what if she dumped you? One day, she’ll wish she never let you go. The best revenge isn’t making a scene—it’s living so well that she can only dream of reaching you.”

“Mother, you’re not angry with me?”

She flicked his forehead.

“Angry? Who has time for that? We have kids to feed and work to do. Get inside and clean up those wild chickens!”

Qiao Yunting wiped his face, took a deep breath, and picked up the basket.

Mother was right. He had done nothing wrong!

With his mother’s support, he stood tall once again.