Chapter 64: She’s Gone Mad—A Pitiful Person Must Have Something Detestable About Them

“Ah!”

Old Madam Song was sent flying in an arc. Jiang Wan’s kick packed real force. The old woman, who had been half-feigning madness while remaining partially lucid, hit her head in the fall—and this time, she truly lost her mind!

“Mother!”

Second Brother Song rushed over to check on the old lady. She looked insane and yet still scrambled up from the ground.

“I’ll kill you! Kill all of you to avenge my third son!”

Old Madam Song didn’t even spare her second son—she grabbed him and started beating him wildly. Clearly, she could no longer recognize anyone.

“Mother, it’s me—Second Brother!”

Terrified, Second Brother Song tried to dodge her. His wife also rushed in to pull them apart.

“Mother, please, take a good look. This is your son!”

“My son is dead. He’s dead!”

The death of her third son had been a crushing blow. Old Madam Song grabbed at anyone she could, yanking hair and scratching wildly, completely out of control.

Second Brother Song and his wife dared not get entangled with her anymore and quickly tried to distance themselves.

“Chen’er! Third Brother’s wife! Quick, come help restrain Mother!”

Sweat glistened on Second Brother Song’s forehead. They couldn’t let the old woman keep rampaging.

“Got it.”

Song Chen and the others chased the old woman as she ran around madly. They occasionally got clawed, leaving all of them with new wounds on their faces and bodies.

The youngest, Song Yang, burst into loud wails of fear, drawing a disgusted glare from one of the officers.

“She’s probably gone insane.”

Madam Song sighed and turned to Jiang Wan with concern. “Wanwan, did she hurt you just now?”

“No.”

Jiang Wan shook her head. That old woman hadn’t even gotten close to her. There was no way she could’ve been injured.

If anyone was hurt, it was the old woman herself. Jiang Wan had seen clearly—her kick had turned a pretended madness into genuine insanity.

“Mother, Grandmother…”

Song Jiuli opened her mouth hesitantly. Under Song Jiuyuan’s warning gaze, she said timidly:

“I didn’t mean anything by it. I just think… she’s rather pitiful.”

But of course, she couldn’t go against her own family just because of that.

“A pitiful person must have something detestable about them.”

Song Jiuchi spoke quietly. He used to think their grandmother was a decent person, but all her so-called kindness had been built on the fact that their eldest brother supported the entire household.

Everyone watched coldly as the rest of the Song family struggled with all their might to finally subdue Old Madam Song.

Song Chen and Second Brother Song were drenched in sweat. When they saw the crazed old lady start to dig into the dirt with her bare hands, a flash of murderous intent flickered in Second Brother’s eyes.

“Officer, my mother is ill. If we pass through another town, could we perhaps find a doctor for her?”

Second Brother Song pleaded as he looked at Ren Bang. Ren Bang cast him a cold glance and said nothing, but Old Zhang snapped:

“We don’t have the time to go out of our way finding a doctor for you. Whether she survives or not is her own fate.

And you—keep a tight watch on her. Don’t let her cause any more trouble. If she delays our journey, don’t think you’ll get away unpunished!”

Old Zhang waved the whip in his hand, frightening Second Brother Song into silence. All he could do was tie Old Madam Song’s hands with a rope.

The other end of the rope was tied to Second Brother Song’s body. From then on, he’d have to lead her along on foot during the journey.

“Here, take this. Let Jiuchi apply some on you.”

Jiang Wan gracefully handed over a small bamboo tube filled with freshly prepared ointment to Song Jiuyuan.

“You made this medicine just for me?”

Song Jiuyuan’s pale fingers curled slightly around the ointment. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.

“Of course.”

Jiang Wan was open and honest. “If your injury doesn’t heal properly, there’s no telling whether we can even safely reach the frontier.

Later, when there’s a suitable moment, I’ll give you acupuncture. Paired with this ointment, your recovery will be much faster.”

Jiang Wan couldn’t protect a whole family by herself—it was best if Song Jiuyuan recovered on his own.

“Thank you.”

Song Jiuyuan lowered his gaze to hide the emotions in his eyes. His heart pounded, and he quickly passed the ointment to Song Jiuchi.

“You help me apply it.”

“Thanks, Sister-in-law! I’ll take Big Brother to apply the medicine now.”

Song Jiuchi’s attitude toward Jiang Wan had clearly changed. After telling Ren Bang, he took Song Jiuyuan behind a large tree to apply the ointment.

Madam Song clutched Jiang Wan’s hand, her eyes glistening with tears. “Wanwan, if you hadn’t been here, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.

Don’t worry, if Yuanyuan ever dares to mistreat you in the future, I’ll never forgive him!”

She had fully accepted Jiang Wan as her daughter-in-law now—so much so that Jiang Wan started to panic.

“Mother, no one can bully me.”

A wave of unease washed over her. When the time came for her to divorce Song Jiuyuan, would Madam Song stop her?

How would she even begin to explain?

“Still, you mustn’t be wronged.”

Madam Song understood that bullying didn’t only mean physical harm—even words could wound. Now that she’d accepted Jiang Wan, she would stand by her.

“I’ve got your back too!”

Song Jiuli grinned. “Sister-in-law, if my big brother ever so much as looks at another woman, I’ll help you scold him!”

Jiang Wan: …

She gave Song Jiuli a long, quiet look. With the way that girl treated Song Jiuyuan like a cat before a mouse, the idea of her scolding him was laughable.

Still, she appreciated the kind sentiment. Whatever happened between her and Song Jiuyuan, they would handle it themselves.

Song Jiuchi finished applying the ointment quickly and came back with Song Jiuyuan on his back. After a short rest, they continued their journey.

On the way, Jiang Wan came across a father and son pushing a wooden cart while gathering firewood in the mountains. She bought the cart from them for five taels of silver.

Then they placed Song Jiuyuan and their luggage on the cart so Song Jiuchi could simply push it forward.

“Sister-in-law.”

Second Brother Song stared longingly at the cart. “Given Mother’s current condition, why don’t we let her ride in it too?

Don’t worry, I won’t let Jiuchi push alone—I’ll help.”

“This cart isn’t mine. I can’t make that decision.”

Madam Song rejected him coldly and even put some distance between herself and Second Brother Song.

She didn’t want his shameless wife latching onto her again—she wanted no ties with him whatsoever.

In Madam Song’s eyes, Second Brother didn’t even compare to a single finger of her husband.

“Jiang Wan.”

Second Brother Song quickly walked up to her. “Now that you’ve married into the Song family, you’re one of us.

Your grandmother is sick like this—can you really bear to let her suffer the whole way?”

That line felt like emotional blackmail, something Jiang Wan hated most. Her face immediately turned cold.

“Even if I’m now a member of the Song family, it should be Mother who shows filial piety. That old woman isn’t even my real grandmother.”

“Jiang Wan!”

Second Brother Song raised his hand to strike her—but before he could land the blow, Jiang Wan flipped him over her shoulder and threw him hard to the ground.

“I have a bad temper—don’t test me. Otherwise, I’ll break your legs!”

Jiang Wan sneered coldly, her movements sharp and dashing. Everyone around was stunned, and a rare smile appeared in Song Jiuyuan’s eyes.

Song Jiuli and Song Jiuchi were full of admiration. “Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”

Song Jiuli eagerly ran over. “That move just now was so cool and heroic! Can you teach me?”