Chapter 3 – Severing Ties

When Yu Jingjing returned home, only Yu Yanjiao was there. She glared at Yu Jingjing viciously.

“Yu Jingjing, you sent my mom to the police station—I’m going to beat you to death!”

“If you’re not afraid of dying, then come over here. Just a bastard child, that’s all.”

“Who are you calling a bastard? You’re the bastard!”

Yu Jingjing kicked her flying with one swift motion. Then she headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. She boiled five eggs and devoured them all in one go. After drinking some water, she went back to her room to rest.

Outside, Old Lady Yu and Yu Dabo still had no idea what had happened at home.

“Eldest, we have to squeeze that money out of that girl’s hands in the next couple of days. If she leaves, it’ll be hard to find her again.”

When the second son and his wife died, the pharmaceutical factory gave out 3,000 yuan in condolence money. As the mother of the second son, she inherited 1,500 yuan. The eldest son also borrowed 500 yuan from that dead girl. On top of that, they had taken plenty of other things from this house.

She had even instigated her eldest daughter-in-law to take revenge on the dead girl. Now the only thing left was to find the money the dead girl had hidden away. Once they got their hands on that cash, they wouldn’t care whether she lived or died outside.

They had already tried many methods to get Yu Jingjing’s compensation money, but the girl was incredibly cautious. They had even broken into the house while she wasn’t home, but came up empty-handed. When Yu Jingjing came back, they claimed the house had been robbed to brush her off.

They were just short of tying her up and forcing it out of her. If they couldn’t find it soon, they might have to resort to violence.

“Ma, that girl’s probably still holding a few thousand yuan. If we get that money, we won’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

The two of them grinned as they walked into the house, only to find Yu Yanjiao sitting there, her eyes red.

“Grandma, Dad! You have to avenge me! That little slut Yu Jingjing hit me and even got Mom sent to the police station. Dad, you have to teach her a lesson!”

Old Lady Yu and Yu Dabo were shocked. “Jiaojiao, what happened?”

Yu Yanjiao exaggerated the story, adding fuel to the fire. Yu Dabo’s anger flared immediately.

“That damn girl! We treated her so kindly, cared for her, and this is how she repays us? Not only is she ungrateful, she sent your aunt to the police station! I must teach her a lesson today!”

With a fierce look, he stormed toward Yu Jingjing’s room. But before he could reach the door, Yu Jingjing opened it and walked out.

Leaning against the doorframe, she cracked her knuckles with a chilling pop, chin raised, eyes sweeping over Yu Dabo with disdain.

“Uncle, what’s with all the fire and fury?”

“You wicked girl! You beat your aunt and cousin, and even sent your aunt to the police station! How cruel can you be?!”

“Zhao Jinjuan shoved me into the coffee table and caused me to crack my head open. She deserved what she got. If you want to die too, come on then. Oh, and by the way—I saw Aunt Zhao having an affair with Li Dana. Even that daughter she gave birth to, the one you’ve been raising like your own for more than ten years, isn’t even yours.”

“W-what did you just say?!”

“Dad! She’s lying! She’s trying to drive a wedge between us!” Yu Yanjiao quickly said.

“Yeah! There’s no way your mom would betray me!”

“Don’t believe me? Go check if the underwear you’re wearing is actually yours.”

“What?!”

Yu Dabo froze. She even dared to say something like that?

But doubt gnawed at him. He rushed back into the room to check, wondering if Li Dana had left something behind.

Damn it. He only owned two pairs of underwear, and this one really wasn’t his. It had to be Li Dana’s, left behind and mistakenly worn by him.

Damn! He and Li Dana had actually swapped underwear!

So Zhao Jinjuan and Li Dana really were having an affair. When had it started?

Yu Jingjing added, “And take another look at Wu Yanjiao—see who she resembles. That precious daughter of yours you’ve spoiled all these years—doesn’t she look a lot like the person who owned that underwear?”

Yu Dabo couldn’t help but take a closer look at Yanjiao’s photo. Damn it, she really did look like Li Dana! How had he not noticed all these years?

“Dad, I’m your daughter! I’m not Li Dana’s! Don’t believe what Yu Jingjing says—she’s just making it all up!”

Yu Dabo slapped her across the face. “I’ve raised someone else’s daughter for over a decade! What a damn fool I’ve been!”

He wanted to hit her again, but Old Lady Yu stopped him.

“Changhe, Yanjiao is still part of our Yu family. Don’t listen to that damned girl’s nonsense.”

The priority now wasn’t Yanjiao—it was dealing with Yu Jingjing.

Even if Yanjiao wasn’t their biological child, they couldn’t drive her away. She could still be sold for a decent price.

Yu Dabo hesitated for a moment, then turned his fury back toward Yu Jingjing. “You wicked girl! You got your aunt arrested and sowed discord in our family—I won’t let you off!”

He raised his hand and rushed toward her, aiming to slap her face.

Smack!

His hand hadn’t even touched her when Yu Jingjing kicked him square in the chest. He stumbled backward several steps and fell heavily to the ground, clutching his chest and coughing.

“Y-you damn girl, where did you get so much strength… cough cough…”

“Uncle, I warned you. You just overestimated yourself and insisted on getting beaten.”

“Eldest! Are you okay?!”

“Dad! Are you hurt?”

Old Lady Yu and Yu Yanjiao cried out together. Yanjiao’s confidence surged again—Grandma had said she was Dad’s daughter, so she must be.

Old Lady Yu was heartbroken for her son and scolded Yu Jingjing, “You little beast! How could you treat your uncle like this? Hurry and slap yourself ten times! Think of it as an apology!”

Yu Jingjing snorted, “Old hag, just because you say so I should slap myself? Why should I listen to you?”

Old Lady Yu gritted her teeth. “You won’t slap yourself? Are you waiting for me to do it for you?”

“If you’ve got what it takes, then come over here.”

Old Lady Yu got up to hit her but stopped after a few steps—this girl wasn’t the same as before.

She was much tougher now. She used to be soft and timid, but now her eyes had changed too.

She even dared hit her uncle. Would she dare hit her grandmother too?

There was no doubt—of course not. She was her grandmother, after all.

Her second son had always been filial. This girl must have taken after him. If not, they wouldn’t have been able to take so much from this house, including that 500 yuan.

But afterward, no matter what they did, they couldn’t get a penny more out of her.

“You damn girl! Let Grandma teach you some manners!”

Smack! Smack!

“Grandma, you’re so old and still don’t know how to behave. I guess I’ll just have to teach you.”

She clapped her hands. Old Lady Yu held her swollen cheek, eyes wide in disbelief, staring at Yu Jingjing.

“You dare hit your grandma?!”

Yu Jingjing shot her a sidelong glance. “What the hell is a grandma worth? Why wouldn’t I dare?”

In her past life, her mother died because that old hag had left her at the orphanage’s doorstep. When she’d grown up and made something of herself, that wretched old woman had come to recognize her as her granddaughter, only to get slapped away.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll keep hitting you until you do.” Yu Jingjing calmly raised her hand again.

“No! Don’t!” The old lady quickly took two steps back, staring at her like she was a monster.

When had this granddaughter gotten so scary? Just yesterday, she had still been obedient and submissive.

They used to bully this girl because she was soft, timid, and had no relatives to protect her—no one would care if anything happened to her.

But what had happened to her now?

Yu Jingjing ignored her and walked up to Yu Dabo.

“Uncle, you people are heartless. You sent me off to the countryside, tried to steal my house and job. There’s nothing left between us. Pay me back the 500 yuan you owe me, along with the rural relocation subsidy. Return everything you took from my house, and then get out. From this moment on, we sever all ties. We are strangers.”

“W-what? You want to cut ties with us?” The implication was: he had no intention of returning anything he had taken.

“You damn girl, I’m your blood uncle! We’re connected by flesh and blood! How can you just say you’re cutting ties? I won’t allow it—I’ll keep taking care of you.”

If the ties were cut, how would they keep squeezing benefits out of her?

Yu Jingjing immediately twisted his wrist back hard.

“Uncle, if you don’t do as I say, are you looking to suffer more pain?”

“Aiya, it hurts, it hurts!” Uncle Yu gritted his teeth, having witnessed Yu Jingjing’s fierceness firsthand. He knew better than to clash with her again. “Jing—Jingjing, let go of your uncle first. Let’s talk this through calmly.”

“Return everything you took from our house. And give me back the money.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll return it all. Can you let go of me now?”

Yu Jingjing released him. “Uncle, give me the money first.”

Trembling, Uncle Yu got up from the ground but still had no intention of returning the money. Yu Jingjing caught his hesitation, and a cold, piercing gaze swept over him. “Uncle, what are you hesitating for?”

Frightened by her look, Uncle Yu stammered, “Alright, alright, I’ll get it, I’ll get it.”

He glanced at Old Madam Yu. She, too, had realized how formidable Yu Jingjing was and shifted her tone to a more conciliatory one. “Jingjing, do you really have to be so heartless?”

“Save the nonsense!”

She slapped Yu Yanjiao hard across the face, making her cry out in pain.

“If you don’t hand it over, I’ll keep hitting you all one by one.”

“Alright, alright! I’ll go get it!” Uncle Yu hurried into the house and came out with only 300 yuan. “Jingjing, the money’s all spent. This is all that’s left.”

Slap slap slap—three more hits landed on Yu Yanjiao’s face.

“If you don’t give me all of it, I’ll keep hitting her. You won’t escape either.”

Yu Yanjiao cried out loudly in pain. Recalling how Yu Jingjing had just gotten the police to arrest her mother, and now she was being beaten, she thought she’d also have the police arrest Yu Jingjing.

So, she ran out into the hallway, shouting and crying, “Uncles, aunties, grandpas, grandmas—can someone help me?! Call the police and have Yu Jingjing arrested!”

But no matter how many times she screamed, no one came out from their homes. Eventually, an old aunt and uncle emerged and snapped at her, “What are you yelling for? Jingjing is such a gentle girl. If anyone’s bullying someone, I bet it’s you bullying her!”

Right then, Yu Jingjing stood beside Yu Yanjiao, looking pitiful and fragile. “Granny, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked Uncle Hu to call the police. I shouldn’t have had the police take my aunt away. I shouldn’t have resisted. I should’ve just let them beat me to death without saying a word.

“My uncle’s whole family hates me. As soon as they came in, they wanted to cause me trouble. I really didn’t want to endure it anymore, so I slapped her once. The rest—she hit herself to frame me. Why don’t you help her call the police and have them arrest her instead?”

“Yu Jingjing! How dare you lie through your teeth! You clearly hit me!”

Yu Jingjing said nothing. The old aunt came over like she was shielding a precious flower and pulled Yu Jingjing behind her protectively.

“We’ve always known your whole family is no good. You just moved here to mooch off Jingjing’s household. Now that Zhao Jinhua’s been arrested, your fox tails can’t stay hidden anymore. You’re desperate and pulling out all the tricks, just so you can kick Jingjing out and take over her home and everything in it. Go ahead and call the police. We’ll testify for Jingjing. You hit yourself and tried to blame her!”

Yu Yanjiao’s scalp went numb. God, what kind of neighbors were these? Why were they helping Yu Jingjing twist the truth?

She was so wronged! Utterly wronged!

Yu Jingjing truly felt moved. It was clear the neighbors genuinely cared about her.

“No, we didn’t…” Yu Yanjiao’s denial sounded weak and unconvincing.

Their argument drew even more neighbors out. Every single one of them sided with Yu Jingjing. Not one stood up for Yu Yanjiao.

Hearing the commotion outside, Uncle Yu quickly dragged Yu Yanjiao back inside.

“Do you want to make things worse? Stop provoking that ancestor.”

The old aunt tugged Yu Jingjing’s hand. “Girl, those people are a pack of wolves. Come stay at your grandma’s house.”

“Granny, I won’t. This is my home. I want to stay here.”

The old aunt sighed. “That’s true. This is your house. You have every right to live here. But we all know now how they’ve bullied you. If you so much as lose a hair, we’ll know it’s them.”

“Thank you, grandpas, grandmas, uncles, and aunties.” Yu Jingjing bowed ninety degrees to them, then had them return home while she also went back inside.

Uncle Yu now knew they couldn’t do anything to Yu Jingjing at the moment. They had to play nice with her for now. Not only did he not blame her, he hurried back in and brought out another 300 yuan, reluctantly handing it to her. He hoped that before she went to the countryside, she would bring this money back along with the several thousand she’d stashed away.

This girl was too capable. For now, he had no choice but to go along with her on the surface.

Yu Jingjing counted the money—quite a bit—then stuffed it into her pocket.

“Pack up your things and get out. Now.”

This time, Uncle Yu didn’t even dare to bargain. He shot Yu Yanjiao a look. “Go pack your things. We’ll move back to the old house tomorrow.”

“Dad…”

Yu Yanjiao didn’t want to leave. She’d finally gotten to live in this spacious, bright house. How could she bear to leave?

Uncle Yu gave her another sharp look. “Hurry up!”

Anyway, that girl would be sent to the countryside soon. The house would still be theirs.

Seeming to understand, Yu Yanjiao got up and went to pack.

Only Old Madam Yu stayed seated.

“Grandma, aren’t you leaving?”

“I’m not. This house belongs to my second son. I have the right to live here. No one can drive me out. If you try, that’s being unfilial!” She began to wail. “Ah, my second son! Look from down there! Someone’s bullying your mother, not even letting her live in your house!”

“Fine, fine. Don’t shout. If you won’t leave, that’s fine. My head’s injured, so you can stay and take care of me.”

“What? You want this old woman to look after you?!”

Yu Jingjing instantly switched to a pitiful tone. “Grandma, you’re my grandma. Shouldn’t you take care of your injured granddaughter?”

“You look fine to me. You don’t need caring for.”

“Aiya, I’m dizzy…” Yu Jingjing leaned dramatically against Old Madam Yu. “Grandma, hold me steady.”

Old Madam Yu suddenly felt like a mountain had crashed onto her. This damn girl, why is she so heavy? She felt her old waist couldn’t take it anymore.

“Get off me, you little brat! Stop leaning on me!”

“Aiya, if my grandma won’t care for me, I’ll ask the neighbors and see if anyone is willing to look after me.”

“Don’t you dare!” Old Madam Yu still wanted to live here long-term, so she cared about what the neighbors thought. But she didn’t want to take care of this girl either. It’d be better to just leave.

“Jingjing, grandma’s getting old. I need someone to take care of me. I’ll leave with your uncle. You take care of yourself.”

In truth, she suspected this was one of Yu Jingjing’s schemes—her goal was to drive her out.

That little devil, she had way too many tricks.

Hmph, even with all her schemes, she’s still going to the countryside soon. In two days, we’ll move back in.

Outside the residential compound, Yu Jianmin arrived at the gate with his new girlfriend, Ma Xiaoyan. At first, she didn’t think much of him, but a few days ago, he gifted her a ladies’ Plum Blossom watch. After seeing his financial strength, she started dating him.