Chapter 15

Teaching the Abusive Man a Lesson

Xu Jiajia’s gaze fell on He Taohua.

She was tall but thin, her complexion sallow and emaciated. Even though she forced a smile, it was clear she was unhappy.

“Speak,“ Xu Jiajia said inwardly.

“[Host, your aunt’s husband, Wang Bo, is abusive. He often beats your aunt, leaving her with many injuries, especially in sensitive areas.]”

If there was one thing Xu Jiajia despised the most, it was domestic abusers. Hearing this, she felt her anger rise, wanting nothing more than to beat that man senseless.

Looking at He Taohua, Xu Jiajia asked, “Aunt, is Uncle here today?”

“He’s here,” He Taohua replied, a flicker of fear flashing in her eyes, which didn’t escape Xu Jiajia’s notice. She turned to Shen Yuebai. “You go entertain the guests first. I’ll come out in a bit.”

Shen Yuebai nodded slightly. “Alright, I’ll head out first.”

Grandma Xu, though equally upset, held her composure since it was a joyous occasion. “Jiajia, I’ll go help with things too. Don’t stay in here too long; your classmates are still waiting for you.”

Xu Jiajia nodded. “Got it.”

Once Grandma Xu left, Grandma He handed Xu Jiajia a red envelope. “Grandma doesn’t have much, but take this—it’s just a small token. Don’t think it’s too little.”

Xu Jiajia didn’t want to accept it, but she feared refusing would upset the elderly woman. Deciding to take it for now and return it later with added money, she said, “Grandma, I’m just happy you could come. How could I think it’s too little?”

Grandma He’s face softened with a warm smile. “You look so much more cheerful this time!”

Xu Jiajia smiled wordlessly. How could I not be cheerful with a different soul in this body?

“[Host, you are the original owner, and the original owner is you.]”

“[Shut up. When I ask you for an explanation, you claim you don’t know. If you don’t know, how dare you call me the original owner?]”

Gua Gua felt aggrieved. It wasn’t that it didn’t want to explain. The main system had warned it not to, threatening its destruction if it disobeyed.

He Taohua also handed Xu Jiajia a red envelope.

When accepting it, Xu Jiajia deliberately brushed against her aunt’s arm.

He Taohua flinched, hissing in pain as she pulled her hand back.

Xu Jiajia grabbed her hand, concern written all over her face. “Aunt, what’s wrong with your hand?”

“It’s nothing,” He Taohua said, trying to withdraw her arm. But Xu Jiajia didn’t let go. “Let me see.”

Not wanting to ruin Xu Jiajia’s mood on her wedding day, He Taohua refused. “It’s fine, really. I just accidentally bumped it on the cabinet. It’s just a bruise. It’ll heal in a couple of days.”

Seeing that He Taohua wasn’t willing to show her arm, Xu Jiajia didn’t push further. She planned to talk to her aunt privately after the guests left. “I have some herbal oil here. It’ll help the bruise heal faster.”

She pulled a bottle of herbal oil from a drawer and handed it to He Taohua.

He Taohua didn’t use it immediately.

After Xu Jiajia and Grandma He left, she rolled up her sleeve.

Her arm was covered in scars, new ones overlapping old ones—a horrifying sight.

Twisting the cap off the herbal oil, she poured some onto her arm.

The liquid stung, burning her skin with an intense sensation.

Halfway through applying it, a voice suddenly sounded behind her.

“Stupid woman, so here you are. Made me search high and low for you!”

Startled, He Taohua’s face turned pale. The bottle of herbal oil fell to the ground, but she didn’t even notice.

She looked at the man walking toward her, trembling. “D-don’t come any closer. This is Jiajia’s bridal room. If you cause trouble here, her in-laws won’t let you off.”

The man bared his yellow teeth in a vulgar grin. “I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t make trouble here.”

Biting her lip, He Taohua stepped back. “Then leave.”

Narrowing his eyes, the man’s demeanor turned menacing. “Did you tell the old lady something?”

He hadn’t wanted to come to the wedding but was worried He Taohua might speak ill of him in front of her relatives and embarrass him.

Afraid of alarming Grandma He, He Taohua denied it. “No, I didn’t say anything.”

The man smirked smugly. “That’s more like it. If you dare run your mouth, I’ll divorce you.”

From behind, Xu Jiajia’s voice rang out coldly. “Run her mouth about what? Go ahead, let’s hear it. I’d love to know.”

He Taohua panicked, trying to pull down her sleeve, but it was too late. Xu Jiajia had already seen the bruises.

Taking a step forward, Xu Jiajia grabbed her aunt’s wrist. Her tone carried a chilling edge. “You bumped into a cabinet and got this kind of injury?”

Today was a joyous occasion, and He Taohua didn’t want to stir up trouble. She pleaded with Xu Jiajia, “Jiajia, please don’t ask, okay? Nothing is more important than your wedding.”

The man shook his foot arrogantly, his eyes lingering on Xu Jiajia with a mix of amazement and disgust. “Exactly, exactly.”

Xu Jiajia, however, didn’t have He Taohua’s tolerance. She took a step forward and flipped the man over with a shoulder throw.

Before he could react, she found a thick rope and tied him up.

The man, in immense pain, glared at Xu Jiajia with bloodshot eyes, as if he wished he could bore a hole through her. “Xu Jiajia, you wretched woman! What are you doing? Let me go!”

Not wanting him to disturb the guests, Xu Jiajia grabbed a rag and stuffed it into his mouth.

After finishing, she clapped her hands and stretched lazily. “Much quieter now.”

He Taohua was petrified, finally stammering, “Jiajia, w-what are you doing?”

Xu Jiajia glanced at the bruises on He Taohua’s arm. “Aunt, he’s beaten you like this—why didn’t you tell your three brothers? Why didn’t you tell Grandma?

The more you hide it, the more this scumbag thinks you’re easy to bully, and the worse it’ll get.

Domestic violence doesn’t happen just once—it’s endless.”

He Taohua instinctively covered her bruises, her voice pained. “Your grandma is old; I didn’t want her to worry.”

Xu Jiajia, someone who couldn’t tolerate injustice, couldn’t understand He Taohua’s reasoning. “What if one day this scumbag kills you by accident? Do you think such a big incident could be kept from Grandma?”

He Taohua was speechless, nervously rubbing her hands together.

Xu Jiajia sighed softly. “Aunt, if you can’t go on, just divorce him. Sure, divorce might come with a bad reputation, but compared to your life, it’s nothing.”

The word “divorce” felt distant to He Taohua. She stared blankly at Xu Jiajia. “In our village, many men hit their wives, and no one talks about divorce. Wouldn’t it seem improper?”

The scumbag enthusiastically nodded, making muffled noises through the rag: “Mmph, mmph…”

Exactly, exactly. This is how everyone lives these days! Wretched woman, if you dare convince her to divorce me, I’ll kill you!

Xu Jiajia noticed the man’s malicious intent and delivered a hard kick to his chest. “Shut up! You’re so noisy!”

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead from the pain, and his eyes were filled with venom as he glared at Xu Jiajia, as if wishing to tear her apart.

Disliking the way he looked at her, Xu Jiajia struck him unconscious with a single chop.

He Taohua’s heart raced in fear. “Jiajia, today is your big day. Won’t this bring bad luck?”

Xu Jiajia, who had come from modern times, didn’t believe in such things. “It’s fine. He’s just unconscious, not dead.”

Hearing the word “dead,” He Taohua almost covered Xu Jiajia’s mouth. “Quick, spit three times to ward off bad luck!”

Seeing her aunt’s serious expression, Xu Jiajia had no choice but to spit a few times.

…

As it was a wedding, guests would inevitably come to the bridal room to see what was happening.

Afraid that the guests might see the scumbag, Xu Jiajia had Shen Yuebai carry him off to the woodshed.

He Taohua hesitated, then asked nervously, “Aren’t you worried that Xiao Shen will think badly of you for this?”

Xu Jiajia replied confidently, “No, every person has their flaws. Only by accepting each other’s flaws can a marriage last.”

Looking at Xu Jiajia now, He Taohua felt she had changed a lot—not only bolder but also more assertive. Though it seemed violent, she thought it was a good thing; at least she wouldn’t be easily bullied.

…

All the relatives were seated.

Grandma He noticed her son-in-law’s absence and asked He Taohua, “Where’s your husband?”

This was the question He Taohua had been dreading. She froze, nearly knocking over a bowl on the table. “I-I don’t know.”

Grandma He stood up and glanced around but didn’t see him. She dismissed it, saying, “Maybe he’s at another table.”

He Taohua patted her chest in relief. “…”

What a scare.

…

Just as the meal was about to begin, a mud-covered man suddenly appeared at the door, shouting, “Xu Jiajia, I’m here! I’m here to drink your wedding wine!”