Chapter 23: A Domineering Husband Protecting His Wife

Liu Shi was once again taken aback by Du Wanchun’s words.

The foolish girl she used to know had suddenly become so sharp-tongued.

Holding her belly, Liu Shi strode forward and scolded, “Du Wanchun, open your eyes and look clearly! I married your father, so that makes me your mother! Have you lost all sense of propriety just because you got married?”

Du Wanchun continued to support Zhou Ruiyuan as they moved forward. “You married my father without a matchmaker and without a proper betrothal. As nothing more than a concubine, how could you possibly call yourself my mother?”

With that, she helped Zhou Ruiyuan sit down.

Although Liu Shi was technically a second wife, she had rushed into the Du family with her daughter in tow, never undergoing a proper marriage ceremony.

Her face flushed red with anger as she pointed at Du Wanchun and yelled, “Oh? You’ve certainly learned a lot! Now you even understand the difference between a concubine and a proper wife? Let me tell you something—I’m now the mistress of the Du family, which means I am your mother! Whether you like it or not, you have to address me as such!”

Du Wanchun turned around and called out loudly, “Auntie!”

The term “auntie” was how concubines were addressed in wealthy households.

Liu Shi was furious upon hearing it. She immediately raised her hand to slap Du Wanchun across the face.

Back when Du Wanchun was still naive and foolish, Liu Shi had hit her plenty of times.

Seeing the incoming slap, Du Wanchun frowned and quickly dodged, causing Liu Shi’s strike to miss entirely.

Unwilling to give up, Liu Shi prepared to lunge forward and strike again.

Just then, a sudden gust of cold wind swept through the house, followed by a blinding flash of lightning.

A deafening thunderclap exploded overhead, making Liu Shi jump in fright.

At that moment, Zhou Ruiyuan, who had been seated, suddenly stood up.

He positioned himself in front of Du Wanchun, shielding her behind him. His expression was icy, his voice cold and commanding. “Madam Liu, Wanchun is now part of the Zhou family. What right do you have to lay a hand on her?”

Liu Shi was still shaken from the thunder when she lifted her head, only to be met with the sight of Zhou Ruiyuan towering over her, nearly two heads taller.

The imposing aura radiating from him made her completely speechless.

“You… you…” she stammered in shock, unable to form a complete sentence.

Zhou Ruiyuan shielded Du Wanchun in his arms. “If the Du family continues behaving like this, be careful—I will go to the authorities and accuse you of mistreating your stepdaughter!”

Nestled in Zhou Ruiyuan’s broad embrace, Du Wanchun could feel his rare fury, and it startled her.

He was usually soft-spoken and gentle with her, never raising his voice.

She had never expected that when Zhou Ruiyuan got angry, he could be so intimidating. The oppressive aura radiating from him made even her legs feel weak. Though she was being protected by him, her heart pounded uncontrollably.

“What are you all doing?”

A woman’s voice rang out.

Du Wanchun slowly lifted her head and saw Liu Lanzhi walking over from the back of the house.

She was dressed in a rose-red long gown, her hair adorned with several golden hairpins. She truly looked the part of a wealthy young madam. However, her dark and sallow complexion, despite her exquisite attire, still revealed a certain air of vulgarity upon closer inspection.

Liu Shi quickly walked up to her daughter and began to cry and complain. “Lanzhi, tell your husband to stand up for me! This Zhou brat actually dared to yell at his mother-in-law!”

Hearing this, Liu Lanzhi grabbed her mother’s hand and turned to glare at Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan, preparing to scold them.

At that moment, Zhou Ruiyuan slowly turned his head and looked directly at the mother and daughter.

Liu Lanzhi was about to speak, but when she caught sight of the handsome man inside the house, she was completely dumbfounded.

Her eyes widened as if she had just seen something rare and precious, and for a long moment, she couldn’t utter a single word.

“Wife! What are you doing?!”

A gruff, domineering voice called out as a burly man stepped forward from behind Liu Lanzhi.

Following her gaze, he also looked over at Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan.

Du Wanchun immediately recognized the man’s plump face and pig-like features—without a doubt, he was the eldest son of the Li family, the man she had nearly been forced to marry.

When the Li family’s young master saw Du Wanchun, his eyes locked onto her face in shock. He truly hadn’t expected that a remote, rural village like this could produce such a beautiful young woman.

After a long pause, he stammered, “Wh… Who is this fairy-like beauty?”

Liu Shi became even angrier and hurriedly explained, “Dear son-in-law, this is our family’s foolish daughter, Du Wanchun.”

The Li family’s young master, eyes gleaming with lust, immediately took over the conversation.

“This foolish daughter? Nonsense! She’s a goddess descended from the heavens!”