Chapter 17: Mother-in-law, Lu Family’s Daughter-in-Law

“Uncles, aunts, my mother and my sister… Wuuu…”

“Second girl, don’t cry!”

“Ye Meiping, open the door! Bullying a little girl, what kind of ability is that? How can there be such a vicious woman in this world? Are you even a real mother?”

Seeing Jiang Xiangxiang crying, the crowd was instantly enraged. One after another, they pressed her to open the door.

Ye Meiping was furious. She clearly hadn’t done anything, yet Jiang Xiangxiang had twisted her words. Now, the little vixen had the nerve to cry outside. It just made her so angry.

Jiang Rourou was also scared. “Mother, should we really open the door and go out?”

Ye Meiping: “No! This is our house. They can’t just demand we open the door. We’ll just guard the door. I don’t believe they dare to break in. It’s so cold; they’ll leave soon. Are they really going to let that girl freeze to death outside?”

The door wasn’t soundproof, so Ye Meiping and her daughter’s words were easily overheard.

Immediately, everyone became even angrier. They had known Ye Meiping was unkind to Jiang Erya (Second Girl), but now they saw it was far worse than unkind; she was vicious. Even a stepmother wouldn’t be this cruel.

Jiang Xiangxiang listened, dumbfounded. She had thought this mother and daughter would be difficult to deal with, but they were incredibly foolish, daring to say anything. They must be certain she couldn’t do anything to them.

A neighbor, unable to stand it any longer, went to call the village head.

Village head Wang Fugui arrived quickly. Seeing the chaotic scene, he felt a headache coming on. He knew Jiang Chengshan, the father, wasn’t home; he was working at the mine.

He had also heard that Ye Meiping often mistreated her children, but it hadn’t escalated, so he pretended not to know. It’s difficult for even a righteous official to settle family disputes.

Besides, he was just a village head; what could he do?

But now the situation had escalated, and that was different. His intervention would be seen as upholding justice.

“Jiang Erya!”

“Uncle Fugui.” Seeing him, Jiang Xiangxiang called softly, her voice full of grievance. “My mother and sister went crazy. They said I was possessed by a ghost and threw black dog blood and donkey hooves on me. I refused, and they tried to freeze me to death…”

She even dramatically wiped away tears.

Wang Fugui waved his hand. “I’ve heard everything. Jiang Erya, don’t worry, I’ll help you. Chengshan’s family, open the door immediately and apologize to Erya, or I’ll call the police!”

Ye Meiping: “Village head, this is our family matter. Don’t meddle! Go back where you came from!”

Wang Fugui: “Come out! Spreading feudal superstitions, if the police find out, you’ll go to jail.”

Ye Meiping: “…”

She didn’t want to go out, but she also didn’t want to hear them gossiping outside, constantly threatening to call the police. Jiang Xiangxiang, that little vixen, had gotten bolder, constantly opposing her.

Jiang Rourou’s face was unpleasant, but there were many people outside. If they really called the police, neither she nor her mother would benefit.

“Mother, let’s go out. If we let that little vixen continue to talk nonsense, we’ll be even more passive.”

“…”

“Little vixen.”

The people outside exchanged glances. Jiang Rourou’s voice wasn’t low; they all heard it. The usually gentle girl spoke so harshly.

No one calls their own sister that. However, remembering Ye Meiping’s usual attitude, they understood. Jiang’s eldest daughter was troublesome.

Jiang Xiangxiang let them vent, unconcerned. Let them curse, the more vicious the better. When the original owner’s father returned, he could see what they were truly like.

After much deliberation, Ye Meiping opened the door. The moment she opened it, she lunged at Jiang Xiangxiang’s face.

“You talk nonsense! I’ll beat you to death, you little vixen!”

“Mother, don’t hit me! Don’t hit me!”

“Jiang Xiangxiang, stop!”

“…”

Stop and get beaten?

Jiang Xiangxiang ran in circles, preventing Ye Meiping from touching her. She aimed to trip her; if she fell, it would be her own fault, not hers.

Before she could, Ye Meiping was stopped by a middle-aged woman who pushed her to the ground, pinning her down, preventing any counterattack.

Jiang Xiangxiang was stunned. Who was this brave person who dared to help? So many people hadn’t dared to intervene, probably knowing Ye Meiping’s character and fearing being extorted.

“Ye Meiping, I’m telling you, Jiang Xiangxiang is my Lu family’s daughter-in-law. Behave yourself! She’s not someone you can bully!”

“What Lu family daughter-in-law?”

“That’s right, Lu family’s daughter-in-law. My Jian Shen has already agreed with Xiangxiang. They’ll get married in a few days. You won’t be able to bully her anymore.”

“Tian Xiu’e, I disagree.” Ye Meiping gritted her teeth. “Forget it! I won’t agree to Jiang Xiangxiang marrying Lu Jianshen.”

“What you agree to doesn’t matter. Xiangxiang agrees, that’s all that matters. It’s a new society now; arranged marriages are outdated.” Tian Xiu’e wasn’t afraid, sitting on her, leisurely saying, “Xiangxiang, don’t be afraid. You’re my daughter now. No one will dare bully you. Oh, I was in such a hurry, I forgot the gift for changing your address. I’ll give it to you later.”

“Auntie…” Jiang Xiangxiang was stunned. She realized this woman was Lu Jianshen’s mother. She hadn’t expected his family to help her.

“Don’t call me auntie, call me mother!” Tian Xiu’e smiled. “I’m your mother now. Tell me if you have any grievances. As long as I’m alive, no one will dare bully you. Oh, I was in such a hurry, I forgot the gift for changing your address. I’ll give it to you later.”

“Mother.” Jiang Xiangxiang wasn’t ungrateful. Since this person was so protective of her, and she felt a sense of closeness, changing the address wasn’t a problem; she would eventually have to anyway.

“Yes!” Tian Xiu’e was delighted. She had never had a daughter, only sons. She dreamed of having a daughter, but her sons weren’t interested in marriage. She hadn’t even met a daughter-in-law.

Now, her son Lu Jianshen finally agreed. After telling her, Tian Xiu’e rushed over to see her daughter-in-law.