Chapter 20: Protecting without knowing the situation

Seeing how ruthless Ye Wuyou was, the fallen Ling Xiaohui hated her to the bone, but she didn’t dare say another word. Inside, however, she was full of doubt. What’s going on with this Ye Wuyou? She remembered, before Ye Wuyou married into the village, the “money-losing granddaughter” of Old Lady Wang had always been timid and cowardly. The village kids bullied her often. That was exactly why Ling Xiaohui had dared to barge into Ling Yu’s home today, thinking that, as a so-called elder, Ye Wuyou wouldn’t dare fight back. Who could’ve thought things would turn out like this?

By afternoon, Ling Yu and his younger brother came back from the mountains with a big harvest. Ling Yu carried a bundle of firewood on his shoulder, walking in front. Before he even reached home, he heard crying from inside the courtyard. He frowned—he had locked the door when he left, so what was going on? Worried that Ye Wuyou might have been bullied, he quickened his pace.

Before entering, he threw the firewood by the gate and rushed inside. The scene made the corner of his mouth twitch—he had thought the disabled, vulnerable Ye Wuyou might be suffering. Instead, she was kicking his little aunt, Ling Xiaohui, who was lying on the ground.

“What’s going on? Little Aunt, why are you here?” Ling Yu asked in surprise.

“My dear nephew, you’re finally back! You don’t know how your wife treated me. How can she raise her hand against an elder? I’m telling you, today you must stand up for your little aunt~ Ow~~”

“Shut up! So noisy~~”

When Ling Xiaohui saw Ling Yu return, she thought her savior had arrived. Before her marriage, she’d been spoiled at home. Though she was unreasonable by nature, she had maintained a decent relationship with Ling Yu’s father—or at least on the surface. Back then, Ling Yu’s father had found a job in the city, but Ling Xiaohui stirred things up, making their grandmother give the job to her husband instead. To be fair, after her husband got the job, she did occasionally buy things for her elder brother’s family. Outwardly, the relationship wasn’t bad.

In truth, the Ling family disliked her. Though she brought gifts, they gave plenty back, and his mother’s soft temperament had let Ling Xiaohui manipulate them for years. That was why she had become so arrogant.

Ye Wuyou was already annoyed and wanted to end this quickly and return to her room to cultivate. But now that Ling Yu and the others were back, slipping away wasn’t an option. Seeing Ling Xiaohui still chirping away, Ye Wuyou gave her another kick.

When Ye Wuyou’s foot landed, Ling Yu actually felt secretly pleased—she had done what he had always wanted to but didn’t dare. Still, he pressed down the smile tugging at his lips and put on a disapproving tone:

“Wuyou, let her go. After all, she is our elder. But it’s strange—why would you suddenly lay hands on her? Normally, you’re not like this. Did you suffer some grievance? If so, just tell me. We’re all family here. Even if you made a mistake, I’m sure Little Aunt would forgive you. Right, Little Aunt?”

Good. Without even knowing the details, Ling Yu was already shielding Ye Wuyou. Ling Xiaohui always loved lecturing them about “family unity” and “harmony.” Back then, she had used the same moral high ground to brainwash his father. Now it was time to turn her own weapon against her.

Ling Yu also thought giving Ye Wuyou a step down would be wise. After all, beating an elder could ruin her reputation if word spread. But Ye Wuyou didn’t care in the slightest. She gave Ling Xiaohui a cold snort and said:

“Grievance? What grievance could I have? This woman was being cheap, bullying the weak while fearing the strong. She barged into my home and attacked me without asking a thing—just got beaten down by me instead, that’s all. Really thought I’m someone to bully? She even dared slap my face, called me ugly. If she’s so capable, why doesn’t she go to my grandmother’s place and demand the 200 yuan back? I told you, I’ve already died once—what do I have to fear? Next time you dare raise a hand against me without reason, I’ll drag you straight down to hell with me!”

Still seething, Ye Wuyou stared fiercely at Ling Xiaohui. This woman had actually dared hit her face—why would she show mercy?

On the ground, Ling Xiaohui was startled. That look in Ye Wuyou’s eyes truly seemed like she wanted to kill her. Her words got stuck in her throat and she couldn’t utter a sound.

Only after Ye Wuyou went back to her room did Ling Yu pull Ling Xiaohui up.

“Little Aunt, are you okay?”

Ling Xiaohui felt a surge of anger—he only came to help her now? She tried to shake off his hand.

“I’m fine. What could possibly happen to me? Ling Yu, you’ve really grown bold. Your wife beat me up like this and you just stood there. What, you don’t see me as an elder anymore? Look at what you’ve done—what kind of wife did you marry? Daring to hit her elders? I told you before, when you came back from the army, I’d introduce you to my husband’s niece. Why didn’t you listen to me and instead married such an ugly, shrewish woman? Why won’t you ever listen to me?”

Hearing her rant on again, Ling Yu’s eyes narrowed. Seems Ye Wuyou really hadn’t hit her hard enough—this woman still had the audacity to bring it up.

“Little Aunt, watch your words. You can see for yourself—my new wife has a bad temper. If she hears you again, who knows how she’ll react. But I think you must’ve heard what happened after I came back. I married out of necessity. Still, now that it’s done, I intend to live well with her. So, Little Aunt, you’d best stop meddling in our affairs.”

“Meddling? You call this meddling? Look at that woman you married—she’s no wife, she’s a shrew! I’m telling you, I’m your aunt, and I don’t approve of this marriage. You’d better send her back and get that 200 yuan back, or else don’t call me your aunt anymore!”

Seeing she was still being unreasonable after everything he’d said, Ling Yu’s face turned cold.