Chapter 5

“Unbelievable! You’ve been spoiled as a rich young lady for too long. You marry into our family and still think you can act high and mighty, putting on airs like some capitalist princess. Who do you think you are? Open this door! Hurry up! How dare you lay hands on your elder sister-in-law? Don’t you know your place? Truly shameless!”

The pounding at the door jolted Shu Yue awake, dragging her out of her memories. She instantly recognized that scolding voice—it was her mother-in-law. Clearly, the in-laws had just returned home, and judging by Madam Cheng’s tone, Huang Fang and her mother must have already told their version of events. Even through the door, Shu Yue could feel the flames of her mother-in-law’s fury.

“Mom, maybe let it go,” said Cheng Jing’an, the youngest son of the Cheng family. “Second Sister-in-law just had a baby. There’s probably been some misunderstanding.”

Cheng Jing’an was the family’s golden child, and this was supposed to be his big day. He had just hosted his wedding banquet in the city and personally escorted his parents back to the village—partly to show filial piety, partly because there were still favors and benefits he hadn’t collected. But the moment he stepped through the door, trouble greeted him instead.

Both his sisters-in-law had recently given birth. The eldest sister-in-law, Huang Fang, appeared with a palm print on her cheek, claiming Shu Yue had struck her. Worse, Huang Fang’s mother said she’d been hit too. Huang Fang knelt dramatically before Madam Cheng, crying that although she knew she was at fault for giving birth to a girl instead of a boy, it wasn’t Shu Yue’s place to lecture or punish her. And to make matters worse, Madam Huang, who had “kindly” helped deliver Shu Yue’s child, hadn’t even been thanked—instead she’d been assaulted. This, Huang Fang insisted, was intolerable.

“Third, don’t meddle in this,” Madam Cheng snapped. “That Shu Yue needs to be taught a lesson. She trapped your second brother into marrying her with her shameless tricks, and she’s still not content to behave. A daughter-in-law like that must be disciplined, or she’ll think our family is powerless against her. A woman of such bad class background dares to hit people in her own home? Today I’ll—”

Before she could finish, the door swung open. Shu Yue stood there, pale and weak, leaning against the frame. She looked so frail it seemed a strong wind might blow her over.

Unlike Shu Yue, Huang Fang had already borne two children before this one and knew what to expect, with her mother tending to her every need. Despite both being postpartum, Huang Fang was rosy and composed, while Shu Yue looked ready to faint.

“I thought you’d hide in there forever,” Madam Cheng sneered. “Since you’re out, explain yourself. Why did you hit someone in this house? And worse, why did you strike your elders—”

“I didn’t hit an elder,” Shu Yue interrupted coldly. “I hit a beast.”

Her words made the entire courtyard fall silent. Huang Fang flushed scarlet with rage, glancing nervously at her mother.

“You… what did you just say?!” Madam Cheng exploded. “Mom, listen to her—”

“You and your mother know exactly what happened today,” Shu Yue said sharply, staring straight at the two women. “And so do I. Crying and making a scene won’t erase the truth. I won’t waste time bickering with you. Call the village chief here—we’ll make this clear in front of everyone. If you refuse, I’ll go to the army, the textile mill, the police, even the Women’s Federation. Somewhere, someone will see justice done.”

The threat drained the color from Huang Fang’s face. Madam Huang had already warned her daughter: under no circumstances should they let the baby-switching incident come to light. They were to divert attention to the fight instead, using it as cover. If Shu Yue tried to expose them, the scandal would destroy them all—and they knew very well that Cheng Jingchuan’s parents had taken part in many disgraceful schemes against Shu Yue during her marriage.

Shu Yue’s words terrified them. They could not allow her to take this dispute to the army, where her husband Cheng Jingchuan served, or to the textile factory, where the youngest son Cheng Jing’an worked along with his wife and father-in-law. Nor could they risk her going to the police or the Women’s Federation—official investigation would put them all in danger.

“What did you say? You dare to keep stirring this up?” Madam Cheng shouted, her temper snapping. “Looks like you’re begging to be beaten!” She raised her hand high, ready to slap Shu Yue hard across the face.

“Stop!”

An aged voice rang out from the courtyard. Relief washed over Shu Yue—her timing had been perfect. Old Madam Cheng had arrived just in time.

In her previous life, Shu Yue remembered clearly: around this very hour, the elderly matriarch always came from the old family house to see the newborn baby. She had heard that Huang Fang had given birth but didn’t even know Shu Yue had as well. Of all the Cheng family, Old Madam Cheng was the only one who ever treated Shu Yue with kindness, often slipping her fresh eggs or small comforts during her difficult pregnancy.

“Mother… what are you doing here?” Madam Cheng forced a smile, clearly displeased but unable to show it to her own mother-in-law.

“Did you give birth too, child?” the old lady asked Shu Yue, surprised. Just days ago she’d seen Shu Yue heavily pregnant, and now her belly was flat. Pale, weak, standing in the doorway instead of resting in bed—how could her in-laws be so heartless? No matter Shu Yue’s background or how she’d entered the Cheng family, she was married now, she’d borne them a child, and her husband was a soldier. How could they treat her so cruelly?

“Yes,” Shu Yue said softly, her eyes reddening. “The baby’s sleeping inside.”

To Shu Yue, the sight of Old Madam Cheng was like seeing the first ray of sunlight after a long night. Since marrying into the Cheng family, this grandmother was the only one who ever showed her genuine care. In this second life she was living, Shu Yue had waited for this moment—because only the old lady might stand up and speak for her.