Chapter 16

Chen Yue wasn’t afraid. She stepped forward, standing face-to-face with Chen Qiang. Neither of them looked pleased.

She spoke with righteous indignation:
“If it weren’t for the three of us sisters, would the Chen family be living this good life today? Would any of you even be alive? Don’t you know exactly what you owe us?”

“Chen Chun, Chen Hua, Chen Yue — it seems that all these years of care and love from your maternal family have raised three ungrateful traitors. Fine! Aren’t you claiming we owe you? Then let’s make everything clear today!”

Wang Guiying was thoroughly disappointed in her three daughters. She thought to herself — in those days, hadn’t every family lived through hardships like that?

She turned and went back into her room. A while later, she returned to the courtyard with a long-yellowed notebook in her hands.

Sitting down on the long wooden bench, Wang Guiying opened the notebook to the first page. Her sharp gaze swept across Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue.

Her stare made the three sisters feel uneasy — something bad was coming.

Wang Guiying didn’t look at them for long before shifting her eyes back to the notebook. Her voice turned cold:
“This book records the betrothal gifts and dowries you received when you got married, and the support your family provided. It also notes all the things you’ve taken over the years — openly or secretly — from your family, along with the money you borrowed using all kinds of excuses and never paid back.”

“I never thought I’d need to use this. But since we’re laying things out today, let’s settle everything once and for all. Let’s see whether the Chen family really owes you… or…”

At this point, Wang Guiying’s expression darkened even further. Her gaze was full of anger, disappointment, and heartbreak.

“…or whether it’s you who are ungrateful and shameless, endlessly taking and actually owe us, the Chen family!”

“Before we start settling accounts, let me make one thing clear: debts must be repaid. That’s only right. Whoever owes must repay unconditionally!”

Wang Guiying’s eyes swept over Chen Guo, Chen Qiang, Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue, then finally turned to Gu Zhenqi. Her tone softened slightly:
“Zhenqi, take a good look at our Chen family today — see what kind of ungrateful people we’ve raised. Be smarter from now on and open your eyes when judging others!”

“Mom, what are you saying? You’re already condemning us before the settling even begins!”

“This isn’t fair, Mom! You’re clearly biased. We won’t accept it!”

“Exactly! Mom, you live with the Chen family — of course you’d side with them!”

“If you’ve done nothing wrong, you shouldn’t fear accusations. If you think I’m unfair and biased — fine. I’ll make sure you’re left speechless and have nothing more to argue!”

“Chen Qiang, go get the team leader. Chen Guo, invite a few of the village’s respected elders. And bring a few of the village women who like to chat — let them all come.”

“Okay, Mom, I’ll go right now.”

“Mom, don’t worry. We’ll make sure everything is perfectly clear!”

Seeing Wang Guiying about to make a public spectacle of things, Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue began to feel nervous.

They had only come back to their maternal home to confront Gu Zhenqi over beating Chen Yue and get some compensation — just enough to maintain face when they returned to their husbands’ homes.

If things got out of hand and word spread to their in-laws, knowing how those families were, who knew how they’d be mocked and mistreated?

Their in-laws would surely think they were disgraceful and treat them coldly. Worse still, they might assume the sisters had completely fallen out with their family, and without the support of their brothers, their lives at their husbands’ homes would be even more miserable.

Especially for Chen Chun — fear was creeping in. She always acted like the strong eldest sister in front of the other two, but to her in-laws, she was just a doormat. Anyone could scold her, and if her husband was unhappy, slapping her twice was routine.

If not for her three brothers, she would have long been beaten more severely — not just the occasional slap or kick.

Each of the three sisters had their own thoughts. After a moment, they stepped forward to stop Wang Guiying, their attitudes noticeably softer than before.

“Mom, this is a family matter — can’t we handle it behind closed doors? There’s a saying: family shame should not be made public. What if the villagers laugh at us?”

“Big sister’s right, Mom. You’ve always cared about your reputation — don’t let others laugh at you, especially…”

“We’re not trying to make trouble, Mom. We’ll still come back to visit. We don’t want things to get ugly. If you feel bad for us, maybe we can still talk about compensation…”

Gu Zhenqi was really fed up with these three sisters-in-law. Her mother-in-law was known throughout the village for being sharp and capable — did they really think their little tricks would go unnoticed?

If you want to stir up trouble, you’d better be ready to take the consequences. They were almost thirty, yet still acting like spoiled girls.

Human tolerance has limits — and so does patience.

Gu Zhenqi could tell: her mother-in-law’s indulgence toward the three daughters had reached its end. After today, they’d have a hard time stirring up trouble in their maternal home ever again.

“Weren’t you the ones claiming I’m unfair? So now I’m bringing people to make a fair judgment, and you suddenly don’t like it? Too bad! No more discussion — step aside!”

The three sisters were afraid of Wang Guiying, but they were even more afraid of things escalating and reaching their husbands.

Their husbands only let them visit the maternal home because they always brought back stuff. That was the only value their in-laws saw in it — they never returned empty-handed.

They always helped themselves to things at home as if they were entitled to them.

“Mom, don’t call anyone. You know how we…”

“Don’t make things too ugly — what good can come from being the village laughingstock?”

“How about this, Mom — we won’t ask for much. Just give each of us 100 yuan. As for the remaining 100, we’ll write an IOU and you can pay us later.”

“Chen Chun, Chen Hua, Chen Yue — what are you afraid of?”

Suddenly, Gu Zhenqi deliberately called them out, exposing their weak attempts at hiding their fear.

They couldn’t go against Wang Guiying, and they couldn’t fight Gu Zhenqi, but at least they could lash out verbally — so they immediately turned their anger on her.

“Gu Zhenqi, what nonsense are you spouting? Us, afraid? What a joke.”

“If anyone should be scared, it’s you! We came home and got beaten up for no reason. You think the villagers won’t talk if we don’t get an explanation?”

“Hmph, just look at my bruises — clear evidence! When the village chief and others arrive, let’s see how you explain this. You’d better prepare the money for compensation, maybe then…”

“Maybe what? Maybe she won’t be let off? Otherwise, how could we ever come home again if she beats us every time?”

Hearing the three sisters talk, from eldest to youngest, Gu Zhenqi thought Chen Yue made the most sense. She responded only to her:

“Chen Yue, your idea is great. I’ll consider it. Every time you come home in the future, I’ll give you a beating!”

“You’ve really crossed the line! You’re an outsider — what are you so arrogant about? Third Brother hasn’t been home in three years, has he?”

“I remember you two haven’t even registered your marriage, right? Who knows, maybe he’s already married someone else out there. You’re like some abandoned sow in the village, stupidly waiting like a living widow!”

SLAP! SLAP!

Two slaps, one on each side of Chen Yue’s face, landed almost simultaneously — one from Wang Guiying, one from Gu Zhenqi.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law shouted in unison:
“Shut up!”

Gu Zhenqi respectfully gave way to the elder, signaling politely for Wang Guiying to speak first.

Wang Guiying didn’t bother with pleasantries and continued:
“Chen Yue, if you don’t know how to speak, just shut your mouth. No one will treat you like you’re mute. Now think — were those things you just said even human? Or did you hear them from someone else?”