Chapter 21

Wang Guiying’s words were merciless, clearly leaving no room for negotiation with Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue.

The three sisters exchanged a glance, their faces filled with helplessness and despair.

Resigned to their fate, they pressed their fingerprints down, then spoke in unison:
“Mother, we’ve signed it.”

Wang Guiying, still fuming from the evening’s events, asked sarcastically,
“Still want compensation, do you?”

The three didn’t dare utter a word about that anymore. Their hearts were pounding, nearly in their throats. The fear had scrambled their minds to a blank. Another second, and they might have fainted.

They shook their heads in perfect coordination and replied quickly,
“No, no, absolutely not. We wouldn’t dare!”

Wang Guiying shot them a cold glare and scoffed,
“Hmph, don’t dare? What don’t you dare do? You lot even dared to empty out your maternal home!”

Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue weren’t fools. Their emotions had calmed a bit, and they realized that they absolutely could not afford to sever ties with their maternal home.

If they did, life in their husbands’ households would become even harder—an unbearable living hell.

They understood their mother’s temperament all too well. After this incident, there was no way she’d let them take anything from the Chen household again.

So they couldn’t burn this bridge, because they still needed Chen Kuo—their formidable elder brother from their mother’s side—as a deterrent.

If things got too tough at home, even just mentioning him might make their in-laws think twice.

And if worst came to worst, they still had Chen Guo and Chen Qiang—two more brothers they could rely on. If they ever got beaten, those two would stand up for them.

Thinking of this, Chen Chun, the eldest of the three, took the lead. She held onto Wang Guiying’s arm and tried to appease her with a soft smile:
“Mother, please don’t be angry. No matter what, you’re still our mom. What mother really stays mad at her own daughters?”

Wang Guiying didn’t give her any face. She shot her a side-eye and yanked her arm back.
“Heh, not mad? I might as well keel over and go join your father. That’d be quicker!”

“But don’t worry, I won’t die so easily. That would be too convenient for you lot! I want to stick around and watch your kids—your big girl, Hua Ya, and Huai Niu—grow up and come running back here to scavenge like you. Let’s see then, whether you still have the nerve to say what you just said!”

Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue froze at her words. Only now did they truly realize—they had thoroughly enraged their mother this time.

Just as the three were each frantically thinking of how to make amends, Wang Guiying gave them no opportunity at all.

“It’s too late now. If you don’t head back, your in-laws will start to worry. Go. And in the future, don’t keep running back here. I’m not dying anytime soon. Don’t trouble yourselves with concern!”

The three sisters lifted their heads in unison, stunned, staring at her in disbelief.

They hadn’t expected to be kicked out tonight! Not only were they returning empty-handed with no explanation for their in-laws, but it was also pitch dark outside. They lived in different villages—once they left, they’d each have to go their own way.

How were they supposed to walk in this darkness?

They looked pleadingly at Wang Guiying, who looked like she was ready to grab a broom and drive them out herself.

The villagers standing around were indifferent, minding their own business, some even whispering and pointing.

Their gazes were filled with judgment, contempt, and mockery—making the sisters feel utterly humiliated.

At last, they turned to Gu Zhenqi, hoping she might put in a good word for them.

They never imagined her words would only make it worse.

“It’s getting darker. Looks like the moon won’t be showing tonight. You three should head back while you can still barely see the road. Wait too long, and you won’t see anything at all.”

The sisters had thought they could beg Wang Guiying with thick skin. After all, they were her daughters. Surely she wouldn’t really have the heart to drive them out.

But…

They were wrong.

Looking back, they saw Wang Guiying chatting warmly with the villagers, thanking each one personally and sending them off.

After the villagers were gone and the three sisters still hadn’t left, Wang Guiying snapped,
“Still here? What, upset you couldn’t take anything back and worried your in-laws will ask questions? Don’t even think about it. From now on, not a single grain of rice from this house will be yours. Get back to your homes. Otherwise… don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

All the squabbling had dragged on for too long. Gu Zhenqi was already worried about her two children.

Lately, her two little ones, Ruiduo and Fei’an, had grown incredibly attached to her. They wouldn’t sleep at night unless she held them on both sides. Otherwise, their big, round eyes would just stay wide open.

“Chen Chun, Chen Hua, Chen Yue—have some self-respect! Aren’t you worried your kids are looking for their moms back home?”

Sure enough, the moment children were mentioned, the sisters’ expressions changed instantly.

They didn’t put up a fight anymore. Just left a line behind:
“Mother, we’ll come visit again another day.”

Gu Zhenqi watched the three thin, frail figures disappear into the darkness and couldn’t help but sigh.

There was no point in them staying. Nor did they dare. They’d never imagined Wang Guiying would treat them like this tonight.

If they’d known, they wouldn’t have come back—even if it killed them.

But hindsight is always too late.

There’s no medicine for regret.

Without another word, they left, bitter and defeated.

Wang Guiying expressed her thanks one by one to all the villagers who had come, seeing them off.

After the commotion, the Chen household finally returned to peace. But the mood was heavy. No one spoke. Everyone went to their rooms.

They were struggling already. Why drag others down with them?

Their kindness to their maternal family had been taken for granted—treated like soft persimmons, easy to squeeze.

“Mother, you must be tired. Please go rest. Ruiduo and Fei’an can’t be without me. Eldest and second sister-in-law have been helping watch them for a while. I’ll head back too.”

“Go on then. As for Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue—they’re just like that. Don’t take it to heart. It was my fault before, indulging them too much. From now on, even a grain of rice that belongs to you, I won’t let them take!”

Wang Guiying’s tone sounded weary, and her gaze toward Gu Zhenqi carried guilt.

Honestly, the little things they’d taken didn’t really bother Gu Zhenqi.

What she couldn’t accept was their entitled attitude—as if everything was owed to them.

She would never go along with such unfairness.

She wasn’t some saint who’d pity them just because they were mistreated by their in-laws.

Their hardships weren’t an excuse to harm the Chen family.

They didn’t know the meaning of gratitude.

Whatever happened before, she didn’t care. She had her own mess to deal with.

From now on, not even a needle or a thread would be taken from the Chen household.

As for Chen Chun, Chen Hua, and Chen Yue—let them do as they pleased. She had more important things to focus on.

She wouldn’t waste even a shred of energy on people who didn’t matter. She would only…