Chapter 17 No matter how much noise you make, your husband can handle it

Ruan Chenghong, already in his forties and rather thin, was no match at all for Gu Rongqing, who trained daily. He was easily restrained.

“You’re just bullying people with power! I’m your father-in-law! Let go of me!” Ruan Chenghong shouted in defiance.

SMACK! BAM! WHAM!

Ruan Xiangxiang didn’t hesitate—using both fists and feet, she pummeled Ruan Chenghong like a punching bag. Her fists and slaps rained down on him like they were free.

Very quickly, Ruan Chenghong’s face swelled like a pig’s head. She knocked out three of his teeth and tore out handfuls of his hair. At first, he kept cursing and insulting her, but eventually, all he could do was beg.

“Please, stop! Xiangxiang—I’m your father… have mercy. I know you’ve had a hard time these past years… but I had no choice,” he pleaded bitterly.

Hearing that only made Ruan Xiangxiang even more furious. “Oh? So you knew how I was living? I thought you were dead!”

She beat him even harder. Ruan Chenghong, coughing up blood, whimpered, “It was… it was all Zhang Lingyu whispering in my ear…”

The mother-daughter duo curled up in the corner, trembling as they watched Ruan Xiangxiang go on a rampage like a madwoman. Seeing Ruan Chenghong trying to shift the blame to her, Zhang Lingyu cursed, “Bullshit! She’s your real daughter—you’re the one who ignored her! Don’t push the blame on me!”

“It’s all your fault… you’re the reason I got beaten like this… I never should’ve listened to you…” Ruan Chenghong muttered, voice breaking.

But Ruan Xiangxiang had no interest in watching them turn on each other. She was exhausted from the fight anyway. With one last kick, she signaled Gu Rongqing to release him.

Gu Rongqing let go, and Ruan Chenghong collapsed to the floor like a rag, hugging his head and trembling in fear. He looked up at Ruan Xiangxiang like she was a monster—certainly not the same timid daughter he once knew. Her eyes just now looked like she truly wanted him dead.

Ruan Xiangxiang flexed her hand—it had gone numb from the beating.

Gu Rongqing fetched a stool for her to sit and rest. “Thanks, hubby~” she said with a bright smile. Her eyes sparkled, completely different from the fearsome woman she’d just been.

“It’s okay. I’ve got your back. Today we’ll settle every debt—no matter what happens, I’ll handle it,” Gu Rongqing said. Though a bit awkward using the word “hubby,” it warmed him deeply to hear her call him that. He didn’t know exactly what “hubby” meant, but it stirred a deep protective instinct.

Ruan Xiangxiang didn’t notice the nuance—she just nodded. She knew how far to go. No matter what, this was a “family dispute”—even if the authorities got involved, it wouldn’t amount to much.

She turned to the pitiful trio and said coldly, “I didn’t come here for small talk. I’m here for payback. Now hand over 1,836 yuan—not a cent less. If you don’t, I’ll go straight to the police. Zhang Lingyu, you abused your stepdaughter and engaged in human trafficking. And you, Ruan Mengmeng, conspired to drug me and sell me off to the countryside.”

“Bullshit! When did I ever traffic anyone?” Zhang Lingyu shouted.

Ruan Xiangxiang rolled her eyes. “You contacted Wang Sanpo, drugged me, and sold me for a bride price. That’s a crime. Wang Sanpo and the people from that family can all testify.”

“That’s nonsense! What marriage doesn’t involve a bride price? How is that trafficking?” Zhang Lingyu was clearly unafraid.

This time, Gu Rongqing stood and said coldly, “It’s not illegal to accept a bride price in a normal wedding. But drugging someone and secretly sending them away—that is a crime.”

“That’s right! You people really are ignorant of the law,” Lu Hang jumped in angrily. “You dared to drug and sell someone? The government issued a crackdown order this year. If you two are arrested, you might end up eating a bullet!”

Lu Hang had watched his sister-in-law unleash hell. At first, he was shocked—then deeply impressed. He thought to himself that if he had suffered what she did, he’d have gone even harder. He had felt useless earlier, unable to help, so now he finally had the chance to speak up and vent his anger.

Both he and Gu Rongqing were men of principle, and with their military uniforms adding weight to their words, their statements carried serious credibility.

The watching neighbors began murmuring among themselves.

“What?!”

“They really drugged her and sent her off in the middle of the night?”

“No wonder Ruan Xiangxiang disappeared out of the blue. So that’s what happened? That changes everything!”

Aunt Zhang, with her booming voice, shouted like she’d just discovered treasure. “Oh my! Zhang Lingyu, you and your daughter really are vicious. No wonder Xiangxiang came back and beat you both up without a word. If it were me, I wouldn’t let you off either!”

In truth, Aunt Zhang was so fired up because she worked in the same office as Zhang Lingyu—who was currently the office director. Aunt Zhang was just the deputy. If Zhang Lingyu got arrested, she’d be the one to naturally take the position!

Ruan Mengmeng, still holding her burning, swollen face, glared at Ruan Xiangxiang’s beautiful face with hatred. She loathed that face. Why did she get to be born so pretty?

She’d thought sending Ruan Xiangxiang to the countryside would bury her for good. But the little tramp had somehow landed herself a man like that?

Watching the way he looked at Ruan Xiangxiang with nothing but love, Ruan Mengmeng felt a deep urge to run up and tear that pretty face apart.

“Hah! Ruan Xiangxiang, you accuse us of human trafficking—well, if it is trafficking, then there had to be a buyer. And in a crime like this, the buyer is just as guilty. Your in-laws paid money to buy you—what makes you think they’re such good people?” she sneered viciously.

“Exactly, exactly! Ruan Xiangxiang, what are you so happy about? Do you really think your in-laws are good people?” Zhang Lingyu snapped back, finally catching on. Ruan Xiangxiang thought she was something special just because she married a military officer? At the end of the day, wasn’t he just the buyer? What was she so smug about?

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Lu Hang pointed at Ruan Mengmeng, speaking anxiously. Damn it! He remembered his sister-in-law mentioning an older sister—he had actually considered asking for an introduction! Now he realized he must’ve been blind. This mother-daughter pair was truly vile!

Gu Rongqing heard what they said, and quietly reached for Ruan Xiangxiang’s hand, gently squeezing it in reassurance, giving her a calming look. Then he turned to Ruan Mengmeng and said firmly:

“These are two entirely different matters. My mother was told by a matchmaker that your family had a daughter of marriageable age and was seeking proposals. She asked someone to arrange a meeting. Your family, taking advantage of my mother’s eagerness to find me a wife, immediately demanded a bride price. My mother agreed. Up until that point, everything was legal and aboveboard.

But you drugged Xiangxiang and sent her off in the middle of the night. That’s a completely different matter.”

“You—you’re lying! If that’s true, then why did you still marry Ruan Xiangxiang? It must be because you couldn’t get a wife, and your mom bought her for you, and you just went along with it!” Zhang Lingyu argued, trying to deflect.

“Heh,” Gu Rongqing chuckled coldly. “I fell in love with Xiangxiang at first sight. I completely respected her wishes. If she hadn’t wanted to marry me, I would’ve done everything I could to pursue her properly. Our marriage was mutual and consensual.

But I don’t owe you any explanation—you’re not worth it. Lu Hang, go call the police. Let the station send someone over.”

Now that his wife had let out her anger, it was time to let the authorities take care of this filthy family.