Chapter 7

“Looks like you’ve been asking for it again, since you haven’t been disciplined in a while.”

Xia Dabao picked up a stick and swung it at Xia Yunxuan, showing no mercy. This wasn’t the behavior of a brother towards his sister, it was more like an enemy.

Xia Yunxuan didn’t even bother with this weakling. Xia Dabao thought she was scared and stood there obediently, allowing him to hit her. He was happy to vent his anger on this deadbeat, knowing his parents wouldn’t care.

When Xia Dabao charged at her with the stick, Xia Yunxuan slightly moved aside, snatched the stick from his hand, and swung it at him.

Xia Yunxuan wasn’t the same as before. Her strength was now immense. In no time, Xia Dabao’s clothes were torn, and his body was covered in welts. Some parts were even bleeding.

Xia Dabao let out a pig-like scream, “Xia Yunxuan! Are you crazy? Or possessed by a water ghost? How dare you hit me? I’m your brother!”

Xia Yunxuan chuckled coldly, “You’re my brother? What kind of brother are you? You’ve bullied me since we were kids. You’ve probably forgotten. Should I remind you how you’ve bullied me?”

People outside heard Xia Dabao’s voice and rushed in. They wanted to see what was happening. Shouldn’t they be hearing the deadbeat’s begging? Why was it their Dabao’s voice?

When they squeezed into the cramped and dimly lit storage room, they saw Xia Yunxuan, the deadbeat, still hitting their Dabao with a stick.

Old lady He yelled at Xia Yunxuan, “What’s wrong with you? He’s your brother. How dare you hit him? Gao Meihua also chimed in, “Yes, you deadbeat. How dare you hit Dabao? It’s outrageous.”

“You’ve gone crazy! No one can control you anymore. Yesterday, you dared to jump into the river. Today, you dare to hit someone. What else won’t you do?”

Xia Yunxuan didn’t care. She continued to beat Xia Dabao. The others wanted to pull her away, but they were afraid to get close because anyone who went near her would be hit by her stick.

Xia Yunxuan finally stopped, her hand aching, and looked at them. “What are you all doing here?”

“When did my tiny storage room become so popular? Or are you just concerned about this good-for-nothing and don’t care about my life? He came in with a stick to beat me. Should I just let him hit me and not fight back?”

Old lady He yelled, “You deadbeat, you’re so arrogant! He’s your brother. What’s wrong with him hitting you a couple of times? You dare to beat Dabao so hard. It seems you need a good lesson.”

“If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll probably turn against the heavens. You even dare to hit your own family. Who will want you in the future?”

Old lady He yelled at her son and daughter-in-law, “Are you all dead? You’re just standing there. Hurry up and grab that deadbeat. I’ll give her a good beating. She’s really gone crazy.”

“Since she’s so capable, she won’t eat lunch or dinner today, and she won’t eat tomorrow either. She dares to hit her own brother. She pretends to be dead in bed and doesn’t do any work. She still wants to eat? She must be dreaming.”

After Old lady He finished yelling, Xia Dahai and Gao Meihua went to grab Xia Yunxuan. But Xia Yunxuan was like an eel. She dodged them, not even letting them touch her clothes.

Xia Dahai also yelled angrily, “You deadbeat! You dare to dodge? You’re outrageous!” He swung his fist at Xia Yunxuan. Xia Yunxuan was quick and agile. She kicked him, and Xia Dahai fell to the ground with a crack. His waist probably broke.

Seeing her husband beaten so badly, Gao Meihua’s eyes turned red. She picked up a stick from the ground and swung it at Xia Yunxuan. Xia Yunxuan took the stick from Gao Meihua’s hand and beat her, causing her to jump around in pain.

By accident, she knocked over their lunch, which they hadn’t eaten yet. The bowls shattered with a bang.

Xia Yunxuan was delighted. She thought her mother was doing a great job. She had actually done it on purpose. She had already eaten, and she didn’t care if they had food or not. It was better if they didn’t eat. Didn’t they always treat her this way?

Old lady He sat on the ground and yelled, “Look at this! The heavens are blind. This deadbeat is rebelling. She dares to hit her own father, mother, brother, and sister. May lightning strike her dead!”

Xia Yunrou’s also wanted to teach her sister a lesson. She picked up a stick and charged at her, but she was the one who ended up in the worst condition. Xia Yunxuan specifically targeted her painful spots, and the sounds of her screams were truly terrifying.

If it were nighttime, it would probably scare people to death.

Old lady He was acting and wailing, “We raised her for nothing. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She even dares to hit her own family. Is she even human?” Xia Yunxuan thought, “That old man Xia is calm. He didn’t even move. I actually want to hit him too. Don’t underestimate him. He’s very cunning.”

He was the one who told Old lady He to do many things. Otherwise, how could Old lady He have been so powerful and arrogant at home and outside?

It was time for work to end. Old lady He’s yelling attracted the attention of the neighbors. They came to watch the commotion and asked, “He Juhua, what happened to your family? You’re crying like you’re mourning. Why are you yelling so loudly?”

Old lady He was furious. “Old lady Li, you’re the one who’s mourning! Your whole family is mourning!”

“Hey, Old lady He, you’re taking kindness for weakness. I was just asking what happened to your family. You’re so ungrateful. You deserve what you get.”

“Old lady He, you’re usually so capable. Why are you sitting on the ground wailing like a dead person? Show us the same spirit you have at the work team.”

“Old lady Li, this is our family business. None of your concern. You think you’re doing so well? Your Erlai is probably peeping at another widow taking a bath. He’ll get caught one day.”

“Humph, our Tie Dan wouldn’t do anything like that. He’s a good boy. He gave me a few cents the other day. Did yours?”

“Humph, I wouldn’t even want your few cents. Zhang the Butcher gave me hundreds of yuan in betrothal gifts.” Old lady Li said, “But your granddaughter would rather jump into the river than marry him. Your betrothal gift is probably going to go down the drain.”

“Old lady He, you’re so money-hungry. Don’t you know what kind of person Zhang the Butcher is? You dare to marry your granddaughter to him? You’re meddling in too much, Old lady Li.”

The noise was so loud and pitiful that it attracted the attention of the Captain.

“What’s going on again today?” The Captain, Xia Daming, yelled. Old lady He said, “Captain, you have to do something for me.”