Chapter 18 : Sowing Dissension

Han Zhenyu was momentarily stunned but quickly sat up from the kang and said, “I’ll go fetch the water.”  

Su Xieqiu hurriedly stopped him, “No need. I didn’t work today and didn’t sweat much. I’ll just bathe tomorrow. You should rest.”  

Fetching water meant going to the east end of the village, a considerable distance, followed by boiling it, a task that could take hours.  

“It’s fine. I can’t sleep right now anyway, so I might as well go out for a walk,” Han Zhenyu said as he opened the door and stepped out.  

Seeing she couldn’t dissuade him, Su Xieqiu followed and whispered, “Don’t fetch too much, or it’ll just benefit them.”  

Han Zhenyu chuckled and nodded before heading out with two wooden barrels.  

After Su Xieqiu finished bathing, only Yang Lanhua and Han Meili were still awake in the main room.  

Thinking of the clothes in the toilet, Su Xieqiu couldn’t help but smile.  

Then she suddenly remembered that Han Zhenyu’s clothes might have been drying in the backyard as well. Had she thrown his clothes into the toilet along with the others?  

But after a moment, she shrugged it off. They were ruined anyway, she could always wash them again tomorrow.  

If the clothes were beyond saving, she’d just get him new ones later.  

Still, she decided to mention it to Han Zhenyu.  

“I just realized your clothes might have been drying in the backyard. Sorry, I’ll help you wash them tomorrow.”  

When Han Zhenyu heard her admit she’d tossed the clothes into the toilet, he gave her a look of disbelief.  

But then, he found it amusing. Her actions were a bit childish, but they also carried a certain satisfaction.  

“It’s fine. I’ll handle it in the morning,” he said.  

The two went to sleep as usual, with their heads at opposite ends of the kang.  

Although Su Xieqiu still felt a bit uncomfortable, it was far better than the previous night.  

Just as she was about to fall asleep, Yang Lanhua’s angry voice echoed from the yard. She must have discovered the clothes in the toilet.  

Su Xieqiu chuckled and rolled over, intending to ignore it and go back to sleep.  

But the yelling grew louder, followed by furious banging on the door.  

“Open the door! Open the door! Who’s the little beast that hasn’t been taught any manners? How dare you throw clothes into the toilet? I’ll tear you apart!”  

Su Xieqiu sneered and was about to get up to face her.  

Before she could put on her shoes, however, Han Zhenyu had already opened the door.  

He grabbed Yang Lanhua by the collar and said in a chilling tone, “Who are you calling a beast? Say that again if you dare.”  

Yang Lanhua choked and coughed violently, struggling to breathe.  

Behind her, Han Meili stepped back in fear. She had been terrified of Han Zhenyu since childhood. Seeing him now, holding her mother like this, she panicked and blurted out, “You ungrateful wolf! Let my mother go! It’s that bitch Su Xieqiu causing trouble, why are you hitting my mother?”  

Before Han Zhenyu could respond, Su Xieqiu emerged from the room and slapped Han Meili across the face.  

As she raised her hand for a second slap, Han Zhenhua and Han Baoguo rushed out of the house.  

Seeing the commotion, Han Baoguo shouted, “What are you doing, eldest son? Let your mother go!”  

Han Zhenhua, alarmed, hurried toward Su Xieqiu to stop her from hitting his sister again.  

But Su Xieqiu, seeing him approach, shouted at the top of her lungs, “Help! Someone’s trying to kill me!”  

Han Zhenhua’s face darkened with rage, and he gritted his teeth. “You crazy woman! You hit her and then pretend to be the victim. You’re shameless!”  

Hearing this, Han Zhenyu released Yang Lanhua and turned his attention to Han Zhenhua. Without hesitation, he punched him in the face.  

Grabbing his collar, Han Zhenyu said in a voice as cold as death itself, “Do you want to die?”  

The menacing tone sent shivers down everyone’s spines.  

Though consumed with anger, Han Zhenhua didn’t dare fight back.  

He knew better than anyone how dangerous Han Zhenyu could be ruthless and unyielding. Going against him was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

Han Zhenyu snorted disdainfully at Han Zhenhua’s cowardice, released his grip on his collar, and looked at everyone in the yard. He declared firmly:  

“I’m making this clear today. If anyone dares to bully her again, I’ll return it double. You all know I mean what I say.”  

Yang Lanhua, still reeling from being choked earlier, was genuinely frightened.  

Though they’d had arguments before, this was the first time Han Zhenyu had physically confronted her.  

It was that vile woman, Su Xieqiu, stirring up trouble today, but her son ended up getting beaten. How could she let that slide?  

Still, she knew that as long as Han Zhenyu, the little bastard, was home, she wouldn’t be able to deal with that troublemaker. She had no choice but to endure it for now.  

Han Meili, however, was far less composed. Emboldened by the presence of her father and second brother, she pointed at Su Xieqiu and complained:  

“Dad, you don’t know how evil this woman is! She threw all the clothes my second sister-in-law and I just washed into the toilet, even yours and Mom’s!”  

Su Xieqiu placed her hands on her hips and shot back fiercely, “You brat, which eye of yours saw me throw them? You and Zhang Qianyun have always blamed me for every bad thing you’ve done, and now you’re framing me over the clothes. How can you be so vicious at such a young age?”  

Glancing toward Zhang Qianyun’s room, Su Xieqiu added with feigned innocence, “When I went to bathe, I overheard Zhang Qianyun scolding you. She called you greedy and lazy for making her wash so many clothes alone. She even said your mother was a biased old woman who only favors her daughter. And now you’re blaming me? Do you think I’m that easy to bully? Let me warn you, if you dare frame me again, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”  

Hearing her name, Zhang Qianyun, who had stayed inside until now, could no longer keep silent. Fuming, she opened her door and retorted, “You’re lying! I never said that! It wasn’t me who threw the clothes, it was obviously you! You’re just twisting the truth to sow discord. Do you think mother-in-law and Meili will believe you?”  

Su Xieqiu shrugged nonchalantly. “Believe it or not, that’s not my problem. If your mother-in-law doesn’t care, then it’s fine. It’s not like this is the first time you’ve talked behind their backs.”  

With that, she grabbed Han Zhenyu’s arm and led him back to their room.  

Zhang Qianyun stood there, speechless and fuming. She clenched her teeth in frustration, knowing she now had to prove her innocence.  

She held Yang Lanhua’s hand and pleaded, “Mom, I swear I didn’t say those things. Su Xieqiu is trying to drive a wedge between us. Please don’t fall for it.”  

Yang Lanhua patted her hand reassuringly. “Of course, I believe you.”  

Although she believed her daughter-in-law wouldn’t be so reckless as to throw clothes into the toilet, she couldn’t help but note Zhang Qianyun’s suspicious absence during the earlier commotion.  

Zhang Qianyun, relieved by Yang Lanhua’s reassurance, smiled and let out a sigh.  

Deep down, though, she couldn’t deny that Su Xieqiu had hit a nerve. No matter how much she tried to curry favor, Yang Lanhua always sided with her daughter.  

However, Han Meili wasn’t as forgiving. She pouted and asked accusingly, “Sister-in-law, why didn’t you come out to help? Mom and I were getting beaten!”  

Feigning surprise, Zhang Qianyun replied, “They dared to do that? I didn’t hear a thing, I was asleep and just woke up.”  

She cast a reproachful glance at Han Zhenhua. “Why didn’t you call me when you went out? Now Little Sister is misunderstanding me.”  

Han Zhenhua quickly explained, “I didn’t have time. I rushed out when I heard the noise.”  

In truth, he knew she hadn’t been asleep. She probably stayed inside out of fear of Han Zhenyu.  

Yang Lanhua, wanting to avoid further embarrassment, interrupted their bickering. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s all go to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow if needed.”  

Han Zhenhua and Zhang Qianyun quickly supported her and said, “Mom, let us help you back inside.”