Han Zhen’s voice was cold and emotionless, much like the murderous glare he had just given.

Han’s stepmother dared to bully the young Han Zhen but was too afraid to confront the Han Zhen who hadn’t been seen for six years because the current Han Zhen was vastly different from the one she remembered.

Han Zhen smiled coldly.

He didn’t want to maintain any pretenses with them.

He knocked on the table to signal for silence and then spoke slowly, “I only give you two choices: either leave or go to jail.”

Han’s stepmother was momentarily stunned and then shouted, “What do you mean? What jail?”

Ignoring her, Han Zhen continued, “You intentionally pushed Dahua, which is attempted murder. You should know that you weren’t the only ones there; Mrs. Cui was also present. If you leave now, we can drop this matter. If you continue to linger here, I will report this to the authorities.”

Han’s stepmother was so angry her eyes nearly turned white. “You… Dogzi, how can you say such heartless things? You…”

“Shut up.” Han Zhen interrupted her. “I don’t want to hear what you have to say. I know very well what kind of person you’ve always been. Either go to jail or get lost; those are your two options. You can think it over for a night. If you haven’t made a choice by tomorrow, I’ll choose for you. Don’t think of anything else; it’s useless.”

After saying this, Han Zhen left the kitchen and returned to his room.

He tidied up a bit, took out the things that needed washing, and then braved the rain to wash them.

He had grown accustomed to doing laundry, as he used to do it himself before getting married.

Now that Dahua was pregnant, he certainly didn’t want her to tire herself out, so he took care of many chores himself.

While washing, he looked at the bloodstains on the sheets, and Han Zhen’s heart hardened once again.

Fortunately, Dahua and her child were fine; otherwise… even if he killed that woman, it wouldn’t ease his anger.

So, he would ensure that such things wouldn’t happen again.

As Han Zhen washed, the Han family sat in the kitchen with somber expressions.

Han Niuzi asked uneasily, “Dad, Mom, what should we do? Should we… leave?”

Han’s stepmother replied, “Leave? Pah! He’s enjoying himself here; why should we leave? That’s just a dream.”

Han Niuzi felt anxious. “But what if he really goes to report us?”

Han’s stepmother didn’t believe it. “Does he dare?”

She turned to Han Laodai, “This is your son. You handle this matter.”

Han Laodai didn’t know what to do.

He weakly asked, “How am I supposed to handle this?”

Han’s stepmother was furious.

She had chosen him back then because he was weak and easy to manipulate, but now she realized that this kind of weak man was utterly useless. “Figure out how to resolve it yourself! I’m not leaving. You can threaten him; if he reports you, then you can report him for being unfilial.”

Upon hearing this, Han Laodai was shocked. “Report him for being unfilial? No way! No way!”

He had always been an honest man; being weak and irresponsible was one thing, but he had never considered reporting his own son, nor did he dare to.

Han’s stepmother grew even angrier. “He’s going to report me for murder; can’t I report him for being unfilial? Are you listening? If you don’t obey, we’ll divorce, and I’ll take our son back to my family. Let’s see who will support you in your old age then.”

Han Laodai sighed. “How did things end up like this?”

Han’s stepmother spat and was about to speak when she saw Han Zhen returning with the washed items, so she quickly shut her mouth.

After hanging up the clothes and sheets, there were three rooms in the house: one for him and Yang Dahua, one guest room that could also serve as a study where Yang Dahua would sometimes embroider handkerchiefs, and the other room was for storage, like raincoats that were also hung out to dry.

Once he finished hanging the clothes, Han Zhen felt hungry.

He went to the kitchen, found some rice, and started cooking porridge.

As for the others, he treated them as if they didn’t exist.

Those who wanted to harm his wife and child could expect no hospitality from him.

Not wanting to stay in the kitchen, Han’s stepmother went to the guest room.

She had a gloomy expression.

Han Niuzi yawned and directly fell asleep on the bed, not caring about anything since his mother was there.

His wife felt a bit scared and sat aside, afraid to say anything.

After eating his porridge, Han Zhen tidied up the kitchen, fetched water for a shower, and then went back to his room to sleep.

He didn’t bother with Han Laodai and the others.

In that guest room, four people couldn’t possibly sleep together, especially with Han Niuzi’s wife and Han Laodai in the same room.

So, Han’s stepmother forced Han Niuzi’s wife into the storage room, while she and Han Niuzi slept in the bed and Han Laodai on the floor.

Han’s stepmother said, “If you can’t sleep on the floor, go sleep with dogzi.”

Han Laodai said nothing and simply lay down on the floor.

The Next Day

When Han Zhen woke up, there was no sound coming from the guest room.

He went to the kitchen to cook porridge for himself.

After finishing his meal, there was still no sound from the guest room.

Han Zhen chuckled coldly.

Did they think they could avoid this matter like this?

He knocked on the door, saying, “Open up.”

Han’s stepmother and Han Niuzi were pretending not to hear while Han Niuzi’s wife curled up in a corner, and Han Laodai sat there.

Han Zhen knocked for a long time and, seeing they were still silent, said directly, “Since you haven’t decided yet, I’ll report this to the authorities.”

After Han Zhen’s words, the guest room remained silent.

He chuckled coldly and left the house.

Outside, there was no commotion.

Han’s stepmother got out of bed and leaned against the door to peek outside but saw no one.

She moved to the window to check again, still not seeing any figures.

She called Han Laodai, “No one’s outside. Go see if the dogzi is still around.”

Han Laodai obediently opened the door, looking around the place but still failing to spot Han Zhen.

Han’s stepmother, hiding in the room, asked, “What’s the situation? Is he here?”

Han Laodai replied, “No one.”

As soon as Han’s stepmother heard there was no one, she came out, grumbling, “Pah! He’s just trying to scare us. What does he think he is?”

She then told Han Niuzi’s wife in the room, “Hurry up and cook. I’m hungry.”

Han Niuzi’s wife replied, “Coming.”

Before the food could finish cooking, Han Zhen returned, but he wasn’t alone.

An old man accompanied him, along with several young men.

The old man was the town chief, a position not held by just anyone; he was registered with the county office and was considered a local official.

Since there was no county office in the town, most matters were handled by the town chief.

However, murder cases were something the town chief dared not handle.

The town chief had learned about the situation from Han Zhen during the walk over.

The saying “there are no good stepmothers” may be an exaggeration, but it holds some truth; one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.

Although Han’s stepmother had pushed Yang Dahua, attempting to “murder” the child in her womb, this was the first time the town chief had encountered such a situation.

Even in ordinary families, conflicts between stepmothers and stepsons didn’t escalate to his level.

However, since Han Zhen had come to him, he couldn’t refuse.

Everyone in town knew that the residents of the family houses were people they couldn’t offend.

Seeing Han Zhen enter with people, Han’s stepmother was startled.

She felt like she had been caught eating in the kitchen, feeling somewhat embarrassed and still unaware of the visitors’ intentions.

Han Laodai awkwardly said, “Dogzi… you’re back.”

Han Zhen ignored him and directly addressed the town chief, “This woman has attempted to murder my wife and daughter. I ask the town chief to help arrest her and take her to the county office. I’ll provide witnesses.”

As soon as Han Zhen said this, Han’s stepmother was dumbfounded.

After a long pause, she finally realized Han Zhen wasn’t joking. “You… you… ah, I’m dizzy. I feel so dizzy!”

Han Zhen replied, “If you’re dizzy, it’s perfect; we can just tie you up and take you to the county office. That way, you won’t struggle.”

As soon as Han’s stepmother heard this, her dizziness vanished.

She started rolling around in the yard, “Oh dear, it’s hard to be a stepmother! I raised him like a father and a mother, and now that he’s successful, he’s unfilial. Everyone, come judge me!”

Her cries drew quite a few onlookers, who gathered at the courtyard entrance to watch the spectacle.

Han Zhen wasn’t embarrassed at all. “This is my stepmother. My biological mother died when I was five, and I was abused and grew up under her. At fifteen, I took my father’s place to serve in the army, leaving nothing behind at home. Yesterday, they came from the old home, and this wicked woman intentionally pushed my nine-month-pregnant wife, causing her to deliver prematurely. At that moment, Mrs. Cui was present, and she witnessed it. So, if I don’t give my wife and daughter a fair explanation regarding this malicious woman, I am unworthy of being a husband and a father.”

Han’s stepmother screamed, “You’re lying! You’re lying! You unfilial Han Dog! Has your conscience been eaten by a dog? Oh, heaven… If anyone dares to come here, I’ll shout that you’re harassing me!”

Han Zhen knew her personality well.

Watching her act this way didn’t surprise him at all.

He addressed the unseen people at the entrance, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Then, a woman appeared with several others.

Without saying a word, they subdued Han’s stepmother and tied her up with ropes.

Seeing this, Han Niuzi rushed over. “What are you doing? Let go of my mother!”

Han Zhen stepped forward and blocked him, then kicked him away.

Han Niuzi was sent stumbling back several meters, falling to the ground.

Seeing her son knocked down, Han’s stepmother screamed even louder, “Murder! Murder! Old man, are you blind? Didn’t you see Niuzi getting hit? Murder! Murder!”

Han Laodai looked around, confused, unsure how it had come to this. Finally, he turned to Han Zhen, “Dogzi…”

Han Zhen maintained a blank expression. “I said it before: either you leave, or I report you to the authorities.”