Chapter 4: Beating Up the Evil Mother-in-law from My Past Life

Xie Zhi’s face turned red instantly, not knowing what to say. He felt his heart was about to leap out of his chest, and the people at the table were all shocked by the way she addressed him.

“Little sister, are you possessed?”

“What are you talking about? I think it’s fine,” said Father Xu, the only one with a broad perspective. He smiled at his daughter and son-in-law. He had seen Xiao Zhi many times before and thought he was a good kid.

“I’ll go help mom serve the food,” Xie Zhi suddenly stood up.

“Brother, what are you talking about? Xie Zhi is my husband, what’s wrong with calling him that?”

The only braised pork on the table was placed in front of Xu Jiaojiao, specially made for her by her mother. Everyone else had a mix of rice and coarse grains, but in her bowl, there was white rice, plump and round, along with an egg. Looking at her mother smiling warmly, Xu Jiaojiao didn’t know what to say.

“Oh, you’re eating well,” a shrill woman’s voice rang out, making everyone feel uncomfortable.

Hearing that voice, Xu Jiaojiao’s brow furrowed, and she instinctively looked in the direction of the sound. There, a middle-aged woman leaned against the doorframe with a disdainful smile.

The others at the table, upon hearing the familiar voice, didn’t even bother to turn their heads. The joyous atmosphere instantly shattered, and they thought to themselves, Oh no, she’s here again. The braised pork is as good as gone.

The middle-aged woman walked forward leisurely, her eyes fixed on the dining table. “You’re eating quite well, huh? Braised pork, too. Xu Jiaojiao, why didn’t you bring any over to us?”

“Huh?”

Xu Jiaojiao was dumbfounded. Did she even know this lady?

“My son Sheng Jie has been working so hard lately. Thank goodness you brought a chicken over yesterday,” the woman said, throwing out her trump card when Xu Jiaojiao didn’t respond.

Oh, so this was Sheng Jie’s mother, the evil mother-in-law who relentlessly abused Xu Jiaojiao in the original novel. A smile tugged at Xu Jiaojiao’s lips. I wasn’t planning to settle accounts with you yet, but here you are, delivering yourself to my doorstep.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Sheng Jie’s mother flared up, pointing her greasy fingers at Xu Jiaojiao. “When an elder speaks to you, can’t you hear?”

Xie Zhi’s expression remained calm, but his eyes glanced at the girl focused on eating, feeling a bit awkward. This woman was a frequent visitor. In the past, they would try to calm her down, but Jiaojiao would go out of her way to please her, only to turn her frustration on him.

Now that Xie Zhi and Jiaojiao had finally smoothed things over a bit, he decided it was best not to say anything and risk making her angry again.

Xu Jiaojiao smiled in anger. “I wonder what brings you here today.”

Sheng Jie’s mother, thinking of her son who hadn’t eaten yet, reached out to take the braised pork, and no one stopped her. But Xu Jiaojiao grabbed the woman’s hand.

With a cold look, she said, “Let go.”

Sheng Jie’s mother’s eyes flared with anger, and she rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight. She was a surprisingly large woman and had a rather intimidating presence. Her voice was sharp, “Xu Jiaojiao, have you lost your mind? Do you still want to marry into my family?”

“Who was it that shamelessly sent all those things over? Disgraceful tramp!” she spat venomously.

Xu’s mother slapped her hard across the face, knocking the old woman to the ground. She climbed on top of her, delivering more slaps.

“Damned old hag! I’ve had enough of you! How dare you insult my daughter? I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

Xu’s mother’s eyes blazed with anger, like a lioness protecting her cub, as she used all her strength to punch and slap Sheng Jie’s mother, leaving her defenseless.

The change happened too fast for anyone at the table to react. They could only watch as the frail Xu’s mother mounted the plump Sheng Jie’s mother, scratching and hitting her with red-hot fury.

“You dare hit me! How dare you hit me!” Sheng Jie’s mother was shocked, but as she regained her senses, she tried to fight back. With her larger body, she managed to pin Xu’s mother down and began to retaliate.

Seeing her mother at a disadvantage, Xu Jiaojiao quickly rushed forward. “Mom… Are you crazy? You dare hit my mom?”

She jumped into the fray, swiftly tackling Sheng Jie’s mother back to the ground. Xu Jiaojiao sat on top of her, pounding her with her fists until the woman was too weak to resist. The scene devolved into chaos.

Xie Zhi, seeing that Jiaojiao had done enough, quickly stepped in to protect her. He picked Sheng Jie’s mother up like a rag doll and tossed her aside. Watching the fierce look on Jiaojiao’s face, he couldn’t help but smile.

He muttered, “So cute.”

When the three were finally separated, Xu’s mother’s hair was a mess, and her clothes were disheveled, but Sheng Jie’s mother looked even worse. Her face was covered in red marks and scratches, and she lay on the ground groaning.

Though Xu Jiaojiao had hit her quite a bit, her fat body had shielded her from serious harm, leaving her with only some minor bruises.

“Jiaojiao, does it hurt?” Xie Zhi held her in his arms, heartbroken to see her once delicate hands now covered in red marks. He wanted to touch them but was afraid of causing her more pain.

His eyes shot a deadly glare at Sheng Jie’s mother, filled with a desire to kill. The old woman, who had been stunned by the ferocity of the fight, now trembled at the sight of Xie Zhi’s gaze. But then she remembered Xu Jiaojiao’s shameless attempts to cling to her son, and she huffed arrogantly, lifting her chin as she regained some of her spirit.

“Honey, I’m fine. That crazy woman got what she deserved. I pinched and punched her so hard, she won’t be leaving the house for days,” Xu Jiaojiao said playfully, her tone light, her face mischievous like a cat that had just caught its prey.

Xie Zhi nodded dumbly. It was the first time he had ever seen such an animated expression from Jiaojiao; in the past, this side of her was reserved for Sheng Jie.

Seeing the family fussing over Xu Jiaojiao and her mother, Sheng Jie’s mother grew even angrier. She flung herself onto the ground, slapping her thighs and wailing, writhing around like a greasy worm.

“Is there no one to stop them? The village chief’s family is beating people! Is there no justice?”

“One more word and I’ll beat you again,” Xu Jiaojiao threatened.

The fatty trembled in fear, her eyes darting around. She was truly terrified of this girl. Xu Jiaojiao’s punches had hurt so much, and she had no idea where the girl had gotten her strength from. Her back still ached.

“Get out of my house. If you ever set foot in here again, I’ll beat you to death,” Xu Jiaojiao shouted, hands on her hips, brimming with confidence.

Seeing that she wasn’t going to get anything out of this visit, Sheng Jie’s mother sheepishly slinked away under their watchful gazes.

“Was that really you, little sister?” Xu Chen was in disbelief, completely stunned. He had almost been mesmerized. In the past, Jiaojiao had gone out of her way to please the old woman, even more than her own parents, and now she’d changed so quickly. Was she possessed?

“Dad, how about giving little sister a pair of chopsticks?” Xu Yan glanced at Xu Chen, the two twins were in sync as always.

Father Xu had just taken Xu’s mother inside to change clothes, and when he came out, he heard their conversation. Before he could agree, his precious daughter said, “No need, I’m not possessed. From now on, Xie Zhi and I will live our lives in peace. I was blind before, misjudging that Family.”

Xu Jiaojiao said these words like a vow, her eyes resolute as she glanced at Xie Zhi, her gaze filled with both determination and a hidden tenderness.