Chapter 457: Chapter 237: Brawl_2
Compared to Lady Zhou, whose face turned from red to white with anger, Zhao Fugui’s wife seemed completely calm and composed, even sporting a smile on her face.
"Oh my, how could I forget, your Old Lian Family is such a fine family, known throughout the ten miles and eight villages. You are top-notch when it comes to honing your daughters-in-law. It’s a good thing the brides your family takes in are tough; otherwise, they would have been tormented to death by you long ago. And I’ve forgotten, haven’t you already tormented one to death? And there’s another one, Old Fourth’s wife—everybody knows you’ve harried her to the brink of her life. She won’t even live with you anymore, preferring to separate and be penniless rather than share a house with you."
These words struck a raw nerve with Lady Zhou. She let out a howl and, flailing her arms, lunged at Zhao Fugui’s wife. The onlookers wouldn’t just stand by and watch two people fight; they all hurriedly restrained Lady Zhou.
"How dare you curse at my mother, I’ll tear your mouth apart," Lian Xiuxiu, standing behind Lady Zhou, was so angered that she was about to step forward and tangle with Zhao Fugui’s wife.
"Oh dear me, I had forgotten about you. Aren’t you that gluttonous, unsightly girl from the Old Lian Family, who fights over chicken eggs with your nephew, the old maid who can’t get married?" Zhao Fugui’s wife taunted with a laugh.
Lian Xiuxiu immediately trembled with rage. Although she was the daughter of Lady Zhou, she lacked her mother’s talent for cursing. She could only repeat a few swear words, which hardly compared to Zhao Fugui’s wife. Out of sheer frustration, Lian Xiuxiu rolled up her sleeves, rushed forward, and grabbed Zhao Fugui’s wife by the hair.
Zhao Fugui’s wife didn’t even attempt to dodge but instead wrestled with Lian Xiuxiu.
Before long, Lian Xiuxiu found herself at a disadvantage. She was usually petulant but had never encountered someone so fierce, especially as she was an unmarried maiden. Zhao Fugui’s wife, on the other hand, was a sinister character, viciously striking at places a girl would find embarrassing. Pained and shame-faced, Lian Xiuxiu soon fell into a sorry state of tears, but she refused to give in or back down. This only presented Zhao Fugui’s wife with more opportunities to land several ruthless blows.
All this happened in the blink of an eye. Hearing Lian Xiuxiu’s cries, Lady Zhou became even more frantic and furious, her white temples nearly standing on end.
"You all just stand there watching my daughter and me get bullied, you heartless lot!"
While Lady Zhou was speaking, Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao had already stepped in to separate Lian Xiuxiu and Zhao Fugui’s wife.
Given that they were at the Lian residence, Zhao Fugui’s wife had already taken advantage and knew when to bail out, slipping away behind Zhao Fugui and the workers. Lian Xiuxiu tried to go after her, annoyed that Lady Zhao was holding her back, and in her fit of rage with nowhere else to vent, she laid into Lady Zhao with a slap across the face.
Lady Zhao cried out, covering her face, blood seeping through her fingers—the scratch from Lian Xiuxiu’s nails had opened up her skin.
Lian Manman watched this spectacle with fury. She had been sympathetic towards Lian Xiuxiu initially, but her loyalties shifted instantly upon witnessing what happened. The saying goes "misery for loved ones is pleasure for enemies," and "trouble in the nest"—Lian Xiuxiu was the perfect example.
Lady Zhou hugged Lian Xiuxiu, her lips trembling with distress, and told her sons and daughters-in-law to beat up Zhao Fugui’s wife.
No one moved an inch.
Lady Zhou was so angry her eyes rolled back.
Lian Shouren and Lady Gu were nowhere to be seen, and not a sound came from within the house. As for Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli, both were honest men, and asking them to hit someone, especially someone younger and the sister-in-law of their nephew’s wives, was a demand they couldn’t fulfill. Both Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao were soft-spoken; if they could shout abuses and come to blows, they would not have suffered under Lady Zhou for so long.
Ultimately, the Lian Family, Lady Zhou included, had always engaged in verbal confrontations. When it came to physical conflicts, they were simply not up to scratch. Couples like Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli were inept at both word and fistfights.
In such a situation, the only ones who could be relied upon, and who were in a position to take action, were Lian Shouyi and Lady He.
But oddly enough, both Lian Shouyi and Lady He were exceptionally well-behaved today.
Something fishy! Lian Manman quickly glanced around, sensitively picking up on the odd atmosphere.
Zhang Fugui had already taken his wife and was carrying Zhao Xiue’s chests out.
"These things can’t be taken away today," Old Master Lian said with a stony face, "Let your father come, sign a statement, and you can take anything that’s yours—we won’t keep a single thread."
Hearing Old Master’s words, Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin quickly stepped forward to block Zhao Fugui again.
"Let them go, I’d like to see who would want her once she leaves the Lian Family, a woman with a child, no less. If they ever think about entering my Lian Family’s doors again, let them crawl here from the town, kowtowing all the way," Lady Zhou cursed furiously.
Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin exchanged a look of confusion, both turning to Lian Shouyi for guidance.
Lian Shouyi waved his hand at the two brothers. Was this a signal to step aside? In the moment of their hesitation, Zhao Fugui seized the opportunity, hastily led his men to carry the chests out the front door, jumped onto the carriage, and sped off like a fugitive.
"Why did you two let them get away?" Lian Shouyi then stamped his feet and beat his chest, rebuking Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin.
"Second brother, wasn’t it you who waved your hand, telling us to step aside? I also found it strange," Lian Shouxin said.
"Yeah, second brother, what do you really mean?" Lian Shouli asked earnestly.
"I meant for you two to stop them, not let them get away. Father, what do we do now?" Lian Shouyi said.
Old Master Lian remained silent, his face dark as he turned and went back inside.
...
In the West Wing Room, Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli both had the look of men facing a lawsuit.
"What was second brother really thinking?"
Lian Manman rolled her eyes; she couldn’t make heads or tails of it either. She only knew one thing: Lian Shouyi intentionally made Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli take the blame.
That night, Erlang didn’t return. Old Master received news that Zhao Xiue and Erlang had broken the locks on the family house in town and moved in.
The next day, a messenger from the Zhao Family arrived: Zhao Xiue wanted to separate from the family.
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First update, asking for pink support. (To be continued. If you like this work, please consider voting for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
