Chapter 159 (2/2)

Madam Zhang got choked off by her . After a while, she glared fiercely at her and said, “You little wretch, you have become bolder after separating from the family! You actually dare to talk back to me, your grandmother! Is that what your parents teach you?”

Yu Xiaocao feigned a smile and said, “Grandmother, I’m just telling you the truth . How did it become me talking back to you? Or is it in your eyes, as long as I don’t go along with you, it is considered reb.u.t.ting and disobedience? As the ancients says: ‘An unkind mother should not blame her child for being unfilial…’ What are your thoughts after hearing that?”

“You d.a.m.ned brat, useless wretch! Aren’t you just indirectly saying that I’m unkind? Who talks to their elders like you? You think that you’re so great now just because I haven’t been disciplining you!” Madam Zhang took off her shoe and prepared to beat her up .

Xiaolian swiftly went forward and blocked her younger sister . Yu Xiaocao pulled her back a few steps . Suddenly, she covered her chest, breathed heavily, and weakly said, “Grandmother! My health isn’t very good, so I can’t be frightened! If I get ill from you scaring me, I’m going to have to rely on you . I’m going to eat and live with you, and you will have to take care of my medical fees…”

Madam Zhang was stunned by the speed at which she changed her face . She was actually timid inwardly, but she put up a fierce front and said, “Stop pretending! Don’t think that I don’t know the trick you’re playing . You’re deceiving others by pretending to be sick! Who would believe you ah! Unless you die in front of me, or else…”

“Who dares to curse my daughter! Do you want to die?” Madam Zhang was scared by a rough, thunderous voice and she almost sat on the ground .

Yu Xiaocao turned around and saw her G.o.dfather, Fang Zizhen, and Yu Hai, who jumped off the donkey cart behind him . Fang Zizhen’s face was full of anger, and even his beard had curled up . He used every ounce of his energy to control the horsewhip in his hands in order not to lash it at Madam Zhang .

Yu Hai’s eyes were red as he stared at Madam Zhang with a gaze filled with grief, indignation, disappointment, and unfamiliarity . His stepmother hated him so much that even his children had been implicated . His daughter, who he loved so dearly, was cursed viciously by her grandmother to die in front of her . Such hatred, such resentment!

He believed that he had a clear conscience towards the Yu Family and Madam Zhang . It turned out that his tolerance and sacrifice before they had separated from the main family were done in vain . He could never warm up Madam Zhang’s ice-cold heart . Yu Hai’s heart was like dead ash in an instant, ‘So be it . In the future, I will give them everything that I’m supposed to give them, not one penny less . But for things that I don’t need to give them, I won’t even take out a single coin . ’ He wouldn’t be concerned about that side of the family anymore just because his family was eating and living better . Because—it wasn’t worth it .

Madam Zhang was someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong . When facing the furious General Fang, she immediately became listless . She stammered, “My… My Lord! I… I’m not cursing her . I just said it carelessly…”

Fang Zizhen whipped the horsewhip that he was holding in the air several times, and a clear and crisp sound could be heard . Madam Zhang trembled in fright and nearly wet her pants .

“Careless remark? Then why don’t you also tell yourself to die? Why don’t you tell your own son to die? Our Xiaocao used to be in poor health . It must be because you cursed her! If I hear you cursing my daughter again, be prepared to go to jail!”

Fang Zizhen felt that there was a need to frighten this stupid woman . Even with his support, she still dared to fearlessly bully his family’s Xiaocao . If he wasn’t around, then his dear daughter would be bullied to death… Pah, pah! Why was this word mentioned again? How inauspicious!

Madam Zhang s.h.i.+vered and muttered, “I… I’m her elder, so it’s not considered a crime to scold her…”

“What kind of elder are you? Which family’s elders would refuse to pay for their sick granddaughter’s medical fees and force them to borrow money in order to treat her illness? What kind of parents would take the three hundred taels that their son exchanged his life to get, and then force them out of their home with barely anything? Whose elders would hate seeing their son’s family living well and come cause trouble for them from time to time? Madam Zhang, you’re only a stepmother, and you’re a vicious and biased stepmother . The law will never tolerate people like you!” Fang Zizhen glared at her fiercely . His dignified aura caused Madam Zhang’s legs to go soft and she kneeled down .

Yu Hai turned his face to one side and solemnly said, “Brother Fang, please spare her this time! Madam Zhang, when we divided the family, it was clearly written on the contract that I just need to give you guys two hundred catties of grain every year or convert it into money . In the future, I won’t pay even a single coin more! Please don’t come and bring disgrace upon yourself again!”

When facing Yu Hai, Madam Zhang’s imperious temper flared up again . She sat her b.u.t.t on the ground, smacked her legs, and cried, “The heavens don’t have eyes—giving me such a unfilial descendant ah!! How shall I live in the future——”

Suddenly, her voice stopped abruptly as if someone had strangled her neck . It turned out that she had been frightened by Fang Zizhen’s furious expression .

Fang Zizhen said impatiently, “Brother Yu had given you the food according to the agreement without missing anything . So how is he being unfilial? In my opinion, he’s much more filial than your good-for-nothing son who only knows how to stretch out his hands and ask for money at home! Daughter, if this wicked old lady bullies you again, tell me! G.o.dfather will avenge you!”

After he said that, he bent down to hold Xiaocao under his arm . Then he lifted her onto his own tall steed . He, on the other hand, acted like an extremely caring father and guided the horse in front .

When Madam Zhang saw Xiaocao being doted on by the official, her heart beat like drums, for fear that the official would remember all her past mistreatments towards the little la.s.s and come get even with her later . In the following days, she became much more quiet and well-behaved .

Under the envious eyes of the villagers, Yu Xiaocao sat on the back of the tall horse . Her G.o.dfather was so cool today . There was finally someone who could stop that wicked old lady . It should be a lot more peaceful for her family in the future .

“G.o.dfather, when did you return from the capital? Why didn’t you tell me in advance? I could have prepared a feast for your return ah!” Yu Xiaocao laughed happily . She must treat ‘this great G.o.d’, who could subdue Madam Zhang, with great care .

[1] Tactic of mourning soldiers (哀兵之策) - get sympathy by mourning and then attack the enemy when they are less guarded

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