Chapter 3: The Mad Bull

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“Oh my god! Mom, why is your face all bruised and swollen?”

“It must be that little she-devil. When I find out it’s really her, I’ll beat her to death!”

Bang!

The sound of something heavy hitting the floor.

Liu Cuihua’s eyes were bloodshot as she kicked open the door and stormed into She Yuqi’s room. Seeing She Yuqi and Xiaoxiao still asleep, she cursed furiously.

“You little she-devil, don’t play dead! Did you steal the stuff from grandma’s cabinet?”

Xiaoxiao rubbed her sleepy eyes, trembling in fear under the covers.

She Yuqi stretched lazily, her flowing black hair cascading over her shoulders like a little sleepy cat waking up and stretching. “Breakfast time? It’s so lively here.”

Her voice was still tinged with drowsiness from just waking.

Even women couldn’t help but take an extra glance at She Yuqi, but that was all.

“Eat, eat, eat! Why are you so greedy?”

“If you’re not greedy, why sneak off behind people’s backs to eat filth?”

“I didn’t eat it!”

“No, you did. Otherwise, why does your breath stink so bad?”

Liu Cuihua couldn’t argue and hurriedly helped the old Madam Han inside. She Yuqi glanced sideways and let out a snicker.

Madam Han looked haggard, completely stripped of yesterday’s arrogance. Her right eye was swollen and bruised—a masterpiece of She Yuqi from last night.

Madam Han nearly died of rage, squinting her slanted eyes and pointing at She Yuqi as she scolded, “You jinx! Did you steal the things?”

“All your fault for raising such a daughter. Look at her—dirty hands and feet, and she dares to hit and scold her elders!”

“Yesterday she said she wanted to split the family. Last night, the house got robbed.”

“Mom, it probably isn’t Yuqi, right? She used to help with chores all the time. If it were her, wouldn’t she have been caught by now? Besides, how could she have taken so much all by herself?”

Li Ying simply spoke the truth. If this girl had such ill intentions, would she still be kicked out of the Han family?

Li Ying was inwardly displeased.

Who the hell had done this, causing her to be scolded as well?

“Mom, you can’t just accuse people without proof!”

“Hmph. Proof or no proof, just search her stuff. Eldest brother’s wife, go do it.”

“All right, Mom.” Liu Cuihua rubbed her hands excitedly and reached for the bundle She Yuqi had packed last night on the kang.

Without warning, She Yuqi grabbed Liu Cuihua by the hair and dragged her into the courtyard.

“You dare touch my things? I’ll beat you to death!”

“Ah! Let me go! You’re such a little tramp, having a mother but no mother... ahhh!”

A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she picked up a broom used for sweeping chicken droppings and lashed out at Liu Cuihua’s spiteful face.

“I’ll sweep away your bad luck. Too much misfortune brings bloodshed.”

Liu Cuihua’s face became bruised and swollen. She covered her face, stained with chicken droppings, lying in the middle of the yard, crying and screaming.

“Han Yunguo, your wife is being bullied and you won’t come out? Marrying you is the worst luck in eight generations!”

Though Liu Cuihua was fierce, she was still just a woman. She Yuqi’s strikes were swift and ruthless. Before she could react, She Yuqi had pinned her to the ground and was beating her severely.

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The Han family, worried about making a bigger mess, rushed out of the main house in a flurry. She Yuqi’s bundle and her small room had already been turned upside down by the Han family members. Aside from a few clothes belonging to She Yuqi and Xiaoxiao, there was nothing—truly destitute!

Strange indeed. It seemed the house was actually robbed last night.

She Yuqi’s suspicion was dismissed, but Madam Han’s face grew even grimmer.

Han Yunguo, seeing his mother’s pitiful state, flew into a rage and rolled up his sleeves, ready to slap She Yuqi.

None of the Han family members stepped forward to help. Only Wang Fang couldn’t bear it and muttered softly, “Mom, causing a scandal and making others laugh at us—better if eldest brother keeps his temper.”

“Shut up! You foul woman. That’s my sister-in-law. My sister-in-law was beaten by some little bastard, shouldn’t my brother stand up for her?”

Wang Fang’s husband, Han Dazhi, was the second son. As a child, his manhood was gnawed by the family’s old sow, leaving him infertile.

The family spent a lot on his treatment, but to no avail. Later, the family pooled money to find a wife for Han Dazhi—Wang Fang. Her family had fallen on hard times and she had no choice but to marry a eunuch. Over the years, Han Dazhi often beat her. Now she covered her face, red-eyed, and ran into her room.

“Dazhi, you’re too harsh!”

Madam Han’s face twitched. Seeing the handprint on Wang Fang’s cheek, unease crept into her heart.

But Han Dazhi didn’t care. “Don’t worry, she can’t run away. She has nowhere else to go but stay with our Han family for life.”

She Yuqi caught a glimpse of Wang Fang carrying a tattered cloth bundle as she left the Han household without a glance back. She chose to ignore the family of misfits, keeping silent.

“Try touching me, and see if I won’t extort you!”

Han Yunguo hesitated, frowning as he looked down at She Yuqi, who was shorter than him.

The slap never landed on She Yuqi’s face.

Liu Cuihua, displeased, was about to complain and cry about her misery but was silenced by Madam Han’s sharp glance. She was resentful but afraid of her mother-in-law.

Only she knew how ruthless her mother-in-law really was.

In front of everyone, She Yuqi picked up an axe used for chopping firewood and smashed the fragile kitchen lock in one blow.

“...”

Entering the kitchen, She Yuqi carried the unfinished egg custard from yesterday and a bowl of steaming porridge into the main room.

“Mom, this... this...”

“Eat it if you want. If you can handle her, go ahead. But don’t cause trouble here—I can’t afford the shame.”

Liu Cuihua was furious. Since her own man was useless, she decided to act herself.

Rolling up her sleeves, she kicked the door of She Yuqi’s room and was about to speak when She Yuqi pushed her out of the yard.

She held a sharp kitchen knife, smiling as she said, “What’s the matter?”

“You—you! Get out now!”

“This place isn’t welcome to you!”

Liu Cuihua’s legs weakened. Leaning against the wall, she looked terrified at She Yuqi’s smiling but deadly expression. This was scarier than a stern face. She remembered how this little madwoman even dared to slash her own mother yesterday—she was crazy!

What’s the point of arguing with a lunatic?

Thinking this, Liu Cuihua turned to flee. She Yuqi’s lips curled into a slow, meaningful smile.

“Madam has been secretly supporting Han Xiangxiang’s family all along. From now on, all the family’s money belongs to the third branch.”

“You all work yourselves to death, but it benefits others. The sons are the same, so why does Madam favor Han Jian’s family?”

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“What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“The third brother’s own daughter—her success brings honor to the Han family. Don’t stir up trouble here.”

Watching Liu Cuihua’s staggering retreat, She Yuqi’s smile was deeply meaningful.

Back in her room, Liu Cuihua sat mending shoes, pondering She Yuqi’s words. The more she thought, the more uneasy she felt. She set down the small basket heavily.

Once a seed of doubt takes root, it grows like a snowball, gathering more and more until it leaves a lasting scar, even if eventually resolved.

...

She Yuqi took a back path and arrived at Xiaogou Village in about half an hour.

It was afternoon by then. Xiaogou Village was more remote and poorer than other villages. Yet the villagers were all chatterboxes, eager for gossip.

The moment they saw She Yuqi and Xiaoxiao return, they perked up and gathered at the village entrance, chattering away.

“Aren’t those the two daughters of the She family? Were they kicked out by the Han family?”

“Bah! She caused trouble with her stepsister’s man, despite how kind her stepsister was. Ungrateful little wolf—deserved to be kicked out!”

“Right, their old house was taken over by that village shrew Wang. I heard she’s raising chickens and ducks inside.”

“Make way! Make way! The bull’s gone mad!”

Suddenly, shouts rang out among the crowd. The villagers scattered in a flash.

She Yuqi saw an old yellow ox just two or three meters away. Without hesitation, she pushed Xiaoxiao to safety, then turned to catch the ox’s attention.

“I’m here!”

The ox snorted hot breath and indeed looked at She Yuqi. She quickly picked up a brick from the ground, palms sweaty with anxiety.

“Sister!” Xiaoxiao wiped her tears, wanting to rush forward but was held back by a few compassionate villagers.

“Don’t go! Didn’t you see that’s a mad ox?”

“Someone go save my sister, please!”

But no one responded to Xiaoxiao.

“Go get the village chief and the secretary! Don’t let anyone get hurt!”

She Yuqi was about to be knocked over by the bull when suddenly someone grabbed her wrist and stood in front of her. She smelled the scent of cow dung on him.

“Look, isn’t that Jiang Bei, the eldest son of the Jiang family?”

“That mad ox belongs to their family. Luckily, Jiang Bei showed up just in time, or this could have been a disaster.”

“Jiang Bei?”

Su Wanyi searched in the original owner’s memory for information about him but drew a blank.

“You’re okay?”

After tying a rope around the bull’s neck, Jiang Bei quickly asked the stunned She Yuqi.

She Yuqi looked up and met a pair of deep black eyes. His features were sharp and defined, skin tanned with health, wearing a thin coat. His nose and ears were red from the cold, his face marked with concern and guilt.