The tranquility of the village was shattered the moment Xu Ying returned, only to find her uncle, Liu Dashan, now a changed man sitting in her yard . Once known for his honest and straightforward nature, Liu Dashan now showcasing a volatile temper that set everyone on edge. The Xu family,who are anticipating a sincere apology and a desire to reconcile with Xu Ruhua from him , were instead met with a stony-faced Liu Dashan, whose only demand was for his son to return with him.
“Liu Dashan, do you mean to divorce Ruhua than ?” Xu’s father’s voice boomed in the quiet yard , laced with a fury that threatened to consume him in an instant . In the yard, Xu Ruhua wept in the side , her hopes of repentance dashed by her husband’s unexpected coldness. A searing question burned within her: What insidious potion had his elder brother used to coerce Liu Dashan into giving away their son to him ?
“Liu Dashan, over my dead body will I give you my son! He is the child I carried for ten arduous months. Your elder brother’s demands are utterly impossible!” Xu Ruhua’s heartbroken cries pierced the air. Then, her eyes widened, and a bitter, hollow laugh escaped her lips. “You want to divorce me so you can marry that other woman, don’t you?”
Xu Ruhua’s words hung heavy with unspoken implications for the whole family , leaving Xu Ying utterly stunned. Her little aunt, once the epitome of kindness, whose romance with her uncle had been the talk of the village, now hinted at a betrayal from him . Had her uncle truly been unfaithful? Xu Father’s face darkened hearing this , a storm brewing beneath his usually calm exterior.
News of the Xu family’s domestic turmoil spread like wildfire through the the village, drawing the idle villagers like moths to a flame.Due to whcih Captain Xu’s home became the epicenter of the drama today . When Liu Dashan’s intentions to take away the child became clear, the people of Xujia Village, known for their fierce loyalty, swiftly rallied around the family.
“You, from Liushangou, haven’t you assessed your own worth? How dare you invade our village to snatch someone away!” one villager bellowed, their voice thick with defiance. “I’m telling you, you won’t succeed. If you ever dare to mistreat Ruhua again, our Xu family will show you no mercy!” The collective strength of the village became palpable, a formidable force against Liu Dashan’s grim determination.
Liu Dashan’s face was a mask of gloom, a stark contrast to his former self. He glared fiercely at Xu Ruhua. “You’d do well to hold your tongue, or your entire family will face dire consequences.”
Xu Ying’s dormant temper flared. To threaten her, to threaten her family—this was an unforgivable offense. “Uncle, no, Liu Dashan, you dare to threaten to kill our entire family, do you?” Without another word, Xu Ying delivered a swift kick to Liu Dashan’s stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground. She then rained several powerful punches onto his chest, forcing a guttural cough and a spray of blood.
“Tie him up!” Xu Ying commanded, her voice sharp with authority. “Remember to keep this quiet. If anyone asks about Liu Dashan, simply say that as our son-in-law, he’s spending time reminiscing with my grandparents!”
Xu’s father, bewildered by his daughter’s drastic actions, approached her. “Why are you doing this?”
As Liu Dashan was led away, Xu Ying’s eyes scanned their surroundings, vigilant. Liu Dashan’s threat to annihilate their entire family gnawed at her. Could he have been the one responsible for her family’s demise in her previous life?
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Huo Chen arrived, dragging two men behind him. “They’re also from Liushangou,” he stated grimly. “I spotted them lurking suspiciously outside, so I brought them in.”
Xu Ying’s confusion deepened as she gazed at the two men on the ground. Turning, she sought out Xu Ruhua.
“Sister-in-law, tell me the truth about what Uncle has been doing recently. If you don’t, our lives could be in grave danger. You heard Liu Dashan threaten to kill us all right .”
Xu Ruhua’s eyes darted away, her resolve to conceal the truth unwavering. “Dashan is just bluffing. He wouldn’t do such a thing, and he doesn’t have the courage.”
Xu Ying scoffed. “He certainly doesn’t look like a courageous person to me. It’s fine if you won’t talk. Just take your son and go home. Don’t put our family at risk because of you.”
Xu’s father, sensing his daughter’s words were too harsh, moved to intervene, but Xu’s mother stopped him. “Your sister is clearly favoring Liu Dashan now, completely disregarding us. If you ask me, let her go back with him. This genuinely affects our family.” Mother Xu’s face was etched with resentment, seeing her sister-in-law as nothing more than an ungrateful wretch.
Xu Ruhua stared up in disbelief at her niece’s words, her eyes wide with panic as she looked at her elder brother.
Before Xu’s father could speak, Grandma Xu’s stern voice cut through the tension. “I believe Yingying is right. If you refuse to tell the truth, then take your son and go back. We won’t endanger ourselves by helping you, and certainly not your parents. Why should we help you?”
Xu Ruhua’s voice rose sharply, several decibels higher than before. “Mom and Dad, Dashan’s words are nonsense! How could he dare to kill you? Am I not still your daughter? How could you say such things to me?”
Grandma Xu sneered. “Since Dashan isn’t that kind of person, then why don’t you simply go back with him?”
“He wants to give away my son for adoption!”
“So, you still won’t tell us why he wants to adopt his son out?” Grandma Xu’s gaze held a profound disappointment as she closed her eyes.
Fear flickered across Xu Ruhua’s face, yet she remained silent. If she confessed, her husband would be arrested, and their family’s newfound ease would be shattered. She couldn’t bear to see it all ruined.
“Mom, I already told you, it’s because of my eldest brother’s son. He fell from the mountain and died. He lost his own son, so he wants mine.”
“Since you won’t give him your son, then don’t! If your husband wants to give him away, why don’t you just divorce him?” Xu Ying interjected with clear disgust.
“I don’t want to divorce your uncle.”
“Then we can’t help you. You can go back.” Grandma Xu stood, her stance firm, unwilling to involve herself further in such a dreadful affair.
With a soft thud, Xu Ruhua dropped to her knees. “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you! He has someone outside!”
Xu Ying found the revelation even more preposterous. Her uncle had another woman, yet he couldn’t bring himself to divorce Xu Ruhua. How deep did this affection run?
“My eldest brother found her for him. He deliberately hurt his son so that my son could be adopted by him.” A fleeting trace of despair crossed Xu Ruhua’s face as she spoke these words.
“Then you should report it to the police.”
“I can’t retaliate!” Xu Ruhua’s reaction was overwhelmingly strong. “I don’t want my son to be adopted!” she cried piteously.
“Brother, please go to Liu Dashan’s elder brother and make it clear to him. If you are powerful, he will surely listen to you.” Xu Ruhua crawled towards Xu’s father, wrapping her arms tightly around his legs, sobbing uncontrollably.
Xu’s father felt a pang of distress seeing his sister in such a state.
Still unconvinced by her sister-in-law’s fragmented story, Xu Ying turned and headed to the backyard to confront Liu Dashan. Huo Chen, who was already interrogating him, greeted Xu Ying. “Liu Dashan has many injuries on his body, all recent. I asked him who inflicted them, but he refuses to tell me.”
Xu Ying couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. The sudden desire for divorce, the complete change in Liu Dashan’s demeanor over the adoption of a son—it all felt strange. Not long ago, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law seemed to share a good relationship. Why had another woman appeared so abruptly?