Chapter 3: How Dare You Hit Me

In her previous life, when Ma Suyue said those words, Xia Xiaoyu was instantly frightened into submission, not daring to utter a single complaint.

But this life was no longer the same as the last. She was not that person anymore.

She replied, “Very well, let’s go to the village committee and reason things out. Now that Xu Jinyan is back, isn’t it his responsibility to look after his father? He’s just been admitted to university—if word gets out that he’s unfilial, let’s see which university would dare to accept him!”

Xu’s mother was taken aback, her expression freezing.

Her once timid daughter-in-law, who had always kept her head down, had suddenly become so unyielding?

“You won’t look after your own husband, the wife won’t care for her husband, the daughter won’t care for her father, the son won’t care for his father, and yet you expect me, an outsider, to bear every hardship, to work like a beast of burden?”

Xu’s mother, long used to having her way, was not accustomed to the newly sharp-tongued Xia Xiaoyu. She raised her hand, ready to slap her.

But before the blow could land, Xia Xiaoyu blocked it.

“You dare to hit me?”

Xu’s mother roared, “You barren hen! You’ve been married into our family for so long and not even laid a single egg, and still you dare act insolent before me?”

“Anxin, come here and help!” Xu’s mother suddenly called out.

Perhaps it was because Xia Xiaoyu had always obeyed them in the past, and now that she didn’t, they thought they could still cow her into submission.

But Xia Xiaoyu had no intention of backing down; she wanted nothing more than for this to escalate.

She had prepared for months, all for this very day.

She was forcibly dragged to the village committee.

Xu’s mother clung to the village chief, crying, “You must give us justice, chief! Look at her—who ever saw a daughter-in-law this lazy, only spending money and refusing to do any work?”

The old village chief, holding his smoking pipe, took a puff and lifted his heavy eyelids to glance at Xu’s mother.

“Everything Xia Xiaoyu has done lately, everyone in the village has seen. As a mother-in-law, you’ve had it too easy to speak like this.”

Xu’s mother protested, “Chief, I’m the one who asked you to mediate—shouldn’t you be speaking for me?”

The chief frowned. “Everything must be judged by reason. Do you care nothing for reason?”

Xu Anxin chimed in from the side, “Chief, she’s the daughter-in-law. What’s wrong with her taking care of my father for my brother?”

Everyone in Shixi Village knew that Xia Xiaoyu rose early and worked late, caring for the whole Xu family, especially the paralyzed father bedridden for years.

Last month, she had to beg for days just to visit her own family for a few days.

Xu Jinyan’s mother was truly being unreasonable.

The old chief suggested, “Why don’t you all share the responsibility? There are thirty days in a month—each of you can take ten.”

Xu’s mother balked at once. Since gaining a daughter-in-law, she’d planned to enjoy a life of comfort.

“I spent money to marry a daughter-in-law for my son so she could serve her father-in-law. She’s supposed to do the work at home. If she won’t, our Xu family wants nothing to do with such a daughter-in-law.”

Sweat beaded on the chief’s forehead.

Xia Xiaoyu had been waiting for this. “Chief, Xu Jinyan and I never got a marriage certificate. Since my mother-in-law feels this way, Xu Jinyan and I are done. Today, right here, I ask you to witness this.”

The chief frowned, trying to calm her. “Xiaoyu, don’t get agitated. Everything can be discussed.”

Xia Xiaoyu’s eyes rimmed with red. “Chief, you know what kind of life I’ve led in this village. I’ve been bullied by my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Look.”

She pulled up her sleeve. “My arms are covered in bruises, all from my mother-in-law’s pinching and bullying.”

Xu’s mother stared in disbelief—her usually mute daughter-in-law was suddenly so bold.

“Xia Xiaoyu, if you dare act out, just don’t come back to my house today!”

Xia Xiaoyu welcomed it. “Once I gather my things, I’ll leave of course.”

Xu’s mother was speechless.

This was not how she’d wanted things to go. She’d only meant to scare Xia Xiaoyu, to force her into continued servitude.

Tears welled in Xia Xiaoyu’s eyes. “I’ve worked diligently every day, caring for the whole family. Now that Jinyan’s been accepted to university, they all look down on me.”

Xu Chunhua, who’d come to watch the commotion, sneered, “At least you know your place.”

Xia Xiaoyu wore a pained expression. “Chief, you’ve heard it yourself. I have no standing in this household.”

Xu Chunhua snorted. “Sister-in-law, are you resenting the fact that Brother Jinyan left you alone for months and now you’re trying to ruin his reputation?”

Xia Xiaoyu, unwilling to say a word against the Xu family now, simply turned on Xu Chunhua instead. “Xu Chunhua, what business of yours is our family’s affairs? Who are you to speak here?”

This provoked an even more agitated response from Xu’s mother.

“My son finally got into university, and you, useless as you are, have no right to complain. You should be toiling in our house like a beast of burden.”

With that, she moved to strike Xia Xiaoyu.

But with so many people watching, Xu Jinyan could not let things get out of hand. His expression darkened; he’d had a bit to drink that evening, and now everything seemed blurry.

He tried to pull his mother away, but as Xu’s mother raised her hand to hit, he accidentally swung and slapped Xia Xiaoyu across the face.

Completely unprepared, Xia Xiaoyu took the blow in full.

The old chief’s brow furrowed in anger.

Xu’s mother, emboldened, raised her hand to beat Xia Xiaoyu again. “Women like her deserve a beating. Leave her alone for a day and she’ll be tearing the roof tiles off!”

Xia Xiaoyu shrank back, retreating as she called out, “Chief, you see this. Even here in the village office, they treat me this way. What must it be like when no one is watching? I’m terrified of their beatings—I beg you, chief, to give me a written statement.”

They had only ever been married by the village’s word. If she could get a statement from the village that their marriage was dissolved, there would be nothing left to tie them together.

The old chief was furious—this conduct was truly despicable.

“Jinyan, and you call yourself a scholar. How could you raise your hand like that?”

Xu Jinyan stiffened, realizing only after the fact how rash he’d been. He’d only wanted to separate them but lost control.

But it was too late for explanations.

The chief, bristling with anger, turned to Xia Xiaoyu. “I’m on your side in this, but I urge you—all families must learn tolerance and compromise if they wish to last.”

Xia Xiaoyu shook her head, resolute. “No, chief, some people are rotten to the core. I have endured, but they never tolerated me.”

The chief tried to persuade her, “Then I’ll have them apologize to you.”

Xia Xiaoyu shook her head again. “The harm is done, what good is an apology now? I have only one request—give me a statement from the village, and from this day forth, Xu Jinyan and I will have nothing more to do with each other.”

Xu Chunhua secretly breathed a sigh of relief—this was the perfect opportunity. She had always harbored feelings for Xu Jinyan; it was Xu’s mother who’d arranged this marriage for him.

She sidled up to Xu Jinyan and whispered, “Jinyan, if you divorce her, I’ll lend you another hundred yuan.”