The Zhang family parents naturally had no objections.
After what had happened, if the Jiang family were ill-intentioned, they would surely seize upon the matter, not only breaking off the engagement but possibly kicking them while they were down and ruining Qiaoxiu's reputation.
Now that the Jiang family proposed to expedite the wedding, the couple felt immensely grateful.
With both families in agreement, the matter was settled.
After Jiang Pan, along with Zhang's father and Erlang, had left, Zhang's mother hesitantly asked, "Sister-in-law, my Qiaoxiu... she... she wasn't bullied, was she?"
Chen Yuezhi patted her hand. "Don't worry, we arrived in time. Qiaoxiu is fine."
She paused, then added, "Even if Qiaoxiu had suffered some misfortune today, our Jiang family would still marry her."
This incident had originated because of the Jiang family. Zhang Qiaoxiu had suffered this undeserved disaster, and if the Jiang family were to break off the engagement now, would they even be considered human?
Jiang Wan glanced at her mother in surprise.
When she had rushed into the room earlier, she had quickly helped Zhang Qiaoxiu dress, fearing that Chen Yuezhi might see Zhang Qiaoxiu in disarray and develop negative thoughts about her.
In ancient times, people valued chastity more than life itself.
Even though Zhang Qiaoxiu had suffered because of the Jiang family, she still worried that her own family might not be able to overcome their reservations.
Fortunately, her mother was not someone so pedantic or malicious.
Jiang Wan felt inexplicably happy.
Zhang's mother was even more touched, holding Chen Yuezhi's hand. "Sister-in-law, my Qiaoxiu is truly blessed by several lifetimes to be able to become your daughter-in-law."
Chen Yuezhi patted her hand. "Please don't say that. We remember Qiaoxiu's great kindness to our Jiang family."
The two future mothers-in-law stayed by Zhang Qiaoxiu's bedside.
It wasn't until midnight that Zhang Qiaoxiu woke up.
As the effects of the medicine wore off, Zhang Qiaoxiu felt groggy. Realizing she was in an unfamiliar environment, she tried to sit up in panic.
However, as soon as she moved, she felt intensely dizzy.
"Lie down quickly."
Chen Yuezhi pressed her back down.
Zhang Qiaoxiu then noticed the two people keeping vigil by her bedside.
"Mother, Auntie, I... what... what happened?"
Chen Yuezhi asked softly, "Qiaoxiu, do you remember who you encountered?"
This matter needed to be clarified before they could decide how to handle it.
Zhang Qiaoxiu tried to recall. "I was walking back after buying some things. I met a pregnant woman at the city gate. She said she wasn't feeling well and asked me to take her home. I thought she looked pitiful, and her home wasn't far, so I agreed."
"After I took her to her place, she said I had gone to a lot of trouble and insisted on making me tea. I couldn't refuse, so I drank it."
"But shortly after drinking the tea, I started feeling very dizzy. I wanted to stand up, but I had no strength in my body. Then... then the woman called a man into the room..."
At this point, Zhang Qiaoxiu's face turned pale, and she dared not think further. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Chen Yuezhi quickly patted her, and Zhang's mother held her close.
"It's alright, Qiaoxiu. Don't overthink it. Your auntie and the others have rescued you."
After finally calming Zhang Qiaoxiu down and understanding the sequence of events, Chen Yuezhi left the room to Zhang's mother and daughter and went to find Jiang Pan and Erlang.
Jiang Wan was sleeping on a nearby couch.
After explaining the situation to the father and son, Chen Yuezhi turned to Erlang and asked, "Do you have any ideas?"
Erlang clenched his fists. "I want to fight the Xu family! How dare they treat people like this!"
Chen Yuezhi slapped him again. "I've told you, brute force is useless. You are outnumbered and outmatched. How can you fight the Xu family?"
"Then what should I do? We can't just stand by and watch Qiaoxiu almost get bullied!"
Erlang was both angry and furious, but he didn't know what to do.
Chen Yuezhi had no hope for him and turned to Jiang Pan. "Husband, do you have any thoughts?"
Jiang Pan gritted his teeth. "If this matter is exposed, it will be bad for Qiaoxiu. Moreover, our family is no match for the Xu family."
This was the truth.
The Jiang family was merely a small household that had only recently begun to prosper. Against a powerful force like the Xu family, they were as fragile as a paper kite in a storm.
Erlang roared, "Are we just going to let it go like this?"
Jiang Pan looked at him. "Then do you have a good plan? Go and fight the Xu family to the death? How many of them can you defeat?"
Erlang glared. "Kill one and it's a break-even, kill two and it's a profit!"
Chen Yuezhi was so angry she slapped him again. "Behave yourself!"
Jiang Wan, woken by the commotion, sat up and said, "Second brother, if I were you, I would endure this anger for now."
Erlang's eyes widened. "Endure? You want me to endure?"
Jiang Wan nodded. "Of course. For now, we have no other option but to endure. But we won't endure forever!"
"Instead of rushing in to die now, it's better to pretend to be submissive, bide our time, develop our strength, and when we are powerful enough, we can destroy them in one fell swoop."
"Revenge is important, but you have to be alive to get revenge, right?"
"Second brother, what you should do most right now is marry Sister Qiaoxiu, and then earnestly consider what you should do and how to do it, so that you can one day overthrow those who have wronged you."
Jiang Pan nodded. "Wanwan is right. Erlang, a temporary concession is only to gain the ability to retaliate in the future."
"Do not provoke the Xu family in this era. Right now, all of our Jiang family combined is not enough for them to notice."
Erlang remained silent, sitting aside, lost in thought.
By the time dawn broke, Zhang Qiaoxiu's condition had stabilized.
After Doctor Jin examined her again, he smiled and said, "Alright, there are no major issues. You can go home."
The Zhang family parents finally felt relieved.
Chen Yuezhi immediately asked Doctor Jin for leave. "Master, I need to go back and handle Erlang and Qiaoxiu's wedding. I'm afraid I won't be able to come for the next few days."
Doctor Jin waved his hand. "Go ahead and busy yourself. Let me know when the date is set, and I'll come to drink a toast to my grand-disciple's wedding."
"As for the Xu family, do you need me to step in?"
Chen Yuezhi shook her head. "Master, there's no need. We will handle this matter ourselves."
Doctor Jin nodded with satisfaction. "Good, that's the spirit."
After seeing off the Jiang and Zhang families, Doctor Jin's expression turned grim.
"Issue an order. From today onwards, my Jin family disciples are irreconcilable with the Xu family. If a member of the Xu family is dying before our eyes, we will not treat them."
How dare they touch his disciple? Did they really not take him seriously?
A mere Xu family, worthy of such disrespect?!
Jiang Wan's family returned to the small mountain village, where Su Shi and Dalang came to greet them.
"Father, Mother, what happened last night?"
Chen Yuezhi said, "Nothing much. Erlang's wedding has been moved up. The family will be busy for a while. Take care of yourself."
Su Shi was startled. Wasn't the wedding supposed to be next year? Why the sudden change?
What exactly happened last night?
However, seeing that everyone in the family who knew the situation was as tight-lipped as a clam, Su Shi dared not ask further.
Jiang Wan had not slept well last night and was feeling groggy. As soon as she entered the house, she went straight to her room.
As she collapsed onto the bed and drifted off to sleep, she felt as though she had forgotten something.