The man was thrown to the ground. Just as he was about to curse the fool who dared to interfere, sticks rained down on him like a downpour. He cried out in agony, unable to dodge them no matter how he tried, and could only scream for help.
"Hitting women, I'll beat you to death, you bastard!"
The man's screams were constant. The neighbors, accustomed to such scenes, remarked, "He Lao Er is beating his wife again. This man is truly unreasonable. He beats his wife for no reason. Mrs. He is such a kind woman, yet he's never satisfied. He's idle all day and always takes his anger out on his wife."
"That's not right. It sounds like He Lao Er is the one screaming?"
"He's screaming?" Everyone pricked up their ears to listen carefully. "Is that possible?"
"Help! Murder! Someone, quick! I'm going to be beaten to death!"
"It really is He Lao Er calling for help." The neighbors all came out to watch the commotion. They saw He Lao Er curled up in a corner, covering his head, while a beautiful woman swung a stick at him. Mrs. He lay on the ground, and He Ye, supporting her, showed no intention of intervening.
"Serves him right! He Lao Er never treated his wife like a human, beating her constantly. Now that he's getting beaten, he deserves it!"
"Who is this girl? She's so satisfying!"
"Satisfying? Where's the law? Whose daughter is this, so lawless, hitting a man!" A man, unable to stand it, was about to step forward to help. Just then, a young man darted out and quickly pulled him back. "Father, you can't! That girl is formidable."
"No matter how formidable, she's still a woman. Watch me…呜呜…" The young man clamped his hand over his father's mouth and dragged him away. That was the eldest daughter of the General's mansion. They often frequented the capital and, though they hadn't seen her firsthand, they had heard many rumors about her.
Xiao Man had beaten He Lao Er soundly. She tapped the stick in her hand against her palm. "Still hitting women?"
He Lao Er cowered, lowering his hands that were shielding his head. His gaze fell on He Ye, then on Xiao Man. "He Ye, you scoundrel, you actually called someone to beat your father? This is extreme filial impiety… Ouch."
Xiao Man kicked He Lao Er to the ground, stepping on his chest. "It seems you have no intention of repenting."
"I was wrong, I was wrong, I'll never dare again!" He Lao Er thought, a wise man doesn't fight present evils. This person can't stay here forever. When she leaves, he'll teach this mother and son a good lesson.
"Since you know you were wrong, you must pay a price." Xiao Man smiled gently, but to He Lao Er, she looked like a terrifying demon. "Which hand did you use to hit her?"
He Lao Er struggled to escape, but he couldn't budge. Xiao Man raised the stick and swung it towards his right hand. With a crack, He Lao Er screamed, tears and snot streaming down his face from the pain.
Xiao Man moved her foot away. He Lao Er writhed on the ground. "Call the officials! I want to report this! You dare to maliciously assault me!"
"Report me? Fine." Xiao Man threw down the stick and crossed her arms. "Go ahead. I dared to hit you, so I'm not afraid of you reporting me. Let me tell you, today you hit her, and I broke one of your hands. In the future, if you dare to lay a hand on her again, I'll cut off both your hands!"
"You… You wicked woman! He Ye, are you just going to watch her bully your father like this?" He Lao Er said fiercely.
"Don't talk about her bullying me. Even if she told me to die, I would slit my own throat obediently," He Ye said calmly as he supported his mother. "This is the eldest daughter of the Protector General's mansion, my master."
Mrs. He invited Xiao Man into the house. The onlookers dispersed. No one expected this fierce girl to be the eldest daughter of the Protector General's mansion. Who would dare to gossip now?
He Lao Er dared not return and slunk away, disappearing without a trace.
Mrs. He, whose maiden name was Luo, met He Ye's father while fleeing from famine. They decided to make do with each other. Little did she know, He Ye's father was a scoundrel who only knew how to play, was indifferent to his family, and often stole the money Luo had painstakingly saved to gamble.
Luo was busy cooking at the stove, He Ye stoked the fire, and Xiao Man helped pick vegetables. Luo repeatedly told her to sit down, but unable to refuse Xiao Man, she let her help.
"Auntie, does that man often hit you?" Xiao Man asked while picking vegetables.
Luo glanced at He Ye, and seeing that he was only stoking the fire and remaining silent, replied, "Not often. Only when he loses money or gets drunk does he resort to violence."
"You never fight back?"
"As a woman, how could I be his match." Luo secretly wiped away a tear. "Fortunately, Xiao Ye has grown up and is promising. I can endure some hardship."
"Auntie, haven't you thought about leaving?" Xiao Man asked abruptly.
Luo gave a wry smile. "As a woman, where could I go if I left?"
"Live with He Ye. He Ye is promising now and can be your support. Why must you stay with a man who beats you whenever he pleases? If you continue like this, you'll be beaten to death sooner or later." Xiao Man's voice was gentle, but He Ye felt that Xiao Man was right. He had served in the army for many years, and his greatest worry was his aging mother. One day, this frail woman would die under that man's fists. Su Dan Fiction Network
"Mother, divorce him. I'll take you away from here," He Ye said decisively after a moment of silence.
Mrs. He stopped stirring the wok. "Leave here? Where to?"
"To the city," Xiao Man said with a smile. "He Ye bought a house in the capital. He returned this time to pick you up."
He Ye looked at Xiao Man in surprise. When did he buy a house in the capital? With his meager military pay, even after ten more years in the army, he wouldn't be able to afford a plot of land in the capital.
"Xiao Ye, where did you get the money to buy a house?"
"He has achieved many military exploits and received considerable rewards, so he bought you a house, saying he wanted you to enjoy your old age." Xiao Man's voice remained gentle. "Auntie, do you want to leave?"
Mrs. He hesitated. "Actually, his father isn't that bad."
"He's not bad? If he hadn't stolen the money meant for our sister's doctor's visit, how would our sister have died of illness!" He Ye said emotionally. Ever since he could remember, he had stopped calling that man "father." In his eyes, that person was not worthy of being called human, let alone his father.
Mrs. He fell silent. The death of her youngest daughter was a pain in her heart. She also hated He Lao Er, but after all, they were husband and wife. Divorce would lead to gossip, and she did not want He Ye to be ostracized.