Chapter 30: Yang Wenbin Gets Beaten Up

Jiang Lihua asked, "Do you have any work right now?"

Seeing that he was seventeen or eighteen, she knew that most young men his age in the village were already out working. Before Jiang Feixiang could answer, Mrs. Zhou began to clamor.

"What kind of work? What if your brother gets hurt while out working? Your father broke his leg working away from home!"

"Mother, I am grown up now; it is time I found work to support the family!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhou glared at Jiang Lihua, convinced the girl was stirring up trouble.

Jiang Feixiang replied, "Lihua, I don't have any work yet. I have no special skills, only my strength."

Jiang Lihua studied him for a long moment. He did not seem to be putting on an act, so she considered having him work as a manager at the processing workshop and learn under Uncle Jiang. If they could get on their feet, perhaps they would stop pestering her.

"Let’s go," Jiang Lihua said. "We’ll talk more when we get home."

Inside the Yang residence, Yang Wenbin’s face was covered in medicinal paste to reduce bruising and swelling, wrapped in layers of white cloth. Madam Sun sat by his side, weeping softly in distress, while Huang Yingrong was overjoyed, sitting to the side, drinking tea and cracking sunflower seeds.

Yang Wenbin’s eyes burned with hatred. He loathed Jiang Lihua, blaming her for everything he was suffering. Enduring his pain, he sneered at Huang Yingrong, "Since you want to marry Ni Wenyu so badly, I can divorce you. You will be a free woman, and we will have nothing more to do with each other!"

Hearing this, Huang Yingrong became agitated. "No divorce! Only a legal separation!" If she were divorced, she would be a discarded woman, and her reputation would be ruined.

"Suit yourself, then!" Yang Wenbin snapped, rising to leave. Before stepping out of the main room, he glanced back at Huang Yingrong. He would not let them off easily. Huang Yingrong was too preoccupied with her own dilemma to notice the terrifying look in his eyes.

***

By the time the group returned to Jiang Lihua’s home, it was already noon. Auntie Zhang had finished cooking and was waiting for them. Ni Wenyu and Scholar Li had also returned from the schoolhouse to eat.

Since Jiang Lihua had purchased the service of Uncle Jiang and the others, she had assigned Uncle Jiang and Auntie Zhao to manage the workshop, while Auntie Zhang handled the household chores. Ni Wenyu, being on his own, simply ate with them, and now Scholar Li had joined the group as well.

Seeing the Zhou family, Ni Wenyu pulled Jiang Lihua aside to ask what was happening. She explained the situation, and he chided her for not coming to the schoolhouse to let him handle it. Jiang Lihua felt that since the incident with the Yang family, Ni Wenyu had become increasingly protective. Fearing he might notice something strange, she did not mention Jiang Feixiang’s sudden change in demeanor.

With so many people, the table was crowded. Auntie Zhang, having foreseen that these guests would not leave easily, had prepared enough food. The elders took their seats, while the younger ones stood, holding their bowls. As a modern woman, Jiang Lihua was used to having meat at every meal, and everyone had grown accustomed to the balanced fare, eating without contention.

Jiang Feixiang seemed somewhat reserved, while young Jiang Feichen sat timidly. Mrs. Zhou looked at the table full of dishes and grumbled that Jiang Lihua was wasteful, yet her hands never stopped moving. She heaped braised pork into her own bowl and kept piling it into her sons’ bowls, as if afraid it would be snatched away. Jiang Lanhua behaved just as greedily, her mouth greasy and her bowl overflowing. She seemed quite taken with Ni Wenyu, constantly piling food into his bowl while she ate.

This made Ni Wenyu incredibly uncomfortable; he put down his bowl and chopsticks early, and others soon followed suit.

After the meal, Mrs. Zhou sat sprawled in a chair, picking her teeth. Jiang Feixiang nudged her. "Mother, go help clear the dishes."

Mrs. Zhou refused, declaring loudly, "Why should I? Didn't Lihua hire servants? These are chores for servants."

Auntie Zhang, who was clearing the table, felt a pang of indignation. She knew her place as a servant, but the young mistress had never looked down on them like this. Oblivious, Mrs. Zhou continued, "And another thing, Lihua, why are you eating with these servants?"

This remark offended everyone present. Mrs. Zhou then pointed at Ni Wenyu and Scholar Li. "Lihua, these two are neither servants nor relatives—do they pay for their meals?"

Ni Wenyu remained unfazed, caring only for Lihua's feelings. Scholar Li, however, turned pale with shame. He had initially intended to go home and cook for himself, but Lihua and Wenyu had insisted that they were all family and that he should eat with them. Because of their insistence and the bond they shared—though not father and son, they were close—he had stayed. Now, hearing Mrs. Zhou’s words, he felt his dignity shattered.

Understanding his teacher’s scholarly pride, Ni Wenyu quickly pulled him away. Seeing the atmosphere turn sour, Jiang Feixiang hurriedly restrained his mother, telling her to be quiet. Mrs. Zhou curled her lip, convinced she had done nothing wrong. Jiang Feixiang apologized to everyone, explaining that his mother was ignorant of the world and local customs, and begged them not to take her words to heart.