A master of metaphysics is farming.

In this small village, the sounds of fighting and arguing could be heard from one end of the village to the other.

The only way to get from the thatched hut to the village is to pass in front of Xiang Lao Si's house, where a crowd has gathered, and some people have come from the fields to see what's going on.

Li stood outside the door carrying a bucket of swill. She scooped up some more with a ladle and splashed it at the mother and daughter in the middle of the road. "You worthless bastard, how dare you lay a hand on me! Die!"

Su, who was splashed, used her body to shield Xiang Yun from the swill and held her in her arms. People around her quickly stepped back several paces, afraid of getting splashed on themselves and getting themselves into trouble.

Li became more and more agitated as she spoke, scooping up another spoonful of the half-full bucket of swill and forcefully splashing it over the child. "You little brat are ill-mannered, and it's all because you, his mother, don't know how to teach him! How dare you disrespect your grandmother! I think you're all tired of living! You damned devils!"

The more she cursed, the more excited she became. Standing behind Li, Yu was full of smugness and didn't forget to add fuel to the fire, "That's right! It's her good fortune that Master Xu has taken a liking to He'er, yet she doesn't even want the money! What kind of brain does she have!"

Mentioning this made Li even angrier. The twenty taels of silver that she had just received were gone before she could even enjoy them because of that wretched girl's fuss!

He was furious, his eyes filled with intense hatred. He threw down the water ladle, picked up the swill bucket, and walked over, pouring it over Su's head.

She threw down the bucket and started punching and kicking again, her voice growing increasingly shrill and piercing. "You worthless bastard! Pay me back! That's twenty taels of silver! Enough for your third son's family to earn for generations! You slut! I should never have let you into the house! You unfaithful slut!"

Su held Xiangyun tightly, preventing her from being hit by Li, biting her lip and remaining silent as Li's fists rained down on her.

Yu, who was watching the commotion, continued to fan the flames, "It's right to beat her! Look what you've raised He'er to be! What's that saying again? Disrespectful to elders! Yes! She actually dared to lay a hand on her grandmother! Like mother, like daughter, tsk tsk tsk!"

Hiding behind the door, Xiang Lianhua touched her neck, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Serves you right! You actually colluded with the matchmaker to slander me! If I can't get rid of you, I'll get rid of your family!"

Last night, her grandfather scolded her for a long time. The words he said were extremely harsh. If he hadn't persuaded her with the betrothal gifts, she probably would have received a beating.

Hearing her muttering, Madam Yu turned around and whispered sternly, "Keep your voice down!"

"Mother, hurry up and stir things up, otherwise when He'er comes, we won't have a good show to watch!"

"You don't need to tell me." Madam Yu pulled the door panel tighter, hiding Xiang Lianhua more closely, and continued to scold Madam Su with her hands on her hips, "Third son, you caused your mother to lose twenty taels of silver, but there's still a way to make up for it!"

Li paused in her smashing motion, "Eldest daughter, you speak!"

A hint of resentment flashed in Madam Yu's eyes. "Mother, I think Yun'er is already eight years old. Sending her to Master Xu's house to work as a maid might earn her a few copper coins."

"No!" Su Shi, who was holding Xiang Yun, shouted sternly, "You are not allowed to take my Yun girl away!"

She held Xiang Yun tightly, glaring at him with eyes full of hatred, her gaze like a knife, wishing she could gouge Li Shi out.

The murderous glare in her eyes completely enraged Li Shi. She gritted her teeth in hatred and reached out to grab Xiang Yun, whom she was protecting in her arms. "You're all my children! How much have you eaten of me all these years! You don't even know how to be filial, and you want to rebel against me?! Let go!"

Xiang Yun was being pulled by the arm, the grip was so strong that she cried out, clinging tightly to Su Shi's neck and refusing to let go, "Mother! It hurts so much! Mother, I don't want to go to Master Xu's house!"

"Mother will never let you go to Master Xu's house! She will!"

Su held Xiang Yun's waist with both hands, letting Li hit her hands and head, but she didn't loosen her grip at all, holding Xiang Yun tightly.

Unexpectedly, Su was so strong that Li was struggling to pull her up. She looked at Yu, panting, and said, "Aren't you going to help? If we can't tie this girl up today, we'll send Lianhua!"

Now that things had come to this point, how could Madam Yu not come to help? But after taking only two steps, she looked around to make sure Xiang He wasn't in the crowd before rushing over to help, grabbing Xiang Yun's collar and pulling hard.

The villagers shook their heads at the sight, but dared not step forward to help, for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Only one person came running over hurriedly, carrying a carrying pole. "You old hag! You still haven't given up your thieving ways!"

Fourth Aunt swung her carrying pole and hit Yu's hand, making her cry out in pain and pull her hand back, rubbing the spot where she had been hit. "Fourth Sister, what are you doing here!"

"I'm not your sister! Get away!" she said, aiming to strike Li's hand again. But Li was quick to dodge and then grabbed Yun's other arm.

Xiang Yun's painful cries broke Su's heart. She recalled being locked in the room yesterday, with He Yatou comforting them from outside the door, telling them not to worry. He Yatou was very calm at that time. It turned out that she had already planned to die once, only wishing that her family could live in peace.

If Yun'er were to be taken away again, how would she face herself...?

Her expression gradually darkened, and she tightened her grip on Yun'ertou. Her heart was filled with hatred, and her eyes darted around, aiming at Li's hand. She opened her mouth and bit Li's tiger's mouth.

"Ouch! Let go! Let go now!"

Li shouted, pounding Su's head with her left fist, each punch delivered with full force.

Seeing how ruthless she was, Fourth Aunt grabbed the carrying pole and hit her hand again, but the hand hurt so much that Fourth Aunt dared not hit it again. Su Shi also let go of her words and protected Xiang Yun, turning her back to Li Shi.

Not only did she fail to snatch the person, but she was also falsely accused. Li couldn't swallow this insult and her anger flared even more.

He caught a glimpse of the slop bucket on the ground, and a fierce rage surged in his eyes. He raised the slop bucket with both hands and smashed it down on Su's head.

Those around stared wide-eyed, gasping in shock and falling silent.

"boom!"

The slop bucket was smashed open, and the broken pieces cut the skin on the back of my hand, causing drops of blood to fall to the ground, blooming into a cluster of red flowers.

"He...He girl!"

Hearing her fourth aunt's call, Madam Su turned around in astonishment to find her own daughter, He'er, had smashed the slop bucket with her bare hands. Blood was streaming down her back, and her disheveled hair was covered in countless stray strands that fluttered in the wind, obscuring her face.

“He girl…”

Su's eyes trembled with panic as she got up to check on Xiang Yun's injuries. Fourth Aunt quickly hugged Xiang Yun to prevent her from being snatched away by Zhao Laosi's heartless family.

A long scratch ran across the entire back of her hand. The shocking wound caused her immense pain. A surge of pain welled up from the bottom of her heart, rising to her throat and choking her, making it hard to breathe.

Her hands trembled as she dared not touch her, afraid of hurting her daughter.

"He...He girl..." A breath caught in her throat, her face flushed red, and she sobbed with anger that was about to burst out. Her eyes were red and fierce. "I'll fight you to the death, you old hag!"

Before Xiang He could stop her, Su had already snatched the carrying pole from Fourth Aunt and charged fiercely at Li.