Chapter 21: Everyone Shut Up

Liu Chuxue ignored the person asking the question, pushed through the crowd, and walked straight to her own mother's side: "Eldest Aunt, are you addicted to bullying our Second Branch? Do you think because my father is injured and not at home, no one can protect us, so you're even more unrestrained?"

"How dare you, you dead girl, speak to your elders like that?"

"Am I wrong? Are you even qualified to be my elder? Which elder would ruin their own junior's reputation?"

Three questions in a row, directly putting Ge Xiulan on the hot seat.

The onlookers began to whisper among themselves: "The girl Seeing Liu Chuxue speaks the truth. Shan Gang's wife is too bullying. No matter what, she is her own niece. With her behavior today, she truly does not deserve to be an elder."

At this, Ge Pozi also reacted. Not knowing what her eldest daughter-in-law was up to, she felt she had gone too far; after all, if this dead girl's reputation was ruined, how could the Liu family's reputation be any good? "Eldest daughter-in-law, what nonsense are you spouting all day long?"

She naturally didn't know what scheme her eldest daughter-in-law was plotting. She only thought that since this dead girl was about to graduate and marry, if her reputation was ruined, how could they open their mouths wide to the Chen family? Wasn't her eldest daughter-in-law's brain flooded with water? "Seeing Liu Chuxue, don't listen to your eldest aunt babbling there. She is worried about you but doesn't know how to speak, so she didn't make herself clear."

If Seeing Liu Chuxue hadn't returned home last night, she might have been moved by these words, but now she intended to make a huge scene; how could she let her have her way? "This show today has truly opened my eyes. Grandma, you led the younger generation to block my mother from borrowing money, and Eldest Aunt was even willing to ruin my reputation. You are joining forces to leave no living path for our Second Branch."

The crowd immediately began to murmur again: "What Seeing Liu Chuxue says is indeed reasonable. The Liu family not giving money to treat the Second Son's leg is one thing, but blocking the Second Son's wife from borrowing money—how can they not hope for their son's well-being?"

"Indeed bullying enough."

"Usually, the old couple of the Liu family tells everyone they don't have the mindset of valuing sons over daughters, treating the Second Son and the other two sons equally, but this incident reveals the truth. If the Eldest Son or Third Son were in trouble, they certainly wouldn't do this."

Hearing everyone's gossip, the old man Liu, who had rushed over, roared with a face as black as iron: "What are you making a fuss about? Don't you feel ashamed? Get back home, all of you!"

After roaring, he turned and walked back home.

He truly hadn't expected his old woman to be as stupid as his eldest daughter-in-law; wasn't this giving the villagers a talking point? After today's incident, their family's reputation was ruined.

Walking all the way back, he didn't forget to frown and devise a countermeasure: Since things had come to this, it was already shameful; he might as well go all the way. The reason for not dividing the family earlier was to let the Second Branch help raise a few grandsons, but now that the Second Son couldn't even take care of himself, it was better to split off immediately, which would also relieve the burden on his sons and grandsons.

It was rare for the village to have such excitement; the villagers' gossiping hearts burned like a raging fire. Seeing the Liu family leave, the onlookers gathered again outside the Liu family gate in no time.

Ge Pozi entered the courtyard all the while cursing, turned around, glared angrily at the mother and daughter trio of the Second Branch following behind, and gritted her teeth to scold: "Hurry up and close the main gate properly, get in here!"

But before her words had even finished, she heard the old man Liu's angry voice come: "Ruhua, go to the field and call your father and Third Uncle back."

Although Liu Ruhua of the First Branch was reluctant to make this trip, seeing her grandfather's dark face, how could she dare say 'no'? She answered with a sound and ran out.