Chapter 319: Paper Can't Smother the Fire

"You old corpse, what nonsense are you spouting? If you dare keep talking nonsense, do you think I'll tear your mouth to shreds?"

Zhang Guilian had just recovered a bit when she heard Cao Nainai's words and couldn't help cursing.

Bang!

Zhang Chengyong kicked out forcefully.

Zhang Chengyong, what are you doing? Gui Lian is your second aunt, your own second aunt, who watched you grow up; is this how you treat your second aunt?

Du Guan rushed over from the side and shouted angrily.

She's my second aunt?

Zhang Chengyong stared coldly at Du Guan, looking like a beast that selects its prey, frightening Du Guan into stumbling backward, his face full of panic as he sneered:

You're right, she is my second aunt, and that's all she is. If it were anyone else daring to speak to Cao Nainai like that, forget about me— even if my father were still alive, I'd tear that bastard to pieces!

Cao Nainai is a relative of their family who isn't bound by the five‑generation rule, his father's aunt. When his grandparents passed away, his father was already an adult, but there were two younger brothers at home; thanks to Cao Nainai's family's care, his two aunts didn't starve to death.

That matter.

His father had told him that.

Both his father and the whole family respect Cao Nainai greatly, not just because of her seniority, and no one ever imagined his second aunt would dare say such things in front of Cao Nainai.

It's a complete display of an ungrateful, white‑eyed wolf!

"Cao Nainai, don't compare yourself with my second aunt; that's just how she is— she speaks without thinking!"

Zhang Chengze said apologetically.

At that moment.

He didn't dare to pretendedly blame his brother for kicking his second aunt; he knew that ever since his second aunt's family rose to prominence, she had become increasingly arrogant— not to mention the relatives of Zhang Family Village, even her own father no longer gave her any respect.

Yet he never expected his second aunt to speak to Cao Nainai, who owed her a mountain of gratitude, in that manner.

"Chengze, look at what you're saying; I'm already of advanced age— how could I possibly quarrel with a junior!"

Cao Nainai smiled, not at all angered by Zhang Guilian's curses nor disheartened, and said, "If you ask me, she should apologize to Dongzhu. As an elder, can she speak to her own junior like that?"

Once.

Some Zhang Family Members were dissatisfied with Zhang Guilian's behavior; when asked if she regretted helping Zhang Guilian, she said she didn't regret it—not just a heated remark.

Back then she helped De Ben's family because, first, their families were non‑five‑generation relatives and she was a senior to De Ben; second, she felt sorry for De Ben's family.

Helping De Ben's household wasn't in hopes that De Ben's family would repay her.

Of course.

Since De Ben was able to support his family, he has repaid her many times; whenever he went hunting, he would bring meat back for her family.

For all these years, without interruption, even though De Ben no longer hunted, Zhang Chengze occasionally went hunting, and whenever there was a haul, his family's benefit was inevitable.

The gratitude De Ben's family owes her could be said to be repaid tenfold, even a hundredfold.

Moreover.

What kind of person is Zhang Guilian? She isn't unaware— since marrying Du Guan, she's become a different person, especially as her family rose to prominence; their conduct is crystal clear.

Now Zhang Guilian dares to curse her, which isn't entirely unexpected. "Old…"

Zhang Guilian scrambled up from the ground, glaring at Zhang Chengyong with resentment; she hadn't expected the brute to strike her— after all these years she shouldn't have cared for his family. As she was about to unleash a tirade, Zhang Chengyong gave her a fierce look, and the words at the tip of her tongue were swallowed.

"What do you know, who told you that this scoundrel is my junior?"

Zhang Guilian changed her tone; as soon as she finished speaking, she saw Zhang Chengyong about to act, hurriedly ducked behind Zhang Chengze, and angrily said, "Chengze, why don't you stop this little brute? He even hit his own aunt— is he out of his mind?"

It's not that she doesn't want to hide behind her own husband and son, but expecting them to stop Zhang Chengyong's assault is impossible; the brute might even strike her husband and son.

Naturally.

Even more likely is that her husband and son, upon seeing Zhang Chengyong charge, would turn and flee instantly, caring nothing for her fate.

She felt safer hiding behind Zhang Chengze.

Although.

She's also seething with anger toward Zhang Chengze!

If Zhang Chengze weren't such a useless big brother who can't even manage his own younger sibling, this little brute would never have the nerve to lay a hand on her.

Zhang Chengze glanced at Zhang Chengyong, signaling him not to act, his face darkening as he said, "Second aunt, what do you mean? How can Dongzhu not be your junior? Dongzhu is Wang Ruhai's cousin's wife— do you even refuse to acknowledge Wang Ruhai's cousin?"

This novel you…

At this point, Zhang Chengze's face was full of confusion; according to his speculation, his second aunt's family would have rushed to their home early this morning—not because of his father's affairs, if it were because of his father's affairs.

Last night.

It would have been impossible to utter those dog‑like insults in front of his brother!

His second aunt's family arrived early this morning, even the cousin who had refused to visit since childhood showed up— nine times out of ten it was to confront his younger aunt's family, more precisely, to confront Wang Ruhai's cousin.

He wouldn't say something that might invite ridicule; he didn't trust his father's reputation to attract Du Wenxuan.

At this moment.

Logically, when his second aunt saw Wang Ruhai's cousin's wife, she should have flattered her; even if she isn't one to flatter, at least a few kind words would be appropriate— how could she utter such infuriating remarks?

Isn't she afraid of offending Liu Dongzhu?

For a moment, Zhang Chengze was very puzzled, not understanding what kind of medicine his second aunt was peddling.

"Chengze, you don't know?"

Zhang Guilian glanced unexpectedly at Zhang Chengze, seeing that whether it was him, that little brute, or anyone else, they clearly didn't know the exact reason, and sneered:

"You all might not know, this scoundrel is no longer Wang Ruhai's wife. After Wang Ruhai went to the capital for the imperial exams and became the High School Top Scholar, he sent a divorce notice from the Capital City, ending his marriage with this scoundrel."

Obviously.

It's because this scoundrel committed many misdeeds, offending Wang Ruhai, that Wang Ruhai divorced her.

Yet this shameless scoundrel, an outsider, actually had the nerve to attend my big brother's funeral!

She finally realized why, when she had just spoken ill of that scoundrel, the little brute Zhang Chengyong stepped up for her— he clearly didn't know this, hoping to curry favor with Wang Ruhai through the scoundrel.

Hope Wang Ruhai can give him a benefit!

Unfortunately.

This little scoundrel miscalculated; he probably never considered that this bastard had already been dismissed by Wang Ruhai, that it has nothing to do with Wang Ruhai, and how could he possibly obtain any benefit from Wang Ruhai through this bastard?

(End of chapter)