Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Song Shian had already risen and stood behind the main door of the hall when Cao Pozi's smelly shoe flew across the table.

With Jiang Chun's explosive temper, how could he tolerate such an insult? A full-scale fight was inevitable.

To avoid getting "splattered with blood," he decisively chose to leave the table.

It turned out his guess was entirely correct.

The beating just took too long, leaving him unable to hold on, so he reached out to grip the door latch to steady himself.

Jiang Chun scanned the hall for a full three rounds before finally spotting Song Shian.

Seeing him clinging to the door latch, looking as if he might topple over at any moment, like a delicate white flower in the cold wind, she hurriedly went to support him.

"Anger has filled my belly; we won't eat your food!"

Jiang Chun said this and then, supporting Song Shian, walked out.

Jiang Xi quickly followed, trying to persuade them, "Auntie Chun, it's high noon. Going home on an empty stomach doesn't look good. Why not have lunch first?"

"No need."

Jiang Chun refused firmly.

No way, that meager meal, with only one dish of meat, had been "perfumed" by Cao Pozi's smelly shoe. She wouldn't eat it even if her life depended on it.

Just as they reached the door, a familiar figure stumbled toward them.

None other than Jiang Chun's uncle, Wang Bo.

Wang Bo reeked of alcohol, and the smell was mixed with a pungent scent of powder. His face and neck were marked with several bright red lipstick prints.

Clearly, he had been drinking at a brothel.

And there was only one place in town where one could drink at a brothel: the matchmaker Wang's house.

Despite both being surnamed Wang, the matchmaker and Wang Bo had no familial ties, not even distantly.

Jiang Chun already disliked the matchmaker who wanted to be her stepmother, and seeing Wang Bo in this state made her even angrier.

She stood still, glancing at him sideways, and said sarcastically, "Oh, isn't this my dear uncle?"

Wang Bo lifted his bleary eyes, scrutinizing Jiang Chun carefully before slurring, "Ah, it's Niece Jiang. What brings you here?"

Before Jiang Chun could answer, Cao Pozi, hearing her son's voice, rushed out as if she had found her backbone.

Then with a thud, she sat down at the doorstep, pounding the threshold and wailing, "My son, this little slut hit me! You must stand up for your mother!

At my age, to be slapped like this, I can't show my face to anyone anymore..."

Jiang Chun interjected fearlessly, "I say, Aunt Cao, don't slander people. When did I ever hit your face?"

She had only hit her arms and buttocks, and pinched her waist, but never touched her face.

Sometimes, not hitting the face isn't about saving face, but about leaving no evidence.

Upon hearing that his own mother had been beaten by a girl, the "filial son" Wang Bo immediately rolled up his sleeves.

He growled, "You little hussy, daring to hit my mother! Watch me beat you until your face is a mess!"

Jiang Chun, supporting Song Shian, took a few steps back and placed him in a safe spot away from the commotion.

Then she also rolled up her sleeves.

Since she had already beaten her own relative, Cao Pozi, she didn't mind adding her uncle Wang Bo to the list.

After all, he was here, wasn't he?

How could Wang Bo, a good-for-nothing who only knew how to eat, drink, and womanize, be a match for Jiang Chun?

In their first encounter, Jiang Chun slapped his arm, sending him sprawling to the ground.

The speed of her action surprised even herself.

She knew Wang Bo was a weakling, but she hadn't expected him to be so useless.

"Ahh! My son, are you alright? Ahh! My son, wake up, don't scare your mother!" Cao Pozi screeched like a chicken.

The noise was grating on Jiang Chun's ears.

Jiang Xi was terrified, thinking her nephew had really hurt Wang Bo, and rushed over to check on him, crouching beside him.

Then she was pushed to the ground by Cao Pozi.

In the next instant, Jiang Chun kicked Cao Pozi's arm, sending her sprawling.

She said coldly, "You just promised not to torment my aunt, and now you're hitting her before she even leaves your house. Do you think I'm dead?"

"Ahh... It hurts... So much pain..." Cao Pozi clutched her arm, screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

Wang Bo, who had been pretending to be dead on the ground, stopped his act upon hearing the commotion, scrambled up, and started shaking Cao Pozi's other arm violently. "Mother, are you alright?"

Cao Pozi, shaken to dizziness, choked on her cries.

Fortunately, Jiang Chun kicked Wang Bo to the ground, "rescuing" Cao Pozi.

Jiang Chun stepped forward, kicking Wang Bo's buttocks and scolding him, "You damn good-for-nothing, relying on my aunt to run the shop and weave cloth to support you, spending your days drinking with others or loitering at Matchmaker Wang’s house. You stand idly by while your own mother torments my aunt, even resorting to beating her. Have you no conscience at all?

And now you even want to beat me, her niece? I think you must have eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall!

Today, I’ll show you how many eyes Lord Horse has, and I’ll beat you until you can’t take care of yourself!

Anyway, you’re just a useless eater, whether standing or lying down makes no difference. At least lying down stops you from going out and causing trouble, and it saves my aunt some money."

Wang Bo, both beaten and scolded, was half-sobered by this ordeal.

Realizing he had almost beaten Jiang Chun, the butcher’s niece, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Last year, when a ruffian from Qingyan Town had tried to molest her, he and a few friends had gone to watch the commotion. They had seen her nearly break the man’s three legs.

If not for the man’s parents begging for mercy, she would have really gone all out.

After all, her uncle Zheng Tu was a formidable figure, doing business with taverns and wealthy households. Not only was he a bully in Hongye Town, but he also had connections throughout Hongye County.

Even if she had broken the ruffian’s three legs, with Zheng Tu’s help, it would have been just a matter of paying some compensation.

Her family’s meat stall sold a large fat pig every day; they wouldn’t lack the money to pay.

If he were really beaten into paralysis, he would have no one to blame but himself, with no place to seek justice.

Wang Bo immediately cowered, pleading pitifully, "Niece, dear niece, don’t hit me anymore, Uncle knows he was wrong, please stop, any more and Uncle will be beaten to death!"

Jiang Chun paid no attention to his weak pleas and continued to kick his buttocks.

She occasionally took the time to kick Cao Pozi’s buttocks as well.

Wang Bo, being a seasoned street urchin, immediately swore an oath, "Dear niece, spare Uncle, Uncle will never bully your aunt again. If I break my word, may I drown after drinking and turn into a leprous toad!"

Cao Pozi, frightened, quickly covered his mouth, "Son, don’t say such ominous things, what if they come true?"

Her husband, Wang Dali, had drowned after drinking too much, and she couldn’t bear to hear such words.

Jiang Chun inwardly scoffed. Wang Bo was truly a coward, willing to swear such a terrible oath just to avoid being beaten.

Wasn’t he afraid of ending up like his father, drowning after drinking?

Despite this, Jiang Chun didn’t let him off easily. She coldly snorted, "Matchmaker Wang has ulterior motives. She boasts about marrying my father as a second wife while secretly consorting with you. Who knows what schemes she has in mind.

From now on, you’re not allowed to associate with her or drink at her place. If I find out, I’ll break your three legs and leave you a breathing cripple on your bed!"

For a niece to meddle in her uncle’s household affairs was highly improper.

But Wang Bo didn’t dare utter a word, nodding like a chicken pecking rice, "Yes, yes, Uncle won’t associate with Matchmaker Wang anymore, nor will I drink at her place. Niece, you can rest assured!"

Jiang Chun stopped kicking and added a final threat, "I’ll hire some idle men to keep an eye on you. If you deceive me, you’ll regret it!"

Then she turned to Cao Pozi, coldly snorting, "And you!"

Cao Pozi shrank back, saying nothing.

Jiang Chun shouted, "Did you hear that?"

Cao Pozi immediately replied, "Yes, yes, I heard."

Song Shian: "..."

Was she training dogs?

Today, Jiang Chun had really shown her might, beating Cao Pozi and kicking Wang Bo at the Wang residence.

Perhaps she had been too impressive, as even Wang Yiner, who was well-regarded among the daughters of prominent families in the county, dared only to peek from behind the screen and did not dare to intervene.

Such “prudence” was why she could stand out among the maids.

But it felt even more out of place.

In her previous life, although Jiang Chun was known for her frequent physical altercations, she had never gotten involved in the messy affairs of Aunt Jiang’s household.

After giving the Wang family a thorough beating, Jiang Chun turned to scold Jiang Xi, who was sitting on the ground.

"Aunt, it’s understandable that no one stood up for you before, but now that I’m here to support you, you mustn’t tolerate mistreatment anymore. If you’re bullied, come to the meat stall, and I’ll get justice for you."

Jiang Xi burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jiang Chun didn’t allow her to remain weak, raising her voice, "Did you hear me?"

Jiang Xi, startled, instinctively mimicked Cao Pozi’s response, "Yes, yes, I heard."

Jiang Chun: "..."

It wasn’t something that could be changed overnight. It would be difficult to make Aunt Jiang stand up for herself immediately, but she would keep an eye on the Wang family’s situation.

It wasn’t a big deal.

With matters settled, she quickly walked to the screen, grabbed Song Shian’s arm, and headed toward the mule cart at the door.

Jiang Xi hurriedly got up and ran out to see them off.

Just as Jiang Chun was about to whip the mule, she suddenly said, "There are no bad parents in the world. When you go home, persuade your father to be more filial to your grandmother."

Jiang Chun’s brows furrowed, and she waved her fist at Jiang Xi, "Aunt, if you don’t want me to beat you too, stop saying such nonsense."

Her grandmother, Li Shi, had made her father, Jiang He, leave the family with nothing. If not for learning the butchery trade from his father-in-law, they would still be living in a dilapidated temple in the village.

When her mother was seriously ill, the old house ignored them, not even providing a sip of water.

Had it not been for Jiang Xi later hearing about the matter and rushing back to help, their mother might not have lasted much longer.

Jiang Xi's lips moved, as if she wanted to say something more, but fearing her niece would really turn against her, she finally managed only to say, "Take it slow on your way back."

*

Jiang Chun didn't return home; instead, he drove the mule cart straight to a noodle shop and ordered one meat dish and one vegetable dish, two bowls of noodles.

While they were eating, Jiang He came rushing over, wielding a butcher's knife.

Seeing them, he immediately asked, "Chun, I heard you got into a fight with your uncle. Are you alright?"

Song Shian replied indifferently, "The one who’s not fine isn’t her."

Jiang Chun glanced at him and glared.

Hearing his son-in-law's words, Jiang He's heart finally settled.

But in the next moment, it leaped up again as he anxiously asked, "You didn’t hurt your uncle, did you?"

Jiang Chun ignored the question and instead asked, "Father, are you still eating? Should I order you a bowl of shredded pork noodles?"

"I’m in no mood to eat right now!" Jiang He glared at her, urging, "Quick, tell me, you didn’t hurt your uncle, did you?"

Seeing her daughter just lower her head and continue eating without a word, he turned to Song Shian, "Son-in-law, you tell me, is your uncle alright?"

Song Shian swallowed the broth in his mouth and said coolly, "He’s fine, all his limbs are still intact."

What does 'all his limbs are still intact' mean?

Jiang He was speechless; this son-in-law really couldn’t speak clearly.

He stomped his foot, "I’ll go to your aunt’s house and see for myself."

"Don’t go," Jiang Chun, seeing her father's worry, quickly stopped him, saying, "Father, rest assured. I just gave Cao Pozi and Wang Bo a light beating, nothing serious."

If it had been serious, with her strength, one kick would have broken Wang Bo’s leg in two.

Jiang He: "???"

What? You also beat up the old lady from the other side?