Chapter 121: Yunniang’s Fury

Chapter 121: Yunniang's Fury

"Help! Someone! There's a thief in the Xie family's house!"

The thick fog blocked their view but couldn't silence the noise.

Even though the Xie family lived at the remote foot of the mountain, Feng Jinyu's frantic screams still attracted people.

As the smoke cleared and the sun came out, the fog lifted.

Someone recognized the two men lying on the ground, unsure if they were alive or dead.

Slapping his thigh, he squatted down and turned their faces over. "Isn't this Lu Chunhe, who moved to Dahe Village?"

"Mrs. Xie, it's a case of family not recognizing family—like the dragon king's temple being flooded by the river. This is your uncle!"

Lu Mingchao tightly gripped the rolling pin, her expression stern and vigilant, her voice cold and fierce. "You're not working with these thieves, are you?"

"If he's my uncle, why didn't he come to my big wedding? Why didn't he defend me when the Qi family schemed against me?"

"Instead, on this dark, foggy day, he barges in without a word?"

"And you still claim he means no harm?"

"That's right!" Feng Jinyu ran over, panting, one hand dragging the strong Feng Jinmao, the other pulling the spirited Feng Jinyu's mother.

Suddenly, Lu Mingchao realized the confusion in the family's generational titles.

Feng Jinmao called her 'sister.'

She called Feng Jinmao's wife 'Auntie.'

Feng Jinyu stood beside Lu Mingchao, hands on her hips, chin up, full of confidence.

"This is really Lu Da!" The man wiped the dust off Lu Chunhe's face with his sleeve. "Jinmao, it's understandable your sister doesn't recognize Lu Da, but you've met him before."

Feng Jinmao took a closer look.

It really was Lu Da.

Lu Mingchao looked shocked, her body swaying, the rolling pin slipping from her hand and hitting Lu Da's head with a clang. She explained, pitiful and aggrieved, "I truly didn't know I had an uncle."

"The fog was so thick it was like night. He came banging on the door. The men are in the city looking for work, leaving the women and children at home terrified in such a situation."

"Who would have thought there could be such an uncle?"

"Is that guy in the corner my second uncle?"

Lu Mingchao pointed randomly with her finger.

Only then did everyone notice another figure lying in the corner.

"Besides Brother Chunsheng, Lu Da doesn't have any other brothers, right?" Feng Jinmao said uncertainly.

As Feng Jinmao spoke, someone clarified.

"That must be Lu Da's son, Lu Bao, the notorious lazy troublemaker of Dahe Village, a real menace—always sneaking into widows' homes or hanging around the old locust tree, catcalling young women."

"Married young women might be able to brush it off, but those unmarried girls were so scared they took detours, fearing their reputations would be tarnished if they got involved."

Lu Mingchao's misty eyes widened in disbelief as she murmured, "Does our Lu family really harbor such a despicable, heartless beast?"

"It's absolutely shameful."

"I truly had no idea he was my uncle," Lu Mingchao emphasized again.

Feng Jinyu tugged at Lu Mingchao's sleeve, reminding her, "Shouldn't we get these two to the clinic? If anything happens, Lu Chunhe's wife could skin you alive."

Lu Mingchao's long lashes fluttered, her eyes lowered, concealing the coldness within.

Skin me alive?

Quite impressive.

"No need for the clinic; I didn’t exert much force."

She didn’t want to soil the clinic.

Lu Mingchao went back to the kitchen, scooped a large basin of cold water, and splashed it over Lu Chunhe and his son.

Lu Bao came to before Lu Chunhe, water still dripping from his face, his eyes not yet open, but his mouth already cursing, "You bitch, I’ll end you!"

Lu Mingchao frowned slightly, "These two look so menacing; are they really not outlaws?"

Just as she was about to continue, a voice called out, "Chaochao!"

Upon hearing the news, Yunniang hurried over in a frenzy, still holding a blood-stained kitchen knife.

Seeing Lu Mingchao unscathed, Yunniang let out a sigh of relief, passed the knife to Lu Mingchao, seized Lu Bao by the collar, and began slapping him repeatedly, shouting fiercely, "Who do you think you’re going to kill?"

"Tell me, who do you think you’re going to kill!"

Yunniang's voice was shrill, filled with anger and urgency, "If you dare lay a finger on Chaochao, I’ll end you."

Still dazed and disoriented, Lu Bao was slapped until he saw stars, his face bruised and bloodied.

Still unsatisfied, Yunniang shoved Lu Bao’s head towards the wall to slam it.

"Mom," Lu Mingchao's pupils contracted, quickly stopping her.

Not out of pity, but because it wasn’t worth the trouble.

Her aim was to publicly cut all ties with Lu Chunhe, not to make Yunniang a murderer.

Without the family ties, dealing with them would be unconstrained.

The bloodied knife was handed over to Feng Jinyu, and Lu Mingchao stepped forward to steady the trembling Yunniang. "Mom, I’m okay."

Yunniang’s eyes brimmed with tears, her gaze filled with a fear and anger Lu Mingchao couldn’t comprehend.

"Chaochao, I know what I'm doing."

With a hoarse voice, Yunniang pushed Lu Mingchao aside and marched over to Lu Chunhe, slapping him awake.

Lu Chunhe woke up.

Lu Chunhe was slapped unconscious again.

"After the father-in-law died, the family split up and cut ties. There's no reason for them to barge into Mingchao's house. What kind of relatives are they? They're just thieves."

"Thieves with bad intentions."

Yunniang gritted her teeth and kicked the unconscious Lu Chunhe and his son out of the yard with force.

"Don't talk about being brothers with Chunsheng. He has no brothers!"

With a loud slam, Yunniang shut the door.

The three members of the Feng family: they should be outside, not inside.

Feng Jinyu's mother was stunned by Yunniang's sudden burst of ferocity.

Everyone in Changxi Village knew Yunniang had a very good temper and rarely had conflicts with others, but no one expected her to be so fierce when provoked.

Feng Jinyu's mother swallowed hard, "We'll head back first. If you need help, just send someone to call us."

Without waiting for Yunniang to reply, Feng Jinyu's mother hurriedly signaled to Feng Jinmao and his sister.

Then, she realized she was just wasting her effort, like throwing glances at a blind man.

"Let's get out of here!"

Feng Jinyu's mother said wearily.

Feng Jinyu kept looking back with every step, only leaving when Lu Mingchao nodded reassuringly.

Lu Mingchao helped Feng Jinyu's mother back inside.

"Mom, grandma."

"Mom Lu, grandma."

Xie Ru'an and his sister stood on either side of Lu Mingchao and Yunniang.

Shu Yuan wanted to transfer the former emperor's hidden guards to Huaiqian, so early in the morning, he and Xie Yan drove Huaiqian into the city.

So when Lu Chunhe and his son showed up, there were only women and kids at home.

"Mom's fine, and grandma's fine too."

"Ru'an, take Jingyi to the next room."

Xie Ru'an nodded obediently.

Yunniang's hands were burning and stiff, as if they couldn't bend or stretch.

Lu Mingchao slowly rubbed them, "Mom, they didn't even touch the hem of my clothes, really."

"Don't be afraid."

"Old grudges and new hatreds."