In the bedroom, Madam Li questioned Zhan Feiyu. Zhu Kun did not want Zhan Feiyu to marry Zhu Peng, so he deliberately instructed Liu Wangcai to come and cause trouble. This was truly an undeserved disaster.
Old Master Zhan also intended to tell Old Man Zhan the whole story. Just then, he heard Old Madam Zhan's sharp and piercing scolding, and Old Master Zhan's face turned extremely unpleasant.
"Xiao Yu, lie down," Madam Li gently instructed Zhan Feiyu to lie back on the bed, then strode towards the door.
In the courtyard, Old Madam Zhan looked contemptuously at Madam Li, who was walking out, and sneered, "Putting on a deathly pale face, Madam Li, do you still intend to lay hands on me?"
Seniority was like an insurmountable mountain. Under the guise of filial piety, Old Madam Zhan, with her status as a mother-in-law, could firmly suppress Madam Li.
Let alone beating Zhan Feiyu, her granddaughter, to a pulp, even if she beat her to death or crippled her, Old Madam Zhan would not be afraid. There were still wicked mothers-in-law in the village who had tormented their daughters-in-law to death, yet they were still living well, at most with a notorious reputation.
"Mother, Xiao Yu is my only daughter. If you can't stand the sight of us, I'll take Xiao Yu back to my maiden home," Madam Li retorted coldly, ignoring Old Madam Zhan's instantly furious expression and continuing, "Tell your husband to write a letter of divorce, and I'll take Xiao Yu away immediately!"
Madam Li's maiden family was much poorer than the Zhan family. Her parents had passed away, and she had an elder brother and an elder sister. Her sister was married to a neighboring county. Uncle Li was not very capable, but he doted on his younger sister, Madam Li.
If she truly divorced, she would have a place to shelter from the wind and rain upon returning to her maiden home. This was also the confidence Madam Li had in saying this.
"What nonsense are you talking!" Old Man Zhan had always been rather uninvolved, but when it came to such a major issue as divorcing his wife, Old Man Zhan could not pretend to be deaf and mute.
Glancing at Old Master Zhan, who could not control his wife, Old Man Zhan angrily continued, "Take your wife back to the room. Third son, go find Doctor Tie. I agree to the banquet. Anyone who mentions it again will be kicked out of the Zhan family!"
Young Madam Yao did not want Old Master Zhan to divorce his wife. If he divorced, he would have to remarry, which would cost money. Furthermore, if he had sons in the future, the second branch would be at a disadvantage.
Madam Ma looked at Madam Li in shock and pouted at Third Master Zhan, "You said Eldest Sister-in-law has a good temper. Look at Mother's face, it's as dark as the bottom of a pot."
Madam Ma was usually boisterous and had a loud voice. Even suffering a small loss would cause the entire village to know. She seemed formidable, but when Old Madam Zhan's face darkened, Madam Ma dared not utter a sound.
"Mother hit Xiao Yu. Eldest Sister-in-law is just saying that out of anger." Third Master Zhan respected his elder brother and sister-in-law from the bottom of his heart and doted on his niece, Zhan Feiyu. As filial as he was, he knew that Old Madam Zhan had gone too far this time.
"Go back to the room." Old Master Zhan pulled Madam Li.
Caught between his mother, wife, and daughter, Old Master Zhan felt sorry for the beaten Zhan Feiyu, but he could not get angry at his mother. He felt stifled and could only wish to avoid more trouble.
Madam Li did not actually want a divorce. She was stating her position: Xiao Yu did nothing wrong, and no one in the Zhan family could bully her daughter. If Mother dared to use violence today, would she sell Xiao Yu for the sake of the second branch in the future?
Old Madam Zhan coldly watched Third Master Zhan, who had gone to call the doctor, and then glanced at Old Master Zhan, who was pulling Madam Li to return to the room. Old Madam Zhan let out a sinister laugh, her sudden laughter startling everyone.
"What are you doing? If you're tired, go back to the room and lie down!" Old Man Zhan, who had finally calmed the situation, felt his scalp tingle when he saw his wife's ferocious expression.
"I'm saying this here today!" Old Madam Zhan completely ignored Old Man Zhan, her venomous eyes fixed on Madam Li, and continued, "Starting tomorrow, the three of us from the eldest branch will go to the fields to work! Let Second Son go to school. Third Son's wife, go to the east wing and move all those books and writing materials back to your room for Second Son to use!"
"Ah?" Madam Ma was stunned.
Letting Second Son go to school? Madam Ma's face immediately lit up with joy, and she said crisply, "Mother, I understand. I'll go right away. If Second Son doesn't study hard, I'll beat him to death with a stick!"
Ever since Zhan Feiyu started studying, the villagers had nothing but praise for Xiao Yu, and they also curried favor with her eldest sister-in-law. Madam Ma was extremely envious. She only hoped that when Second Son went to school next September, it would be Second Son and herself who would be praised.
Madam Li once again shook off Old Master Zhan's hand and retorted fearlessly, "If Mother is unwilling to pay the ten taels of tuition a year, our eldest branch will sell everything we have to support Xiao Yu's studies. It won't cost the family a single cent!"
"Mother, please stop talking!" Old Master Zhan pleaded, looking at the grim-faced Old Madam Zhan. Everything had been fine, but Mother insisted on pursuing it. Looking at his gentle but strong-willed wife, Old Master Zhan wished he could slap himself twice. As long as they didn't argue.
"Madam Li, since you dare to defy your mother-in-law and want a divorce?" Old Madam Zhan sneered, her words becoming more malicious and vicious. "If you want to leave, take the divorce letter and scram. Xiao Yu is of the Zhan family. What right do you have to take her back to the Li family?"
If she didn't suppress the arrogance of the eldest branch today, wouldn't they try to overturn everything in the future! Old Madam Zhan's sharp gaze fell on the agitated Old Master Zhan, "If you still recognize me as your mother, then divorce this wretched woman for me!"
Madam Li dared to mention divorce because she had her maiden family as her backing. She dared to say that the eldest branch would support Zhan Feiyu's studies because Zhan Feiyu could earn money by copying books next year. Madam Li and Old Master Zhan could endure hardship and toil for a few more years and then they would have a better life.
Zhan Feiyu had a talent for studying. Even without the marriage proposal from Landlord Zhu, there would be Landlord Wang and Landlord Sun. In any case, Zhan Feiyu's marriage would not be a worry.
Moreover, given Old Man Zhan's concern for his reputation, Madam Li was not worried at all that Zhan Feiyu would not be able to study. In the final analysis, this was a struggle between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. It was either the East wind prevailing over the West wind, or the West wind prevailing over the East wind.
Old Madam Zhan ignored Madam Li and once again pressured Old Master Zhan, her voice piercingly sharp, "Fine, you truly married a wife and forgot your mother!"
As her voice fell, Old Madam Zhan suddenly rushed towards the kitchen.
Madam Ma, standing at the kitchen door, stumbled and steadied herself by holding onto the door frame. She looked up and let out a cry, "Mother is slitting her throat with the cleaver!"
After a period of chaos, the rest of the Zhan family had no desire to speak. They were tired physically and mentally!
Old Madam Zhan was not bluffing. She had cut a gash on her neck with the cleaver, and blood was flowing down. If Madam Ma had not been quick to snatch the knife, Old Madam Zhan would have likely cut her own throat.