The mother and daughter of the Yu family had been causing trouble in the village for years, so they weren't afraid of a few words.
They sat on the ground, wailing and lamenting how unfilial and ill-behaved Tao Lengshuang was.
Their clamor gave Tao Lengshuang a headache. She chuckled twice, picked up a wooden stool, and sat by the door to watch the Yu mother and daughter's performance.
It would have been even better if she had some melon seeds and peanuts.
The Yu mother and daughter cried until their throats were almost dry, but Tao Lengshuang showed no reaction. Instead, she just sat there watching the show, which ignited their anger.
The two ferociously lunged at Tao Lengshuang, looking as if they wanted to beat her to death.
"Today, I must teach you a good lesson and make you understand filial piety and rules."
"Mother, we must beat her soundly."
Tao Lengshuang knew that with her current obese and weak body, she couldn't possibly go against the Yu mother and daughter.
She stood her ground calmly, estimating the distance between herself and the Yu mother and daughter.
Just as the Yu family and Tao Fangfang were getting close enough to grab Tao Lengshuang.
Tao Lengshuang moved.
She paid attention to the situation behind her and quickly and calmly retreated several steps.
The moment she retreated, they lost their balance and flailed their hands, crashing into each other heavily.
"That hurts!"
The Yu family, in her thirties and accustomed to hard labor, was sent flying by the strong Tao Fangfang, falling face-first onto the ground and getting a mouthful of dust.
Tao Fangfang wasn't any better. She stumbled and fell to the ground, grimacing in pain.
Seeing this scene, Tao Lengshuang couldn't have been more pleased. She looked down at the mother and daughter with a smile, "Oh my, it seems even heaven can't stand it, causing you two to fall."
"Tao Lengshuang, you wicked creature!"
The Yu family, in too much pain to get up, lay on the ground in a mess, looking fiercely at Tao Lengshuang. "Hurry up and come help me." kuAiδugg
"I'm telling you, you must compensate me with one tael of silver, plus ten hunted animals, or I'll have your father and brothers come to deal with you."
Hearing her proud and threatening tone, Tao Lengshuang recalled the scenes of the original owner being beaten and scolded by her father and brothers. She narrowed her sharp eyes.
"Alright, let them come."
She rolled up her sleeves and threatened fiercely, "If my home suffers the slightest damage, or if a single hair on our family falls, I will report you to the county yamen."
"I'm not afraid of escalating things. Anyway, it won't be our family who goes to jail and loses face."
Once she prepared some defensive powders and started exercising, she would have plenty of ways to deal with this family.
The Yu mother and daughter, who cared about face and were greedy for money, glanced outside upon hearing this and saw several villagers watching the commotion.
"Wow, did the sun rise from the west today? Tao Lengshuang actually fought with her mother and second sister. It's a shame we didn't see the fight."
"Serves them right! Normally, that old hag Yu never missed an opportunity to boast about Tao Lengshuang's filial piety. Everyone knows what the truth is."
"Exactly. This old hag's family eats and drinks from Tao Lengshuang's filial piety, yet they've often beaten and scolded Tao Lengshuang and Xiao Feng. Especially towards Xiao Feng, a child, they were so cruel that even beasts wouldn't do such things."
The young man in green was hidden in the crowd again.
This time, he was sure Tao Lengshuang had truly changed, becoming very much like that person.
This was not a good thing!
If he were discovered, he would wish he were dead.
For his wealth and his life, he had to make sure Tao Lengshuang stayed here forever, but he couldn't kill her for now.
...
The Yu family felt somewhat embarrassed. She glared fiercely at Tao Lengshuang and, with Tao Fangfang's support, stood up.
"Tao Lengshuang, you've gone too far!"
She rebuked her, burning with anger, "Do you still have me in your heart, your mother? I gave birth to you and raised you; that is a kindness greater than heaven. You should be filial to me your entire life. Now you dare to hit and scold me. Is this your filial piety?"
Facing the pointing and scorn of the villagers, Tao Lengshuang let out a frustrated sigh, "Filial piety, filial piety. Your so-called filial piety is to squeeze our family dry and beat my son to death?"
"This is what you should do as juniors."
The Yu family glared at her righteously, "I gave birth to you and found you a good husband. Your family should be filial to me until death."
Tao Lengshuang laughed in anger, "I've truly seen what it means to be shameless and invincible."
"You want our family to be filial to you? Fine, our family will now move back to your maiden home to be filial to you. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
"Tao Lengshuang, how are you talking to Mother?" Tao Fangfang pointed at Tao Lengshuang and said to the villagers watching, "You be the judge. What kind of daughter is this, with no manners or filial piety at all."
The villagers disliked Tao Lengshuang and the Tao family immensely, so they were happy to watch them fight like dogs. No one would help; they would only curse a few times.
Seeing this, Tao Fangfang gave the Yu family a look.
The Yu family immediately feigned weakness, leaning on Tao Fangfang and crying out "Aiyo, aiyo," as if she would faint at any moment.
"Tao Lengshuang, look what you've done to our mother!"
Tao Fangfang accused her angrily, "Hurry up and help our mother, and prepare silver and game to send home!"
Tao Lengshuang crossed her arms and looked at the Yu mother and daughter, who were putting on a great act, "I sincerely suggest you two go to a theater troupe to perform. Perhaps you can become pillars of the troupe and earn a fortune."
Actors were among the lowest professions, the most looked down upon.
Upon hearing this, the Yu family and Tao Fangfang's faces turned green and then black. Their eyes on Tao Lengshuang were as if they wanted to devour her alive.
Tao Lengshuang was unaffected and said cheerfully, "Mother and second sister, when you earn money, don't forget about us."
"Our family doesn't ask for much. Just a little bit falling from your fingers would be enough for a lifetime of food and drink."
The villagers burst into laughter, "Yu family, Tao Fangfang, when you join the theater troupe, we'll pool money to watch you perform. We just don't know which troupe you'll join."
Tao Fangfang's face flushed with embarrassment. Believing her reputation was damaged, she wished she could tear Tao Lengshuang apart.
However, the Yu family stopped her with a look, signaling Tao Fangfang to look at the man and child in the kitchen.
Tao Fangfang saw Mo Lingxi and his son, who had been quiet all along, and a wicked plan formed in her mind. "Mo Lingxi, what's going on with you and Xiao Feng?"
"Mother and I have been here for so long, and you father and son are still sitting there foolishly, not serving us tea or the game you hunted. Is this how a son-in-law behaves?"
Mo Lingxi felt Xiao Feng in his arms trembling uncontrollably. He patted him a few times, and his eyes turned into ice blades as he looked at the Yu family and Tao Fangfang.
His gaze was as if he wanted to flay them alive, leaving only a skeleton.
The Yu family and Tao Fangfang trembled uncontrollably from the pain, their faces instantly turning pale. They dared not look at Mo Lingxi again, and even the villagers watching the commotion fell silent.
How did this man become even more terrifying?
Mo Lingxi calmly withdrew his gaze, his thin, cold voice laced with killing intent, "I don't mind making your entire family restless!"