Chapter 13: Beating the Abusive Husband Ruthlessly

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Zhou Qing was the eldest sister of Zhou Sinian. She had raised several younger siblings on her own. She didn’t marry until she was 27, with no time to choose a partner. She ended up marrying Zhao Jiaming, who was eager to wed. She only saw him once on their wedding day, and he seemed fairly kind to her.

“Si Yue, what’s wrong with big sister?”

“I went to deliver some food to big sister today and saw Zhao Jiaming hitting her at home. His parents stood by and watched. When I tried to intervene, they beat me up and drove me out of the village.”

Gu Wenran hated men who abused their families the most. She grabbed a kitchen knife and called Zhou Siyue.

“Go get the uncles and elders. Damn it, if they dare lay a hand on our Zhou family, they’re asking for trouble.”

Hu Ailian saw her daughter-in-law was serious and tried to hold her back.

“It’s too late now. If you go to your sister’s house, it’ll be past midnight. Don’t stir up trouble.”

Hu Ailian worried about her daughter but didn’t want to trouble anyone. After a whole day of work, who would want to run errands like this?

“No, I’m dealing with that bastard today, not tomorrow. Letting that scoundrel live through the New Year? Let Xiaoxi stay home with the child.”

Gu Wenran marched fiercely toward the Zhao family’s village, kitchen knife in hand. The aunties chatting at the village entrance saw this scene and prepared to follow along for the spectacle.

Hu Ailian hurried after Gu Wenran, afraid she might do something wrong, but no matter how fast she ran, she couldn’t catch up.

“Why is the eldest daughter-in-law carrying a kitchen knife? What’s going on with the eldest sister-in-law?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t follow her, just go back quickly.”

Hu Ailian shooed the women away and rushed toward the Zhao family.

Zhou Siyue gathered the uncles and elders on the Zhou side and stormed to the Zhao family.

Gu Wenran walked for an hour before reaching the Zhao family’s village, but she didn’t know exactly where her eldest sister-in-law’s house was.

Villagers resting under trees saw a woman carrying a kitchen knife and thought she was crazy. They grabbed their children and ran home.

Gu Wenran put away the knife and inquired around until she found the location.

Hu Ailian hurried and finally caught up.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, don’t act rashly.”

“Mom, you take big sister home later. I’ll handle their family.”

At the Zhao family’s doorstep, shouting erupted inside.

“Zhou Qing, can’t you even give birth? A worthless hen that can’t lay eggs; what good is a daughter who just costs money?”

“Mom, if I don’t beat her today, who else will? Her brother’s a good-for-nothing and still dares to hit me.”

“Jiaming, beat her! If our Zhao family’s line dies out, it’s only right she gets beaten.”

Gu Wenran couldn’t hold back. The Qing dynasty had long fallen, yet here they were still clinging to male superiority, treating women like dirt.

Hu Ailian saw her daughter being beaten and wanted to step in to reason.

Gu Wenran kicked the door open, startling everyone inside.

“Which bastard kicked open my home’s door?”

“Your aunt here dares to bully my eldest sister? Today, I’ll show you my fury.”

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Zhao Jiaming saw Gu Wenran wielding a kitchen knife and hid behind his father, terrified.

“What does it matter to you if I discipline my wife? Ugly, fat woman.”

Gu Wenran exploded. She threw the knife, which whistled past Zhao Jiaming’s ear and stuck into the doorframe.

Zhao Jiaming fell to the ground in fright, wetting himself.

“If you dare hurt my son, I’ll fight you.”

Zhao’s mother shouted to start the fight, but Hu Ailian slapped the old woman hard.

“How dare you bully my daughter! I’ll kill you if I have to.”

Villagers gathered outside the Zhao family compound. Their relatives began to step in to help, but Gu Wenran fought them off with the strength of a zombie slayer, knocking everyone down.

“Anyone else want to come?”

Standing on Zhao Jiaming’s head, Gu Wenran looked down at the villagers outside.

Seeing her ferocity, the crowd stepped back. When Zhou Siyue arrived, she saw her sister-in-law standing on Zhao Jiaming’s head, radiating a heroic aura.

Hu Ailian was helped up from the ground. Zhou Qing lay unconscious inside.

Zhou Siyue entered, carrying Zhou Qing out.

“Mom, big sister fainted.”

“Zhao Jiaming, I didn’t marry my daughter off to you for you to beat her. If you treat her badly, then get a divorce.”

“Divorce? Then return the betrothal gifts our family gave.”

Gu Wenran kicked Zhao Jiaming to the ground and pummeled him with fists.

Zhao’s father, seeing his son about to be beaten to death, grabbed a stick, ready to intervene, but Zhou family members stopped him.

“If you dare bully my eldest sister, you’ll regret it.”

“Siyue, carry big sister home.”

The Zhao family, overwhelmed, watched as Zhou Qing was taken away.

Gu Wenran entered the house and took down the kitchen knife from the door, spotting a frail little girl cowering under the table.

“Yaya?”

Zhao Yaya covered her ears in fear, trembling.

“Yaya, come out.”

Gu Wenran knew the family disliked Yaya and couldn’t treat the child this way. The girl was skin and bones.

“Yaya, come with Aunt.”

Looking up at Gu Wenran, Yaya finally broke down in tears.

“Aunt, Yaya’s scared. They hit Mom and me.”

“Aunt chased the bad people away. Come home with Aunt.”

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Gu Wenran lifted Yaya from under the table. The eight-year-old was so thin, bruises covered her arms—blue and purple patches that broke one’s heart.

Hu Ailian noticed Gu Wenran carrying Yaya out. In the heat of the fight, she had forgotten about the child.

“Yaya, come with grandma.”

“Grandma,” Yaya clung to Hu Ailian’s neck, terrified of being abandoned.

Gu Wenran glared at that wretched family and kicked Zhao Jiaming aside.

The kitchen knife struck his face. “Zhao Jiaming, you better pray big sister is okay. Otherwise, you won’t have a future.”

Gu Wenran’s actions left an indelible mark on Zhao Jiaming, and he never recovered after that.

Like a victorious general, Gu Wenran led everyone back to the Fengtian village.

“Thank you all uncles and elders. Come to our home for dinner tomorrow night.”

An elder of the Zhou family stepped forward.

“No need, your widowed family being bullied is enough reason for us to come. Hurry and take Zhou Qing to see a doctor.”

“If Gu Wenran invites, it’s guaranteed to be a proper gathering. Remember to come tomorrow night.”

Hu Ailian felt comforted seeing the whole Zhou family come together.

“Tomorrow, big brother will come too. Sister-in-law, thank you for your help these years. Since Zhou Qing is divorced, we’ll be relying on everyone more in the future.”

“That’s settled. We’ll definitely come.”

As the crowd dispersed, Gu Wenran entered the inner room and took Zhou Qing’s pulse.

“Warm’er, you know medicine?”

“Mom, I studied with Doctor Guo in our village for a few years. Big sister is fine—just malnourished and overworked. She needs rest.”

Coming out, Gu Wenran saw Zhou Xi feeding Zhao Yaya. Yaya cautiously watched the adults, afraid that eating another bite might bring punishment.

“Yaya, no one here will hit you. Aunt will make you some malted milk powder.”

“Yaya won’t drink it. Give it to Mom.”

Gu Wenran gently patted Yaya’s head.

“Good child. Your mom is still sleeping. We won’t disturb her. Tonight, you’ll sleep with your aunt.”

“Aunt, can Yaya stay? Yaya can work, cook, and eat less.”

Tears streamed down Zhao Yaya’s face. That family was a nightmare—she and her mother were beaten every day.

“Yaya, be good. We won’t go back.”

“Xiaoxi, after feeding her, wash the child and get her to sleep.”

Zhou Xi’s choked voice came from the corner. “Got it, sister-in-law.”

Zhao Yaya looked at Gu Wenran standing in the moonlight. She would never forget that it was her aunt who saved them from suffering and despair.