Chen Lan asked in surprise, "Bullying? It shouldn't be, right? Third Sister's Aunt still has two adult sons at home. Would they really stand by and watch their mother suffer?"
After speaking, Chen Lan looked up at the sisters Yulia and Milana. Seeing their red eyes, Chen Lan knew in her heart that what Little Watermelon said was probably true.
So she continued to analyze, "Little Watermelon, I don't think Third Sister's Aunt hiding at her parents' home is a solution. Aren't you afraid your father-in-law will come looking for Grandma Chang and cause trouble? Make them hand over Milana? Isn't there a saying? 'You can escape the New Year's Day celebration, but not the fifteenth.' We need to think of a foolproof plan for Third Sister's Aunt."
Xiang Xi glanced at Yulia and Milana again and said, "That shouldn't be the case, right? After all, he bullies her sister. Isn't he afraid her two older brothers will find out and settle the score with him later?"
At this moment, Yulia sniffled and said softly, "When we were young, life at home was difficult. My father often drank heavily. When he was drunk, he liked to scold and hit people. It only got a little better when my two brothers grew up and could protect my mother. But if anything didn't go according to my father's wishes, he would become violent when drunk. Once, he beat my mother again when he was drunk, and my two brothers drove him out. He almost froze to death that time. It was my mother who, worried, found him in the snow and saved his life, and only then did he restrain himself a bit. We were all beaten by our father. He's used to hitting people."
When Chen Lan heard Yulia finish, her anger flared up. She shouted, "What? Used to hitting people? He dares to engage in domestic violence? If he's itching to hit someone, why doesn't he punch the wall? Such a thing actually happened? He's really something else! People like him deserve to be taught a lesson, a lesson they'll never forget. He's gotten too big for his britches."
In her agitation, she slammed her hand down on the kang table, shattering it with one palm. Snacks on the table scattered across the kang.
Yulia and Milana were so scared they didn't dare to breathe, their four eyes looking at Chen Lan and Xiang Xi with immense fear. Xiang Xi was used to it, as Little Lan used to be careless and could often break the stools they sat on with a single palm.
So he reached out, patted Yulia's shoulder, and gently comforted her, "Yulia, Milana, don't be afraid. It's okay, it's okay. It has nothing to do with you two. Little Lan used too much force. She's not angry with you two."
At this, Chen Lan said indignantly, "This is outrageous! He's really something! He dares to keep bullying Third Sister's Aunt. Today, we must teach him a lesson. We won't serve him anymore. We won't live with him. Little Watermelon, there's still time. Go to Grandma Chang's house in Honghualing Village immediately and bring Third Sister's Aunt over. We'll take Third Sister's Aunt and the Yulia sisters back to the valley together."
Xiang Xi hesitated at this moment, asking haltingly, "Little Lan, is this really okay? Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Chen Lan waved her hand, saying firmly, "What's okay and what's not? It's not like we're not coming back forever. Just think of it as visiting your daughter's house. We want your father-in-law to suffer a little, to go through some hardship, so he knows he can't be so smug without Third Sister's Aunt. If he wants to act like a drunkard, let's see if his two sons will pay any attention to him. Humph! Third Sister's Aunt worked hard for him for half her life, raising children for him, and now in her old age, she's beaten by him and has to hide at her parents' home. Why should she? I, Chen Lan, have zero tolerance for men who hit their wives. Absolutely no forgiveness. Besides, I'm in charge in the valley. If I say it's okay, it's okay. Little Watermelon, hurry up, go to Honghualing Village and fetch her."
Xiang Xi cast a helpless glance at Yulia and Milana, noticing that the sisters were wiping away tears as they tidied up the snacks that had fallen onto the kang. He immediately got up to leave the kang, deciding to follow Chen Lan's instructions and go to Honghualing Village to pick up his mother-in-law.
At this moment, the door was pushed open. From the sound, it was Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang returning. Xu Mingxuan saw Xiang Xi getting off the kang and casually asked, "Xiang Xi, where are you going?"
Xiang Xi looked back at the still angry Chen Lan, said nothing, put on his coat, and donned his hat. Then he took Er Zhuang, who had just entered, and went out the door again.
Only then did Xu Mingxuan see the kang table that Chen Lan had smashed to pieces. He took off his hat, unbuttoned his coat, and asked, "Lan'er, what's wrong this time? Why are you so angry? You've scared the guests."
Chen Lan said angrily, "It's nothing, I'm just furious. Third Sister's Aunt is such a good person! Her life is so miserable, and she's even a victim of domestic violence. Heaven is blind! Mingxuan, I've decided. I'm going to take Third Sister's Aunt back to the valley."
Xu Mingxuan glanced at the Yulia sisters and asked softly, "Lan'er, do they both agree? Do you think Third Sister's Aunt would agree to come back to the valley with us?"
This question reminded Chen Lan. Right! However, Chen Lan wasn't worried about Third Sister's Aunt. With Little Watermelon personally going, and his incredibly persuasive charm, he could surely convince Third Sister's Aunt to go to the valley with him. It was the Yulia sisters that were the issue. If the sisters didn't agree to her taking Third Sister's Aunt back to the valley, wouldn't all her efforts be in vain?
So Chen Lan looked at the sisters and asked, "Yulia, Milana, do you two agree to me taking Third Sister's Aunt to my place for a visit?" Su Dan Novel Network
The sisters nodded repeatedly and thanked her. Yulia said softly, "Sister Xiao Lan, thank you. To be honest, marrying so far away, I've been very conflicted. I'm really worried about my mother. She's not in good health now and can't work like she did when she was younger. And now, she's clashed with my father over Milana's matters. I really can't leave her alone with my father to suffer."
Chen Lan waved her hand, deeply moved, "What is there to thank? The first time I met Third Sister's Aunt, we hit it off. I really like her straightforward and strong personality. No matter how difficult life is, she hasn't disgraced us Northeastern women. I call her Auntie, and she will always be my Auntie. Besides, Third Sister's Aunt has worked hard her whole life. It's time for her to stop and rest. Visiting her niece's house, who can say anything? Of course, she should. Don't you agree?"
Xu Mingxuan smiled and patted Chen Lan's hand, "That's right. Don't get too excited. You're pregnant."
Saying that, he reached out, picked up the shattered kang table from the kang, and went to the kitchen to fix it.