Zhang Xiaoying was certain that if things continued this way, Xu Wencong would definitely be spoiled rotten by his parents.
While Xu Wencong was still young and less influenced, she intended to fundamentally change him.
Both Xu Changsheng and his wife were very shrewd, and Xu Wencong was no different. Compared to the old and second daughters, his display of intelligence was indeed very different. Such a child should be guided even more properly.
After hearing what Zhang Xiaoying said, Xu Qinglin fell silent.
As Zhang Xiaoying walked to the courtyard gate, Mrs. Lin was still there, shouting and cursing at Mrs. Liang's room.
Between the lines was the implication that if the First Branch didn't find a way to solve the scholarship grant issue, they should never cling to the Second Branch again, and should not expect to ride on Xu Wencong's coattails in the future.
Zhang Xiaoying sneered, "Such a grand tone, you might think that our Xu Family has already produced an Imperial Exam Top Scholar! What do you want, should I sell these old bones of mine to ensure your Second Branch lives in comfort?"
At the sound of her voice, Mrs. Lin turned her head abruptly, only to meet Zhang Xiaoying's icy gaze.
"I am the one who makes the decisions in this family. If you have any complaints, you might as well tell me now. It's time for me to understand what kind of ungrateful creatures I have raised all these years!"
Mrs. Lin used not to be afraid of her mother-in-law.
But for some reason, ever since her mother-in-law woke up from that fall, she exuded a strangeness that made her involuntarily feel reverence.
"Mother…" Mrs. Lin timidly called Zhang Xiaoying.
"Continue shouting, I didn't hear you clearly enough earlier." Zhang Xiaoying dragged over the broken-legged stool in the courtyard to sit and looked at Mrs. Lin, "Let's hear it, has the Xu Family produced an Imperial Exam Top Scholar?"
Where would Mrs. Lin dare to speak now?
Just thinking about the scene of Zhang Xiaoying killing the wild boar made her scalp tingle.
"I'll go cook." Mrs. Lin turned to flee, hoping to avoid further confrontation with Zhang Xiaoying.
"Stop there!" Zhang Xiaoying called out to her.
Mrs. Lin immediately tensed up all over and slowly turned back, "Mother, what is it?"
"I'll cook dinner." Zhang Xiaoying really didn't want to waste food, letting Mrs. Lin cook—what kind of mess was that, was it even fit for human consumption?
Even the taste of the nutritional supplements from the apocalypse was better than the food Mrs. Lin made.
Mrs. Lin scoffed inwardly, the old woman was just worried about wasting oil, wasn't she? Let her cook every day if she's so capable!
"You go feed the chickens and pigs. First and second daughters, go water the vegetable garden," Zhang Xiaoying ordered. "Old daughter, go pick some vegetables and wash them thoroughly."
Xu Qinglin and the old daughter were assigned tasks and immediately set to work, while Xu Changsheng frowned, reluctant and resentful.
When was he ever expected to do these chores? He was just waiting to eat!
"If you don't go, you won't have dinner!" Zhang Xiaoying saw right through Xu Changsheng's procrastination and nipped his thoughts in the bud, "From now on, in this household, anyone over five who doesn't work won't eat!"
"Mother, are you targeting me?" Xu Changsheng couldn't hold back anymore, "Do you think I can't give you grandchildren anymore, so you're treating me like I'm nothing? If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have gone up the mountain with you that day. Then I wouldn't be the only hope now, having to look at other people's faces everywhere I go."
Xu Changsheng threw the carrying pole to the ground, temper flaring, bringing up the matter that made his mother feel most guilty, knowing that she would then agree to everything he wanted. This tactic had always been infallible.
This time, Xu Changsheng thought he could manipulate his old mother as well.
But what he didn't know was that his old mother had changed inside.
Zhang Xiaoying smiled without warmth, walked under the eaves, and fiercely pulled down the vine that tied up the firewood.
Xu Changsheng and Mrs. Lin sensed it and felt a bad premonition.
Mrs. Lin reacted faster than Xu Changsheng, "Head of the family, go and work."
But it was still too late.
I only heard a smack as a vine whistook through the air and landed sharply on Xu Changsheng's body.
"Ow..."
Xu Changsheng cried out in pain.
As Zhang Xiaoying beat him, she cursed, "You heartless beast, would my fourth son have run away from home and gone to the mountains if it weren't for your incitement? All these years, I've kept quiet about this because you were badly hurt; now you're using it to blackmail me?
"Had I known it would come to this, I would rather not have had you, sparing myself the anger and never having a good day! You are a disaster, a disobedient son; I might as well beat you to death today!"
Xu Changsheng ran around the yard, trying to dodge Zhang Xiaoying.
With the vine already long in Zhang Xiaoying's hands, it moved like a spirit snake, striking wherever she pointed. How could Xu Changsheng escape?
Before long, he was seen beaten until his clothes were ragged, with stripes vividly marked on his body.
Zhang Xiaoying controlled her strength, causing pain to Xu Changsheng but not actually injuring him.
"Mother, I know I was wrong, please spare me..." Xu Changsheng couldn't bear it anymore and begged for mercy.
Xu Qinglin also hurried forward, trying to hold Zhang Xiaoying and stop her from beating Xu Changsheng, "Mother, let's talk this out. Please don't hit anyone."
Zhang Xiaoying kicked Xu Qinglin to the ground with one foot.
It was chaos at the Xu Family's.
Neighbors, hearing the commotion, came out one after another to see what was going on.
To see Zhang Xiaoying actually chasing and beating Xu Changsheng left them dumbfounded.
Who didn't know that Zhang Xiaoying never regarded Xu Qinglin as a person, as he was always the one to get beaten and scolded. When had the tables turned, with the most cherished Xu Changsheng being beaten like this?
It had to be said, Zhang Xiaoying's fury was indeed ferocious.
"It's all my fault, I won't dare again, mother, please stop hitting me." Xu Changsheng scuttled with his head in his arms, crying out in pain. It was the first time he had been beaten so badly, "Mother, I really know I was wrong, please let me go."
Liang Shi, who was in the house resting for her pregnancy, was also disturbed by the noise.
"Mother, don't hit Changsheng anymore." Mrs. Lin rushed out, unable to bear seeing her husband in pain.
Zhang Xiaoying almost couldn't stop in time and nearly hit Mrs. Lin; she narrowly changed direction, but the force she exerted in secret.
Crash.
A rickety stool in the yard instantly fell apart.
The onlookers were so shocked they could have swallowed eggs whole.
Zhang Xiaoying deliberately bent over to support her knees, gasping for breath as she pointed at Xu Changsheng, "You unfilial son, are you trying to drive me to my death to be satisfied?"
Xu Changsheng knelt down with a thump, "Mother, it's entirely my fault, please forgive me."
Mrs. Lin hadn't expected Zhang Xiaoying to be so angry. Seeing her husband's injuries, she began to weep uncontrollably, "Mother, Changsheng is already in this state, do you really want to beat him to death? What about me and Wencong then?"
Zhang Xiaoying then followed up on Mrs. Lin's words, "I'll spare this beast today, for your and Wencong's sake. If there's a next time, I'll break his legs. Day after day, all he does is anger me!
"Now get back to work. What are you standing around for? Don't think you're off the hook. If your legs aren't broken, you'd better crawl to the vegetable field and water it!"
With that, Zhang Xiaoying shook off the vine.
Xu Changsheng involuntarily shrank back, feeling the wounds on his body ache even more.
Xu Qinglin stepped forward to help Xu Changsheng up.
Xu Changsheng, in a fit of rage, pushed him away, "No need for you to stir up trouble between me and Mother by the river, acting all sanctimonious here!"