Yu Laoda and his family were stunned.
They were actually being told to make do?
Yu Jingzong shouted, “Grandma, let Yu Jin cook more food!” Then he glanced at Yu Jin and exclaimed, “Grandma, why is their porridge thick while ours is thin? Give us theirs!”
He pointed at the bowls of Yu Jin and her sisters, which were filled with thick porridge, the same as the rest of the family.
Old Madam Yu was speechless.
Hearing this, the entire third branch of the family couldn’t help but glance at him, thinking this boy was truly bold.
No, actually, it wasn’t just boldness—he simply hadn’t been beaten yet. Once he experienced a good beating, he’d end up as obedient as Yu Jingyi.
Yu Jin ignored him and focused on eating.
Not only did she eat quickly, but she also used her gaze to urge her sisters to eat faster.
Yu Yin and Yu Zhu, who were always good at reading the mood and shared a tacit understanding with their sister, immediately stopped dawdling and lowered their heads to eat.
They ate quickly, knowing there wasn’t much food in their bowls anyway.
After finishing her meal, Yu Jin said, “Grandpa, Grandma, we’re going to rest now.”
With that, she led her two sisters out of the room.
Left behind, Yu Lao’er and his wife felt extremely uncomfortable as everyone else’s eyes landed on them. They hurriedly gulped down the rest of their meal and followed their daughters out.
The people from the eldest branch widened their eyes.
They just left like that?
Yu Laoda frowned. “What’s going on? Lao’er is really out of line!”
Old Madam Yu’s lips moved, but she didn’t know what to say. Finally, she said, “Laoda, just eat for now. Later, I’ll have that wretched girl Jin bring Yu Li back. You can teach her a lesson when the time comes.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help trembling with anticipation.
Finally, her eldest son was back. Now let’s see if that damned girl Yu Li dares to act domineering in her maiden home any longer.
Yu Laoda’s face darkened, and he gave a reluctant grunt of acknowledgment, clearly displeased.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with the atmosphere at home, leaving him deeply unsettled.
—
Back in the west wing, Yu Jin and her sisters were also uneasy.
Yu Yin said fearfully, “Second Sister, what do we do? Eldest Uncle is back…”
Her voice was tinged with sobs. To her, both Grandma and Grandpa were terrifying, and Eldest Uncle, who could make them both listen to him, was even scarier—he was the most frightening person in the family.
Yu Zhu bit her nails and whispered, “Do you think Eldest Uncle will hit Big Sister?”
“No, he won’t!” Yu Jin said confidently. “Eldest Uncle is a scholar. There’s no way he could beat Big Sister in a fight.”
“Really?”
After confirming from her Second Sister that Eldest Uncle definitely couldn’t defeat Big Sister, Yu Zhu instantly brightened and said cheerfully, “Then there’s nothing to worry about. Big Sister is amazing.”
In her mind, anyone who couldn’t beat her Big Sister wasn’t worth fearing.
Yu Yin looked at her younger sister, thinking that this wasn’t about whether Big Sister could beat Eldest Uncle or not. Eldest Uncle’s return meant the worst was about to happen.
Eldest Uncle was a scholar, and his authority in the family was even greater than Grandpa’s. Everyone had to listen to him. Even Big Sister couldn’t just act as she pleased, right?
Yu Jin glanced at her worried and frightened third sister and forced herself to offer some comfort. “Don’t worry, Big Sister will be fine.”
Just as she finished speaking, Old Madam Yu’s loud and penetrating voice rang out from outside.
“Jin Niang, you wretched girl, what are you hiding in the room for?”
Yu Jin stepped outside, with Yu Yin and Yu Zhu following behind her. Even Yu Lao’er and his wife obediently came out.
Old Madam Yu gave them a once-over, curled her lip, and said to Yu Jin, “Jin Niang, go to the Fu family and tell Li Niang to come back. Your eldest uncle is home—she should come and see him.”
See him? It was obvious she wanted Eldest Uncle to discipline Big Sister.
The Yu Jin sisters were fully aware of her intentions and felt deeply anxious about what was to come.
“I understand. I’ll go right away,” Yu Jin replied.
After Old Madam Yu left, Yu Jin turned to her frightened sisters and said, “Stay in the room and don’t come out. I’ll go find Big Sister.”
“Do we really have to call Big Sister back?” Yu Yin asked fearfully. “Can’t we avoid bringing her back?”
She didn’t want Big Sister to be punished by Eldest Uncle.
Yu Jin said, “I’ll go and inform Big Sister first. Whether she comes back or not will be up to her.”
Eldest Uncle had returned, and no matter what, Big Sister needed to know about it. That was the reason she agreed to go to the Fu family in the first place.
—
This was Yu Jin’s first time visiting the Fu family.
Though it was her first visit, living in the same village meant she knew where their house was located.
The Fu family’s courtyard gate was closed. Unlike most households in the village that left their doors open, the Fu family’s gate was usually shut, probably because the elderly were old, the young were too young, and the sick were often ill. They rarely interacted with other villagers.
After knocking on the door, a voice called out from inside, “Who is it?”
Judging by the voice, it seemed to be Zhou Shi.
Yu Jin replied, “Aunt Zhou, I’m Yu Jin from the Yu family. I’m here to see my elder sister.”
Zhou Shi was startled and quickly opened the door, surprised to find it was indeed Yu Li’s younger sister from the second branch of the Yu family.
She exclaimed, “Oh, it’s Jin Niang. Why are you here?”
“I… I’m here to see Big Sister,” Yu Jin said anxiously.
Zhou Shi didn’t know why she was suddenly looking for Yu Li, but she opened the door to let her in and said, “Li Niang just came back and is having her meal. Have you eaten? Do you want something to eat?”
Yu Jin shook her head, preoccupied with her thoughts.
When she entered the main hall and saw Yu Li eating, she quietly said, “Big Sister, Eldest Uncle has returned. Grandma asked you to come back.”
Yu Li paused as she shoveled rice into her mouth. She glanced at her younger sister and calmly said, “Got it. Second Sister, have you eaten? Sit down and have some food.”
Yu Jin was just about to refuse, but Yu Li pulled her to sit down.
When she glanced at the table, she was immediately stunned by the abundance of food the Fu family had prepared.
There was a large bowl of braised offal, stir-fried pork bits, a plate of greens, a dish of steamed salted meat, and even the shredded pickles were stir-fried with meat.
The Fu family ate this richly?
So, the Fu family was this wealthy?
Zhou Shi served her a bowl of rice with a smile and said, “It’s rare for you to visit, Jin Niang. Keep Li Niang company and have a bite.”
Yu Jin was taken aback by her warm demeanor and, feeling a bit awkward, quietly ate the bowl of rice. What had been only a half-full stomach was now completely stuffed.
After the meal, Yu Li didn’t rush to return to the Yu family. Instead, she went to her room to pick out some clothes and take a bath.
Yu Jin didn’t urge her and waited patiently at the Fu household, all the while preoccupied with thoughts of what might happen later.
Once Yu Li had finished freshening up and changed into clean clothes, she informed Zhou Shi and prepared to leave with her sister.
“Li Niang.”
A clear and pleasant voice sounded. Yu Jin instinctively looked in its direction and saw someone walking out from the west wing.
He was dressed in a simple blue robe embroidered with elegant bamboo patterns. The attire was unassuming yet exuded a refined and noble air. Just by standing there, his presence seemed to elevate the rustic surroundings, making even the humble house radiate brilliance.
Yu Jin was dumbfounded.
In her entire life, she had never seen someone so good-looking. He looked like an immortal descended to the mortal realm.
Yu Li tilted her head to glance at him and asked, “What is it?”
Fu Wenxiao’s lips curved into a faint smile as he replied, “Nothing, just be careful on the road.”
Yu Li found it odd. She was merely returning to the Yu family—what was there to be careful about?
Fu Wenxiao’s gaze shifted to Yu Jin. He nodded slightly and said, “Are you the second sister?”
Yu Jin stared at him blankly. When she finally processed his words, her face flushed red. Flustered and unsure of what to do, she stammered, “B-Brother-in-law…”
The Fu family had only one adult man. His identity was self-evident.
But she hadn’t expected her brother-in-law to be this handsome.
Fu Wenxiao responded gently, his tone warm. “I’m not in good health, and it’s rare for Second Sister to visit. I apologize for not being able to properly host you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“N-No, not at all…” Yu Jin waved her hands nervously, her movements so awkward that she didn’t know where to place them.
Noticing her discomfort, Fu Wenxiao didn’t say much more to her. He turned to Yu Li and said, “Li Niang, if anyone gives you trouble, don’t suffer in silence.”
Having heard that Yu Laoda had returned and knowing Yu Jin had come specifically to call her back, he could roughly guess what was about to happen.
A faint sense of disgust for the Yu family arose in his heart.
Yu Li was momentarily surprised but then replied, “No one can give me trouble.”
Unless she allowed it, there was no one in this world who could bully her.
After leaving the Fu household, Yu Jin seemed a bit distracted. She couldn’t help but glance at her elder sister and softly said, “Big Sister, Brother-in-law is really good-looking…”
Yu Li nodded. “He is indeed quite good-looking.”
Seeing her sister’s calm reaction, Yu Jin took another look at her, feeling a sudden sense of admiration. Facing someone as handsome as Brother-in-law, Big Sister remained so composed. This composure finally helped settle Yu Jin’s anxious heart.
When the two sisters returned to the Yu family home, they saw that everyone was already gathered in the main hall.
Grandmother Yu, Grandfather Yu, and Yu Laoda were seated, while the members of the second and third branches stood. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to sit, but rather they were uneasy about what was about to happen.
Even they couldn’t pinpoint the exact source of their fear—whether it was apprehension over Yu Laoda punishing Yu Li or anxiety that Yu Li might continue to defy authority.
When Yu Laoda saw Yu Li, a trace of disdain crossed his face.
He particularly disliked disobedient and unfilial juniors. Normally, it wasn’t his place to discipline a niece from another branch, but since his younger brother and sister-in-law were too incompetent to teach their daughter properly, the responsibility naturally fell to him.
Yu Laoda’s expression was stern as he barked at Yu Li in a commanding tone, “Kneel down!”
Everyone: “….”
He actually told her to kneel?
Even Old Master Yu’s brow twitched in shock.
Old Madam Yu, who had initially felt smug and emboldened by her eldest son’s support, suddenly found her heart racing at his words.
Only Chen Shi, Yu Qin, and Yu Jingzong looked as though they found this entirely reasonable. They even wore expressions of anticipation, as if waiting for the spectacle of Yu Li being harshly punished.
Yu Li’s response? She walked forward and, without hesitation, kicked the stool Yu Laoda was sitting on.
The stool toppled to the ground, and Yu Laoda fell with it.
Then, Yu Li grabbed him by the back of his collar, pressing him down onto the ground, forcing him to kneel before Old Master Yu and Old Madam Yu.
She looked at them and said, “Grandpa, Grandma, he’s kneeling now!”