Chapter 120: Da Ya's Breakdown

Shu Yu took a deep breath and looked at Da Ya, who sat there restlessly fidgeting with her fingers. She thought about the suffering Da Ya had endured over the past two years. The ridicule she faced from others for not getting pregnant, the constant nagging from the Zhang family, and the enormous psychological pressure she had to bear.

Shu Yu felt heartbroken for her. She embraced Da Ya's shoulders and whispered in her ear, "Sister, consummating the marriage is not as simple as two people sleeping in the same bed. It doesn't guarantee having a child."

In a soft voice, Shu Yu briefly explained to the still naive Da Ya what it meant to engage in intimate relations between a man and a woman, the joy of physical love.

She also mentioned that the decision of having a boy or a girl ultimately rested with the man.

The more Da Ya listened, the more shocked she became. She couldn't even grasp why her younger sister, who had not yet married, knew so much about such matters. Her worldview was completely shattered, leaving her speechless for a while.

After a while, her body began to tremble gently, and the trembling grew stronger. Eventually, she couldn't sit still and felt like sliding to the ground.

"S-So, I, I..."

Shu Yu firmly held her shoulder. "Sister, you are still pure. It's not that you can't have children; you never had the chance. Zhang Shu has deceived you for two years."

"But, but why? What does he gain from doing this?" Da Ya's lips quivered, and she finally couldn't hold back her tears. "What does he want? He said he likes children. He has been lying to me all these years and allowed his parents and siblings to constantly scold me. He never defended me."

Shu Yu sneered, "Either he is incapable, or..."

Thinking of another possibility, Shu Yu's face turned extremely grim.

She patted Da Ya's back. "Sister, don't be afraid. You still have us. We won't let them bully you anymore."

Da Ya lifted her head and stared blankly at her. After a while, she finally broke down and hugged Shu Yu tightly, crying in pain. "Ah Yu, these past two years, I've suffered so much. I'm on the verge of collapse. Several times, I've looked at the water in the creek and thought of jumping in to end it all."

Shu Yu tightened her grip, her eyes turning red.

Zhang Shu deserved to die a thousand deaths.

"Shu Yu, Shu Yu? What's happening?" Suddenly, Doctor Xu's voice came from outside the door.

It was probably Da Ya's sudden crying that made him think something was wrong.

Shu Yu quickly replied, "It's nothing." She took a handkerchief and wiped Da Ya's face, whispering, "Stay here for a while, I'll go out."

Da Ya choked and murmured, "Okay."

Shu Yu went out and had a brief conversation with Doctor Xu, then she took the medicine he prescribed and went back inside.

Da Ya calmed down a bit, but she was already extremely weak. Shu Yu helped her sit up and then said, "Let's go, let's go home first."

"Okay," Da Ya's voice was hoarse. When she stood up, she stumbled, but fortunately, Shu Yu supported her.

Da Ya forced a faint smile at her, and they went out together.

Doctor Xu glanced at Da Ya's swollen eyes, didn't say anything, and only asked Shu Yu to bring San Ya to see him another day.

Da Ya remained silent for the rest of the time, her heart in turmoil.

Shu Yu returned to the shop and handed the keys to Zheng Gong, planning to go back to the village first.

It wasn't until they were on the mule cart and out of the city that Shu Yu asked Da Ya, "Do you want to divorce now?"

Yes, she wanted to, very much. Da Ya deeply hated Zhang Shu and didn't want to continue living with him.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 119: Zhang Shu, the despicable man

Shu Yu remembered that in this era, unless they had access to special channels, unmarried women would typically be taught about marital relations by their close elders on the night before their wedding.

Could it be that Ruan Shi was too shy to say anything? She didn't mention it?

Da Ya thought for a moment, "On the day before the wedding, Mother did say she wanted to have a private conversation with me and teach me about being a daughter-in-law. However, then Grandma came over and made a scene about not being informed of her granddaughter's wedding, causing a lot of trouble. By the time the situation was resolved and she sent Grandma away, it was already late. Mother was afraid I would look tired the next day, so she didn't say much more, just told me that Zhang Shu understood..."

Ruan Shi was a shy person by nature, and it took courage for her to even consider speaking about intimate matters. But then old lady Ruan arrived, and it happened to be her maternal relative causing a commotion at the doorstep, attracting many onlookers.

Ruan Shi was so busy and overwhelmed that day that she didn't have a chance to say anything. The words she told Da Ya about Zhang Shu understanding were only mentioned the next day.

After all, when Ruan Shi got married herself, old lady Ruan didn't say much to her either. It was all taught to her by Lu Erbai.

Later, when Da Ya married into Dayan Village as a new daughter-in-law, no one was so tactless as to approach her and talk about explicit matters.

And later on, Da Ya became occupied with chores and had too many important things to do. She had no time for gossip or idle conversations with other women. The only source of knowledge she had in this aspect was Zhang Shu.

Shu Yu tightened her fingers slightly. Da Ya didn't know, but Zhang Shu couldn't possibly be ignorant as well, right?

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, Shu Yu asked Da Ya again, "On the second day of your wedding, did your mother-in-law say anything? Like... asking if there was any blood on the bedsheet?"

Shu Yu knew that the absence of blood the first time didn't necessarily mean the person wasn't a virgin, but most people in this era considered it as the standard.

Zhang's mother-in-law, with her despicable character, must have cared a lot about this.

After thinking for a moment, Da Ya said, "There was blood on the bedsheet. On the night of our wedding, Zhang Shu was drunk, stumbling as he entered the room. I don't know where he knocked his fingers, and blood droplets started oozing out. When he collapsed on the bed, the blood stained the sheets. I was worried and wanted to go find someone, but he stopped me, saying it wouldn't be auspicious if news of the injury on our wedding night spread. Others might think it was a bad omen."

At that time, she had just married into the family and was at a loss, so she naturally believed whatever Zhang Shu said.

The next morning, when she went to cook, her mother-in-law took the opportunity to enter her room. She was terrified when she saw her, but her mother-in-law didn't say anything and even smiled at her.

She asked Zhang Shu about the bedsheet incident, and he said he had come up with an excuse to brush it off and told her not to bring it up again to avoid being scolded.

At that time, Da Ya was grateful to him, thinking that her new husband was defending her and believed that she would be happy in the future.

Upon hearing this, Shu Yu's eyes turned icy cold. Zhang Shu indeed understood. Not only did he understand, but he also deliberately presented himself as someone who cared for others, making Da Ya grateful. He was truly skilled at manipulating others' emotions.

As Da Ya observed Shu Yu's expression and recalled the questions she had asked, she suddenly felt restless and uneasy.

She sensed that something was amiss.

"Yu, is it... is there something wrong with your brother-in-law?" she asked anxiously.

"He certainly has a problem, and it's a very big problem," Shu Yu replied through gritted teeth.

The Zhang family was despicable, and Zhang Shu was even more despicable.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 118: Do You Know What "First Night" Means?

Shu Yu nodded, "Okay. By the way, Doctor Xu, please prepare the medicine for my father. I'll take it later. Can I use your backyard?"

Doctor Xu looked at the bags of medicine in her hand and thought she wanted to borrow his equipment again for making scar ointment or something similar. Since it had happened before, he didn't mind and waved his hand, "Go ahead."

Shu Yu took Da Ya directly to the backyard, entered the room where Shu Yu had stayed before, and closed the door behind them. She sat down and pulled Da Ya to sit as well.

Da Ya's heart was filled with unease. She didn't understand what Shu Yu was planning to do. Shu Yu had been wearing a gloomy expression since they left the clinic. Could there be something wrong with her condition?

Sitting across from Da Ya, Shu Yu took a deep breath and lowered her voice, "Sister, I'm going to ask you a few questions, and I want you to answer me honestly."

Da Ya nodded eagerly, "Ask, ask away. I promise to answer honestly."

"Don't be nervous."

Da Ya didn't want to be nervous either, but her younger sister's expression was too serious.

Shu Yu opened her mouth but suddenly didn't know where to begin. How could she express the matter of a sister and her husband's intimate relations without it becoming too awkward?

"...Sister, did you and Zhang Shu not have the 'first night'?"

Da Ya widened her eyes, her face blushing, "Er Ya, how can you ask such a question? You're an unmarried girl, you shouldn't speak of such things."

"But did you or didn't you?"

She's still asking?

Da Ya felt somewhat embarrassed, "Your brother-in-law and I have been married for two years, so, of course, we did."

Shu Yu scratched her head, feeling a headache coming on. She had no idea how to approach the subject.

After a long silence, she gritted her teeth and continued, "Sister, do you know... what 'first night' means?"

"Of course, I know. But you, talking about this before getting married, isn't it embarrassing?"

Shu Yu was on the verge of going crazy, "Sister, you promised to answer my questions honestly. Let's not talk about anything else. Just tell me, how did you have your first night?"

Da Ya remained silent.

"If you don't want to say, we'll go home, and I'll have Mother and Grandma ask you this question."

Da Ya... She thought her sister had gone mad.

But she pursed her lips and said, "These things you're asking, it's fine if we discuss them privately. Don't talk about them in front of other people. You'll be scolded, you know? Well, anyway, since you're at the age to get married, I'll tell you in advance so you know."

She lowered her head slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed, "The 'first night' refers to the wedding night, where the husband and wife sleep in the same room, on the same bed."

Shu Yu: Is that it?

"Don't they do anything else?"

Da Ya blinked, "Of course, there are other things. On the night your brother-in-law and I got married, we became husband and wife. As a wife, I had to fetch water for him to bathe and tidy up the clothes."

Shu Yu's face turned red, "What I mean is, did you two take off your clothes and roll around together?"

Da Ya was stunned, "Take off our clothes? We got married in winter, it would be too cold to sleep naked. We don't have that custom."

Shu Yu understood. So it seemed that nothing had happened between them.

Damn it, is Zhang Shu incapable or something? Her sister was completely clueless about such matters, even more so than her, an unmarried girl.

However...

"Sister, the night before your wedding, didn't Mother tell you anything about the bridal chamber?"

(End of the chapter)

 Chapter 117: Still a Virgin

Da Ya nervously placed her hand on her wrist. Doctor Hu took her pulse for a moment and then looked at her complexion, frowning. "Deficiency of Qi and blood, spleen and stomach dampness and cold, insufficient sleep. Your body is severely depleted."

Da Ya pursed her lips, and Shu Yu asked from the side, "Doctor, is my sister's condition serious?"

"I'll prescribe two medications for her. She needs to take good care of her stomach and avoid further damage to the spleen and stomach. Also, she should get enough sleep and avoid excessive fatigue. For the next half month, she shouldn't engage in heavy or tiring work. If she doesn't take care of her body now, she'll suffer in the future."

As Doctor Hu spoke, he lowered his head to write a prescription.

After finishing, he handed it to Shu Yu. "Go and get the medicine."

Shu Yu didn't leave; she looked towards the entrance and whispered, "Doctor Hu, please also check if my sister has symptoms of cold-induced infertility."

Doctor Hu was taken aback. "Infertility?"

He furrowed his brows, a trace of confusion crossing his face. He spoke to Da Ya, who seemed like she wanted to shrink away, "Extend your hand again, let me take a look."

Da Ya extended her wrist, and this time, Doctor Hu didn't take as long to feel her pulse.

He said, "Indeed, there is some coldness in the body. But as long as she takes good care of herself and receives proper treatment, it will still be relatively easy for her to conceive in the future."

After pausing, he looked at Da Ya's appearance. "You're already married?"

"Yes, I'm married."

Doctor Hu asked, "But according to the pulse, it indicates that she hasn't experienced marital relations?"

Shu Yu suddenly looked up. "Doctor Hu, what did you say? Not experienced marital relations? Are you saying that my sister is still a virgin?"

A woman who has been married for two years and is still a virgin??

How is that possible?!!

Shu Yu looked at Da Ya, who had a bewildered expression on her face.

Shu Yu's mind flashed with thoughts, and her lips tightened. She said to Doctor Hu, "Doctor, we understand. Thank you. Here's the consultation fee. We'll go to the counter to get the medicine."

Doctor Hu was experienced and had encountered all kinds of patients. From their reactions and pulses, he could somewhat guess that there might be some hidden privacy involved. As a doctor, he wouldn't pry further. Hearing Shu Yu's words, he nodded and said, "Alright, take care and remember to properly nurture your bodies."

"Thank you."

Shu Yu took Da Ya to collect the prescribed medicine and then left the clinic carrying the medicine package.

Da Ya noticed Shu Yu's stern expression and hesitated to speak. She had a hunch that her sister was angry, and it seemed like a big deal.

They returned to the shop on Ning Shui Street in silence. Zheng Gong greeted them, "Back already? How did it go? Is Da Ya alright?"

Shu Yu suddenly remembered that there were people in the shop, and it wasn't the right time to talk. She nodded at Zheng Gong and replied, "She's fine. The doctor said that with proper care for the next half month, she'll improve."

"That's good. Eating well is better than anything else."

Shu Yu continued, "Uncle Zheng, please carry on with your work. We need to go out again."

"Go ahead, go ahead."

Shu Yu then led Da Ya out of the shop and headed straight to Doctor Xu's clinic.

In addition to the shop, the only place Shu Yu could go in the county was Doctor Xu's clinic. As she went there, she also planned to pick up the medicine for Lu Erbai.

The clinic was as quiet as usual, and Shu Yu was familiar with Doctor Xu. When he saw her approaching, he immediately raised his hand and asked, "How is your father's leg? And how is the scar ointment working?"

"The ointment is working well. The scar on my younger sister's face has faded a lot."

Doctor Xu smiled, "Don't brag. Bring her over one day so I can take a look."

(End of the chapter)

 Chapter 115: They Will Be Implicated

The incident involving Da Ya shocked everyone in the Lu family.

In fact, when she was extremely thin before, the grandmother naturally asked if she didn't have enough to eat at the Zhang family.

But Da Ya only shared good news and kept her worries to herself, saying that she had been without a pregnancy and had a heavy burden on her mind, thinking too much and losing her appetite, which resulted in her weight loss.

Grandmother and the others always thought highly of Zhang Shu. Moreover, he often went out to do short-term work, so he must have had some money with him. He would surely buy some food for Da Ya when he returned occasionally.

Even if the Zhang family's parents-in-law were dissatisfied with Da Ya for not getting pregnant after two years of marriage and might have treated her poorly by not giving her new clothes, they wouldn't be too harsh on her when it came to food.

Who could have imagined that the Zhang family would really force her to work all day on an empty stomach and come home to beat and scold her?

grandmother Lu felt her heart twist upon hearing about Da Ya's suffering.

She held Da Ya's hand tightly and said, "Don't go back. From now on, stay at home and let Zhang Shu live his own life."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shu Yu said, "Why not get a divorce?"

When these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.

Divorce?

Shu Yu looked at their expressions and realized that they had never even considered this option. She said, "Are you willing to let her continue to endure such things?"

Lu Erbai and the others immediately shook their heads, but Li Shi and Liang Shi exchanged a glance.

Lu Dasong lowered his head in silence for a moment before asking, "Da Ya, what do you think? Do you want to get a divorce from Zhang Shu?"

"I, I don't know." She had never thought about getting a divorce before, but after Er Ya mentioned it several times today, she began to waver.

Liang Shi murmured softly, "We all know the hardships Da Ya has endured, and she has indeed had a difficult time. But divorce doesn't sound good if it gets out, and the Zhang family won't agree either."

Li Shi chimed in, "Exactly. What will happen to Da Ya after the divorce? She will still be talked about in this household. Besides, having a divorced girl in this family, not to mention Lan Hua and Bao Ya. Just think about Er Ya and San Ya, they will be most affected, and how will they get married in the future?"

Da Ya suddenly lifted her head and hurriedly shook it at the people in the room, saying, "I won't get a divorce, I won't."

She couldn't let her younger sisters suffer and be unable to get married, especially Er Ya, who was already of marriageable age. If her situation caused a delay, it would be a real pity.

Shu Yu wanted to punch Li Shi but held onto Da Ya, saying, "What kind of implication? This isn't abandoning a wife. Divorce was our suggestion, indicating that it's Zhang family's fault. If..."

Da Ya abruptly stood up and said, "I won't get a divorce. I disagree. Please don't try to persuade me."

After speaking, she stood up and ran into the house, closing the door behind her.

Shu Yu turned her head abruptly and gave Li Shi a cold stare.

Li Shi trembled and quickly hid behind Lu Dasong.

Lu Da Song sighed, "Let's discuss this matter later. For now, let's have Da Ya stay at home and not return to the Zhang family for the time being. Regardless of whether we get a divorce or not, it's a fact that the Zhang family has mistreated our Lu family's girl. Tomorrow morning, myself, the third brother, and Da Niu will take a few brothers from the village and go settle accounts with the Zhang family."

Lu Sanzhu's neck shrank, "Can I come too?"

"You're Da Ya's third uncle. If you don't go, who will?" 

Lu Sanzhu laughed bitterly, then looked at Shu Yu. "Ah Yu, will you come?" With her presence, he felt a little more at ease.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 116: Taking Da Ya to See a Doctor

Shu Yu shook her head, "I won't go. I have an appointment with the craftsmen tomorrow to repair the shop. I have to go to the county town."

She had already dealt with the Zhang family today, and whether she went or not wouldn't make much of a difference.

Unless they got a divorce, all the calculations and outcomes would ultimately remain the same.

Shu Yu turned to look at the old lady and said, "Nai, I'll take Sister to the county town tomorrow. She's not in a good mood, so I'll take her out to relax and also take her to see a doctor. Besides her external injuries, I don't know if she has any other internal injuries. Especially from frequently experiencing hunger, it's possible that her digestive system has been affected."

The old lady quickly nodded, "Good, good, you decide. It's good for her to go out and take a walk."

Lu Er Bai hated his injured leg. If it weren't for this injury, he would personally go to the Zhang family tomorrow.

The next day, Lu Da Song and the others indeed went to the Zhang family.

Shu Yu, on the other hand, took Da Ya on a mule cart early in the morning.

When the mule cart entered the county town and stopped at the end of Ning Shui Street, Da Ya realized that they were going to open a shop.

She was a bit dazed, looking at Shu Yu in astonishment, "You..."

"Sister, you see, we're going to open a shop. Our life will only get better from now on. You don't have to be afraid of the life after a divorce. You can live in this county town without worrying about gossip. Once the business in the shop is good, we can go to the capital city and leave this place. Who would dare to point fingers at us when our family's conditions improve? There will only be more people coming to propose marriage, and you won't have to worry about burdening us."

Da Ya raised her eyes and looked at the shop in front of her, walking inside for a tour.

However, Shu Yu's words had the opposite effect on her. Da Ya felt that it was precisely because they were opening a shop that she couldn't get a divorce.

Running a business and reputation were crucial.

Especially since the shop hadn't even opened yet, it couldn't withstand any accidents. She couldn't hold them back at this critical juncture.

The two sisters walked around the shop, and Zheng Gong arrived with two apprentices.

After chatting with Shu Yu for a while, Zheng Gong started working.

Shu Yu left them to their work and took Da Ya out of the shop. "I'll take you to the medical clinic."

Shu Yu and Da Ya went to the best medical clinic in the county town. Apart from having someone examine if Da Ya had any other injuries, Shu Yu also wanted the doctor to assess her ability to have children. It was a concern for Da Ya, and they needed to address it first.

Standing at the entrance of the medical clinic, Da Ya hesitated to go in.

The fees at this medical clinic were not low, and she hesitated to spend the money.

Shu Yu didn't care and directly pulled her inside, finding the doctor in the clinic who specialized in gynecology.

There was a bit of a wait because there were more patients waiting to see him.

Da Ya sat in the waiting area of the medical clinic, looking around anxiously. She whispered, "Ah Yu, let's go to another place. Zhang Shu once took me to see another doctor, and the clinic isn't far from here, with lower consultation fees."

"Sister, we're already here, so let's see the doctor before leaving."

"But..."

As they were talking, a pharmacy boy suddenly called for them.

Shu Yu immediately pulled Da Ya along. "It's our turn, let's go."

She led Da Ya into the room where Doctor Hu was seeing patients. The space wasn't large, but it offered privacy.

Doctor Hu glanced at Da Ya, somewhat surprised. "You're too thin. Come, put your hand on your wrist, and I'll take a look."

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 114: Something Big Happened

Lu Sanzhu, who had been paying attention to the commotion outside the door, rushed out immediately upon hearing the sound of rolling cartwheels.

"Ah Yu is back? Come, come, give me the mule cart. I'll feed the donkey for you," he said with a smile.

As soon as he spoke, Da Niu opened the curtain of the cart, revealing the figures of the two sisters inside.

Lu Sanzhu's smiling face froze instantly when he saw Da Ya's disheveled appearance with swollen, red eyes. "Da Ya, what happened to you?" he asked, his expression tense.

Shu Yu got off the mule cart and turned around to help Da Ya out.

Both Shu Yu and Da Niu had gloomy faces, which made Lu Sanzhu feel that something was off.

He immediately shouted inside, "Mother, Second Brother, something has happened. Da Ya is in trouble."

Shu Yu's ear was pricked by his words, and she glanced at him before taking Da Ya into the courtyard.

As soon as they entered, the elderly grandmother and others who had rushed over anxiously were already there to greet them.

"Da, Da Ya, why did you come back at this time? You... what happened?" The elderly grandmother looked at her disheveled state in shock and quickly grabbed her, asking, "What happened?"

"Mother, let's go inside first and talk," Da Niu said, entering the house after her and supporting the elderly grandmother to prevent her from walking unsteadily due to her anxiety.

Curious, Lu Sanzhu quickly brought the mule cart into his own courtyard and tied it up. He then told his son, who was playing there, "Da Bao, quickly go to your uncle's house and tell him that Da Ya is back and something has happened. Ask your uncle to come over."

After Da Bao ran out, he grabbed Liang Shi, who was holding Baby Ya, and ran towards Lu Erbai's house. "Let's go, let's go. We should also go and take a look. I have a feeling that something serious is happening in our family."

Others might not know, but Lu Sanzhu was well aware of Shu Yu's methods.

Last time, when she found out that Ruan Pozi wanted to sell San Ya and Da Hu, she had the same murderous expression.

When the two of them rushed into Lu Erbai's house, Shu Yu happened to mention the things done by the Zhang family. Upon seeing Lu Sanzhu and the others, she only glanced at them and didn't stop them from sitting on the side and listening.

She continued, "...Except for Zhang Shu, who wasn't at home, everyone from the Zhang family was sitting with their legs crossed, watching my eldest sister work. They didn't see my sister as a person at all. They made her squat in the corner like a wooden stake and had the three children throw melon seed shells at her head, competing to see who could throw the most. If my sister tried to block them with her hand, that Zhang wifes would take a corn cob and hit her on the head."

"The two daughters-in-law of the Zhang family, knowing that my sister brought back peaches last time and didn't leave any for their son, said they would punish her. They let her go hungry all day, but when my sister finished her work and came back, they suspected that she had hidden more peaches and immediately pinched and twisted her as soon as she entered the courtyard. Look, she doesn't have much flesh on her body, and all these bruises on her arms were caused by them pinching her."

The elderly grandmother's tears fell uncontrollably as she cursed the Zhang family and regretted not seeing people clearly, pushing her granddaughter into a pit of fire.

She held Da Ya's hand, looking at her arms that were blue and purple, and cried as if she was about to faint.

Da Ya choked and looked at Shu Yu, "Er Ya, don't say it, please stop."

Shu Yu didn't want to speak either, but she couldn't let her family know about the suffering Da Ya had endured. They didn't realize the severity of the situation, and Da Ya would eventually have to go back to that cannibalistic place.

Ruan Shi and San Ya were also crying with tears streaming down their faces. Lu Erbai was so angry that the veins on his forehead were bulging, and Da Hu tried to rush towards the door, saying, "I want to avenge my elder sister."

However, halfway through his run, he was pulled back by Lu Dasong and Li Shi, who had just entered the house.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 113: Is Zhang Shu Good to You?

Da Niu felt a sense of unease when he saw Shu Yu's silent and lost expression.

"Yu..." he called out.

Shu Yu snapped out of her thoughts, took a deep breath, and raised her head. She asked, "So, what do you suggest to do if they don't divorce?"

Da Niu fell silent, glanced at Da Ya, and hesitantly said, "Actually, they can live separately. If they're worried about Da Ya living in Da Yan Village, they can both move to Shishi Village. With us looking after her, Da Ya's life will be better. The Zhang family is malicious, but Zhang Shu is somewhat easy to talk to."

Easy to talk to? Shu Yu had no hope for Zhang Shu at all. She didn't respond to Da Niu's proposal and instead asked Da Ya, "Sister, do you like Zhang Shu?"

Like? Da Ya was puzzled and furrowed her brows.

Shu Yu rephrased the question, "Is Zhang Shu good to you?"

Da Ya thought for a moment and said, "Well, he's alright. When he's at home, he tries to stop the Zhang family from mistreating me." But most of the time, he's not at home.

Shu Yu sighed inwardly. What should she do with her naive sister?

"So, that's considered being good to you?" Shu Yu suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "Does he share the money he earns outside with you? Look at how thin you are from not having enough to eat. Does he secretly buy food for you when he comes back? Has he ever bought you a piece of cloth or taken you to the county town?"

Da Ya was stunned, and after a while, she shook her head slowly and murmured, "He says we haven't separated, so all the money has to be given to Mother to manage. He says he's parents are unhappy because I can't bear children, so he brings all his wages back home, hoping they will treat me better. He says he works hard outside, sacrificing even a bowl of plain noodles to save money, often going hungry and drinking water to fill his stomach. He comes back tired every time. He says that once I give birth to a child, he will buy cloth for me and take me to the county town."

Shu Yu felt like she was going to vomit blood from what she heard, and even Da Niu was dumbfounded.

"Da Ya, is Zhang Shu really treating you like this?" Shu Yu asked.

Da Ya nodded.

Shu Yu sneered. She couldn't believe it. Zhang Shu appeared to be simple and honest on the surface, but he was actually skilled in the art of manipulating women.

He shifted all the blame onto Da Ya, saying that she couldn't go to the county town without new clothes and that they didn't have money because of her. He made her suffer and be mistreated at home, all because she couldn't bear a son?

Da Niu couldn't utter a word and furrowed his brow tightly.

Men understand men the best, and Da Niu knew that all these things Zhang Shu said were just excuses. He occasionally did odd jobs himself, and sometimes if the employer was satisfied with his hard work, they would secretly give him a few extra coins as wages.

No one else knew about this. He would give most of his earnings to his mother, but he would also keep a few copper coins to buy a hairpin for his fiancée Qiao Qiao and some pastries for her.

Drinking water to fill his stomach? If that were the case, would Zhang Shu be so robust? Would he be capable of doing physical labor?

Da Niu silently turned his head and stopped expressing any opinions on what Shu Yu said.

He silently picked up the reins again and headed towards Shishi Village.

But Shu Yu also remained silent at this moment, and a certain thought in her mind became even more firm.

Either divorce or find a way to kill that bastard Zhang Shu.

She had previously thought about letting Da Ya stand on her own and trample on the Zhang family. But now it seemed that Da Ya was no match for Zhang Shu at all. Her character was already fixed and couldn't be changed in the short term.

The mule cart arrived at Shishi Village in a silent atmosphere among the three of them.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 112: Unhappily Separated, Bereaved?

The pitiful state of Da Ya naturally made the villagers believe her side of the story.

The three of them arrived at the village entrance, and Da Niu and Shu Yu helped Da Ya onto the mule cart.

As soon as the cart curtain fell, Da Niu's face turned grim as he urged the cart towards Shishi Village.

Meanwhile, the Zhang family members were wailing and complaining. They had hoped that the villagers would come in, overpowering the three of them, and exact revenge on the dead girl.

However, the villagers stood at the door, helplessly watching the three of them leave.

They left??

The Zhang family members were furious, especially after realizing what Shu Yu had said. Their hearts were in pain.

They desperately tried to explain, claiming that it was Da Ya's sisters who had beaten her. They never laid a hand on Da Ya, and her vomiting blood was all fake.

But the villagers didn't believe them. They had witnessed Da Ya unconscious, with a bloody hole on her forehead.

As for the Zhang family members being beaten, the villagers believed that. After all, it was the girl herself who had spoken those words. Even they, if they saw their own daughter being beaten half to death by her in-laws, would be unable to control themselves.

But it wasn't to the point where they couldn't get up at all, right? They were three grown men and three women, beaten up by a girl who hadn't even come of age? It was too absurd.

Soon, someone couldn't stand the Zhang family's wailing and sought help from the village's doctor.

The doctor's medical skills were average at best, and he could only treat external injuries. After glancing at them, he said there was nothing wrong and that the Zhang family was faking it.

Now things were different. Not only did the villagers not support them, but they also criticized the Zhang family and dispersed.

Although the subsequent events were not within Shu Yu's expectations, the outcome was not far off from what she had imagined.

She sat in the mule cart, wiping off the rouge from Da Ya's face while giving her soy milk to drink.

However, she still didn't throw away the melon seed shells in her hair. When Da Ya tried to reach for them, Shu Yu even stopped her.

Da Ya looked at her puzzled, but Shu Yu asked, "Sister, what are your plans from now on?"

Da Ya was stunned. Plans? She still felt like everything was a dream, so she hadn't thought about any plans.

"Today we caused such a scene at the Zhang family's place. They won't let it go just like that. If you go back, they will intensify their mistreatment of you and make you pay for what happened today even more."

Da Ya's body trembled slightly, and Shu Yu quickly embraced her.

"But, but if I don't go back, where else can I go?" Da Ya's eyes were filled with confusion.

Shu Yu held her hand and said, "Where else? Of course, back home. Leave Zhang Shu and go back home." Unfortunately, Zhang Shu wasn't at home today, or she would have forced him to agree on the spot.

"Hmm..." Da Ya hadn't spoken yet when Da Niu, who was driving the cart, heard this and immediately pulled on the reins in shock.

He hesitantly pulled aside the cart curtain and widened his eyes. "Ah Yu, what did you say? Leave him? How is that possible?"

"Why is it impossible?" Shu Yu raised her head and asked him. "Do you think she can go back and still have her life intact?"

Da Niu thought of the behavior of the Zhang family members and pursed his lips. After a while, he struggled to speak, "But... we've never heard of anyone leaving their spouse here. The Zhang family won't agree." Only divorce was allowed. "Moreover, if she leaves, Da Ya will be subject to gossip and won't be able to face others."

Shu Yu didn't think so. As long as it was handled properly, even if there were some rumors, it wouldn't be a big problem.

She began to consider the possibility of widowhood.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 111: Tears in a Second

Da Niu watched her skilled movements and looked at the rouge box that was dangerously close to blood. His eyelids twitched.

Could it be that Ah Yu planned it this way from the beginning? The rouge box she intended to give to Da Ya earlier didn't seem to have this design.

"Da Niu, throw away the stick and carry her on your back."

"Oh, okay, okay." Da Niu quickly lifted Da Ya onto his back.

Shu Yu said, "Sister, close your eyes and don't make a sound no matter what happens later. Don't move your head, and hang your hands on Da Niu's shoulders."

After Da Ya did as she was told, Shu Yu adjusted her face in a different direction.

Then, Da Niu saw Shu Yu wipe her eyes and perform a one-second skill of shedding tears.

The next moment, the courtyard gate was slammed open.

Shu Yu said, "Let's go."

She held the few wrapped packages and led the way in front, while Da Niu hurriedly carried Da Ya and walked towards the exit.

The villagers at the entrance just started asking, "Zhang Auntie, what happened?"

But before the words were even spoken, old lady Zhang, who had just survived a calamity, was excitedly about to make a complaint, while Shu Yu and the others had already reached the entrance of the courtyard.

The villagers at the entrance took their first glance and were faced with the sight of Da Ya's bloodied face.

Two people gasped, "What, what happened?"

Shu Yu shielded Da Ya behind her and coldly said, "What happened? The Zhang family is a bunch of animals, not even worthy of being called human. They should be struck by lightning and their bodies shattered into pieces. My sister worked herself to exhaustion, serving the Zhang family like an ox and a horse all day long. Even without eating a bite of food, when she comes back, she gets beaten and scolded by them. They even threw her into the firewood shed after beating her until she vomited blood. This is attempted murder."

Her words were loud and crisp, making the approaching villagers stunned.

Shu Yu sneered, "If it weren't for me happening to come here today to give my elder sister a gift, I wouldn't have known about the life she's been living in the Zhang family." She turned her head and faced the Zhang family, saying, "Let me tell you, beating you up is nothing. If my sister wasn't in a hurry to see a doctor, I would have torn down your house just like I did to the Ruan family. You better pray that my sister is okay. If anything happens to her, I'll make you accompany her in death."

The villagers followed Shu Yu's gaze and indeed saw the Zhang family lying on the ground unable to get up.

The Zhang family members were even more bewildered by Shu Yu's scolding.

Shu Yu held back her tears and said to the villagers standing at the door, "Excuse me, I need to take my sister to see a doctor."

Then she pushed through the crowd, letting Da Niu carry Da Ya and walk away.

The villagers finally reacted and followed suit. Some aunties were concerned and asked, "Da Ya vomited blood? Is it serious?"

Shu Yu said, "If she's vomiting blood, how can it not be serious? Poor my elder sister, such a good person, being worn down by the Zhang family like this. I will absolutely not let this matter go."

Then, supporting Da Ya, she hurried towards the village entrance with Da Niu.

She was tall and stood on the side, conveniently covering the wound on Da Ya's forehead. The aunties behind couldn't see clearly, only noticing Da Ya's swollen fingers with bloodshot veins.

Shu Yu didn't care about the Zhang family's possible excuses. She had just heard the villagers talking and figured that they must have witnessed what happened to Da Ya.

Even if the Zhang family put up a good facade, the people in the village were not fools. Seeing Da Ya in such a state, they knew she had experienced a great disaster.

Shu Yu could disregard her reputation, but she couldn't disregard Da Ya's.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 110: Making Da Ya Pretend to Faint

In the entire Zhang family, the only one who used to receive such treatment... was her sister, Da Ya.

Shu Yu watched as the Zhang family members hid and sneered, "What are you hiding for? The children are playing with you. As grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts, how can you not fulfill this small request? Look, your three children are having so much fun. Did you often play like this in the past?"

As soon as she finished speaking, one of the children said, "Yes, we often played like this, and third Auntie would play with us."

Shu Yu's gaze turned icy, and Da Niu clenched the stick in his hand with gritted teeth. If possible, he wanted to charge forward and beat the Zhang family members half to death.

Da Ya stared blankly at the scene before her, looking at Da Niu and her sister blocking her view, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

She should have... stopped all of this, but her mouth couldn't open, her legs couldn't move. In her heart, there was even a strange sense of relief and satisfaction. The oppressive feeling that had been choking her, the suffocating sense of depression that made her want to die several times, seemed to be dissipating.

Tears started to fall without her realizing it.

It had been too difficult, these past two years. She truly felt like she was about to collapse.

But now, it seemed like she wasn't facing the Zhang family's pack of wolves and fierce beasts alone. Someone was protecting her, helping her vent her anger.

Da Ya reached out and wiped her eyes, but when she lowered her hand, there was another hand in front of her, holding a piece of candy and stuffing it into her mouth.

She heard Shu Yu's voice in her ear, "On my first day back home, I gave San Ya a few pieces of candy. She and Da Hu were discussing, saying that they wanted to save one for Big Sister, so she wouldn't be miserable after eating the candy."

"Wow..." Da Ya couldn't control herself anymore and hugged Shu Yu, bursting into loud sobs.

Da Niu, who was beside them, felt heartbroken. "Da Ya, it's Da Niu's fault for being useless and not coming to stand up for you sooner."

Da Ya shook her head, but she couldn't find the words to say.

The children in the yard stopped, and Shu Yu scanned them. "Continue."

The Zhang family members were filled with hatred. In reality, the children's strikes were not strong, and they didn't hurt much. What hurt the most was when they struggled to stand up, and Shu Yu would come over and kick them again.

They realized deeply that even if everyone attacked together, they couldn't defeat her alone. Zhang, the eldest of the siblings, had initially wanted to pick up a stone and throw it at Shu Yu when she wasn't paying attention. But when Shu Yu dodged and came over, she stepped on his head, almost wanting to crush his brain.

Zhang screamed miserably. Perhaps his voice was too loud, and someone passed by the gate of the village, knocking on the door. The door seemed like it would be knocked open with a few more knocks.

"Aunt Gui, what's happening? Is something wrong with your family? Did you bully your third daughter-in-law again?"

The courtyard gate was not secure, and a few more knocks would have it open.

However, Old lady Zhang eyes lit up, and she hurriedly shouted, "Help! Help! Someone is killing people!"

Shu Yu didn't stop her. She took out a box of rouge, with bright and vivid colors, and directly applied it to Da Ya's forehead with her finger.

Da Ya and Da Niu were stunned. "Er Ya, what are you doing?"

"It's nothing, Da Niu. Later, you'll carry my sister out on your back. Big Sister, you just pretend to faint and don't say anything."

As she spoke, even the corners of Da Ya's mouth were stained red, and even the gaps between her ten fingers were dyed crimson.

Her hair was disheveled, and the watermelon seed husks on her head, from the beginning, Shu Yu had no intention of taking them off.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 109: Not the First Time

As the two men charged towards her, Da Niu quickly raised the stick in his hand. "Ah Yu, let me help you."

"No need, just watch over my sister," Shu Yu replied.

Da Niu turned his head and indeed saw Da Ya anxiously rushing over, trying to get in front of Shu Yu.

Da Niu hurriedly held her back. "Don't go."

"But... but..." Da Ya was worried. Those were two grown men, and Er Ya was so small. She could be beaten to death.

However, when she looked up, she saw the ferocious-looking men kneeling and lying on the ground.

Even Zhou Shi, who had also charged forward, was now held down by Shu Yu, her hair being pulled.

Da Ya remained speechless.

Da Niu was also at a loss for words.

Initially, they thought the rumors about the incident in Ruan Village were exaggerated. Now, they didn't think so at all.

The three men from the Zhang family were also stunned. They couldn't believe that a young girl like Shu Yu could be so powerful.

But they were not willing to accept it. They got up one by one and started looking for tools to attack.

"I'll kill you, you brat."

Even when faced with three people, Shu Yu remained in complete control. She dodged aside to avoid old man Zhang, swept her leg, and sent Zhang's eldest son crashing to the ground. With a swift strike of her right hand, Zhang's second son let out a painful scream.

Having incapacitated the three of them once again, Shu Yu slowly approached the several children huddled in the corner.

Old lady Zhang, supporting her waist, lifted her gaze and saw Shu Yu reaching out like a claw. She immediately screamed, "What are you going to do? Don't you dare touch my grandson!"

Shu Yu couldn't be bothered to pay her any attention. Looking down at the three Zhang grandchildren, she asked, "Who threw melon seed shells on my elder sister's head just now?"

The three of them desperately squeezed themselves against the wall, tears and snot streaming down their faces from the fright they had just experienced.

Shu Yu asked, "No one wants to talk?"

"They did it, it was her," the three of them pointed unanimously at Feng Shi.

Feng Shi was just about to stand up and protect her son and nephew when unexpectedly the three boys threw a pot at her, leaving her face filled with disbelief.

Yes, she was indeed the one who threw the melon seed shell, but she only threw one. The rest was done by the three kids.

Shu Yu glanced at Feng Shi and said to the three boys, "Very well, if you do me a favor, not only will I spare you, but I'll also give you candy. How about that?"

The three boy's eyes visibly lit up. "What favor? What favor?"

"See those cornstalks over there? Each of you takes one and go beat up the people lying on the ground here. The one who does the best job will get the most candy."

The three of them exchanged glances, feeling a bit scared and unwilling to act.

Shu Yu raised her hand, and the eldest Zhang child, without saying a word, charged towards the piled-up cornstalks, picked one up, and struck Zhou Shi, who was closest to him.

"Ah..." Zhou Shi let out a painful cry.

Seeing this, the other child ran over in anger. "If you hit my mother, then I'll hit your mother too."

Saying that, he grabbed a cornstalk and started hitting Feng Shi.

The remaining child looked left and right, then glanced at Shu Yu. "Is there really candy?"

"Of course."

The last child hesitated no more and also rushed into the courtyard.

Feng Shi and Zhou Shi immediately resisted, but Shu Yu kicked them down with a single blow.

As the children beat up one person after another, Shu Yu watched in the courtyard. Whenever someone stood up, she kicked them.

However, her gaze grew colder and colder. These children didn't hesitate at all when it came to beating people; it was obvious that this wasn't their first time.

Chapter complete