Chapter 25: She was trampled underfoot.
As soon as Mrs. He’s voice fell, Ye Erya’s body shuddered.
Last time, after she had hit Ye Jiu, Mrs. He had beaten her with a rattan cane until she was half-dead.
Unlike Ye Jiu, who could trade for medicine using his “Plane Space,” she had no choice but to endure, and just when she could barely get on her feet, she was forced to do household chores.
Now, the wounds on her body had not even fully healed, especially at the sound of Mrs. He’s piercing voice, she felt her wounds throbbing with pain.
Seeing Ye Erya almost shrinking into herself, Ye Jiu found it hard to imagine how she had mustered the courage to throw that stone at him before.
Ye Jiu tugged at Mrs. He, worried that she would get too agitated and upset, and quickly comforted her, “Mother, no one can hurt me anymore, rest assured, I’m alright.”
Mrs. He turned back and looked closely at Ye Jiu, convinced that she was really unharmed, she finally relaxed and then turned to yell at Ye Erya, “What are you staring at? Aren’t you going to feed the pigs? Hurry up and go feed them, if they lose even a bit of weight, I’ll slaughter you for the New Year!”
Ye Jiu noticed that in this family, if she could overlook Mrs. He’s selfishness and ignorance towards Mrs. Zhao, her treatment of Mrs. Li and her daughter was simply unbearable; even if there was nothing to criticize, she would scold them just to feel better about her meals.
He was helpless about this.
It was no wonder that Ye Erya had lashed out at him; being oppressed by Mrs. He for so long without any chance for retribution, they naturally took their anger out on him, Mrs. He’s only daughter.
Moreover, the former him had been weak and unable to speak up, not to mention seek revenge; he couldn’t even tattle.
Ye Jiu understood their hatred but did not agree with it, for after all, people are selfish by nature, and he was the one being wrongfully retaliated against.
Bringing Mrs. He back into the house, Ye Jiu soothed her while saying, “Mother, if you find Mrs. Li and her daughter so disagreeable, why not just drive them out?”
It was always Mrs. Li and her daughter who were bullied, yet after Mrs. He scolded them, he himself would also be left fuming; this was not only hurting others but also doing no good for himself. Why continue this way?
But Mrs. He snorted coldly, “Drive them out, wishful thinking. Mrs. Li schemed to marry your father back then, causing me to be the laughingstock among your aunts and the subject of ridicule. I want to trample her underfoot and make sure she never rises again!”
Mrs. He was a vindictive woman; this was evident from the fact that she forgave Ye Jiu’s father without a dowry to remarry.
Initially, she didn’t have much affection for Ye Jiu’s father, certainly not enough to consider none but him to marry, but the cancelled engagement left her stuck in an awkward position, and she ended up an old maid.
Especially during those years encountering slanderous gossip, she was nearly driven mad, all because Mrs. Li shamelessly climbed into Ye Jiu’s father’s bed.
Now that she had the chance to trample on Mrs. Li and seek revenge, Mrs. He would certainly not let that opportunity slip by easily!
Seeing Mrs. He get so agitated when speaking of this matter, Ye Jiu found it difficult to continue persuading her.
He thought that Mrs. He’s current happiness versus Mrs. Li’s misery was already a stark contrast, and there was simply no need to discomfort herself by having such a person around, but alas, Mrs. He thought differently.
She felt that only by trampling Mrs. Li underfoot in front of her could she prove that, despite all Mrs. Li’s scheming, she would never be a match for her.
Only by tormenting Mrs. Li could she feel that the hardships she had endured were not in vain.