Without thinking, Ms. Luo stepped back a couple of steps.
The same was true for Li, who couldn’t help but feel annoyed with Auntie Li. Was she stupid? How could she say such things? Even if she was jealous of how well Yang Chuxia’s family was doing, she shouldn’t have said those things. They all lived in the same village, and unsavory words could be overlooked; but inciting discord between spouses was low. Perhaps Auntie Li no longer wanted to associate with Yang Chuxia’s family.
However, she had heard that Yang Chuxia’s family had started growing sugarcane; she wanted to follow suit and couldn’t afford to be affected by Auntie Li’s misbehavior.
She was thinking about what she could say to dissuade Auntie Li, but before she could speak up, Yang Chuxia’s maid and two housemaids came over.
Then she heard Yang Chuxia say, "Hit her, aim for her face. Have you all forgotten my warning? It doesn’t matter if Brother An is a cripple or not, I won’t tolerate anyone speaking ill of him. What business is it of yours whether Brother An makes it or not? Is it your turn to ridicule him? There’s a saying that it’s better to demolish a temple than break up a marriage, yet you have the audacity to plan to take my dowry?"
Xiu’er had been seething from the side for a while, and upon hearing Yang Chuxia’s order, she charged forward.
As for Ye Family’s two sister-in-laws and two maids, Mingcui and Ming Liu, although they didn’t know what had happened, they had to obey Yang Chuxia’s command. Several people quickly pinned Auntie Li down, some slapping her face, others holding her.
The sound of their palms striking rang out, making both Li and Ms. Luo pale, knowing it must be painful.
At that moment, Yang Chuxia’s voice rang out again, "You’re such a blind fool. Normally, we respect you as an elder, but now you’ve crossed the line, right? Your nephew, what kind of person is he? How many words does he know, and how much money does he earn a year, and how much land does his family own? Do you even know how much Brother An owns? Brother An has four manors, each over 500 acres, not even including the good farmland he has acquired over the years. Comparing your nephew’s son with him? What a disgrace to Brother An."
As Yang Chuxia’s words fell, gasps filled the air. How much would more than 500 acres of farmland be worth? And four of them! The rents collected in a year alone would be more than enough to live lavishly.
"What happened here?" Land Officer Yang, who had been living well these past few years, and had become stronger, asked in his robust voice.
On seeing him, the onlookers made way. Yang Chuxia raised her head to see Land Officer Yang’s mother-in-law, and Yang Dayong’s wife, Ms.Liu, trailing behind him.
She gestured for Xiu’er and the others to stop. When everyone saw Auntie Li on the ground, they couldn’t help but gasp again. Was this still a person?
Auntie Li, seeing Yang Land Officer Yang arrive, attempted to say something, but only spat out blood when she opened her mouth.
Seeing her , Yang Chuxia snorted coldly, pulled out two Liang silver from her purse, and threw them on the ground, "I know your family is poor and you’re so desperate that you even eyed my dowry. Presumably, after this beating, you won’t have money to treat your wounds. Here are some pennies for you."
"Xiaxia, what happened? Why are you hitting people?" Land Officer Yang wondered how the Li family got into trouble with his granddaughter.
"Xiu’er, tell my grandfather the whole story."
When Xiu’er succinctly recounted everything to everyone, Land Officer Yang was so furious he couldn’t speak properly. Uncle Li, Li Anshun, and Yang Lichun of the Li Family, who also arrived on hearing the news, felt the same way.
Yang Lichun even rushed forward, cursing angrily, "You old wretch! How have I wronged you? Do you want your son to divorce and remarry?"