Chapter 226: Severing Family Ties
Even though her husband adored her, Xu Qingqing wouldn’t abuse his affection to speak ill of Jiang Ruyan.
Because the entire Jiang Family doted on Jiang Ruyan, treating her like a precious treasure.
Xu Qingqing’s father was not only the general manager of the Imperial Capital Pharmacy, but also held a position at the medical university.
Whenever Jiang Ruyan asked for a favor, Xu Qingqing would do her best to help. For instance, the only reason Jiang Ruyan had been selected to go to the front lines was because Xu Qingqing had asked her father to pull some strings.
"Ru Yan, stop crying. If you keep this up, your parents will think I did something to you!"
"No, my sister-in-law didn’t bully me. I’m just so upset... SOB SOB SOB..."
"Just stop crying! Look at the state you’re in!" Xu Qingqing said, frowning impatiently.
"Sister-in-law, I wanted to study medicine with Grandpa at the front lines, but my uncle said a girl shouldn’t have it so tough and told me to come back and learn from your father... SOB... You’ll help me talk to your dad, won’t you?"
Jiang Ruyan whimpered, genuinely hurt this time. Her uncle had told her to give up, showing no regard for her pride.
’He actually sent me back to the Imperial City in front of everyone! How am I supposed to brag to my classmates now?’
’My grades are so bad, how will I ever graduate?!’
’So I have to use my uncle and eldest cousin’s names to threaten that idiot Xu Qingqing before she finds out what really happened.’
"Ru Yan, you know what my father’s temper is like. How could I possibly help?"
Although Xu Qingqing knew what her father-in-law wanted, she still humored Jiang Ruyan a little.
"I don’t care... If you don’t agree, I’ll just cry until I die... SOB SOB SOB..."
"Ru Yan, don’t be like this. You’re making things very difficult for me!" Xu Qingqing was dumbfounded.
’I always thought Jiang Ruyan was just a bit dramatic, but I never expected her to be so shameless.’
"I don’t care~ Sister-in-law~ You have to promise me~~" Jiang Ruyan said in a petulant, demanding tone, her attitude firm.
Xu Qingqing shook her head helplessly. "Ru Yan, I really can’t help you. If I ask him, my father will kill me."
If this were in the past, she might have swallowed her pride and asked her father to take Jiang Ruyan as his disciple, out of consideration for her husband and father-in-law.
That was because her husband and parents-in-law treated her very well. In their three years of marriage, they had never so much as argued with her.
But now, her father-in-law had explicitly called and told her to stop getting involved with Jiang Ruyan’s affairs.
’Then I’ll just let Jiang Ruyan make a scene.’ But Xu Qingqing still patiently explained, "Ru Yan, there’s truly nothing I can do."
"Think about it. I’ve been married into the Jiang Family for years. Whenever there was something I could do to help you, I’ve never let you down."
"Everyone knows how strict my father is about accepting disciples. No one can sway his decision, not even me. I can’t change his mind."
At these words, a venomous look flashed in Jiang Ruyan’s eyes. "Fine~ Xu Qingqing~ So you really don’t like me~
Hmph! I knew it all along. You bitch, you just can’t stand seeing me happy.
Now that no one’s around, you show your true colors. Why won’t you help me?
I’m telling you, if you don’t help me, I’ll tell my eldest cousin to divorce you..."
At this point, Jiang Ruyan grew more and more agitated, her eyes turning bloodshot as if she was seeing red.
The venom in her glare looked as if it could grind Xu Qingqing’s bones to dust, making any onlookers think Xu Qingqing had committed some unforgivable sin against her.
The moment Second Aunt Jiang came out and saw her daughter in such a state, she flew into a rage. She marched forward, grabbed Xu Qingqing’s long hair, and slapped her hard across both sides of her face.
She cursed viciously, "Xu Qingqing, who gave you the nerve to bully my daughter? My Ru Yan has always been elegant and poised! When has she ever looked this pathetic?"
Xu Qingqing, having grown up pampered and privileged, was no match for Second Aunt Jiang and could only take the beating.
Xu Qingqing was so furious she could have fallen over. ’If I had known it would come to this, I would have stayed far away from that lunatic Jiang Ruyan from the very beginning.’
Aunt Jiang returned from outside, holding her one-year-old grandson, only to see her sister-in-law, Second Aunt Jiang, hitting her daughter-in-law.
"What in the world! Second Brother’s wife, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit my Qingqing."
"Sister-in-law, just look at what Xu Qingqing did to our precious girl!"
Second Aunt Jiang played the victim, turning the tables on Xu Qingqing and glaring at her with gritted teeth.
The fury in her eyes was so intense it looked as if flames would shoot out and burn Xu Qingqing to a crisp.
’I’d always wanted to marry my niece to my brother-in-law’s son, but that bitch Xu Qingqing snatched him away!’
Since Aunt Jiang hadn’t heard anything bad about Jiang Ruyan from her husband or son, she turned to her daughter-in-law.
"Qingqing, what is going on here? Aren’t you and Ru Yan usually on good terms?"
With her hair being yanked by Second Aunt Jiang and her face stinging from several slaps, Xu Qingqing was in too much pain to speak.
The mortal terror she felt far outweighed the physical pain. When she saw her mother-in-law not stepping in to break up the fight, but questioning her instead...
...she burst into wronged tears.
Jiang Ruyan seized the opportunity to play the victim. "Auntie~ Uncle said the front lines were too tough, so he sent me back to study medicine with Uncle Xu. I just wanted my sister-in-law to help me get an introduction, SOB SOB SOB..."
"Jiang Ruyan! What nonsense are you spouting? You made a mistake, refuse to repent, and now you come back to frame Qingqing."
As Jiang Qianping roared, he lunged forward, getting in front of Second Aunt Jiang and rescuing his wife.
"Qingqing, you know what a piece of work Jiang Ruyan is. Why didn’t you just run inside? Come on, let’s go home. I’ll put some medicine on your injuries."
He had been on his way home from work, sitting in his car, when he saw a crowd gathered at the entrance to his family’s courtyard through the window.
He had gotten out of the car to see what was going on, only to find his aunt yanking his wife’s hair.
Seeing her husband, Xu Qingqing could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs. "Qianping~ I never thought Second Aunt would just attack me without any reason."
"Xu Qingqing, don’t you dare make false accusations! How was I being unreasonable? You were clearly the one bullying the Jiang Family’s precious treasure!"
From the crowd, Second Aunt Jiang stomped her feet and screamed in a rage.
"Second Aunt, do you want me to tell everyone about what Ru Yan..."
Before Jiang Qianping could finish, Jiang Ruyan cut him off with a loud wail.
"Cousin~ SOB SOB SOB... We all know you love your wife, but you can’t just take her side like this!"
"Jiang Ruyan, don’t think you can bully my wife just because you’re the darling of the Jiang Family. I won’t let you get away with this.
I am officially announcing that our branch of the family is cutting all ties with the second branch. From now on, you are not to set foot in our home.
If I ever see you bullying my Qingqing again, I’ll beat you to death. Qingqing, we’re going home."
Xu Qingqing had been in real pain, but now, with her husband so fiercely protecting her, it didn’t seem to hurt quite as much.
No matter the era, a husband’s attitude determines his wife’s status in her in-laws’ family.
If a woman does not receive her husband’s protection, she is destined to be bullied by her in-laws.
Thankfully, she was lucky. Her husband would protect her without a moment’s hesitation.
Second Aunt Jiang was dumbfounded!
’I just couldn’t stand that bitch stealing my niece’s marriage prospects, so I took the chance to slap her a few times.’
’And for that, my brother-in-law’s family is actually cutting ties with us?!’