On the other hand,

Su Chong also told Madam Zhao and Su Sanlang about the matter.

After Su Chong finished speaking, Su Sanlang calmly said to Su Chong, “Father and Mother understand. It’s getting late. Go back to your room and sleep.”

Su Sanlang was only outwardly calm, maintaining his composure in front of his son.

Su Chong nodded, stood up, and silently left to close the door. He had already told his parents about this.

After Su Chong left, Su Sanlang relaxed.

He let out a long, uncomfortable sigh. “Darling, I’m not feeling well.”

He felt terrible that Su Xiaozhi had to endure all this. He also felt terrible that the Su family did not have any kinship with Su Xiaozhi. They were like grasshoppers in a field. When they attached themselves to her, they only knew how to suck her blood dry.

Madam Zhao reached out and gently stroked Su Sanlang’s back. She said gently, “Sanlang, this is not something we can interfere in. I think Auntie Cao is right. Xiaozhi is now a member of the Hu family. She should know her identity. Auntie Cao can control her.”

Madam Cao was gentle. If not for the fact that she was really too disappointed in Su Xiaozhi, she would not have used her authority as mother-in-law.

Su Xiaozhi had been married into the Hu family for more than ten years. In these ten years, even if Hu Daniu died, she did not become fierce. Now, she suddenly became strict with Su Xiaozhi.

Just as Madam Cao had said, the Su family bullied the entire Hu family.

Su Sanlang sighed. “You’re right. Her business has nothing to do with us. In the future, she’ll work hard, we’ll pay her for her work, and forget about the rest.”

Su Xiaozhi had helped him when he was in his most difficult time. He had also returned the favor when Su Xiaozhi was in trouble.

This way, they didn’t owe each other anything. If they made peace, they’d go the long way together. He’d be more concerned.

For example, now that Su Xiaozhi had taken the money to pay her parents, he could not accept it. As such, he could only slowly turn cold.

“Let’s go to bed. It’s getting late.”

Su Sanlang thought it through and felt a little better.

Madam Zhao nodded and the two of them fell asleep. Madam Zhao leaned against Su Sanlang. After a while, she said, “Sanlang, let Auntie Cao make the decision for Xiaozhi. Xiaozhi will understand in the future.”

Perhaps she couldn’t stand Madam Cao’s harshness at first, but as time passed, she would understand.

This was not the time to interfere too much.

Su Sanlang said, “I understand. If Auntie Cao comes and asks for her salary, I’ll promise her that Xiaozhi won’t have any money.”

If the money was in Su Xiaozhi’s hands, she couldn’t keep it.

Seeing that Su Sanlang thought so, Madam Zhao was relieved.

Husband and wife fall asleep in each other’s arms.

—-

Madam Cao woke up the next morning and knocked on the door to wake Su Xiaozhi up.

Su Xiaozhi had cried all night and only fell asleep when it was almost dawn. She was a little dazed to be woken up.

Madam Cao looked at Su Xiaozhi’s bruised and swollen face. Her eyes flashed with heartache, but it was quickly hidden.

Madam Cao said coldly, “Let’s go, I’ll settle the score with them. No matter what, they have to give me an explanation!”

Madam Cao aggressively told Su Xiaozhi to get off the bed quickly.

Su Xiaozhi was at a loss. She was a little afraid. “Mother, can we not go?”

Seeing that she only wanted to escape, Madam Cao was very disappointed. She said coldly, “What’s there to be afraid of? You have to go today no matter what. If you don’t go, I’ll drag the matchmaker over tomorrow.”

Su Xiaozhi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Overnight, the mother-in-law she knew had become a stranger. It terrified her.

Seeing Su Xiaozhi like this, Madam Cao turned around and said coldly, “Come out quickly.”

Hu Shuangshuang, Hu Changshou, and Hu Changyang got up. They were also afraid.

Madam Cao said to them, “Shuangshuang, cook the rice. Changshou and Changyang, help too.”

After making arrangements for the children, Su Xiaozhi dawdled out. She didn’t look happy. She hung her head, not wanting the children to see her.

She still said weakly, “Mother, can we not go? I won’t see them anymore.”

Madam Cao walked up to her and pinched her chin to raise her face.

Su Xiaozhi panicked.

Hu Shuangshuang, Hu Changshou, and Hu Changyang were all shocked. They went to Su Xiaozhi’s side worriedly and asked angrily, “Mother, who hit you?”

Hu Changshou clenched his fists. “Mother, who bullied you? Tell me, I’ll beat him up!”

Su Xiaozhi wanted to hide, but Madam Cao did not allow her to. Su Xiaozhi was in pain and embarrassed. Her tears fell uncontrollably.

She could not bring herself to say it. However, Madam Cao told the three children sternly, “Shuangshuang, Changshou, Changyang, your mother was beaten by that shameless Su family. Your mother married into the Hu family and is part of our family. If they beat your mother, they are bullying us. Grandma is going to settle scores with them now. Tell me, should Grandma go?”

“Grandma, I’ll go with you.”

Hu Changsheng’s eyes burned with anger. When his father left, he said that he would be the head of the family in the future. He had to protect his family.

Hu Shuangshuang bit her lip and held back her tears. She gritted her teeth and said, “Grandma, I’ll go too. I can’t let Mother be bullied like this.”

Hu Changyang also said firmly, “Grandma, I want to go too.”

Madam Cao looked at the three children. Fortunately, they were all angry. Madam Cao nodded. “Alright, let’s go together.”

Su Xiaozhi was stunned. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she didn’t.

Madam Cao brought her family out and went straight to the village chief’s house.

Old Master Wang had always dealt with Su Sanlang’s family and was very familiar with Madam Cao.

On the second day of the new year, Old Master Wang’s family was at home. The daughters-in-law of the Wang family were washing their bedding and clothes. When they saw Madam Cao, they greeted her with a smile, “Good morning, Auntie Cao.”

Madam Cao nodded.

Looking at the Cao family, Old Master Wang’s daughter-in-law shouted into the house, “Father, Auntie Cao from the Hu family is looking for you.”

Old Master Wang responded from inside the house and came out quickly.

Madam Cao didn’t beat around the bush and directly said, “Village Chief Wang, you have to help us explain this matter properly. Our Hu family doesn’t have a successor, so we can’t be bullied like this.”

Hearing Madam Cao’s tone, Old Master Wang quickly asked, “Hu family, what’s wrong?”

Madam Cao pulled Su Xiaozhi in front of her and raised her face. She said angrily, “Village Chief, take a good look. Look at how badly my daughter-in-law has been beaten up. Her body is also bruised. Tell me, can you let her be bullied like this?”

Su Xiaozhi’s face was swollen, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She lowered her eyes and was helplessly sized up.

Old Master Wang was shocked and hurriedly asked, “What happened? Who hit Xiaozhi?”

Su Xiaozhi was at a loss. She moved her lips but did not say anything.

Madam Cao knew very well that she had to take matters into her own hands. She said to Old Master Wang, “It was the Su family who did it. The cause was that they instigated Su Xiaozhi to take money from the Hu family. Su Xiaozhi couldn’t take out more money, so they took action. They took 18 taels of silver from the Hu family.”