Chapter 41: The Original Wife Spends Money Like Water (8)

"My son hasn't returned home for several days—where have you hidden him?" Lady Xue barged into the Jiang household with a crowd of maids in tow, her manner fierce and uncompromising. Ignoring the servants’ attempts to stop her, she pushed her way straight to Jiang Youyou’s courtyard, and upon seeing her, launched into an accusatory interrogation.

It was as if she were interrogating a criminal, not inquiring after her daughter-in-law.

"If Xue Ci is missing, shouldn't I be the one coming to your family for answers? Why have you come to me, Madam Li?" Jiang Youyou replied unhurriedly, savoring her lunch.

The white jade table before her was piled high with delicacies from sky and sea alike. Every dish was vibrant in color and exquisitely presented, a feast for the eyes as much as for the palate.

Li Yao's teeth nearly ground themselves to powder in resentment.

This feeble woman truly knew how to squander wealth, indulging alone in such an extravagant spread of rare delicacies, yet ruthlessly cutting off the Xue family's allowance. What an ungrateful wretch!

Were it not for her own son’s willingness to marry her, with such a sickly body, the girl would never have found a husband in her lifetime!

"You expect me to know where your husband is?" Xue Shi rolled her eyes and sat herself down at the table. "Well? Why haven’t you brought me a bowl and chopsticks yet?"

"Look at yourself! Your mother-in-law arrives and you can’t even be bothered to get up and serve her. Where are your manners? If this were the Xue household, you’d be in for it!" Xue Shi grumbled for a good while, but seeing no one move to serve her, she surveyed the room, frowning. Not a single soul paid her the slightest attention.

"So even Madam Li knows this is not the Xue household," Jiang Youyou sighed. "Since your son has not returned, you are no longer welcome here."

"What?" Only then did Xue Shi tear her eyes away from the dishes, staring at Jiang Youyou in utter disbelief.

Was this really the once frail and timid daughter-in-law?

"What are you waiting for? Throw her out!" Mufeng barked coldly, prompting the gathered maids and servants to close in around Xue Shi.

"How about this—whoever throws my mother-in-law out first shall be rewarded with fifty taels of silver. What do you think?" Jiang Youyou's words had barely fallen when, emboldened by the promise of reward, the servants who had only dared to approach before now surged forward.

Soon, the courtyard echoed with the sounds of scuffling and shouting. Moments later, screams rang out as Xue Shi’s maids were pinned to the ground, and Xue Shi herself was dragged and shoved out of the Jiang residence by several strong servants.

Losing her footing, she tumbled down the steps, emitting a wretched scream that soon drew a crowd of onlookers.

Feeling gravely wronged, Xue Shi immediately burst into tears, wailing her grievances for all to hear.

"The women of the Jiang family mistreat their husbands, abuse and beat their mothers-in-law! A stain upon womanhood, a disgrace to all daughters-in-law!"

Her dramatic cries soon had passersby pointing and whispering about the Jiang household.

Before long, word that Xue Shi had been thrown out and beaten by her daughter-in-law reached Xue Ci, who was diligently tending the fields. Enraged, he ended his work at once and left with barely a word.

No sooner had he stepped out of the alley than someone collided with him. Ignoring the pain in his head, he hurried to the carriage that had been waiting at the entrance.

When he arrived at the scene, he was met with the sight of his mother in utter disarray, her face scratched and her appearance pitifully wretched—a sight that pained Xue Ci to his core.

That Jiang Youyou dared lay hands on his mother—this was simply lawless!

[Ding! Five points of resentment value received!]

Naiqi, upon receiving the five points of resentment, could only find it laughable. In this man’s heart, his mother was not even as important as the authority of a housekeeper. It had thought he might be a truly filial son!

Jiang Youyou studied her reflection in the mirror and smiled with satisfaction.

With Mufeng’s support, she opened the gates of the Jiang residence.

"Cough, cough… Mother, what are you doing? Even if you desire that silver, you shouldn’t slander your daughter-in-law in this way!" Every few words, Jiang Youyou broke into a fit of coughing. Witnessing this, those present instinctively took a few steps back.

No one wanted her dying in their arms, after all.

The moment Xue Shi caught sight of Jiang Youyou, she sprang up like an untamed horse, rolling up her sleeves and charging forward, her voice booming: "You little wretch! How dare you lay hands on me? You’ve turned the world upside down!"