TSWRLM -Chapter 344 A Head-On Crash

“Li Tuhu has already beaten two of his wives to death! Everyone in the neighboring villages knows his evil reputation. Father, how can you force me to marry a man like that?”

Madam Qian cried as she accused him.

If she didn’t know who she was to marry, she might still be able to comfort herself with the thought that her parents wouldn’t harm her. But now that she knew it was Li Tuhu, she could no longer delude herself.

Her parents were pushing her straight into the fire!

For the first time, Madam Qian spoke so loudly to her father. Father Qian didn’t feel guilty; instead, he grew angry at being defied.

“Li Tuhu only killed his wives because those two women couldn’t bear children—they were useless hens! You’ve already given birth to Zheng’er; you can surely give him a healthy boy. The bride price he offered far exceeds what Cao Wu gave, and his butcher shop makes more money than Cao Wu’s business. Marrying him will be a life of comfort. Why are you yelling at me?”

As he spoke, he reached out to hit her, and Madam Qian, terrified, ducked behind Chun Xi. Uncle Hu and the accompanying guards immediately blocked Father Qian.

Uncle Hu’s gaze was lethal. Realizing he couldn’t win, Father Qian shouted at Chun Xi: “Madam Shen, my daughter has nothing to do with your brother anymore. You have no right to interfere in my family affairs!”

Chun Xi nodded and calmly replied, “You are correct, Uncle. I indeed have no right to stop you from marrying off your daughter.”

Hearing this, Father Qian’s arrogance surged. He glared at Madam Qian viciously: “You hear that? She has no say in our family affairs. Why aren’t you coming over here?”

Madam Qian didn’t move. She knew this was her only chance.

Once Chun Xi left, no one would intervene in her and Zheng’er’s fate.

“Father, I said I won’t marry. I will only ever love Brother Wu.”

“Heh, so you’ve really gone against heaven…”

Father Qian spat and began searching the courtyard for something to use.

Today, he decided to teach this rebellious girl a lesson; otherwise, how could she still see him as her father?

Soon, he found a broom in the corner.

Grabbing it, he crossed Uncle Hu and the guards and started chasing Madam Qian. At first, she hoped Chun Xi would intervene, but seeing that Chun Xi merely watched and didn’t interfere, despair filled her heart.

After a while, Madam Qian stopped, her eyes red, glaring at her father. “Father, if you force me any further, I will crash into the wall and die right in front of you!”

“Go ahead, crash into it. With your courage, you don’t even dare kill a chicken, and yet you think you can die?”

Father Qian scoffed, taking her threat lightly.

Madam Qian bit her lip, feeling powerless. She was afraid of pain and death; she truly didn’t dare die, nor could she bear to.

Zheng’er was still so small, and she wanted to see him grow up, get married, and have children.

When she stopped moving, Father Qian became even more smug. “Why aren’t you moving? Die! I raised you all these years, and you haven’t repaid my life-giving grace. Now you threaten me with death? Seems like these years since you married have really made you bold.”

Madam Qian’s sister-in-law, woken from her peaceful sleep, couldn’t help but comment: “Sister, could you be quiet? You’ve been freeloading at home these past few months, and now you’re bringing outsiders to disturb the whole family. Isn’t this just asking the village to mock us?”

Her “outsider” clearly referred to Chun Xi.

Chun Xi didn’t respond, preparing to leave with Uncle Hu and a few guards.

Seeing her about to leave, Madam Qian’s mother spoke sarcastically: “Oh, the official’s little sister-in-law is leaving already? You’re an official’s wife now—come openly, not sneaking around in the middle of the night. Someone might think you came to steal someone from my house!”

Her words were both mocking and insulting.

Chun Xi didn’t reply, but to Madam Qian, they sounded harsh.

Chun Xi had come to help her.

But Madam Qian, powerless at home, couldn’t resist her family, and now Chun Xi was being scolded because of her.

Chun Xi was right: she had to make a decision with her parents herself. Chun Xi could only help her once, but her parents could keep interfering countless times. Even if she returned to the Cao family, she would never have peace.

She would be a burden to Brother Wu and Zheng’er.

Her whole life would be spent under her family’s control.

But why?

She also wanted, like Chun Xi, to live a prosperous life with Brother Wu.

Seeing Chun Xi about to leave Qian’s household, Madam Qian steeled her resolve and suddenly threw herself against the wall of the main house.

Bang!

With a muffled groan, Madam Qian collapsed to the ground. Her forehead had smashed open, a large wound gushing blood, quickly staining the snow beneath her crimson.

“Ah!!”

The Qian children screamed in terror. Madam Qian’s mother, momentarily stunned, ran to her daughter, wailing.

Father Qian, who had seemed unconcerned before, was also shocked into silence. Madam Qian’s sister-in-law looked guilty.

Father Qian and Madam Qian had pushed Madam Qian into this situation, even planning her remarriage, just to pressure Cao Wu and gain a stake in his carpenter business. If Cao Wu yielded, they could benefit. If not, Li Tuhu’s bride price was still substantial, and they could exploit Madam Qian’s position to get free meat from his butcher shop.

No matter what, it benefited the family; Madam Qian’s suffering meant nothing to them.

“Stupid girl! How can you be so reckless? The time hasn’t even come yet—Cao Wu will surely come for you and your child. How can you really think of dying?”

Madam Qian’s mother sobbed. Father Qian snapped out of it and rushed to check Madam Qian’s pulse.

Madam Qian then shouted at her son and daughter-in-law: “What are you standing there for? Go fetch a doctor to save your sister!”

Madam Qian’s eldest brother tried to leave, but his wife held him back.

Sister-in-law snapped, “Her injuries are too severe. The village doctor can’t treat her properly; she needs to go to the city. If Madam Shen hadn’t suddenly come tonight, she wouldn’t have tried to take her life. This is on Madam Shen, right?”

At this, everyone looked at Chun Xi.

Father Qian also tried to pin responsibility on her, but Chun Xi quickly said: “I didn’t do anything just now. If you insist on blaming me, then take it to the authorities. If the court rules it’s my fault, I will pay for her treatment.”

“No! My daughter is badly injured and bleeding so much. We can’t wait! You must take her to the city for treatment immediately!”

Madam Qian’s mother objected first, but Chun Xi said coldly: “She has nothing to do with my brother anymore. You told her to risk her life just now. It’s not my business if she can’t wait.”

Having said this, Chun Xi strode away. The Qian family tried to stop her, but Uncle Hu’s glare forced them back.

Seeing that Chun Xi truly didn’t care about Madam Qian’s fate, the Qian family had no choice but to bring a bullock cart and rush Madam Qian to the city before the curfew to see a doctor.

After checking her pulse, the doctor sighed: “The injuries are severe. Even if we save her life, she may remain unconscious and paralyzed for life.”

Paralyzed and unconscious—that would make her a complete burden, dependent on others for care. What use is saving her life?

Frowning, Father Qian eventually pushed the cart to the Cao residence, banging on the door to wake Cao Wu and Madam Wang: “My daughter is in this condition because of Cao Chun Xi. Your family must take responsibility for her and her child!”