TSWPF -Chapter 289 Fear

Liu Zhishan glanced at his reddened hand, his expression growing even darker. He ground his teeth and said in a low voice, “You can’t even show respect to your own brother—what kind of upbringing do you have?” He felt that the couple Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling were truly incompatible with him; every time he ran into them, he seemed destined for trouble.

Liu Zhimou looked coldly at Liu Zhishan and said after a moment, “If people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them. But if they do, I will repay tenfold. Third Brother, if you hadn’t been so rude first, do you think I’d waste my time chatting with you here?”

Everyone has a “trigger point,” and Liu Zhimou’s was Li Qingling. Anyone who disrespected her automatically became his enemy.

Even if that person was his own cousin, he treated them the same.

Liu Zhishan glared fiercely at Liu Zhimou. His hands, clenched behind his back, loosened and tightened repeatedly. Were it not for the tiny bit of reason restraining him—fear of his grandfather’s punishment—he would have punched him already.

A country bumpkin is just a country bumpkin—always petty, never capable of standing on a bigger stage.

If Liu Zhimou knew what Liu Zhishan was thinking, he would probably laugh until his stomach hurt. Not out of arrogance, but compared to Liu Zhishan, he could confidently list ten reasons why his cousin could never match him.

Unfortunately, Liu Zhimou couldn’t read minds. Not wanting to waste any more time, he grabbed Li Qingling’s hand to leave.

Of course, someone didn’t intend to let them go.

“Liu Zhimou, you bullied your own cousin and now you think you can just walk away?” Jiang Yingying, having hurried over after hearing the servant’s complaint, looked at her son with the darkened face, then at Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling about to leave, and snapped sharply.

Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou exchanged a helpless glance—there was no way to escape smoothly now.

Although they weren’t afraid of Jiang Yingying, they didn’t want to escalate the matter and become the laughingstock of the entire Liu family.

Liu Zhimou squeezed Li Qingling’s hand firmly, signaling her not to worry. He would handle it.

Turning back, they faced the furious Jiang Yingying and politely addressed her, “Aunt.”

They would not neglect proper etiquette and would not embarrass their parents.

Before Jiang Yingying could speak, Liu Zhimou glanced at Liu Zhishan and smiled lightly. “I didn’t expect Third Brother still hasn’t weaned yet!”

Disputes among the younger generation are entirely different once elders forcibly intervene.

Even though he hadn’t spent much time with Jiang Yingying and hadn’t met her often, he could tell clearly: she completely lacked the composure required of the Liu family’s eldest daughter-in-law.

She wasn’t broad-minded enough, her vision too short-sighted. If the entire Liu family were under her control, he believed it wouldn’t take long before it started declining.

Grandfather probably knew this too, which is why the eldest aunt wasn’t given complete authority over the Liu family; instead, the second and third aunts were appointed to assist and share her power.

She probably grumbled to grandfather about this more than a few times.

He had to admit: grandfather judged people well and acted decisively—what should be given, he gave; what shouldn’t, he didn’t.

If not for grandfather holding the Liu family together, it wouldn’t have its current status.

Thinking of grandfather, at his age, still having to worry about all this, made Liu Zhimou a little uncomfortable inside.

“You…” Liu Zhishan’s face flushed red and pale repeatedly with anger. “Mother, why are you here?” He knew some servant must have run to tell her—otherwise, how could she have come at such a coincidental moment?

He would have preferred she hadn’t come. Her presence completely ruined his face.

Jiang Yingying lightly patted Liu Zhishan’s hand, signaling him not to worry. With her as his mother, no outsider would dare bully him.

“Liu Zhimou’s words are truly sharp. In just a few sentences, he leaves someone with no face,” she snorted coldly, mocking him. “I wonder how your parents raised you, that you don’t even understand the etiquette of respecting elders and cherishing the young?”

He could speak for himself, but no one could insult his parents. They were perfect in every way, and he would never allow anyone to belittle them.

“Aunt…” His words were cut off angrily by the old man.

“I want to see who dares be dissatisfied with my youngest grandson and his wife!” As soon as the old man returned home, the steward hurriedly informed him that his beloved grandson and granddaughter-in-law had clashed with Liu Zhishan, and the eldest daughter-in-law had even intervened.

Even the eldest daughter-in-law involved—this was unacceptable. He could never allow his treasured grandson to be wronged.

Quickly, he rushed over and, upon arrival, unexpectedly heard the foolish Jiang Yingying insulting his youngest grandson and daughter-in-law.

He hadn’t even spoken about his youngest son yet, so how could he allow others to?

“Eldest Daughter-in-law, are you dissatisfied with me, your father-in-law? Do you think I failed in raising Fourth Son?” Jiang Yingying, facing his dark expression and the murderous aura radiating toward her, felt her legs weaken.

Why… why was she so unlucky? She had casually said a few words, and her father-in-law heard them.

This was bad—truly bad. Her father-in-law would never let her off.

“Father, you’ve misunderstood,” Jiang Yingying swallowed hard and spoke cautiously. “I… I didn’t mean that, really.”

This time, she was definitely doomed.

This time, the old man wasn’t planning to give her any face. He had always tolerated the eldest daughter-in-law’s disrespect, but she kept acting up, and now he had reached his limit.

“What exactly did you mean, then? Tell me. I want to hear it,” he demanded. If she didn’t explain properly, he would never let her off.

“Grandfather, Mother spoke hastily and said the wrong thing. She didn’t mean it. Please forgive her,” Liu Zhishan quickly stepped forward, placing himself in front of his mother, confronting the old man with all his courage.

The old man glanced faintly at Liu Zhishan, disappointed. This third grandson was beyond help. He had tried to nurture him before, but now he would let him be.

Like trying to lift mud with a wall—it’s pointless. Why bother?

Liu Zhishan felt the old man’s disappointment deeply. His heart skipped a beat, feeling as if he had lost something precious.

“Your Fourth Brother just returned to the Liu family. Why must you make things difficult for him?” His treasured grandson had just come back, and now someone dared to bully him?

Liu Zhishan clenched his fists and straightened his neck. “I didn’t bully Fourth Brother.”

“Oh? Really?” The old man didn’t believe him. “I thought you were just naive, but I was wrong. You’re not naive—you’re… ill-natured.”

“Father…” Jiang Yingying shouted to interrupt, unable to let him finish. If he did, her precious son would be ruined. “Father, Shan’er is also your grandson. How can you blame him without knowing the facts?”

Her father-in-law was clearly biased toward the Fourth Brother’s side.

The old man took a deep, angry breath. “Fine. I’ll give you a chance to explain and see who’s really at fault.”

Before he could act further, Zhang Yun’er spoke up: “Father, let’s discuss this at Ximu Hall!” Arguing here would only let the servants laugh, and the news might spread outside.

Hearing this, the old man regained a bit of rationality and nodded firmly.

He scanned the servants with his hands behind his back. “If I hear any rumors outside, beware for your lives.” After the warning, he stepped away.

Jiang Yingying held Liu Zhishan’s hand tightly, glaring viciously at Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling, and followed the old man.

Zhang Yun’er looked worriedly at Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling. “Are you hurt?”

They shook their heads.

“Good,” she smiled and gently patted Li Qingling’s hand. “Say what you need to at the hall, don’t be afraid. With me here, no one will bully Fourth Brother’s son or daughter-in-law.”

Previously, she had tolerated Jiang Yingying as the eldest sister-in-law, pretending not to hear occasional unpleasant remarks. Now, she would no longer tolerate her.

Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling felt a small warmth in their hearts. In the Liu family, besides the old man, only Third Aunt’s family treated them sincerely.

They appreciated this wholeheartedly and would repay it tenfold in the future.

“Thank you, Third Aunt.”

“No need to be polite, silly children,” Zhang Yun’er smiled at them. “Let’s go.”

Walking ahead, Jiang Yingying whispered to Liu Zhishan, telling him not to be afraid. She would protect him, and if all else failed, he still had his father.

Liu Zhishan nodded slightly and straightened his back. His mother was right—he still had his father.

Liu Zhimou had lost both parents. Who could he rely on? Grandfather? He was old—how long could he rely on him? Once his father inherited the Liu family, wouldn’t he be at their mercy?

Thinking of this, Liu Zhishan’s fear completely vanished.

Time was on his side. He had no reason to fear Liu Zhimou; rather, Liu Zhimou should fear him for offending him.

When they arrived at Ximu Hall, the old man sat in the main seat and surveyed the descendants and daughters-in-law. He waved for the servants to summon the second branch.

This was to make an example, letting them know that his treasured grandson could not be trifled with.

Previously, he might have considered this and that. Now, he cared less. At his age, with few years left, he must protect his treasured grandson properly and prevent anyone from bullying him.