Chapter 13: Cheng Dahai’s Ultimate Struggle
Bang!
A fiery pain shot through his shoulder.
Da Shan Cheng abruptly shoved Qin Dongzhi aside and grabbed Old Madam Han’s cane.
Then came a furious roar.
“Enough!”
“You...” Old Madam Han trembled in fright.
But Da Shan Cheng gripped the cane firmly, glaring coldly at her. “Mother, do you really believe it was Su Yun and Xiao Liu who slandered you and the eldest sister-in-law?”
“Then what have you all been doing all these years?”
Ignoring Old Madam Han’s changing expression, Da Shan continued, “Son? When have you ever truly cared about me, your son? No matter how biased you were over the years, I never said a word. But do you honestly think I’m a fool?”
“Rebel—rebelled!”
“Rebelled... all rebelled...”
Old Madam Han was utterly terrified, trembling as she loosened her grip on the cane and stepped back repeatedly.
She had never seen her third son so fierce!
Even when she had bullied Liu Shi before, threatening to sell her into the official kiln, Da Shan Cheng had never been this wild.
What’s going on? Just one trip to town and this couple changed their entire nature?
Da Shan Cheng paid no mind to Old Madam Han’s panic.
“Mother, I’m asking you!”
He took a sharp step forward, his voice growing colder still.
“How much did Xiao Yuan pay every year for tuition?”
“I...” Old Madam Han suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
Clearly, she knew this matter well.
A deep look of disappointment flashed in Da Shan’s eyes as he harshly said, “All these years, you and eldest brother have been deceiving me—haven’t you ever felt guilty?”
“Who deceived you?”
Unable to stay silent any longer, Da Hai Cheng, who had been watching the scene from inside, came over.
Supporting Old Madam Han, he then cast a cold glance at Da Shan.
“Third brother, explain yourself clearly! Who deceived you?”
“This is our mother!” he snapped angrily. “How dare you question your own mother in such an aggressive tone? Is this how you behave as a son?”
“Da Hai Cheng, stop putting on airs here! Don’t think the two of us are afraid of you...” Liu Shi stepped forward two paces, ready to argue.
But her husband yanked her behind him.
Da Shan Cheng fixed Da Hai with a cold stare, voice sudden and sharp: “Eldest brother, I won’t ask for more. Just tell me—how much was Xiao Yuan’s tuition?”
“Two hundred wen, so what?”
...
Da Shan was momentarily speechless.
He hadn’t expected Da Hai to admit it so readily.
---
At the doorway of the east room, Da He Cheng and his wife were also taken aback.
Da Hai continued confidently, “The reason I said it was four hundred wen is because more than half of that was ‘favor money’!”
“Du Xiu from Baima Academy was my classmate!”
“You know how it is nowadays—when you go out for business, you have to entertain and give gifts. When our child learns from others, if you don’t offer some benefits, will they look out for you?”
Watching nearby, An Cheng almost laughed in disbelief.
What a silver-tongued fox Da Hai really was...
All these years of study clearly hadn’t been in vain!
If they hadn’t overheard Mr. Du’s words today with their own ears, Father and Mother might have been fooled again.
Disgust filled Da Shan’s eyes.
“And the money you borrowed earlier?”
“What?”
Da Hai snapped his head around sharply.
But he soon replied calmly without embarrassment, “Since that’s the case, I won’t hide it anymore! A few days ago, I did borrow money from Du Xiu—but it was for you all.”
“Hah!”
Liu Shi finally laughed with anger.
She crossed her arms, looking at Da Hai with mockery, as if to say...
Keep on fooling yourself!
Da Hai shot a glance at Liu Shi, coolly saying, “Though Mother has a sharp tongue, she has a heart of tofu...”
“With the officials coming soon to collect taxes, it was Mother who couldn’t bear to see you two suffer, so she insisted I find a way to borrow money to keep you all safe!”
“Ah...”
“Yes!”
Old Madam Han hurriedly nodded.
Her spirit lifted instantly.
She trembled slightly as she pointed at Da Shan, her voice full of disappointment.
“You are all my own sons—how could I bear to watch you fall on hard times?”
“But what about you?”
Old Madam Han wept, grief-stricken.
“You, Liu Cuiyun, always seemed gentle and delicate, but who would have thought your heart was so malicious—to slander your own mother-in-law in front of the entire village! What are you trying to achieve?”
“And you, sister-in-law...”
Old Madam Han grew more passionate, cursing harshly, “Hasn’t she treated you well? Whenever there’s food or drink, isn’t she always concerned about the children first? If you ruin your own family’s reputation like this, aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
“That’s right!”
Qin Dongzhi seized the opportunity to chime in, “Heartless and cruel—you deserve nothing but to be sold off by the officials!”
An Cheng quietly watched Old Madam Han and Qin Dongzhi encouraging each other’s accusations.
Is this frailty in old age?
Is this weakness of body?
Their voices...
Were louder than his mother’s loudspeaker!
He, of course, understood their intention.
They merely wanted to use this chance to let the neighbors hear how Liu Shi had slandered them.
---
“Eldest brother!”
Da Shan looked at Da Hai with profound disappointment, taking a deep breath.
“Are you sure you want to make such a scene? If you hadn’t brought this up, it could have been left in the past. But...”
“What do you mean, third brother?”
Da Hai’s eyes flickered.
He knew full well what he had done behind their backs.
But he refused to admit it.
Not for anything.
Da Shan hesitated slightly, then said coldly, “Don’t you understand what I mean? Do I have to spell everything out before you realize your mistake?”
“You...”
Da Hai paused for a moment but quickly frowned, “What mistake? Borrowing money is shameful, yes—but for whom? And Mother, even if she’s been thoughtless in some ways, she’s still our mother. Can’t I say a few words?”
“And you—third brother’s family.”
Da Hai’s words came fast, giving no room for interruption.
He looked seriously at Liu Shi, “Sister-in-law, you may be lazy at times, but as a younger sister-in-law, what’s wrong with doing more housework? Is that worth gossiping about in front of outsiders?”
“Da Hai Cheng, you...”
Liu Shi was momentarily stunned, nearly forgetting her ‘weaknesses’.
Da Hai, sensing this, grew even more flustered and hurriedly pulled Old Madam Han back inside.
“Enough, enough humiliation for one day! Everyone, go back to sleep!”
At that moment, Second Uncle Da He, who had been watching from behind, came over, neck hunched.
“Eldest brother...”
He eyed Da Hai suspiciously.
“You really went to town to borrow money? Then what about this tax collection...?”
“Do you have money?”
“Me?”
Da He quickly shook his head, “All our money is with Mother. How could I have any!”
“Then what’s the point of talking?”
Da Hai snapped impatiently, “You two are my own brothers. Father died young. If not me, then who? Do you want to be taken away by the officials?”
“Ha!”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Da He laughed broadly.
But Qin Dongzhi was displeased and followed along, protesting.
“Husband...”
“Shut up!”
Da Hai snapped coldly, “We’re all family. Do you want to fight to the death? Now hurry and help Mother to bed!”
“Eldest brother, you...”
Even Old Madam Han was stunned.
She stared at the son she had raised for over thirty years, the one she held dear at her heart, feeling strangely unfamiliar with him.
This isn’t how things were supposed to end!
Wasn’t it agreed that Liu Shi, that wretched woman, would never be spared?
Wasn’t she going to be completely driven out of the Cheng family?