Chapter 109: If this were to spread, how would she be able to make a living here
As soon as Old Lady Xiao said this, with Eldest Son Xiao and the others expressing their displeasure, the crowd started to gossip about it.
"This is too outrageous. Not only did that daughter-in-law talk back to her mother-in-law, but her younger brother also beat up her brothers-in-law."
"In the past, Ge Chunyi looked like a man in a suit. I didn't expect him to have this kind of character."
"That's right. Ever since they stayed in the general's residence, the general's wife's lived together with them. On the contrary, General Xiao's parents and brothers continued to stay in the village."
"General Xiao even took special care of this brother-in-law for so long. He raised him in vain. In return, he bullied his parents and beat up his brothers?"
"What an ingrate!"
"I've only heard of those who raised their own younger siblings. I've rarely heard of those who raised their wives' younger siblings. General Xiao is also a maverick. His wife's family didn't realise it."
Others living nearby knew a little about their situation in the general's manor.
Previously, Ge Chunyi was good looking and motivated to learn.
General Xiao arranged for him to study at the Capital Academy.
His mounted archery skills were particularly outstanding.
Speculations suggested that he would be taking the scholar exam next year.
If he took the exam and clinched the 1st place, he would go to the military to gain some experience.
After using General Xiao's connections, he would be transferred back to the capital and guaranteed employment opportunities in the Ministry of War or Ministry of Justice.
His future was limitless.
Because of this, some families had taken a liking to Ge Chunyi and wanted him to be their son-in-law.
But now that this matter had come out, they felt that there was something wrong with his character.
He was too impulsive, disrespectful to his elders and even dared to hit them. He was too violent.
What if he were to hit his wife in the future?
There were a few people who whispered about these things.
Although Old Lady Xiao was in her fifties, she was very energetic and had good ears.
Naturally, she heard it.
She was furious. Her bastard second son was simply too indecent.
He actually protected the vixen's younger brother so much.
He didn't even want to help his biological brothers and nephews.
Ge Chunyi still wanted to clinch the 1st place in the scholar exam and so as to go for military training and become an official in the capital.
This kind of good thing should be happening to her grandsons, but that little bastard had already taken it for himself.
Old Lady Xiao was filled with grief and indignation. This time, she was really sad and cried miserably.
"Oh my God, why is my life so miserable?"
"I don't want to live anymore. Even my younger generation wants to bully me."
"My eldest daughter-in-law, go and find me a rope. I'll hang myself here today."
Ge Chunru had just walked out with her younger brother when she heard the old lady's words.
In addition to the looks of disdain from the people around her, she also said something harsh, especially on her younger brother's impulsiveness, ingrate, and that he was disrespectful to his elders and so on.
She was so angry that she almost fainted.
This damn old woman was totally spouting nonsense and distorting truths.
She was clearly the one who hit her, and then her younger brother came to help.
But she was her mother-in-law.
This gave her the moral high ground.
Gu Chunru didn't care about her red and swollen face and walked out crying.
"Mom, my younger brother saw that my sister-in-law slapped me and thought I was being bullied, so he went up to help. He didn't do it on purpose."
She highlighted the fact that she was slapped by her sister-in-law.
Madam Wang was very strong, and her face was still swollen. This was evidence.
Sure enough, the onlookers were all stunned when they saw the situation.
Could there be a hidden story?
When Old Lady Xiao heard her words, she knew that this vixen was going to do something evil.
If they were in the general's residence, she would definitely be unable to resist slapping him.
However, when she thought of Shi Qingluo's important advice, she held it in.
Shi Qingluo said that to deal with a phoney like Ge Chunru, she had to be more phoney than her.
Otherwise, she would definitely reverse the situation.
Old Lady Xiao raised her head and saw the anger and hatred in Ge Chunyi's eyes.
This ignited the anger in her heart.
They hadn't even expressed their displeasure to him, but that little bastard had already started to hate them.
Let's see how she'll deal with him.
Her face was full of tears as she said in a desolate and forlorn manner, "Previously, you pointed at me, your mother-in-law, and scolded me for harming the general's residence."
"So I let your sister-in-law teach you how to behave as someone's daughter-in-law. I didn't expect her to be angered and actually hit you."
Suddenly, she raised her hand and slapped herself. "I'm sorry. Let an old woman like me apologise to you, the wife of the general."
This wasn't a light slap, and everyone present heard it.
Shi Qingluo had said that these two beasts were especially ruthless so they had to be even more ruthless.
In order to highlight this fox as unfilial and to justify that that little bastard was in the wrong, she could only be ruthless to herself first.
After saying that, she raised her hand and was about to slap herself on the other side of the face.
This scene not only stunned everyone at the scene, but also Ge Chunru who suddenly didn't know what to do.
There was only one thought in her mind – game over!
The damned old woman slapping herself not only resolved what she had said earlier, but also threw all the blame onto her.
There were so many people here.
If words were to spread, wouldn't it suggest that she forced her village mother-in-law to slap herself and apologise.
This damn old woman was trying to ruin her and her younger brother's reputation.
She was too vicious.
Madam Wu was smart too.
Seeing that Old Lady Xiao was still pretending to slap herself, she immediately went up and hugged her hand.
"Mother, stop hitting. Our hearts are aching."
She was also very vicious and in turn slapped herself. "I'll do it on behalf of you. I'll slap myself and apologise to the general's wife."
Madam Wang was a no brainer, but she knew how to follow suit.
Her husband had been beaten up by that little bastard many times just now, and this made her heart ache.
If slapping herself allowed her to deal with the two little hoofs, she could also do it .
Thus, she hugged the old lady's other hand.
She cried and said, "Mother, it's all my fault. Let me talk to the general's wife properly. The daughters-in-laws in the village won't scold or talk back to their mother-in-law. I was so angry that I couldn't help but slap her. I'll apologise to the general's wife." She slapped herself as well.
Madam Wu's eyes flashed. When she pretended to help the old lady, she leaned over and whispered to Madam Wang, "Go kneel down to her."
Madam Wang and Madam Wu often had conflicts in the old residence, but they also have chemistry.
Now was the time for them to face the outside world together.
She was a shameless person to begin with.
As long as there were any benefits and advantages, kneeling down to a little hoof wasn't too much for her to bear.
Let's see if the little hoof's life would be shortened when her sister-in-law kneeled before her.
Thus, she let go of the old lady and suddenly rushed in front of Ge Chunru and kneeled in front of her.
She even raised her hand and slapped herself twice. "General's wife, it's all my fault. Don't blame my mother. If you want to fight or kill, then come at me. Don't hit my husband too."
Ge Chunru didn't expect the three village women in the old residence, who she had thought to be extremely stupid, would counter-attack like this.
Her face became pale and she was on the verge of collapsing.
These people wanted to completely destroy her reputation.
Her mother-in-law cried and apologised.
Her sister-in-law also slapped herself and even knelt down to her.
If this were to spread, how would she be able to make a living here!
Ge Chunyi saw that these people were distorting the truth.
Not only did they bully his sister, but they also knelt down.
He couldn't help but say with a sullen face, "Don't go too far!"
Ge Chunru immediately grabbed his arm. "Ah Yi, you are in the wrong. Apologise to mom and your elder brothers."
Her brother was really impulsive. If this continued, not only would her reputation be ruined, but so would his.
After that, she had to teach her brother a good lesson.
Chapter 110: Leave this true phoney with no way out
Ge Chunru hurriedly went to support Madam Wang.
"Sister-in-law, I don't blame you. You all have misunderstood me."
Madam Wang avoided her hand. "Madam General, I know you don't like us. The people in our village are straightforward. If you don't want us to continue staying in the general's manor, just say it. We'll immediately pack up our bags and beg our way to return to the village."
After watching many scenes between Old Lady Xiao and Madam Wu and taking Shi Qingluo's advice, Madam Wang's acting skills also improved tremendously.
Ge Chunru was really going crazy.
What was going on today? How did even the dumbest Madam Wang become smarter?
She really couldn't move Madam Wang from her kneeling position.
She had no choice but to run and kneel down in front of Old Lady Xiao.
"Mother, you're really killing me. When you came to the capital, I woke up early every morning and slept very late..."
She wanted to share everything on how Old Lady Xiao had asked her to serve her since she came to the general's manor.
But before she could finish, Old Lady Xiao suddenly burst into tears. "You're the one who's killing me. You're the wife of the general, and I'm just an old lady in the village. How can I make you kneel? If I allow you to kneel in front of me, we won't stay in the general's manor anymore, alright? My only wish is that you won't let your brother kill my sons and grandsons."
She wasn't stupid.
The moment she heard what the vixen said, she knew that she wanted to share about how she served her.
How could she let her continue?
Hence, she used Shi Qingluo's teachings, which were even more phoney than Ge Chunru's.
Old Lady Xiao did not like crying as her wild card, but after coming here, she realised that crying was really a good way to counter attack.
She forcefully interrupted her words. Ge Chunru really wanted to vomit blood.
At this moment, Ge Chunru wished that she could immediately kill these people.
She did not know how to change the current situation as they were using tactics that she was previously proficient in.
Shi Qingluo had seen many phoney-related TV dramas and novels in the past.
Therefore, she specifically taught Old Lady Xiao and others to transform themselves in their own phonies, so that the true phoney had no way out.
As expected, the effect was unexpectedly good.
At this moment, they heard the horse hooving.
Xiao Yuanshi was rushing back on his horse.
He saw many people surrounding the entrance of the general's manor.
His heart skipped a beat, and he had a particularly bad premonition.
He dismounted from his horse and walked in.
He saw his petite wife kneeling beside Old Lady Xiao with a red and swollen face.
Old Lady Xiao cried and begged his petite wife with a sad face.
He instantly felt a headache. What was going on this time?
Ever since his parents and the others came to the capital, he had never lived in peace.
He was afraid that they would do something evil and embarrassed him.
He only went out to the countryside to do some work. How did it end up like this?
He was also a smart and rational person.
Although he loved his little wife very much and wanted to hug and comfort her, his anger toward his mother wasn't trivial, but he remained calm and did not take action.
Instead, he walked over and assisted Old Lady Xiao.
With a concerned look, he asked, "Mother, what happened? Did Chunru do something wrong? I'll punish her properly when I go back."
These words immediately attempt to reduce major issues to minor ones and minor issues to naught.
Others also felt that he was filial.
Old Lady Xiao was forcefully assisted to stand up, and she could not break free her arm from her second son's grip.
When she raised her head, she saw her son looking at her with a warning gaze.
Old Lady Xiao had always been the domineering one.
Now, she felt especially wronged.
They were the victims of this bullying, and that little rascal even beat her sons and grandsons.
Her son actually warned her instead.
Hence, she suddenly thought of what Shi Qingluo said.
In General Xiao's manor, they were the outsiders, while he and his petite wife were the owners of this house.
As his mother, she was less important than his petite wife's finger.
Previously, she had felt that Shi Qingluo was instigating them and had said it too harshly.
Now, she suddenly felt that it made sense. Her bastard son was not a human.
Old Lady Xiao was really hurt that her son was treating her like this.
She was filled with grief. "My son, your wife wasn't wrong. It's all my fault. We shouldn't have sold our houses and lands to come to the capital to see you just because we missed you. We won't be an eyesore in the general's manor in the future. We'll go back to our hometown today. You don't have to care. We'll just beg and return to the village. We won't come to the capital to disturb you and your wife anymore."
According to Shi Qingluo's teachings, after saying this in public, her bastard son should beg them to stay.
As expected, Xiao Yuanshi's expression changed.
His mother was too vicious.
Her words seemed to be putting themselves in their shoes, but it also implied that they were unfilial.
If they really returned to the village, others would definitely scold him to death behind his back.
He would definitely need to report to the justice court tomorrow.
"Mother, don't say such words in a fit of anger. I was already prepared to bring you and father to the capital and support you. How could I possibly let you return to the village?"
Old Lady Xiao was so detestable.
Every time she brought up selling their house and land to visit him, how would the public view him?
"Let's go back and discuss this. If Chunru did anything wrong, I will personally teach her."
He had a guilty look on his face. "Mother, I have been too busy recently. That's why I haven't been taking care of our family."
He then coaxed her, "Let's go home. I'll definitely give you and father a lot of respect and support."
At this moment, he had no choice but to coax them back.
Moreover, his previous plan was postponed.
He couldn't send these people back in a short period of time.
Otherwise, he would be labelled as unfilial.
Ge Chunru immediately cried and said, "Mother, you've really misunderstood me. Yuanshi and I will definitely be filial to you and father in the future."
Old Lady Xiao had said everything she wanted.
It was useless for her to say anything now.
It was better to coax them back first and then think of a way to patch up their reputation.
Old Lady Xiao actually wanted to make a scene, but Shi Qingluo wrote a letter to remind her to be careful and know where to stop messing around after achieving the intended outcome.
They shouldn't go too far in one go, or else they will really drive these two into a corner.
General Xiao and his wife had no choice but to give up on their reputation, and it'll be troublesome if they send them back.
Hence, Old Lady Xiao sighed with a deep sense of helplessness. "Alright, let's go back to the manor first. We'll discuss how we are returning to the village later. We really don't want to stay in the general's manor. We just miss you. Since we've seen you now, we should go back to the village if we can't sustain a living." She even deliberately said those motherly words.
At this moment, Xiao Yuanshi's heart had a special breakdown.
He suddenly felt that his mother was acting like a stranger.
She should not be behaving like this.
Why did she change from being stupid and poisonous to being so good at acting?
He really could not understand.
Why did these people become so smart and scheming when they came to the capital?
At this moment, he could not be bothered to probe further. "Mother, please don't put us in a difficult position. I will not let you and father return to the village to suffer. You can live in the general's manor in peace."
Then, he sullenly said something that went against his heart. "I still need you and father to help keep an eye on the general's manor."
Old Lady Xiao reluctantly said, "Sigh, you're too kind. Then we'll stay here for a while longer and help keep an eye on the general's manor for you. I'm really worried."
She added, "Otherwise, you won't even know if there's a thief."
It would be fine if she didn't mention this, but since she did Xiao Yuanshi felt like killing someone.
He had previously received news that his family had gone to the capital magistrate's yamen to report a case of theft in the general's manor.
There had been quite a number of people keeping an eye on him recently, and this was definitely putting him at a disadvantage.
These selfish fools were taking the lead to ruin his reputation.
But he couldn't say anything in public, so he could only continue to coax them. "Yes, so I still need your help to look after it."
Why weren't they killed by the mountain bandits on the way here?
If he knew that these people had secretly gone to the capital and encountered the mountain bandits, he would have let his men pretend to be mountain bandits and kill them all so that they wouldn't come to the capital to harm him.
Old Lady Xiao always felt that this son of hers may say something pleasant, but with hidden malice.
On the surface, she still gave a loving expression. "Sigh, then I'll help you look after them for a period of time."
But in her heart, she snorted coldly.
This bastard wanted to get rid of them, so now it depended on who was more ruthless.
Seeing that they would do something even more ruthless tomorrow, she had to suppress that little hoof and her little bastard brother.
Otherwise, when that little bastard grew up, it would be troublesome if he decided to take revenge on them.
Shi Qingluo had told them to eradicate the roots of the problem.
Not to kill them, but to destroy their future.
Otherwise, it would lead them into endless trouble.
Previously, she had not taken these words seriously.
Now, looking at the little bastard wolf's eyes, she felt that she was absolutely right.