Madam Zhao spoke up, "Sister-in-law, you asked us to come over, but now you’re not saying anything. What did you call us here for? If there’s nothing important, we’ll head back. We still have plenty of work waiting at home; the field chores aren't quite sorted out yet." "I didn't ask you to come.

If you have things to do at home, you can go ahead. But Zhao Yu cannot leave. Our master has something he needs to discuss with him," said Madam He, glancing at Madam Zhao. Madam Zhao's face flushed with embarrassment.

Normally, she wouldn't stand for such treatment and would have left long ago. But with her son present, she dared not leave him alone, unsure what this family might do to him. So, she remained silent, standing by her son, waiting. After nearly an hour, Dajiang finally arrived leading a large group: the Zhao couple, Hongxia, Erniu's whole family, and Qingshan's whole family.

Naturally, Yu'er had come along too. Seeing everyone present, Madam He greeted them warmly, and in a flash, the courtyard was filled with people. Madam He announced, "Parents, please address this matter with Zhao Yu today." Since Dajiang had already discussed the situation with Zhao Shi and Erniu at Erniu's house, Zhao Shi naturally understood the sequence of events. She nodded when Madam He spoke.

Sitting down, Zhao Shi didn't leave Zhao Yu and his mother standing awkwardly like Madam He had; instead, she had someone invite them to sit and began, "Zhao Yu, has our Yu'er done anything improperly since marrying into your family? If there’s anything she’s done wrong, you must guide her kindly. After all, Yu'er is still young, newly a wife, and perhaps doesn't grasp every nuance yet." Zhao Yu, being an honest man himself, replied gently when Zhao Shi spoke so softly, "No, Grandmother. Yu'er has done nothing wrong since marrying into our family.

She’s been excellent." "If Yu'er hasn't done anything wrong, then why did you treat my Yu'er so harshly? I thought perhaps my Yu'er had committed some heinous offense to provoke such treatment from you," Zhao Shi’s tone remained calm. "No, I didn't hit Yu'er. I’ve never even raised my voice to her; how could I strike her?" Zhao Yu asked, genuinely confused.

"Oh? So you’re saying I’m falsely accusing you? Yu'er, come here, let your husband see if I'm mistaken," Zhao Shi called Yu'er, who had been standing behind her. Yu'er walked up to Zhao Shi and looked at Zhao Yu, her expression perfectly placid.

She didn't speak, just stood quietly. Zhao Shi continued, "Zhao Yu, I won’t discuss other things first. Do you remember what Yu'er looked like when she first married you? It’s only been a few months, and look at her now.

She is your wife; don't you cherish her? We sent a radiant young girl to your home upon marriage. Where is that radiance now? What am I to say?

To put it plainly, even if I sold Yu'er into servitude, she wouldn't look like this. Believe me, look at the maid behind Lin He, Ziyu." Zhao Yu knew a little of this. He was aware that his mother wasn't always kind to his wife. He had privately cautioned his mother several times, but she wouldn't listen.

Not wanting to openly defy her, and partly unaware of the full extent of his mother's harsh actions, he had simply kept quiet. Now, faced with Zhao Shi's questioning, he didn't know what to say, looking toward Yu'er without speaking. Madam Zhao walked over and interjected, "Grandmother Zhao, you might be mistaken in this matter. Yu'er’s daily food, clothing, and necessities have always been the same as ours.

How is it that we are fine, but Yu'er has ended up this way? If you must blame someone, blame our poverty; we cannot afford to maintain a young lady raised in a wealthy household." "Oh, is that so? Let's set that aside for a moment and talk about the bruises on my Yu'er’s body. Where did those come from?

And the lump on her head and the hair pulled out—are you ignorant of those as well? Zhao Yu, you are a man; once you marry a wife, you should treat her well. You’ve tormented her to this state. If you say it wasn't you, then who was it?" Zhao Shi still addressed Zhao Yu, though her tone grew stern.

"This…" Zhao Yu looked at the injuries on Yu'er and was visibly shocked. He seemed to recall something and glanced toward his mother, before finally managing to speak. "Zhao Yu, I know my granddaughter. She was always doted upon at her maternal home.

She isn't adept at field labor, but Yu'er is guileless and honest. If she were scolded or hit, she wouldn't dare speak out or cause a fuss; she would only run back to her family home to hide for a while. You are your mother's darling, and my Yu'er is our family's darling. Seeing these injuries on Yu'er, our entire family hasn't slept soundly for several nights.

We intended to discuss this thoroughly with you when you came to fetch her, but you acted as if nothing had happened. If that’s the case, why did you bother taking a wife in the first place?" Zhao Shi softened her tone again. Lin He watched her grandmother and felt this approach was correct. After all, the main goal of gathering everyone today wasn't merely to assign blame for Yu'er being beaten—the hitting had already occurred.

If life was to continue, the priority was finding a resolution. Since the purpose was problem-solving, the atmosphere couldn't be allowed to freeze over, or there would be no room for compromise. Zhao Yu was at a loss for words. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Grandmother, I understand.

I was wrong. I have wronged Yu'er. I promise I will never let Yu'er suffer any grievance again; I will definitely treat her well." Madam Zhao couldn't bear to see her son speaking so deferentially. She stood up and retorted, "On what grounds do you accuse my Yu'er?

My Yu'er has never laid a hand on her daughter-in-law. Because you see him as honest, you want to push everything onto him?" "If Zhao Yu didn't do it, then it was you who hit her," Madam He stood up as well and said. "If I hit her, then I hit her. I am the mother-in-law; if the daughter-in-law is disobedient, what’s wrong with me teaching her a lesson?

Do you need your entire family here for this? What are you trying to do? Are you planning to fight back?" Zhao Shi simply admitted it then. "Do you think I won't fight back?

Today, I truly won't let this pass!" Madam He said, rolling up her sleeves. Zhao Shi exchanged a look with Dajiang, and Dajiang held Madam He back. Zhao Shi looked at Madam Zhao, then turned back to address Zhao Yu, "Zhao Yu, Grandmother knows you have your difficulties. You need to study, and you aren't home much.

You aren't entirely aware of what’s happened to Yu'er here. The reason I summoned you today wasn't to punish you. It’s just that, seeing Yu'er in this state, we truly aren't at ease letting her return to your household. How about this: let Yu'er stay at her maternal home, and when you return in the evenings, you can come over here too?"