Second Aunt Liu Zheng, true to her name, had a square face with an honest appearance. Unfortunately, appearances can be deceiving. Although usually quiet, when she really got angry, she dared to pick up a hoe and smash it on the original host’s head.

Standing beside Liu Zheng was her scheming husband, Mr. Tian. If the second aunt was the enforcer of this family, this second uncle was the instigator. In the original host’s memory, he always played the role of a night demon, being extremely harsh to the original host. The fact that the original host had become so weak and easily bullied was largely due to being oppressed by this person since childhood.

If this family had treated the original host even a bit better, she wouldn’t have ended up with a cold-induced illness, beyond medical help and waiting for death.

Liu Changning stood tall, holding the door ring, looking at these two. They wouldn’t come without a reason, and today the sky was gloomy, with a big rain about to fall at any moment.

These two had walked a full five kilometers from the east end of the village to come here, it definitely wasn’t for anything good.

“Grand-niece, you finally opened the door. Where’s that profl… Where’s our nephew-in-law? Not at home?” Liu Tian pulled Liu Zheng forward two steps, craning her neck to peek into the courtyard.

Liu Zheng gave Tian a warning glance, apparently blaming her for overstepping and speaking out of turn.

Tian pulled her hand back and consciously took a step back. But her narrow eyes kept darting around the courtyard behind Liu Changning.

Liu Zheng coughed heavily and looked suspiciously at her niece, who seemed to have become a shade fairer in the month they hadn’t seen her.

She frowned and scolded, “How come you only came out after we knocked for so long! How did your aunt teach you manners? Even if you’ve separated from the family, there’s no reason to be so disrespectful! ”

Liu Zheng had studied with the village’s poor scholar for a year or two in her early years. The pedantic scholar in the village valued propriety and integrity above all else!

Although Liu Zheng hadn’t learned poetry and prose, she had fully absorbed the pedantic scholar’s rigid views on etiquette.

Liu Changning crossed her arms, looking leisurely at her supposedly strict aunt, and said expressionlessly, “Oh, I’ve been orphaned since childhood and lived under others’ roofs. I’m illiterate, so naturally, I don’t understand much about etiquette and integrity. As for what you taught me, I might be naturally stupid and unable to learn.”

Her tone was extremely slow, her voice calm and flat, but every sentence was filled with sarcasm.

Suddenly confronted by her niece, Liu Zheng’s face turned from green to pale. She stepped forward, about to scold this disobedient dog as she used to. But she was pulled back by her husband’s sleeve.

“My dear wife, you must not! Changning is the only offspring of your elder sister’s family. She’s now a married woman, naturally with more temper. You can’t scold her like before.”

After saying this, he gave Liu Zheng a look. After all, they came to ask for money. If his wife directly beat the girl, even if this grand-niece was weak, if she was hurt, her profligate husband definitely wouldn’t give them the money.

Tian, being diplomatic, after pacifying his wife, turned to Liu Changning, blinking and saying kindly, “Niece, don’t you think your uncle is right? Why are you still standing there? Quickly invite your second aunt inside!”

He smiled until his eyes became thin slits, making friendly gestures towards Liu Changning.

Unfortunately, this niece was as dense as a wooden block, ignoring his goodwill.

Tian was slightly stunned, suddenly feeling something strange. He looked back and forth at the grand-niece he hadn’t seen in a month.

Just now, he was only thinking about how to get the money, but upon careful observation, he found that this niece seemed to have gained more dignity than before.

Perhaps it was because the profligate husband she married a month ago had brought money and taken good care of her. Although she still looked thin, her previously sallow complexion had changed. She had become two shades fairer, looking somewhat better than before.

Now dressed in pure white linen clothes, standing straight at the door, she actually had the same air as his own daughter.

Tian was puzzled in his heart. After all, his second daughter Liu Dong had been studying with the neighbor’s scholar aunt for many years. A few days ago, they had sent her to the county academy. Her scholarly air was unmatched by any other woman in the entire Xiqiao Village.

Tian squinted, his gaze falling on Liu Changning again.

He sneered, a trace of disdain rising in his heart. He knew all too well what kind of person his grand-niece was. Her personality was exactly like her deceased father’s. She did things without any care, and her character was weak. If she were a man, she could still find a wife. Unfortunately, she was a woman, and with such a personality, she would never achieve anything great.

If he hadn’t been familiar with her personality, a month ago, he wouldn’t have been able to continue extorting money from his separated grand-niece with just a little trick.

Thinking of this, Tian curled his lips, his expression full of pride.

Liu Changning’s expression remained unchanged. She squinted impatiently at the couple on the steps below, who were acting in concert, and said displeased: “There’s no need to come in. Although you two are nominally my elders, what you’ve done over the years has truly been heartbreaking. Now that I’ve separated and established my own household, I have no desire to reminisce with you two elders. If you have something to say, say it. If not, then leave.”

At these words, not only did Liu Zheng’s face turn from green to white, but the smile on Tian’s lips also froze.

Liu Zheng was so angry that her whole body trembled. She raised her voice in anger: “Rebellious, rebellious! Let me beat this disobedient little bastard to death today. Even if you’ve separated, I’m still your second aunt. How dare you speak to me like this.”

She shook off Liu, making to step forward, her wide and rough palm raised high.

However, unexpectedly, the usually weak and incompetent niece met her angry gaze and said casually: “I advise you to be smarter. I have been abused by your family for many years. I didn’t speak up before, but everyone in the village has seen it. If you dare to lay a hand on me today, we’ll settle this in court from now on.”

Her tea-colored eyes swept over steadily, with a fierce cold light in her eyes: “Remember that my second cousin is still studying in the county. Scholars value their reputation the most. If word gets out that her parents abused their elder cousin of the same clan, it might ruin her future career.”

Liu Zheng’s raised palm halted abruptly in mid-air, unable to fall.

Her eyes, not particularly large, suddenly widened, causing her short eyelashes to flutter back and forth.