Chapter 16: Deal with Him as Well

"Jiang Hao!"

Su Qingli could no longer hold back; she hurried over and stood protectively in front of Zhang Liping.

Though she harbored her own grievances against Zhang Liping, this woman was still her mother—her own flesh and blood. How could she simply watch as her mother was slapped before her very eyes?

And the one who struck her was Jiang Hao—her husband.

At this moment, Su Qingli was truly at a loss. Her heart ached with pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks, tracing delicate lines along her gentle face.

"Jiang Hao, she's our mother. How could you lay a hand on her? Even if she's wronged you, you can’t do this..."

Her voice broke as she spoke through her sobs.

Seeing Su Qingli cry like that stirred a faint pang of guilt in Jiang Hao’s heart. After all, she was the woman he had once loved. They had lived together under the same roof for years. How could he truly be made of stone, utterly unmoved at the sight of her tears?

But Jiang Hao drew a deep breath, ruthlessly suppressing any trace of compassion.

He fixed a cold gaze on Su Qingli and Zhang Liping behind her, and said with icy disdain, "What do you mean, 'she's our mother'? Su Qingli, let me tell you: she's your mother, not mine! For years, I, Jiang Hao, have served her as dutifully as a son. Whatever she ordered, I did; whatever she demanded, I obeyed without question. And what about her?"

"If she really treated me like her son-in-law, would she have been so vicious and harsh? Half the bitterness I've swallowed in your family came from her!"

"And now, you dare call her 'our mother'? Search your heart—does your conscience not ache?"

Jiang Hao’s words left Su Qingli speechless.

Indeed, over these years, Jiang Hao had fulfilled his duties as a son-in-law, tending to Zhang Liping as comfortably as an empress dowager in a palace drama.

But what about her? Had she ever looked at Jiang Hao with warmth? Had she ever spoken a kind word to him?

The answer was no.

"She showed me no kindness; I owe her nothing in return! Su Qingli, I owe neither her nor you anything!"

Jiang Hao waved his hand, his tone resolute and final.

Su Tianming interjected furiously, "Jiang Hao, my aunt is your mother-in-law—your elder! So what if she scolds you now and then?"

Jiang Hao turned, locking eyes with Su Tianming without flinching. "Now and then? She’s been scolding me for years! Su Tianming, let me tell you: if you haven’t tasted another’s suffering, don’t lecture them on virtue. Selfish and petty men like you are the least qualified to preach to me!"

Su Tianming was left dumbstruck by Jiang Hao’s words, unable to find a retort.

Meanwhile, Zhang Liping sat on the ground, wailing and putting on a show of grief as if mourning the dead.

"Neighbors, come and see! My son-in-law hit his mother-in-law! I can’t go on... I might as well be dead! What kind of heartless son-in-law is this under heaven!"

Her cries echoed through the building, rattling the walls.

Doors up and down the corridor swung open, faces peering out curiously, and the gossip began.

"What’s going on? What a commotion..."

"The son-in-law hit his mother-in-law? What kind of man is that..."

"Ah, young people these days..."

Zhang Liping continued to make a scene, sitting on the floor, pointing at Jiang Hao, crying and sniffling, "Look, everyone, it’s this wretch. He eats our food, lives in our house, and now he even dares to hit me, his mother-in-law! What is the world coming to? I might as well be dead!"

More and more neighbors gathered, all pointing fingers at Jiang Hao.

The Su family stood by, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

But what did it matter? Jiang Hao remained unfazed.

He had done nothing shameful and feared no scrutiny.

Besides, he would soon be leaving this place. So let the neighbors say what they would; their judgment was of no consequence.

But Su Qingli could not endure it.

Her own mother, making a spectacle of herself before so many people, wailing on the floor like a shrew—what dignity was left?

Her cheeks burned with shame; her pride was in tatters.

"Mom, please stop crying. Get up and we’ll talk, okay?" Su Qingli pleaded, trying to help Zhang Liping to her feet.

But Zhang Liping was in her element, pushing Su Qingli away. "I won’t get up! Why should I? This bastard hit me. Unless he apologizes, pays me compensation, and divorces you, I won’t get up!"

With that, she dragged herself to Jiang Hao’s feet and sprawled on the floor.

"Go on, hit me! If you’ve got the guts, beat me to death!"

Jiang Hao’s brows knit into a frown.

Zhang Liping’s shameless performance was truly disgraceful.

This was his mother-in-law. What had he done in a past life to deserve such a fate in this one?

"Mom, please don’t make a scene!" Su Qingli pleaded desperately, but Zhang Liping refused to relent.

Just then, a new voice rang out.

"Qingli, Aunt Zhang, I'm so sorry I'm late..."

A young man squeezed through the crowd—it was none other than Pan Yixuan.

On the way here, Zhang Liping had secretly messaged Pan Yixuan about Jiang Hao and Su Qingli's impending divorce, hoping he would come lend support.

Pan Yixuan was overjoyed when he received the news, sensing his long-awaited opportunity: at last, Jiang Hao would be cast aside, and he could be with Su Qingli. He had hurried over eagerly.

But he hadn’t expected to walk into such chaos.

Wasn’t this supposed to be a divorce? How had it devolved into such a scene?

"Aunt Zhang, why are you lying on the floor? What happened?" Pan Yixuan was utterly bewildered.

Zhang Liping resumed her theatrics, pointing at Jiang Hao. "This heartless son-in-law hit me—twice! I can’t go on. Let him beat me to death!"

Pan Yixuan flared with rage at her words.

He didn’t truly care for Zhang Liping—his affections lay elsewhere, and in his heart he wished this middle-aged woman would disappear altogether.

But he knew this was his moment to shine.

"Well, well, Jiang Hao. Aunt Zhang is your mother-in-law. You not only disrespect her, you actually strike her? I’ve never seen such an ungrateful, cold-blooded ingrate! Your abilities are meager, but your temper is fierce. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson on Aunt Zhang’s behalf!"

With that, Pan Yixuan strode toward Jiang Hao.

Jiang Hao looked at him with mocking amusement.

Having already dealt with Zhang Liping, now that Pan Yixuan had arrived, he might as well handle them both together.