Anning saw that the patriarch was quite angry and hurriedly came out to smooth things over. "Perhaps it was because he stayed up late for the vigil last night and couldn’t get up today. It’s been a busy year, and it’s hard to wait for the New Year; getting a good sleep in peace is indeed deserved." The patriarch’s anger dissipated a bit, but he still said, "Does he alone wish to sleep in? I’d like to sleep in too. Is Third not tired? He still managed to come early." In the middle of the conversation, the second branch of the Xu family arrived. Xu Minruo, upon seeing Xu Zhiyong enter, quickly tiptoed over to tug at Xu Zhiyong’s sleeve: "Dad, why are you so late? Grandpa is angry." Xu Zhiyong knew he was late and hurriedly went over to speak some kind words to the patriarch. Old Madam had sharp eyes, instantly noticing that the clothes Gousheng, who was following behind Xu Zhiyong to give New Year’s greetings, were old. She immediately became angry. While waiting for the younger generation to come and kowtow, Old Madam smiled and gave big red envelopes to Xu Minruo, Lan, Ying Ge’er, along with Zhou Yu’er. Xu Minfang and Minwu from the third branch also received red envelopes, all except for Gousheng. Gousheng felt particularly wronged: "Grandma, what about me? I kowtowed too." Old Madam scoffed: "What for? The money your grandma is saving for you. I’ll get you some cloth to make a new outfit another day, to save it from being taken by your mother to the Feng family again." Hearing this, the patriarch also noticed that Gousheng wasn’t wearing new clothes. He glared coldly at Xu Zhiyong: "What’s going on? Can’t even afford to buy your child new clothes for the New Year? Are you short of money or what? Your Eldest is being taken care of by your elder sister-in-law, you and your wife aren’t missing arms or legs, can’t you support one child?" Mrs. Feng hung her head in silence, Xu Zhiyong’s face flushed with embarrassment, stammering without being able to speak. Xu Minruo realized something was amiss. She took Gousheng to another room for a close questioning, and after coming out, she gestured to Old Madam. Old Madam understood immediately. She pointed to Mrs. Feng: "A disgraceful thing you are; even if there were gold and silver mountains at home, you’d find a way to squander it all." Mrs. Feng’s head dropped even lower. Old Madam shouted angrily: "What are you still standing there for? Loitering around like a ghost, why don’t you hurry up and help in the kitchen?" Mrs. Feng’s eyes reddened, tears falling drop by drop. Old Madam was close to being angered to death: "Can’t I speak a word now? Crying on the New Year’s Day, who are you showing this to? If you want to seek misfortune, go to your own home; don’t dirty my floor." Mrs. Feng covered her face and ran to the kitchen. Mrs. Li sneered coldly, taking her seat with a hint of triumph with her two sons. The patriarch then said to Xu Zhiyong: "You need to keep your wife in check, to prevent her from bringing disaster to our entire family. Don’t let her go to the Feng family again, and keep an eye on anyone coming from there. You should handle the family finances yourself, or if you really can’t, give it to your mother to manage. Your elder sister-in-law is an honest person; she definitely won’t covet those two coins of yours." Xu Zhiyong felt unbearably ashamed. "It was elder sister-in-law who taught us how to make money. If I were to harbor such thoughts, would I still be a human?" Xu Zhiqin felt the same. If Anning had ill intentions, why would she teach them how to make soap? In fact, the entire third branch of the Xu family was grateful to Anning, and Mrs. Li often visited Da Fang, maintaining a decent relationship with Anning. It was just that Mrs. Feng always looked as though someone owed her a fortune, never showing her face at the elder branch’s home, just moping alone without any known reason. Mrs. Feng made it to the kitchen. Liu Bao’s family and Liu Chunmei were frying meatballs, seeing Mrs. Feng’s face of despair upon entering, Liu Bao’s family remained silent while Liu Chunmei said with a smile: "Auntie is here, take a seat and warm yourself by the fire, let me get you a cup of hot tea." Mrs. Feng sat down with a plop: "Where’s my tea? Bring it to me quickly." Liu Chunmei brought over the tea and handed it to Mrs. Feng, who took a sip and then looked at the meatballs frying in the pot, saying, "Are there any ready? Scoop a couple out for me to eat." Liu Chunmei was just about to get them when Liu Bao’s family pulled her aside: "It’s not that we won’t let you eat, but no one has eaten yet, and it’s not right to let you try them first. After all, it’s the New Year, and we want to start on a lucky note." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Feng’s face fell: "What’s this? Even you all look down on me?" Liu Bao’s family laughed: "That’s not what we mean. After all, you’re a guest, and we must show you respect. But this isn’t about respect; these are the Xu Family’s rules, and we can’t break them. Please understand our position." Mrs. Feng snorted and turned her face away. She sat by the kitchen fire and could still hear laughter coming from the main hall. To think that today was the first day of the New Year, and she had come to give her New Year’s greetings, yet they had banished her to the kitchen. The daughter-in-laws from the first and third branches were all sitting comfortably in their rooms, sipping tea and eating fruits and snacks, while only she was sitting here, being reprimanded by two servants. Mrs. Feng grew sadder and sadder, becoming obstinately fixated on the slight. Just then, Xu Minruo came in to ask Liu Bao’s family how the cooking was going. After asking her question, she rushed off in a hurry, which infuriated Mrs. Feng, who sprang up at once. She grabbed Xu Minruo by the hair and began hitting her: "I’ll beat you to death, you little whore, you’re courting death. Didn’t you see your mother sitting here? Can’t you say a word? Are you dumb? Are you stupid?" With that slap, Xu Minruo burst into tears right there. She was growing up and cared a lot about her pride, but to be beaten in front of the servants, and by her own mother no less, was both embarrassing and upsetting. "It wasn’t like that, I didn’t see... Grandma is waiting in the room for an answer, I need to get back quickly." Xu Minruo defended herself with a few words, only to be met with an even fiercer beating. "Now you’re getting close to your grandma? Neglecting your own parents, huh? You opportunistic scoundrel, see, the first branch has money so you crawl to them, do you look down on your mom and dad for being poor?" Tears covered Xu Minruo’s face: "Mom, I didn’t think that, I..." Liu Chunmei ran into the main hall: "Madam, something bad has happened, Second Mrs. is hitting Miss; you should hurry and take a look." Anning couldn’t sit still upon hearing this and strode towards the kitchen. Old Madam and Mrs. Li followed as well. They had just stepped out of their room when they heard Mrs. Feng’s scolding. Old Madam was quivering with rage. Anning supported her: "Mother, let me go check." Old Madam waved her away: "Go, be quick about it. Such indignity towards Minruo on the New Year’s day, I think she doesn’t want to live." Anning hurried over and entered the kitchen in no time. As soon as she stepped through the door, she saw Mrs. Feng enthusiastically beating Xu Minruo while scolding: "I’ll beat you to death, you little whore, you shameless wench, you..." Liu Bao’s family was trying to pull her away, but Mrs. Feng had too much strength and shoved Liu Bao’s family aside. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs ɴovelfire.net Anning stepped forward immediately upon seeing this and seized Mrs. Feng’s hand: "What’s going on? Are you trying to beat Miss to death or what?" Mrs. Feng took a deep breath: "Sister-in-law, I don’t need you meddling in how I discipline my own daughter." Anning laughed coldly: "I was the one who raised her, and you keep calling her a little whore. Aren’t you insulting me? What have I ever done to you that you treat me so cheaply?" "Mrs. Feng, you wretch, always causing trouble during the New Year." Old Madam had also arrived by then, and seeing Xu Minruo’s condition, she was almost furious to death, quickly picked up a fire poker and started beating Mrs. Feng. "I’ll beat you to death, you ungrateful creature. Minruo is my granddaughter, a daughter of the Xu Family, when did she ever need discipline from a Feng? If she’s not behaving, it’s for me, her grandma, to say, and for her real dad to teach, not for you to grandstand here."