Married but Untouched! Her Soldier Husband Came Home Dumbfounded! - Chapter 50

Yu Chunxia, barely in her teens and built like a small boulder, realized what was happening and let out a scream before lunging at Sun Xiujü for a scuffle.

Elder Sister Ye pinched Shen Cuilan and whispered, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help your mom!”

Shen Cuilan snapped out of her daze, her eyes red, and rushed forward, grabbing Yu Chunxia’s hair from behind and dragging her to the ground.

Though only nineteen, Shen Cuilan had grown up doing farm work and was surprisingly strong. Together with her mother, they quickly pinned Yu Chunxia to the ground.

Sun Xiujü straddled Yu Chunxia’s torso, slapping her face repeatedly.

Even the usually fierce Zhou Hongyu was stunned by the sudden scene.

Among the onlookers was also Zhou Hongqi’s elder uncle’s wife. Seeing the brawl, she immediately tried to intervene.

Zhou Hongyu grabbed her, murmuring anxiously, “How did it get to fighting all of a sudden? Let go! She’s family, not an outsider—we can’t have a fight…”

Though she spoke, her body remained motionless.

Zhou Hongqi’s aunt and the other women had only superficial concerns. Being restrained, they didn’t struggle either.

They cast a half-smile at Zhou Hongyu, feigning concern. “What are you two doing, right in front of the kids? Can’t you talk this out? Stop fighting!”

Sun Xiujü and Ye Cuilan were far too worked up to heed the warnings. Slaps and punches landed on Yu Hongxia’s face and body, forcing the woman, who had just scolded her daughter-in-law, to scream in pain.

Meanwhile, Ye Fangfei and her three brothers had just reached the village entrance when Ye Xihu got off his bicycle.

“Younger sister,” he said, “Xiaozhoukou is technically our maternal grandfather’s place. In this village, people call him uncle or cousin. It’s not really our business to get involved. Let’s sit at grandfather’s for a bit. If it really turns into a fight, we’ll step in.”

“I understand, brother. I’ll go see what’s happening first.” Ye Fangfei had never been to Shen Cuilan’s home before, and Ye Erhu guided her.

As they approached the courtyard, the wails of chaos reached their ears. Outside, several women were pressed against the gate, watching the commotion.

Ye Fangfei stepped inside and froze. Her mother-in-law was straddling a woman, slapping her, while Shen Cuilan held the woman’s hands down, making it easier for Sun Xiujü to hit.

Zhou Hongyu, Elder Sister Ye, and another woman were at the side, pleading for the fight to stop—but remained motionless.

Seeing her daughter, Zhou Hongyu signaled at her, silently saying, “See? We know what we’re doing.”

Ye Fangfei’s lips twitched as she turned to Shen Cuilan, who was staring blankly. Something felt terribly wrong.

Her heart clenched. She rushed over. “Cuilan… Cuilan…”

After calling several times with no response, Ye Fangfei pinched her arm hard. Shen Cuilan’s eyes finally shifted.

“Cuilan, don’t be afraid. We’re here to back you up.” Ye Fangfei pointed to Yu Chunxia on the ground. “Has that woman ever bullied you?”

Ye Fangfei knew Shen Cuilan had suffered greatly today. She needed a way to vent her anger, or it would fester into a long-lasting grudge.

Shen Cuilan looked at Yu Chunxia, her clouded gaze gradually clearing. Hatred, impossible to hide, gleamed in her eyes.

Ye Fangfei pulled her toward Yu Chunxia. “Hit her—hard, right in the face. Mom, I, and your little sister are all here. Don’t be afraid. Think of all the times she bullied you and take it out today.”

Everyone froze. Sun Xiujü stopped hitting, holding her stunned daughter, crying bitterly.

“Cuilan… my daughter… you’ve suffered so much. It’s all because your father and I were blind… we married you to a monster…”

Tears streamed down Shen Cuilan’s face in torrents as she buried her head in Sun Xiujü’s arms, sobbing. “Mom… they all gang up on me…”

“Why didn’t you tell me, you silly girl? You almost gave me a heart attack!”

Ye Fangfei, seeing Yu Chunxia struggling to get up, kicked her hard in the leg and pulled Shen Cuilan up. “See? She’s bullying you. Hit her—hit her hard.”

Zhou Hongyu signaled at her daughter to watch her words. If Shen Cuilan divorced Zhou Hongqi, it didn’t matter. But if they stayed married, she couldn’t hit her mother-in-law—otherwise, the family relationship would collapse.

Sun Xiujü had already helped her vent her anger. If Shen Cuilan struck again, it would become assault against a senior—justified anger would turn into guilt.

Ye Fangfei ignored Zhou Hongyu’s subtle warning. She looked at Shen Cuilan. Hit or not? The choice was hers.

Sun Xiujü reassured her: “Cuilan, whatever you do, Mom agrees.”

Slowly, Shen Cuilan stood, facing Yu Chunxia. She studied her for a moment, then raised her hand—and the sound of slaps echoed through the room.

Outside, a woman close to Yu Chunxia quietly ran to the field to call her family after seeing her get beaten.

Meanwhile, at the Shen Village team.

Shen Jianhua was mobilizing reinforcements. He first informed his eldest brother, Shen Jianguo, and his third brother, Shen Jianjun, then contacted cousins and a few trusted neighbors.

This was the advantage of rural life: despite petty grudges, when a married daughter was bullied, everyone would step in. Who wouldn’t support their own?

Soon, dozens of men and women, all strong laborers, gathered at Shen Jianhua’s home.

He looked around, seeing almost every household represented, and expressed gratitude: “Thanks, brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces. I, Shen Jianhua, won’t forget this favor. If I’m ever absent, blame me!”

A man in his teens shouted: “Jianhua, don’t speak so formally. We grew up together. We know who you are. Even if you didn’t call, we’d come. If the Zhou family dares hurt my niece, we’ll break their legs!”

Another young man said: “Second Uncle, I and Zhanxun are brothers. His sister is my sister. Even if he’s not home, the rest of us are here. If they dare bully Cuilan, we’ll go to Xiaozhoukou and deal with them.”

Shen Jianhua felt moved. He looked around for his eldest brother and third brother, but didn’t see them. He smirked inwardly, setting aside anger to lead his group toward Xiaozhoukou.

Just as they left the village, Shen Jianjun and Zhu Dongmei arrived, clutching sticks.

Panting, Shen Jianjun said, “Second Brother, why didn’t you wait? Dongmei was picking cotton in the west field. I came to get her. By the time we returned, you were gone.”

Shen Jianhua, seeing them out of breath, felt a little warmed. “You know Cuilan’s situation. Why wait? If I couldn’t see, I could still go myself.”

Shen Jianjun fumed, “That Zhou Hongqi scoundrel dares bully our Cuilan. That beast won’t live long.”

Zhu Dongmei cursed fiercely. “He struts around like a gentleman, but dares do such shameless things. Today, I’ll tear up his face—let’s see him show his face again.”

Turning to a nearby woman, she continued, “That household has so many girls. I love Cuilan the most. The others always argue with me. Cuilan is the only obedient one. Before she married, she helped watch my kids and bathed my second child. Such a hardworking girl, bullied by her in-laws, I could die of anger hearing about it.”

Shen Jianjun glanced at his wife. “Alright, stop. Save your shouting for Xiaozhoukou. Your voice is too loud—you’ll insult their ancestors before we arrive.”

He looked around, not seeing his eldest brother, and whispered to Shen Jianhua, “Eldest Brother and Zhan Tao were coming but were stopped by the elder sister-in-law.”

Shen Jianhua said nothing, unwilling to comment.

At Dongping City Railway Station.

Shen Zhanxun strode out, luggage in hand.

He immediately saw a man in his thirties waving at him, standing by a jeep.

It was his former comrade, Song Shaoguang, who was now assigned to the Dongping City Party Committee after discharge.