Fan Tong and Gu Honglian went to the old residence, then Tong Huaqiong sent someone to call Gu Dahuan and Gu Fengnian over.
Along with Mrs. Wei, Gu Baishuang, Gu Daqiao, Song Qiaoniang, and other Gu Family members, they all swarmed to the Gu Family’s old residence.
As soon as they entered, they heard the sound of smashing coming from inside.
"We never laid a finger on Honglian since she was a child. How long has she been at your house? Been hit three times already. If she’s not good at housework or farm work, couldn’t you teach her? How could you hit her? You came to our house without a kind word, just to take Honglian back. You’ve hit her already, you owe us an explanation, otherwise don’t think about taking her back." Mr. Gu said, his voice trembling with anger.
Fan Tong said, "How could a daughter-in-law not be wronged? My mother raised me alone for years, supporting me through school, it’s not easy. My elder sister-in-law has worked diligently in our family for many years. Honglian doesn’t know how to do housework or farm work; it’s normal for my mother and sister-in-law to say a few harsh words when worried. Honglian shouldn’t talk back to my mother or sister-in-law, and certainly shouldn’t hit my sister-in-law. The reason I hit Honglian was because she hit my sister-in-law. The elder sister-in-law is like a mother; no matter what you must respect her, otherwise, what face would I have outside? Wouldn’t it be like having people point at my back and curse?"
Fan Tong was getting a bit anxious.
A lot of men in the village beat their wives; why couldn’t he?
The parents-in-law only concerned themselves with Gu Honglian’s grievances, not thinking about his mother and sister-in-law at all.
If Honglian was sweet-talking, capable of working, and willing to take out her dowry, his mother and sister-in-law wouldn’t have such a big opinion of her.
Whose daughter-in-law runs back to her parents’ home to cry about grievances from their in-laws?
Shouldn’t the parents be persuading Gu Honglian not to contradict her mother-in-law and sister-in-law?
Mrs. Gu scolded, "Your mother supported you through school, your sister-in-law toils at your house, all because you have no future prospects. If you were like my grandson, passing the examination in one attempt, your mother and sister-in-law wouldn’t have to work so hard. What you owe your mother and sister-in-law you should repay yourself; since you don’t have what it takes, why do you torment my Honglian? Has my Honglian eaten your family’s rice or bread?"
Fan Tong, having failed the examination three times, was hit in a sore place by Mrs. Gu and became quite ashamed and angry.
Moreover, since childhood, he had been praised by his clan, except for that one time when he was hit by Gu Taohua, he had never been wronged.
Disregarding anything, he said, "Since Honglian married into my family, she’s a member of the Fan Family. She should honor the mother-in-law and respect the elder sister-in-law. She defies the mother-in-law and disrespects the elder sister-in-law; as her husband, what’s wrong with me reprimanding her?"
Gu Honglian’s face flushed with anger upon hearing this.
At this moment, the Gu Family’s residence was surrounded by villagers.
Whether before or after marriage, Gu Honglian had always prided herself as the wife of a scholar. Seeing the villagers pointing at Fan Tong and talking, it felt as though her face was being trampled by Fan Tong.
Tong Huaqiong said coldly, "Naturally, you aren’t wrong. The fault lies with Honglian for having illusions about you."
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu’s spirits were lifted upon seeing Tong Huaqiong.
The daughter-in-law was here to lend support to their daughter.
Fan Tong’s heart was filled with fear when he heard Tong Huaqiong’s voice, yet he stiffened his neck.
As long as Gu Honglian remained the Fan Family’s daughter-in-law for a day, Tong Huaqiong would have to pinch her nose and accept it.
Fan Tong turned to Gu Honglian and asked, "I’ll give you one chance. Are you coming back with me or not?"
Gu Honglian tightened her fingers.
Seeing no reaction from Gu Honglian, Fan Tong turned around and walked away.
Leave her to be sent back to Wild Bull Valley by the Gu Family.
As Fan Tong reached the door, Tong Huaqiong signaled to Gu Dahuan and Gu Fengnian.
Gu Dahuan and Gu Fengnian pinned Fan Tong down from both sides.
"What are you doing?" Fan Tong asked.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Is Qinghe Bay somewhere you can come and go as you please?"
Gu Dahuan, accustomed to physical labor, was naturally strong, and Gu Fengnian, having honed his skills in the fields, was no less powerful.
The two pinned Fan Tong down, rendering him immobile.
Tong Huaqiong pulled Gu Honglian before Fan Tong, and Gu Baishuang placed a mirror in front of Gu Honglian.
"How he slapped you, that’s how you should slap him. Whichever side of the face he slapped, you slap back the same way." Tong Huaqiong pointed to Gu Honglian’s swollen face in the mirror and said.
Gu Honglian looked at herself in the mirror, then at Fan Tong, and bit her lip.
Fan Tong roared at Gu Honglian, "Don’t you dare."
Tong Huaqiong remained silent, watching Gu Honglian coldly.
Standing before Fan Tong, Gu Honglian was startled by his roaring.
"Auntie, I thought you were tough, but you’re just bold at home. Useless thing, deserving to be bullied." Wu Na stood under the porch, nibbling on seeds and jeering.
"Stop embarrassing yourself here and hurry back to the Fan Family. Once there, you’ll live through being hit eight times a day; maybe when Fan Xiucai hits your left cheek, you’ll automatically offer the right one."
Spurred by Wu Na, Gu Honglian swung her palm and slapped Fan Tong hard.
With a loud smack, the air around them seemed to freeze.
Soon, the onlookers gasped.
They’d seen women hit men three times before: once when Tong Dajiao was young and hit Mr. Gu, once when Gu Taohua hit Xu Si, once when Wu Na hit Gu Ruinian.
Gu Honglian’s slap marked their fourth witness.
Good grief, all women associated with the Gu Family.
Fan Tong was stunned by Gu Honglian’s slap.
He couldn’t believe Gu Honglian would actually hit him.
This was only the second time in his life being hit—the first by Gu Taohua, the second by Gu Honglian.
With half his face burning hot, Fan Tong raged at Gu Honglian, "How dare you hit me? I’ll divorce you!"
Gu Honglian looked at her hand, feeling immense satisfaction.
"Divorce me then!"
"Divorce me!"
Yelling, Gu Honglian slapped Fan Tong several more times.
All the pain from the mother-in-law’s torment, the humiliation from the sister-in-law’s bullying, the sadness from Fan Tong’s slaps... surged together in Gu Honglian’s heart.
"Make him submit," Tong Huaqiong’s words seemed to echo in her ears.
Gu Honglian raised her arm again, slapping Fan Tong repeatedly.
Pinned by Gu Dahuan and Gu Fengnian, Fan Tong had nowhere to hide, forced to endure it all.
Fan Tong, from initially making threats, was reduced to pleading.
His face was swollen into a pig’s head.
"Honglian, Honglian, stop, please stop hitting me."
"If you stop, I’ll agree to anything."
"I’ll have my mother and sister-in-law apologize to you."
"Honglian, I was wrong, I really was wrong."
Fan Tong’s voice grew weaker, the pain in his face intense, hoping desperately that Gu Honglian would stop.
Mrs. Gu and Mr. Gu watched from the door as Fan Tong got hit.
Initially worried, then feeling relieved at hearing Fan Tong’s pleas to Honglian.
Exhausted, Gu Honglian paused.
"Weren’t you going to divorce me? Write the divorce papers," said Gu Honglian.
Fan Tong moved his lips, showing a pleading expression, saying, "I was joking."
Gu Honglian replied, "Go back and tell your mother and sister-in-law, if they want me to return to the Fan Family, they should come and apologize to me in front of my parents at the Gu Family."
Unable to stop nodding, Fan Tong feared failing to comply, fearing that Gu Honglian might beat him to death.
How hadn’t he noticed before how ruthless she could be?
He didn’t know how many slaps there had been, just quivered thinking of Gu Honglian’s fierce determination.
Gu Dahuan and Gu Fengnian let go of Fan Tong.
Fan Tong wobbled and knelt straight beside Gu Honglian.