Having grown up in an orphanage, Ruan Ning had no respect for these family rules. To her, they were trying to exploit her under the guise of family law. Seeing Ruan Shixin about to face a punishment rod, Ruan Ning couldn’t hold back. She swung her club at the punishment rod, shouting, “I’d like to see who dares to hit my father!”
The club, seemingly newly made with hard wood, knocked the punishment rod flying, striking Ruan Shiming’s sons and causing cries of pain.
Ruan Shiming was shocked, cursing, “Rebellious! I’ll beat you to death, you little demon!”
Ruan Ning, startled by her own strength, shouted back, “Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, not uncles trying to steal our family’s money! As long as I’m alive, I won’t let you succeed!”
Her voice was clear and bright, and the tenant farmers and servants of Ruan family village, aware of the first and third branches’ plotting, joined in, looking at Ruan Shiming and Ruan Shiqi’s families with contempt.
“Ning’er, don’t talk nonsense,” Ruan Shixin said, shocked by her defiance. His protective instinct prevailed, and he quickly pulled Ruan Ning close.
“Rebellious! Daring to strike the family law, beat her!” Ruan Shiming was furious.
In her momentary distraction, Liu’s wife picked up a flower pot and smashed it towards Ruan Ning’s head.
Ruan Ning, caught off guard, was suddenly pushed aside. With a crash, a flower pot shattered on Ji Mingshao’s shoulder, who was half-covered in soil and had a half-bloomed crab claw chrysanthemum stuck in it. Despite his ridiculous appearance, he remained calm, brushed off the dirt, and continued watching from the corridor.
“Big brother and third brother, you’ve gone too far!” Ruan Shixin roared angrily.
With his martial arts skills, he could easily defeat the combined forces of the first and third houses. However, he had always been mindful of family ties and merely parried instead of fully engaging. The flower pot incident shattered his reservations. He realized quickly that if he didn’t resolve the conflict, his wife and daughter could be in danger.
Ruan Shixin quickly subdued everyone, throwing them out the back door and stating, “From now on, our ties are severed. If you dare to harass my wife and daughter again, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
