Chapter 11 Birds of a Feather Flock Together

"Oh my! You wretched girl, have you eaten the Courage of Bear's Heart and Leopard's Gall, daring to hit your aunt?"

Madam Ruan exploded immediately when Xuexue lightly slapped her hand. No one in the Mo family had ever openly defied her like this.

Xuexue glanced at her with icy eyes and scoffed, "Out of respect for my mother, I'm calling you 'aunt.' No matter what, she is your sister-in-law. Isn't it too much for you to bully her like this?"

"Hahaha... Listen to this, everyone, look at how this wretched girl dares to question me, accusing me of bullying her mother. Isn't it hilarious?" Madam Ruan mocked as she turned to the women she had brought with her, laughing with them.

The women, all gossips from the village, got along well with Madam Ruan due to their similar unsavory characters. They weren't any kind-hearted souls. Hearing Madam Ruan's words, they immediately burst into laughter, continuing to mock...

"Xuexue, how can you tell such blatant lies with your eyes closed? It was clearly you who hit Xiuzhi, and Madam Ruan just came over to reason with you."

"Exactly, Xuexue used to be so decent, what has made her change into this?"

"True, when the beam is crooked, the rafters will be askew too, hehehe..." The women sniggered, casting meaningful glances and side-eyes at Madam Xie.

The gossips, chiming in one after another with their jeers, made Madam Ruan puff up like a victorious hen, hands on her hips, standing at the forefront with the posture of a winner.

Madam Xie forced a smile apologetically, bending forward as she approached and said in a meek voice, "Auntie, I apologize on behalf of Xuexue." After speaking, she even bowed deeply.

"You think a simple apology is enough after hitting my daughter? It's not that easy," Madam Ruan snorted, tilting her chin up and looking towards the sky with an air of arrogance.

"Then what would you like?" Madam Xie bent over like a beaten dog, timidly asking.

"Slap."

No sooner had Madam Xie finished speaking than Madam Ruan stepped forward and viciously slapped her across the face.

"Ah."

Caught off guard, Madam Xie cried out in pain when the slap landed on her face, and realizing her daughters were beside her, she quickly covered half of her face with her hand, her expression one of agony.

Indeed, with Madam Ruan's malignant nature and her intent on revenge, that slap was delivered with full force and was bound to hurt.

Madam Ruan was too quick to act, and by the time Xuexue reacted, it was too late. The slap had already solidly struck Madam Xie's face. Xuexue regretted it deeply. This scene had also unfolded in her past life, but she had been too caught up in the joy of her rebirth and had let her guard down momentarily.

Upon seeing her mother struck, Chuner rushed to Madam Xie like a little dart, raised her small face, and asked with a cry in her voice, "Mommy, does it hurt?"

"Mommy's fine, Chuner, be good, don't cry." Madam Xie gritted her teeth in pain but still put on a brave front to comfort her little daughter.

Xuexue stepped forward, reaching out to remove Madam Xie's hand from her cheek to see her face, but Madam Xie refused to let go, clutching it firmly.

"Mommy, please let me see," Xuexue said softly.

Perhaps soothed by her daughter's tender voice, Madam Xie slowly removed the hand that had been covering her cheek.

When Xuexue and her sister took a closer look, they could see five clear fingerprints on Madam Xie's face, evidence of the force with which Madam Ruan had struck her.