Chapter 49: The Formidable Mother Fu

Mother Fu wasn’t intimidated by them at all.

“What are you saying? First of all, this is a new era, not the old days. Young people today have the freedom to choose their own marriages—even as her mother, I can’t interfere, let alone you, who are a whole generation removed.”

“Besides, this marriage was arranged by Mingxue’s father before he passed. Of course I have to see it through immediately.”

Old Lady Fu’s voice suddenly rose. “What? Nonsense! Second Son’s been dead for years—how could he have arranged this marriage?”

Mother Fu dug at her ear.

“What are you yelling for? He arranged it before he died, so why not? Besides, the marriage certificate is already done. Whether you agree or not doesn’t really matter.”

“And another thing—let me ask you: are you contributing to the dowry or not? If you’re not willing to give a single cent, then don’t bother coming through this door again. From now on, my daughter and I will have nothing to do with the Fu family. You lot are always scheming to take advantage of a widow and her orphan—shameless to the extreme.”

Old Lady Fu was so angry she wanted to start cursing—damn it, what a pipe dream! Expecting them, at their age, to cough up money?

Dream on.

But the old man beside her spoke up first:

“Second Son’s wife, we’ll pay up, but at least let us meet the groom first.”

Old Lady Fu shrilled, “No way! I’m not giving a penny—why should I pay for a girl getting married off? What family pays a dowry for a granddaughter?”

“If you want me to pay, fine, but give us the bride price money—”

The other Fu family members’ eyes lit up—right, just give them the bride price.

Mother Fu sneered. They’re all so stingy it’s disgusting.

She didn’t bother arguing, just raised her voice and wailed:

“Heavens above! Are you trying to drive us to our graves? The Fu family is heartless, black-hearted, bullying a widow and her orphan! These shameless people actually want my daughter’s bride price! Fu Yongjian, come see what a bunch of black-hearted relatives you have—they don’t want your daughter to have a good life—”

Her shouting drew a crowd of neighbors in no time.

They immediately began pointing fingers at the Fu family.

Some even started scolding them to their faces—how could they demand their own granddaughter’s bride price?

Honestly, if Mingxue’s mother wasn’t so decent, she would’ve remarried long ago and taken Mingxue with her.

By then, mother and daughter would have nothing to do with the Fu family!

How could the Fu family have the nerve to ask for Mingxue’s bride price?

Absolutely shameless.

The gossiping was loud and relentless.

Nearly everyone was pointing at the Fu family’s noses as they spoke.

The Fu family: …?

What the hell does this have to do with these people?

The most prideful, Fu’s eldest son and the old man, looked especially sour.

But Xu Zifeng kept wailing and exposing all the Fu family’s misdeeds, one after another.

If she kept going, she’d probably air all their dirty laundry for the whole village to see.

“Second Son’s wife, that’s enough—” the old man barked, face dark as thunder. He’d never been so humiliated.

“Enough? The Fu family is the one bullying people here! Let me make this clear: if anyone dares reach for my daughter’s bride price, I’ll chop their hand off. Let’s see if they dare!”

She’d put up with enough over the years.

Before, she’d held back for her daughter’s sake—Mingxue was still young, and she was afraid the family would hurt her if she wasn’t careful.

But now her daughter was leaving, so she didn’t have to worry anymore.

Anyone who dared mess with her—she’d fight them to the end."