Unexpectedly, the Xu family stepped forward to block the way, preventing Wang's people from getting close at all.

Unable to save her son, Wang was so angry that she started cursing.

The more she cursed, the harder Xu Liang and the others beat her. They were men and it wasn't appropriate for them to hit a woman, especially since Wang was not young; they didn't want to risk causing her any harm.

The more Wang cursed, the more the Xu father and his two sons felt how much Yunzhi was being bullied in the An family. Putting everything else aside, with such an unreasonable mother-in-law, how could life be easy?

It is said that children pay for their mother's debts. If they can't beat Wang Shi, can't they at least beat An Xiuyuan?

As time went by, An Xiuyuan came to his senses. Hearing Wang Shi still cursing and swearing, and in a vulgar and indiscriminate way, An Xiuyuan wished he could die.

Unable to bear it any longer, he yelled at Wang, "Mother, stop cursing! Do you want your son to be beaten to death?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang realized what was happening, and her face instantly turned ugly.

But it was impossible for her to just stand by and watch her son be beaten. So she immediately came up with a plan: to report it to the authorities.

She refused to believe that, under the emperor's nose and in broad daylight, the government would turn a blind eye to an outsider trespassing on official property and assaulting people.

So she stopped cursing and instead ordered the steward to report the matter to the authorities. She refused to believe that she couldn't do anything about a few merchants.

Although the An family had lost its noble title, An Xiuyuan was still an official. For a commoner to assault an official was a crime.

The steward naturally obeyed Wang's orders and rushed off to report to the authorities.

Seeing that the officials had left, Madam Wang shouted at the Xu family father and sons, "Stop right now! I've already sent someone to report to the authorities. Then none of you will escape!"

When the Xu family father and his two sons heard that Wang had reported the matter to the authorities, they became somewhat wary. Furthermore, since they had already helped Yunzhi vent her anger, they gradually stopped their actions.

The others also looked at Xu Liang, waiting for him to say whether to leave or stay.

Xu Liang glanced at Madam Wang and asked coldly, "Old lady, I can let your son go now, but you have to return everything your household has taken from my Xu family. You haven't taken advantage of my Xu family and are now bullying my Xu family's daughter."

"You're dreaming!" Madam Wang roared at Xu Liang, saying, "Since Yun married into my An family, she's a member of the An family. What she brought with her belongs to the An family. Why should we return what we use?"

"It seems the old lady doesn't want to pay it back. Fine, we'll just have to beat your son up again. Once we've beaten him enough, you don't have to pay it back; consider it compensation for your son's medical expenses."

After saying that, Xu Liang prepared to make a move again.

Upon hearing that he was about to be beaten again, An Xiuyuan was terrified and immediately said, "Don't hit me, don't hit me, I'll pay it back, okay?"

"You agreed to this yourself, we didn't force you." Xu Liang was quite satisfied with An Xiuyuan's understanding and didn't make things difficult for him anymore.

Instead, she looked at him and said, "Since you've already agreed, you should return the money now. I don't need much; three thousand taels a month is already a fair price."

"Three, three thousand taels?" An Xiuyuan hadn't expected Xu Liang to ask for so much. To be honest, if Yunzhi hadn't left, three thousand taels wouldn't have been a problem for the An family. But with Yunzhi gone and him marrying Wang Yuzhen, the family's money was almost gone.

Not only was he broke out of his personal savings, but he was also broke out of his public funds.