After the groom's family received the betrothal gifts, they left in a foul mood, sending the groom's family away. Hao Caimei, however, was still embarrassed and started cursing at the villagers who had gathered around.

"What are you all doing gathered here! Look at your mother, haven't you ever seen someone else make a fool of themselves? Be careful you don't get sick when you get home."

The villagers knew this tigress was not to be trifled with, so they exchanged glances, pursed their lips, and dispersed.

Liang Jiaheng felt sorry for Zhang Yanni having such an elder, but he was powerless to help her. What could he do to help?

However, when he heard the girl in front of him say that she had been bought, he took a closer look and felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen her somewhere before.

"Comrade Jia Yufeng, we are relieved to have you home. Try to think positively, life goes on. We'll leave now. Remember to call the police if you encounter any difficulties."

Zhang Yanni nodded and watched Liang Jiaheng and the others leave.

Seeing that everyone had left and only her own family remained in the courtyard, Hao Caimei glared fiercely at Zhang Yanni, then turned and went inside.

He had raised her for so many years hoping she would get married and make a fortune, but she messed things up and her reputation is ruined. The news will surely spread throughout the villages and towns, and there is basically no hope for her to get married again. The thought of having to support her for the rest of his life made him so angry that his teeth itched. So he let out a loud scream in the house.

"Jia Dongshan, you come in here right now! You damned bastard, if I hadn't insisted on bringing back this nemesis with a tough fate, I wouldn't be living such a miserable life."

Zhang Yanni stood in the courtyard, unsure of what to do. Should she go in or not? Her younger sister, Jia Yulian, stood to the side, cursing.

"Sister, you're a jinx. If it weren't for you, Mom and Dad wouldn't be so heartbroken. I think you should find a husband and get married as soon as possible, so that no one will want you when you get old. We won't take care of you for the rest of your life."

That little girl has a sharp tongue; how could she say something like that? Like mother, like daughter. Just as Zhang Yanni was about to scold her, the sound of something being smashed came from inside the house.

"What are you doing? Taking your anger out on things in the house, do you even want to live anymore?"

Seeing his wife's frantic state, Jia Dongshan's anger flared up, and his voice rose several octaves.

"Passed? Passed my ass! You're all useless, but now you're bullying your own kind. It's all your fault for bringing this nemesis back. I was hoping she'd marry and repay the family, so that Yu Guo and Yu Tian could get a dowry and find wives. But now, we didn't even get a dog hair, and it's rotting at home."

"Are you ever going to stop? We've already returned the bride price, what more do you want from me? Do you really want me to go to jail?"

"This isn't over! Jia Yufeng, Jia Yufeng! I don't know what your biological parents were thinking, giving birth to a nemesis like you. They might as well have forgotten that they watched you being drowned by human traffickers!"

Hao Caimei pushed Jia Dongshan away, pointed outside and cursed as she walked, finally leaning against the door frame and cursing incessantly.

"If you hadn't entered this house, you would have died long ago! Now look at you, bringing bad luck to our family. You're truly wicked, thinking we'll take care of you for the rest of your life? You're dreaming!"

Hao Caimei's insults became increasingly vulgar, and Zhang Yanni could no longer tolerate it.

Growing up, I didn't eat or dress well at my adoptive parents' house, and I had to do hard labor.

Now they disregard all sentiment and instead hurl extremely offensive insults because they didn't make any money. It seems that this friendship has come to an end.

"Mom, what are you saying? You haven't considered me at all from beginning to end. All you care about is money. You call it finding me a husband, but what's the difference between that and selling me?"

Zhang Yanni blurted out her words in a moment of anger, and Hao Caimei was even more furious when she saw her rebuttal. She looked at her and walked over.

"You damned ingrate! I raised you from a baby, and now you've grown up and started criticizing me."

Do you even respect me as an elder? I haven't even settled accounts with you yet, and you're already so angry.

"You're a piece of trash now. Everyone in the surrounding villages knows you've been ruined. I don't think anyone will want you for the rest of your life. Get out of this house right now and don't drag my whole family down with you!"

Hao Caimei was already angry because her adopted daughter hadn't spoken up for her in front of everyone, and now that anger had been amplified. If murder weren't illegal, she really wanted to strangle her.

"Okay, let's go."

Zhang Yanni was stunned for a moment, then angrily grabbed the bundle that the groom's family had returned to the courtyard and prepared to leave.

She didn't have much dowry to begin with. The day before the wedding, when she was packing her clothes, she only had a pair of quilts and three sets of clothes. Her adoptive mother, however, pretended to be kind and stuffed two new insoles and floral cloth shoes into the house, saying that she would wear them after the wedding.

“Jia Yufeng, if you leave this house, you will no longer be a member of our family. Whether you starve to death or die of illness, it will have nothing to do with our family.”

This child is usually afraid of being kicked out of the house, and will respond to anything harsh without saying a word. Today, however, she is unusually tough. Jia Dongshan was wondering about this when he called out to Zhang Yanni's back.

Staying in this dilapidated house will only lead to my being tortured to death, and going out might mean starving to death. In any case, I'm going to die anyway, so it doesn't matter where I die.

I've already died once from being kidnapped today, so why should I be afraid of dying again? Why stay in this weirdo's house and be insulted and tortured to my face?

Zhang Yanni's disgust reached its peak at this moment. She made an OK sign with her hand and strode forward.

The noise in the courtyard attracted the neighbors, who tiptoed to watch the commotion. Hao Caimei, being a natural actress, fearing gossip, simply sat down on the ground and pretended to wail.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!