Other neighbors heard it too, and the "voice of justice" that was on the tip of their tongues was left unsaid.

If everyone agrees that an apology is all it takes to get over a beating, will there ever be any peace in this courtyard again?

When everyone came to their senses, they looked at Zhou Xiaolan with changed expressions.

Even if Zhou Xiaolan is willing to repent and realize her mistakes, the fact that Hua Xiangyun was injured and bled is undeniable. She can't just dismiss it with a few words and pretend it never happened.

“I was just saying it offhand,” Hua Zhian said, grabbing his things and running back into the house. “Grandma, it hurts.”

“It’s good that it hurts,” Tian Guihua said loudly, slamming her fist on the wall. “You can only truly understand this pain when you experience it yourself. This is just the beginning.”

"You still have the nerve to show your face here? If you really felt ashamed, you shouldn't have appeared in front of our family..."

Amidst the sounds of pounding and wailing in the courtyard, a neighbor nearby felt a chill run down his spine.

Hua Zhian had only casually mentioned feeling sorry for someone, and he was immediately beaten up.

They're just neighbors, so let's not get involved in their affairs.

Otherwise, given Tian Guihua's fiery temper, she would have torn this house down.

They couldn't afford to offend them... The crowd, who had originally wanted to watch a good show, dispersed instantly.

Zhou Xiaolan stood outside the courtyard, feeling a pang of desolation in her heart.

She was looking out for Zhonghua Zhi'an, after all, with the Hua family's capabilities, they would definitely be able to return to the city in the future.

But with his pathetic attitude, this grown man is still being bullied and beaten by his grandma. If they really live together in the future, won't she suffer along with him?

But there's no one around here with conditions as good as Hua Zhian's, so it seems she'll have to think of another way.

Listening to the commotion outside the door, Hua Xiangyun made sure everyone had left before saying, "Let's go inside and talk."

Back in the main room, Hua Zhian quickly poured water and said ingratiatingly, "Grandma, how did I do just now? Did I cooperate well?"

"You're not entirely stupid; you've managed to maintain some tacit understanding after all these years," Tian Guihua said, her throat burning from shouting for so long. After taking a few sips of water, she continued, "Stay away from that Zhou girl from now on."

Hua Zhian said, "I'm not familiar with her. If you hadn't just spoken up, I would have forgotten about her."

Hua Xiangyun deliberately used a high-pitched voice to say, "Brother Zhian..."

Hua Zhian said, "Little sister, can we talk this out properly? Don't scare your brother."

I only remember that she was good friends with you, but we weren't usually close. I never let her call me that.

Hua Xiangyun rested her head on her hand and said with a smile, "Since the beginning of this year, she has asked me a lot about you."

Tian Guihua glared at her grandson, then asked Hua Xiangyun with a smile, "What did she ask?"

Hua Xiangyun asked, "When will my second brother come back? Why doesn't the family try to get him transferred back?" and other similar questions.

"Oh, and she often tells me how tough and tiring it is for those sent to the countryside as educated youth. She wants me to be more understanding and considerate of my second brother, and suggests that he take over Grandma's job first, then give it back to me later, so he can relax for a while."

“She’s the one who’s going to arrange things in our family,” Tian Guihua said irritably, while also glaring at Hua Zhian and warning him, “She’s got a lot on her sleeve. You better watch where you’re going and don’t let her get you into trouble.”

Hua Zhian: "It can't be that bad, I don't have anything particularly outstanding about me..."

Hua Xiangyun, "She mentioned the milk-making work to me several times, and she seemed to care about it even more than she did about our own family..."

“If that’s really the case, then Zhou Xiaolan is a real scoundrel.” Tian Guihua spat. “She’s trying to find a sucker before going to the countryside.”

The sucker Hua Zhian thought, "...It can't be that bad!"

Hua Xiangyun added another strong dose of medicine, knowing that Zhou Xiaolan was unlikely to leave a good impression on Hua Zhian. "She also told me that I am a woman who is going to get married and should help my parents' family in the future. How can I take things from my parents' family to my husband's family? Wouldn't that be letting others take advantage of me?"

She looked aggrieved as she spoke, "How old am I? I've never even thought about finding a partner. Besides, even if I do find one in the future, I would never do something so foolish."

If Zhou Xiaolan were here, she would definitely shout that she was wronged. She speaks much more tactfully than so bluntly.

"That's really too much," Hua Zhian slammed his hand on the table. "She's not as big as the pipes in his house. Little sister, don't listen to her. If she keeps talking nonsense, I'll go and teach her a lesson and get revenge for you."

"Second brother, you don't need to stand up for me." Hua Xiangyun quickly waved her hand and said childishly, "I've heard people say that beating is a sign of affection and scolding is a sign of love. If you get involved with her, you'll have already beaten her and scolded her. Who knows, you might develop feelings for her over time. If she becomes my sister-in-law, how will I survive?"

"Who told you these things?" Tian Guihua gasped for breath. What love and affection? How could a young girl say such things? She felt a deep hatred for the person who said these words.

Although Hua Zhian and the others had discussed these topics frequently in the educated youth dormitory, they felt particularly uncomfortable and displeased when their younger sister brought them up. "Little sister, you can't just say things like that. Who told you that?"

Hua Xiangyun said without any hesitation, "It's Zhou Xiaolan! Last time Uncle Zhou hit Aunt Zhou, we were indignant on Aunt Zhou's behalf, thinking that Uncle Zhou had gone too far. But Zhou Xiaolan said that this is how her parents get along, and she was the one who said it."

This kind of thinking is terrifying. Hua Zhian's mind went blank for a moment. Is this how "beating is a sign of affection" is understood?

The Zhou family is simply unreasonable. How come he never noticed before and let his younger sister play with her for so many years?

“This family has been rotten to the core this week,” Tian Guihua cursed. “You should stay away from their house from now on. What kind of mess is this?”

Hua Xiangyun said, "That's why I'm afraid that if Second Brother fights with her, it's a sign of affection. Second Brother, you'd better not get close to her..."

Hua Zhian, “…” Do I look like someone with violent tendencies…?

However, he marked the Zhou family in his mind as a family with abnormal minds.

Hua Xiangyun also knew when to stop; she had already helped Zhou Xiaolan form a positive first impression of this person.

If she really has that much ability, she can coax her second brother back. At worst, she can just leave with her family and live separately from them.

No one should try to use her family as a stepping stone in her life, not even Hua Zhian, who is currently treating her quite well.

Tian Guihua, being an experienced woman, chimed in, "They say you should marry a virtuous wife. If you really run into such a wretched in-law, don't blame me for being ruthless as your grandmother and kicking you out."

Hua Xiangyun pursed her lips. After spending these days together, she had a good understanding of Tian Guihua's personality.

If Zhou Xiaolan hadn't used some cunning, she definitely wouldn't have been able to enter the Hua family in the original story.

Later, Tian Guihua fell ill and was bedridden, and Hua Guangzong also suffered from heart disease, so naturally they dared not bring family matters to their attention.