Chapter 388 Unexpected
Tang Xuewen screamed as he was beaten. When he tried to fight back, Pang Juan threw down the knife, sat on the ground, and cried.
Tang Xuewen was stunned.
You beat me up like this, and you're still crying?
You're so provocative at night, I'm starting to wonder if something's wrong with you.
Wiping away her tears, Pang Juan said, "My life is so hard. My child's father is a monster. He beat his own father crippled and left me to take care of this mess. For so many years, I've raised my child and father-in-law all by myself. When life was tough, I thought about suicide. I finally managed to get through a little better, and then I found another man, but he says I'm not a decent woman..."
“People see I’m having a hard time and help me out from time to time, but they still say I have an improper relationship with them. What kind of man did I marry?”
"Tang Xuewen, if that's how you think, then we can't live together from now on."
Even without mentioning Tang Xuewen, Grandpa Li's eyes were already brimming with tears.
With tears streaming down his face, he said, "Juanzi, I'm so sorry. You've never had a good life with Xiao Jiang. He beat me up like this, and you still have to take care of me. Even after I die, I'll teach him a lesson in the afterlife. You've had a hard time all these years. I'm the one who dragged you down. You're a good woman. It's my family that's sorry for you. Please don't scold Xiao Tang. It's my family that's wronged you."
With a pained expression, Grandpa Li said to Tang Xuewen, "Young Tang, Juanzi has had a hard life. How could you say such a thing about her? She hasn't remarried all these years, all because of me..."
The child peeking through the door had tears welling up in his eyes, and he was sniffling and wiping away his tears.
At the eye of the storm, Tang Xuewen thought to himself: I'm not even human! I deserve to die!
Pang Juan wiped away her tears and said, "Dad, I've never blamed you. I've sacrificed for this family willingly, and seeing how things are getting better and better, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have gotten married again. If I hadn't, people wouldn't have gossiped about me..."
Pang Juan stood up abruptly, picked up the knife she had previously discarded, and pointed it at Tang Xuewen again.
With tears streaming down her face, Pang Juan deliberately put on a fierce expression and said, "Tang Xuewen, this matter can't be resolved peacefully today. If you want a divorce, then go ahead. I can't let you bully me. Before we got married, I would have taken a knife and gone to the door to fight anyone who bullied my family. I can see that you and I are not on the same page. You don't want to live a good life with me at all. No matter what happens in the future, I have to get my revenge today."
A child with tears welling in his eyes came into the yard carrying a broom that was almost completely bristled. He handed it to his mother and said, "Mom, I was wrong before. Hit me if you want. It's all my fault for eating too much..."
Pang Juan snatched the broom and shouted, "You go out first."
After being hit a few times, Tang Xuewen grabbed the broom, snatched it away, threw it aside, and then knelt down, hugging Pang Juan's legs and saying, "Wife, please stop hitting me. It was my fault! I will never say such things again. You are a good woman. I was wrong. Please don't cry. I deserve to die."
Pang Juan was surprised that he didn't fight back; she had been prepared to fight him.
Only by giving Tang Xuewen a good fight, letting him know that she was not someone to be trifled with, would he dare not cause trouble again.
Didn't they say he caused Miao Feng to miscarry? And now he's here with her?
While Pang Juan was questioning the meaning of life, Tang Xuewen had already begun to repent and slap himself.
"Smack!"
"It's all my fault, honey. You suffered so much in the past. I shouldn't have said those things to you."
"Smack!"
"Honey, I'll go apologize to him."
"Smack!"
"Wife, you are a good woman, I will not divorce you."
…
Tang Xuewen's actions left Zhao Hongying completely stunned.
She wondered why the difference was so big.
Why was Miao Feng beaten by Tang Xuewen even after being hospitalized, while Tang Xuewen was now able to hug Pang Juan's legs, slap himself in the face, and repent?
It can't be just because Miao Feng deserved a beating!
Grandpa Li, his hands trembling, clutched his chest and said, "Xiao Tang, from now on you will be the pillar of the family. Juanzi is so strong-willed because no one supports her. You two must take good care of each other from now on."
Tang Xuewen nodded solemnly, "Uncle, I know, I will treat them well."
Pang Juan pushed him away, held out her palm and said, "I don't believe what you say. If you want me to believe you, you have to keep five cents for yourself every month and give me the rest. If you want to continue living together, we can continue living together properly. If you don't want to, then forget it. I don't want to be scolded by you for being improper every day."
Tang Xuewen knew that Pang Juan was manipulating him, but he still agreed.
Pang Juan has had a tough time raising her father-in-law and child alone, and Tang Xuewen feels sorry for her now.
Tang Xuewen wanted to tell Pang Juan that he would take care of her from now on, but his mouth was stuck shut.
That's so cheesy and embarrassing.
After all that fuss, the porridge in the pot was all burnt.
Song Lubai and Zhao Hongying hurried home.
Zhao Hongying couldn't help but ask, "Why is Tang Xuewen so cruel to Miao Feng? He wouldn't even lay a finger on Pang Juan."
What the two of them didn't know was how much pain Tang Xuewen had been in when he was beaten before.
Pang Juan's movements may not seem like she's using much force, but in reality, her strength is comparable to that of a strong adult man.
Song Lubai couldn't figure out what Tang Xuewen was thinking either.
She had seen Miao Feng being beaten by Tang Xuewen, but she had never seen Miao Feng fight back. Perhaps Tang Xuewen just liked this kind of feisty person. This could be considered a case of one thing subduing another.
When Song Lubai returned home, she was greeted by a pot of porridge that looked like pig feed, prepared by Wei Zhao.
The rice was served and left to cool for a while. Song Lubai then recounted the events of the previous day to Wei Zhao.
Song Lubai looked at Wei Yang, who was repairing a bench leg, and asked, "Do you think Tang Xuewen is a bully who preys on the weak?"
Wei Yang shook his head and said, "There is some connection, but I don't think it's entirely."
Wei Zhao said, "Pang Juan is really smart. Being tough all the time won't work. Showing weakness appropriately doesn't mean she's weak. Didn't you notice? When she cried, the things she said completely controlled all three men in the family. Wei Yang, from your perspective as men, how do you explain this? Don't men generally prefer women who know how to show weakness? Is this the fundamental reason why Tang Xuewen treats Pang Juan and Miao Feng differently?"
Wei Yang shook his head and said, "That's hard to say. I knew that fists weren't a symbol of family status."
Physical fights and harsh words exchanged within a family can both damage relationships.
The fact that Tang Xuewen was willing to repent after being beaten only shows that Pang Juan had grasped the right degree of restraint.
The others thought Pang Juan was amazing, but Pang Juan herself was completely bewildered.
She was prepared to fight, even be beaten, and confront Tang Xuewen head-on, but things didn't go as she expected.
She just took this opportunity to get Tang Xuewen's salary.
After finishing the burnt-smelling meal, Pang Juan's mind cleared up a bit.
Once inside, she looked at the marks on Tang Xuewen's body with a pained expression and said, "You didn't even know how to dodge."
Tang Xuewen grinned and grabbed her hand, saying, "You're a tigress. No matter where I hide, you'll beat me up."
Pang Juan laughed and leaned closer to him, saying, "That's just my temper. I explode at the slightest provocation. That's how I've lived all these years. I won't hold back if anyone bullies me. If you can't stand living with me anymore, just tell me."
Tang Xuewen hugged her tenderly and said those cheesy words, "Don't worry, I'll take care of you from now on. I won't let anyone bully you."
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