Xi Chun felt great sympathy for Zhao Di's experience, so she helped as much as she could. However, she couldn't make the decision about divorce for Zhao Di; she needed to figure it out herself.
Fortunately, Xiao Ni's condition was not serious. The doctor prescribed medicine, and Xiao Yue carried her back home.
Xi Chun decided to investigate the situation of Zhao Di's family, so she asked Fu Changfeng to find out what was going on with the Zhang family and whether their treatment of a vulnerable woman was simply the local custom or the work of a few individuals.
Fu Changfeng was somewhat shocked to hear this. He had been busy with other matters and even when he was in the village, no one would hit a woman in front of him, so he had never paid attention to this issue.
After thinking it over, he still arranged for someone to conduct a private investigation.
Zhao Di thought that since she had been beaten so many times, if she didn't take Xiao Ni back, Xiao Ni might not have a family to support her in the future. So after work, she carried her daughter back to the Zhang family.
When Zhang Daniu's family saw the mother and daughter return, their faces showed no concern whatsoever. Old Mrs. Zhang even glared at her and said, "You wretched hussy, coming back so late! I'm starving! Hurry up and cook! What are you standing there for? And this good-for-nothing, carrying this load on your back, hurry up and cut some pig feed!"
"Mother, I'll take Xiaoni back to her room to sleep first. The doctor said she's not better yet and needs to rest in bed." Zhaodi said hurriedly when she heard her mother-in-law was going to order Xiaoni around, who was still sick.
"Hey, you shameless bastard, looks like you haven't paid the full amount yet. You still have money to see a doctor? Da Niu, Da Niu, come out here right now. Your wife hasn't been scared of you yet, and she's already learned to save money on the side."
Zhang Daniu was sleeping in the house when he heard this. He suddenly sat up in bed, grabbed a carrying pole from outside, and started yelling at Zhaodi.
"You damned woman, I think you've really gone too far! You dare to hide money from others? I'll beat you to death today, or I'll change my name!" He cursed as he whipped her, while Old Lady Zhang cheered him on from the side.
"Good job! If we don't beat this disobedient woman, she'll never be able to take charge of the household again. Don't think that just because she can make a few bucks, she can stop working when she gets home."
The neighbors all heard the noise coming from Zhang's yard. Some people stood outside the fence and looked in. Seeing how ruthless Zhang's family was, they felt a little sorry for them.
"Granny Zhang, how could you be so cruel? What if you hurt someone? Stop it now!"
"Exactly, it can still make money. If you injure someone, will the dye shop still want you?"
“It’s none of your business to decide what happens in our family. What, you have a problem with us disciplining our own wife? Every wife has been beaten like this. I think she’s so disobedient because she hasn’t been beaten enough.”
Old Mrs. Zhang found a stool and sat down, cheering and cursing those who tried to dissuade her.
"Dad, don't hit Mom, don't hit Mom!" Little Ni ran over when she saw her mother being beaten.
"You brat, protecting your mother like this, I bet you'll grow up to be an ungrateful wretch." Zhang Daniu's eyes turned red with rage, and he kicked Xiao Ni against the wall, where she fell to the ground with a thud.
"Zhang Daniu, I'll fight you to the death! How dare you hit my daughter!" Zhao Di, with strength she didn't know she had, snatched the carrying pole and struck Zhang Daniu.
Seeing her son losing, Old Lady Zhang was about to grab a broom and beat Zhaodi when the village chief happened to walk by. The county officials had come to investigate the Zhang family, and Old Lady Zhang had just returned home and was about to wash her hands when she heard that Zhang Daniu was beating his wife again. She was afraid the county officials would find out.
“Uncle, I was disciplining my wife at home, and she dared to disobey me and even tried to hide money from me. Do you think she should be beaten?” Zhang Daniu calmed down after hearing the village chief’s voice.
"Zhang Daniu, you're worse than an animal, worse than a pig or a dog! You beat Xiaoni like this, she's already breathless! I'll fight you to the death!" Zhao Di rushed over to check on Xiaoni when she had a moment to spare, but Xiaoni had already fainted.
"Da Niu, quickly take the child to see a doctor! How can you be so reckless as to hit your own child? This is a life at stake! Be careful, the county magistrate will punish you if he finds out!" The village chief saw that the child was already dead and quickly told him to go find a doctor.
“I’m not going. It’s better if she dies. My mother said she’s just a money-loser. I didn’t mean to kill her. It’s just that she took her.” Zhang Daniu didn’t even glance at the child.
"Village chief, please, can you use the village's ox to take my child to the city? I want to take her to see a doctor. She's my only daughter. Please, I beg you all." Zhao Di couldn't care less at this point; she just wanted the doctor to see if Xiao Ni could be saved.
"Hey, come with me, let's go see the child." The village chief led her away. At the Zhang family's door, several women spat at Granny Zhang and Zhang Daniu before leaving, cursing and swearing.
Zhao Di boarded the oxcart and took the child to the clinic. Fortunately, the doctor said the child was still alive, but had temporarily stopped breathing. If they had come any later, the child might have really died. However, a consultation fee was still required. Zhao Di had no money left and, having nowhere else to turn, she had no choice but to think of Steward Yang.
When Yang Cuiniang heard about Zhaodi's plight, she also scolded Zhang Daniu. She then went to the clinic to pay the money. Seeing that Zhaodi had nowhere to go, she took the mother and daughter to the backyard of the dye shop, a place specifically used as a dormitory.
"Well, have you figured it out yet? If you have, I'll go and talk to Madam."
"I've figured it out. Zhang Daniu is no human being. He even killed his own child. I've decided to divorce him. I can't stay in a family like that anymore. I'm afraid they'll harm Xiaoni again someday." After this ordeal, Zhao Di has come to her senses and will no longer place her hopes on her husband's family.
"Then you can stay here for the night. I'll go find Madam and explain your situation so she can help you. Otherwise, it won't be easy for a woman like you to get a divorce."
When Xichun learned about Zhaodi's situation, she cursed the Zhang family for being inhuman. She then went to Fu Changfeng to discuss how to help Zhaodi get rid of the Zhang family when she came to file a lawsuit the next day.
The next day, Zhao Di took the child to the county government office and rang the grievance drum. This drum had rarely been sounded since Fu Changfeng took office, so its sudden sounding attracted many people to come and watch the spectacle. Hearing that a woman was suing her husband's family, everyone's interest grew even stronger.
After being notified by the village chief and the yamen runners, Zhang Daniu's family learned that Zhao Di was going to sue them, and they panicked. However, both he and his wife were taken to the county yamen, and the two sides were to go to court. This was unprecedented in Shaoming County, so many people gathered to watch.
The moment Zhang Daniu saw the county magistrate, he was terrified. The usually arrogant and domineering Zhang Daniu was now incontinent, which disgusted the yamen runners.
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