Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Several people from the Ji family loudly exclaimed that things were bad. The next moment, Ji Huan had already stood up, grabbed the crutch from Zhang Tiehu’s hand, and threw it aside. Then she walked over, lifted Zhang Tiehu up, and dragged him outside.

Ji Mantun hurriedly tried to stop her, but Ji Huan pushed him away.

She knew too well the face of such a domestic abuser—bullying the weak, fearing the strong, and never repenting. Only when such a person died would he finally behave.

Compared to the injuries on Ji Qiao’s body, Ji Huan realized she had hit Zhang Tiehu too lightly yesterday, so much so that he still dared to cause trouble today without learning his lesson.

“Ji Huan, you can’t really cause someone’s death!” Liu Fengmei rushed forward to pull Ji Huan back, shouting at Ji Ming and Ji Sen, “What are you standing there for? Hurry and stop Ji Huan!”

Ji Ming and Ji Sen exchanged a glance. Ji Sen originally didn’t want to get involved, but money could make ghosts work. He still coveted Zhang Tiehu’s money, so he gritted his teeth, hugged Ji Huan from behind, while Ji Ming pulled at her other arm to stop her from moving.

Ji Huan hadn’t expected the Ji family to be so shameless. She loosened her right hand, dropping Zhang Tiehu, whom she had been holding, and punched Ji Ming in the face. Ji Ming stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground.

He covered his face with his hand, momentarily unable to believe that Ji Huan had actually hit him.

Li Yulan, heartbroken, ran toward Ji Ming. “Husband, are you okay? Did it hurt?”

Then Li Yulan turned to Ji Huan and scolded, “Ji Huan, do you really not want to live anymore? You even hit your own brother.”

But Li Yulan had indeed learned her lesson. She only scolded Ji Huan verbally and didn’t dare to actually provoke her further.

Having dealt with Ji Ming, Ji Huan used both hands to pull Ji Sen over her shoulder in a throw. Ji Sen’s back hit the ground heavily. Feeling unsatisfied, Ji Huan kicked him again and cursed, “Looks like I was too polite to you last time, huh? You don’t appreciate it when I give you face.”

“Second Sister, I won’t do it again! Stop hitting me! I was wrong, really wrong…” Ji Huan had put real force into that throw, and Ji Sen couldn’t get up for a while. In the end, Liu Fengmei and Wang Xiuxiu together helped him up.

“You’ve gone too far, Ji Huan! You unfilial daughter! Watch me beat you to death today!” Ji Mantun grabbed a copper-tipped smoking pipe and swung it toward Ji Huan’s head.

That thing was solid and heavy. If it hit her head, it could very well be fatal.

Ji Huan coldly grabbed Ji Mantun’s hand holding the pipe. “Heh, you’re really a dutiful father, aren’t you? For a few dozen taels of silver, you don’t care about your daughter’s life. What? You want to kill me with this thing?”

Ji Huan snatched the smoking pipe from Ji Mantun’s hand, grabbed his collar, and looked at him coldly. “You only have the title of father. Otherwise, I’d be the first to deal with you. ‘Old but not dead, that’s a thief’①.”

Saying this, Ji Huan pushed Ji Mantun back several steps. She looked at him coldly. “If you people come at me again looking for death, I won’t hold back. Don’t think I won’t dare to touch those surnamed Ji.”

With that, Ji Huan threw the copper-tipped smoking pipe far away, right over the courtyard wall.

Ji Yuan, who had been standing silently to the side, looked at Ji Huan, as if deep in thought.

Ji Huan lowered her eyes to look at Zhang Tiehu, who was trembling and sitting on the ground. She gave him a kind smile. “Didn’t you believe me? Now I’ll show you if I dare to touch you.”

With that, Ji Huan lifted Zhang Tiehu up again and walked straight toward the water tank in the courtyard. The tank was full of water since, after last night’s unpleasantness, almost no one had been in the mood to wash, so the water remained untouched.

Zhang Tiehu seemed to realize what Ji Huan was about to do and panicked, crying out. But thinking Ji Huan wouldn’t really dare to kill him, he assumed she was just trying to scare him.

Ignoring what Zhang Tiehu was thinking, Ji Huan dragged him to the water tank and pressed his head into the water.

This action not only terrified the Ji family but also scared Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao, who had come out after hearing the commotion. After all, no matter how bad Zhang Tiehu was, it was still a human life. If Ji Huan really ended up with bl00d on her hands because of someone like him, it wouldn’t be worth it.

“Sister, don’t! It’s not worth it for someone like Zhang Tiehu!” Ji Qiao, worried that Ji Huan would get into trouble because of her, hurriedly tried to persuade her.

Ji Huan, of course, knew it wasn’t worth ruining herself over such trash, but she also needed to teach Zhang Tiehu a lesson he wouldn’t forget.

Ji Huan counted to a dozen seconds, then pulled him up. In reality, a dozen seconds was too short to cause suffocation, but Zhang Tiehu, already terrified, thought he was really about to drown. He struggled desperately, choking on several mouthfuls of water.

When Ji Huan pulled him up, Zhang Tiehu coughed heavily, gasping for air, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped death.

Ji Huan looked at him coldly. “So? Still think I don’t dare?”

Zhang Tiehu, sobbing, waved his hands. “Second Sister, I was wrong! Please spare my life, Second Sister! I won’t do it again, I really know I was wrong! I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die!”

Ji Huan remained unmoved. After holding Zhang Tiehu for a while, her right hand was indeed tired. She threw him to the ground like trash and coldly asked, “The divorce agreement—will you sign it or not? I’m not patient, and I have a bad temper. I don’t have time to waste with you.”

“I’ll sign, I’ll sign! I really won’t dare again!” Zhang Tiehu said, trembling and crying.

Ji Huan smirked at him. “If you’d said that earlier, wouldn’t this have been easier? People just don’t cry until they see the coffin.”

With that, Ji Huan walked over to Jiang Yubai, whispered a few instructions, and Jiang Yubai hurriedly ran out of the Ji family courtyard.

The Ji family members hadn’t yet recovered from the shock. Li Yulan, in particular, had scolded Ji Huan earlier, but after seeing her press Zhang Tiehu’s head into the water tank, she fell silent, not daring to say another word.

Ji Yuan was also afraid of a death occurring. If he wanted to cozy up to a wealthy Kunze in the future, he couldn’t have a murderer for a sister. Besides, the family was already in chaos, and Ji Huan seemed determined to achieve her goal. If this continued, they wouldn’t come out of it well either.

“Ji Huan, how could you do this? How did you become like this? How could you force your sister to divorce? My heavens, we can’t live like this! You’re trying to kill your parents!” Liu Fengmei wailed loudly.

Ji Huan smiled at Liu Fengmei mockingly. “Mother, compared to you and Father, I’m still far behind. After all, I could never do something like eating bl00d-soaked buns. You heard it just now, didn’t you? Your good son-in-law said he wanted the divorce himself. I didn’t force him.”

Ji Huan’s gaze swept to Zhang Tiehu. “Right?”

“Yes, Ji Huan is right. I’m the one who wants the divorce. It’s my decision, no one else’s.” Zhang Tiehu’s head was still buzzing, his upper body soaked with cold water, dazed, cold, and terrified that Ji Huan might really kill him.

Ji Huan smiled at Liu Fengmei. “See? Your son-in-law has spoken. Whatever you say now is useless.”

Liu Fengmei, recalling how Ji Huan nearly drowned Zhang Tiehu in the water tank, was still shaken and didn’t dare to argue. Ji Mantun was also intimidated by Ji Huan. When she grabbed his collar earlier, he genuinely felt she wanted to hit him.

Seeing Liu Fengmei fall silent, Ji Huan looked at Ji Yuan. “Ji Yuan, you’re the most educated in the family. You write the divorce agreement.”

“What? I’m not writing it,” Ji Yuan replied instinctively.

Ji Huan nodded coldly with a smile. “Fine, none of you want to offend the Zhang family, huh? Then I’ll just have to ask someone from the village who can write to do it later.”

At her words, Ji Yuan’s heart sank. He glanced around the courtyard and realized Jiang Yubai had gone out. “You… you sent Jiang Yubai to get someone? Ji Huan, family shame shouldn’t be aired in public, especially something like a divorce!”

“What’s wrong with a divorce? Zhang Tiehu is the one in the wrong, and he’s the one who’s disgraced. Ji Qiao is upright and honest—what’s there to hide? Oh, I get it. You don’t want the villagers to know you’re eating your own sister’s bl00d-soaked buns, do you?” Ji Huan’s words exposed Ji Yuan’s true face.

“You… Ji Huan, don’t slander me!” Ji Yuan only dared to talk, keeping his distance from her.

Soon, Jiang Yubai returned with people—Er Zhuzi, Zhou Xiaochun, and others, led by the village head, Zhou Zhongtian.

Seeing Ji Huan had even called the village head, Ji Mantun groaned inwardly but thought their current situation gave him a chance to turn the tables on Ji Huan.

With such a commotion, a crowd of curious villagers followed, especially since it was the off-season, and everyone was idle at home.

Zhou Zhongtian looked at the Ji family courtyard, sighed deeply, and didn’t speak to Ji Mantun. Instead, he went straight to Ji Huan.

Ji Huan’s earlier defiance, ready to fight anyone, was gone. Now she stood in front of Ji Qiao with red eyes, looking forlorn.

“What happened? Did the Ji family make things hard for you again?” Zhou Zhongtian asked instinctively, knowing from past incidents that Ji Mantun and his lot were usually the troublemakers. He was also aware of Liu Fengmei’s attempts to scam Ji Huan’s money, so he asked her directly.

Ji Huan shook her head with red eyes, tears welling up. “No, Village Head, this has nothing to do with my parents. It’s my sister, Ji Qiao. She married Zhang Tiehu from Xiniu Village, but he hasn’t treated her well. Yesterday, when they came back to visit, Zhang Tiehu beat and scolded her. Ji Qiao’s body is covered in injuries, not a single patch of skin unharmed.”

Ji Huan lifted Ji Qiao’s sleeve, revealing her arms covered in dense scars—some from whipping, others from burns.

The village head’s forehead veins bulged as he looked. “Is Zhang Tiehu even human? Beating someone like this—does he think Dongniu Village has no one to stand up for her?”

“That’s right, Ji Qiao is so pitiful. I heard long ago she’s been living worse than death in Xiniu Village, beaten and cursed daily by that cripple.”

“Is that him sitting on the ground? What a scumbag, laying such heavy hands on Ji Qiao.”

“Look at him. Ji Mantun and his family must be crazy to marry their daughter to such a family for money. What a disgrace!”

The surrounding murmurs grew louder. Ji Mantun hurriedly defended himself. “Village Head, it’s not like Ji Huan says. Every marriage has its bumps. It’s just a few scratches on her arm—how can you persuade someone to divorce over that? Zhang Tiehu doesn’t agree to a divorce either.”

The village head glared at Ji Mantun and turned to Zhang Tiehu. “You’re Zhang Tiehu, right? Tell me, are you willing to divorce Ji Qiao today?”

“I… I…” Zhang Tiehu wanted to say he wasn’t willing, but Ji Huan’s sharp gaze scared him silent, leaving him unsure how to respond.

“Village Head, I already persuaded Zhang Tiehu earlier, and he agreed to the divorce. It’s just that my parents seem unwilling to let Ji Qiao divorce. After all, they took fifty taels of silver from the Zhang family, and they’ve already spent some of it. If there’s a divorce, they’d have to return those fifty taels, and my parents probably can’t afford it.” Ji Huan said, wiping away nonexistent tears with her sleeve.

“What! Ji Mantun, you always seemed so honest, but you’re this kind of person? Ji Qiao is your daughter, a living person, beaten to such a state by that beast, and you still protect him to prevent the divorce? Are you even human?” the village head cursed angrily.

“Village Head, don’t listen to Ji Huan’s nonsense. We didn’t take any silver, we really didn’t!” Ji Mantun was truly panicked now.

The surrounding villagers pointed and whispered about Ji Mantun and his family.

“What a scoundrel, letting his daughter suffer like this for money.”

“Ji Mantun and Liu Fengmei are so biased, only caring about their Qianyuan sons and ignoring the rest.”

“Ji Huan and Ji Qiao are so unfortunate. Ji Mantun hid it so well—we never saw him for what he is.”

“Exactly, do they have to drive their own daughter to death?”

Ji Mantun looked around, seeing villagers pointing at him and cursing him openly and subtly.

Furious, Ji Mantun pointed at Ji Huan like a mad dog. “She’s lying! Ji Huan is lying! She disrespects her elders. Just now, she even tried to hit me and her mother. Look at Zhang Tiehu—the injuries on his face are from Ji Huan’s beating. Don’t be fooled by her act—she’s pretending! She’s cunning. Ask anyone in our family—who dares to provoke Ji Huan?”

Ji Huan first looked stunned, then hurt, her tears welling up but not falling. “Father, how could you say that about me? I work hard for the family every day, even fetching water by the river in snowy weather. Now I’m just trying to protect my sister from suffering, and you call me unfilial?”

As she spoke, tears fell, and she looked as if she couldn’t bear it. “I always defend you, never saying a bad word about you to outsiders. Is this what I get? Father, can your conscience rest?”

“Exactly, how could Ji Huan be unfilial? You’re the ones framing her!”

“Who in our village doesn’t know Ji Huan’s character? How many times have you bullied her?”

“Right, and last time, I heard Ji Mantun and Liu Fengmei tried to scam Ji Huan’s savings. If it weren’t for a kind person’s advice, she would’ve given them the money.” Aunt Yuan’s voice rang out, and the murmurs grew louder.

“I heard that too. The Ji family mistreats Ji Huan. Her house leaks from all sides, and she had to patch it with mud herself.”

“I heard all the Ji family’s money went to Ji Yuan, feeding off his sisters’ bl00d. Even if he passes the scholar exam, he’s no good.”

“Exactly, a rotten family—except for Ji Huan and a few others, there’s not a single good one in the Ji household.”

Hearing the noisy accusations, Liu Fengmei panicked, sat on the ground, and cried while cursing. “Why don’t you believe me? Why don’t you believe what I say? Ji Huan isn’t the same anymore. She’s become unfilial. She can’t wait for me and Ji Mantun to die soon. She’s an unfilial daughter, trying to drive me to death!”

But her crying only brought more scorn.

“If I were Ji Huan, I’d pray every day for a mother like you to die sooner.”

“You don’t reflect on how biased you are as a mother, yet you dare scold Ji Huan. If I were you, I’d hide in a hole from shame. Disgusting!”

Zhou Xiaochun couldn’t hold back either. “Ji Huan’s had the worst luck meeting parents like you. Do you know? When you faked illness to ask Ji Huan for four taels of silver, she almost believed you. If Er Zhuzi and I hadn’t stopped her, you’d have scammed that money clean. Even then, Ji Huan begged us not to tell anyone, fearing the village would shun her parents. Everything she does is for the Ji family’s sake. And how do you treat her?”

Li Yulan had wanted to seek justice for Ji Ming, but seeing the villagers completely siding against them, with no one believing their words, she quickly shut her mouth, fearing the blame would turn to her.

Liu Fengmei was stunned by Zhou Xiaochun’s words. Ji Huan hadn’t planned to give them the four taels, so why was she still defending them in front of others? What was going on?

Liu Fengmei, an uneducated old woman, couldn’t understand Ji Huan’s motives.

After hearing Zhou Xiaochun, the villagers’ curses against the Ji family grew louder. Liu Fengmei could barely lift her head, as she had indeed faked illness to scam money that time.

Ji Yuan saw things spiraling out of control. If this continued, their family would drown in the villagers’ scorn. He wasn’t worried about Ji Mantun and Liu Fengmei but feared that if they fell, he’d have no money to study in the county or pursue a Kunze after the New Year.

Ji Yuan hurriedly bowed to the village head, but before he could speak, Ji Huan cut in. “I just asked Ji Yuan to help write the divorce agreement, but he refused. Village Head, I only know a few words. Could you ask Xiaochun to help write it?”

The village head glared at Ji Yuan, who had just bowed. “A scholar, huh? Can’t even tell right from wrong. I doubt you’ll amount to anything. Xiaochun, go get paper and a pen, so the Ji family doesn’t have to ‘lend’ you anything.”

The village head’s words made many villagers laugh, and some brought up old stories.

“The village head’s right. Ji Yuan’s so stingy, he wouldn’t even give Ji Huan his used practice paper when her window paper was torn to shreds.”

“Hilarious. Someone like him wants to be an official? Keep dreaming.”

Ji Yuan’s face flushed red, then paled. Unable to hold back, he grabbed Ji Huan’s collar. This time, Ji Huan didn’t resist, standing meekly like a lamb, looking at him sadly with tears in her eyes.

But before Ji Yuan could do anything, Er Zhuzi grabbed him, threw him out, and said, “A grown man with no backbone. What? Your sister just told the truth, and you want to hit her?”

“Ji Yuan’s such a coward, only tough at home. I feel bad for Ji Huan.”

“What a jerk, unwilling to help his sister write a divorce agreement, and now he wants to hit her.”

“Exactly, someone like him wants to pass the imperial exams? He’s not even human—pure hypocrisy.”

“What kind of family is this?”

Ji Yuan fell to the ground, hearing the villagers’ insults and seeing their disdainful looks. He regretted it deeply, and his gaze toward Ji Huan was filled with venom.

“No, no, you’re all wrong! You’ve all been fooled by Ji Huan!” Ji Yuan tried to get up to argue with the village head, but Er Zhuzi blocked his way.

“What? Still want to touch Ji Huan? I’m telling you, if you want to lay a hand on her, you’ll have to deal with my fist first.” Er Zhuzi stood like a wall in front of Ji Huan and the others.

Liu Fengmei, fearing her son would get hurt, scrambled up to help Ji Yuan. But Ji Yuan, seeing the villagers pointing at them, pushed her away and ran to his room, slamming the door shut.

Ji Huan glanced at Ji Yuan’s door without a trace, inwardly scoffing at him.

Soon, Zhou Xiaochun returned with pen, ink, paper, and inkpad to the Ji family courtyard. The village head instructed two young men to bring out a wooden table from the house, and Zhou Xiaochun began writing the divorce agreement in front of the whole village.

Ji Huan watched from the side. The writing here used traditional characters, but her previous job making Jianzhan teacups had involved researching them extensively. While she couldn’t write them, recognizing them was no problem for her.

The divorce agreement stated that Ji Qiao and Zhang Tiehu willingly divorced, would no longer be husband and wife, and would have no further dealings. Below were spaces for both to sign and leave handprints.

Zhou Xiaochun made a second copy, as each party would keep one, finalizing the divorce.

“All done, Father. Once they press their handprints, the divorce agreement will take effect,” Zhou Xiaochun said, standing and looking at the village head.

The village head nodded and looked at Ji Qiao, who was being comforted by Second Aunt Feng Mei. “Ji Qiao, if you want the divorce, come press your handprint.”

Ji Qiao bit her lower lip and nodded.

Ji Mantun panicked. “Ji Qiao, don’t listen to others. A Qianyuan like Zhang Tiehu—you’ll never find another with his status. Besides, as a Kunze who’s already bonded with a Qianyuan, who else would want you? I’m thinking of your future. Think carefully.”

Ji Qiao looked at Ji Mantun with red eyes, realizing her parents didn’t care about her life or death. She shook her head sadly. “If I go back with him, I’d rather die here.”

With that, Ji Qiao pressed her hand into the red inkpad and left her handprints on both copies of the divorce agreement.

The village head looked at Zhang Tiehu, and Ji Huan did too. While no one noticed, she gave him a slight smirk.

Zhang Tiehu was so scared his soul nearly left his body. Pointing at Ji Huan, he stammered, “She… she… Ji Huan, she…”

Before he could say more, Ji Huan interrupted. “Do you have anything else to say?”

Her eyes were red, making Zhang Tiehu think her earlier smile was an illusion.

Er Zhuzi couldn’t stand Qianyuan bullying Kunze, especially one from another village. He walked over, grabbed Zhang Tiehu’s collar, and lifted him up. Being ten centimeters taller than Ji Huan, he held Zhang Tiehu so his feet dangled off the ground.

“You’ve already hurt her this badly, and you’re still dragging others into it? One question: will you press your handprint on the divorce agreement or not?” Er Zhuzi glared at Zhang Tiehu.

Having been dunked in water by Ji Huan earlier, Zhang Tiehu had no courage to argue. He nodded quickly. “I’ll press it, spare me! I’ll press it now.”

Er Zhuzi set him down by the table, staring him down.

Zhang Tiehu dipped his hand in the inkpad, trembling as he went to press it. Ji Mantun, still unwilling to give up, said, “Son-in-law, are you really going through with the divorce?”

Under Ji Huan and the others’ gazes, Zhang Tiehu nodded hurriedly, sweating as he pressed his handprints. After both copies were signed, the village head had Zhou Xiaochun take the agreement to Xiniu Village’s head for filing, while he recorded it here, completing the process.

The village head looked at Ji Mantun and Liu Fengmei, showing no intent to speak with them, and turned to Ji Huan. “If anything comes up, just send someone to find me. Let Zhang Tiehu take his copy of the divorce agreement back himself.”

“Okay.” Ji Huan nodded and handed the remaining copy to Zhang Tiehu.

“Keep it safe.” Ji Huan looked at Zhang Tiehu, her eyes full of amusement, though she hid her expression when she raised her head.