Chapter 25: A Warm Home

Jiang Xu did not speak; she merely bit her lip and nodded forcefully.

Parents are always parents. Even at fifty years old, in front of the old man, Jiang Xu remained that same little child.

Jiang Tao was silent for a moment, then slowly tapped the table. "Did he always hit you? Did he abuse you?"

As he spoke, Jiang Tao’s eyes flickered with fury and a trace of regret. A look of desolation crossed Jiang Xu’s eyes. Her beautiful life had turned gray the moment she married Fang Jianjun. The past was something she dared not even recall.

She remained silent, but Fang Zhiyan, standing beside her, spoke up directly. "Yes. From as far back as I can remember until I started school, he always hit her. Even when I came home during school breaks, I would see Fang Jianjun strike her."

"A man like him is not fit to have a wife! Everyone in the village knows he is a piece of trash. Even the neighbors couldn't stand watching him beat my mother, to the point where they eventually helped her escape." As he spoke, a flash of hatred appeared in Fang Zhiyan’s eyes.

"Bang!"

The next second, Jiang Tao slammed his hand onto the table in a fit of rage. The bowls on the table rattled. Jiang Tao’s expression grew exceptionally grim.

"He beat you, and you just let him? When he hit you, why didn't you tell me? You have a father! You have an older brother! When you were wronged, why didn't you tell your family? Why did you insist on suffering such grievances until your children were this old?" Jiang Tao scolded angrily. He felt a deep, aching pity, mingled with frustration at her lack of resolve.

Jiang Xu closed her eyes in pain. "I'm sorry, Father. I was afraid you would worry, so I didn't dare let the family know. I was afraid... afraid it would ruin our reputation."

"Ha! Haha! Hahaha!" Jiang Tao let out a cold, sharp laugh at her words. "Afraid the family would know? How did I raise you? We are a family; we are your eternal support. And you say such things?"

Jiang Xu lowered her head, remaining silent.

Jiang Tao sighed deeply, his entire frame appearing to weaken. "I blame myself for being blind and truly marrying you off to him. If I had known he was such a beast, I would never have let you marry him, no matter what!"

As he spoke, Jiang Tao looked toward Fang Zhiyan.

"And you, why didn't you tell me? Did you just watch as your mother was beaten?"

Fang Zhiyan did not answer. He was not the person he once was; he was the person from the future. Yet, the original owner of this body had been courageous, constantly striving in his studies, determined to bring his mother out of that household. He had succeeded, yet in a way, he had also failed.

Jiang Tao shook his head and continued, "And just now, with so many people watching... he is your father, how could you strike him? If word of this gets out, what will people think of you?"

Hearing this, Fang Zhiyan smiled. "They will see with their own eyes."

Jiang Tao was stunned, caught off guard for a moment. Once he grasped the meaning behind Fang Zhiyan’s words, he was both angry and amused. "You... well, never mind. Ultimately, this is all Fang Jianjun’s fault. He is simply not a human being!"

Jiang Tao sighed again. "I was truly blind back then to let you marry him, letting you suffer such bullying for so many years." His gaze returned to Fang Zhiyan. "You were the one who brought your mother out?"

Fang Zhiyan nodded.

A touch of relief flickered in Jiang Tao’s eyes. "Good. You are worthy of being my grandson. It is good that you brought her out—it saves her from further suffering. But once you were out, why didn't you come to me? Your father and brother are here; you would rather live in that rented room than come home?" He turned his question back to his daughter.

At these words, tears streamed down Jiang Xu’s face again. "Father, I... I was afraid of staining your reputation."

Jiang Tao was a well-known barefoot doctor with high moral standing. Many people gave a thumbs-up at the mere mention of his name. Because of this, she feared that if others learned that the esteemed Doctor Jiang Tao had a daughter who had been beaten out of her home by her husband, where would he hide his face?

Jiang Tao fell silent once more. Had his own reputation become a shackle that burdened his children? He sighed softly and shook his head slowly. "Forget it. It is enough that you are out."

"From now on, do not go back to that Fang family. Now that you are out, Father will take care of you. Come, let’s go home with me!" Jiang Tao stood up and gently took Jiang Xu’s hand. In that moment, Jiang Xu wept like a willow in the rain, unable to speak through her sobs.

The place where Jiang Tao lived was not far from there; otherwise, the village committee’s director of women’s affairs would not have known to call Jiang Zhao to ask for help. They took a bus and, ten minutes later, arrived at the entrance of a village. This was Jiang Village, where Jiang Tao lived.

As for his mother, Jiang Xu, she had grown up here. Upon returning, a sense of natural warmth welled up within her. Jiang Tao did not speak but led them toward their home.

They had barely reached the door when movement could be heard inside, and someone hurried to open the door to welcome them.

"My daughter!"

The person who emerged was Jiang Xu’s mother, Zheng Xuehua. The white-haired old woman could not hold back her tears the moment she saw her daughter. "My daughter, how have you suffered such misery! It is all my fault; I should have come to bring you out sooner!" Zheng Xuehua pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, weeping uncontrollably.

Another figure emerged from the house—Jiang Zhao’s wife, her sister-in-law, Sun Yue. Looking at Jiang Xu, her eyes were also brimming with tears. The three women clung to each other, sobbing bitterly.

Jiang Tao walked slowly into the house. He had never imagined that his act of repaying a debt back then would end up ruining his daughter’s life. When Fang Jianjun had come to propose, he had brought many gifts and possessed a silver tongue, claiming he had once saved Jiang Tao’s life. That was why Jiang Tao had agreed to let his daughter marry him. Moreover, Jiang Tao had refused all the gifts Fang Jianjun brought, returning them entirely. That decision, however, had led to this catastrophe.

Thinking of this, Jiang Tao sighed and sat slowly in a chair nearby. "If you want a divorce, then get one! Once you are divorced, you will live here at home, and I will take care of you!"

Hearing this, Jiang Xu shook her head repeatedly. "There is no need, Father. I don't need to live at home."

The current head of the Jiang household was her brother, Jiang Zhao, and the mistress of the house was her sister-in-law, Sun Yue. It was only right for the old couple to live here, but if Jiang Xu moved in as well, Sun Yue might not agree.

Before the words had even faded, Sun Yue quickly grabbed Jiang Xu’s hand. "Sister, you must stay here. It is fine; I will protect you!"

Hearing this, Jiang Xu began to weep again. Only in her own home could she feel warmth and hope. Staying in that Fang household had meant only endless labor, followed by shouts and beatings. That life had been truly despairing!

"As for the divorce, given Fang Jianjun’s temperament, he will not agree easily."

"I have money here. I will pay him off to make him agree to the divorce!"