After much deliberation, Kong could only pin her hopes on Mu Xingrou.
Mu Xingrou was Mu Fengqie's elder sister. She had been married off by Kong as a concubine to a wealthy landowner.
Although Kong favored sons over daughters, Mu Xingrou had made a relatively good match. So, Kong didn't treat her as badly as she did Mu Fengqie.
Upon receiving the letter, Mu Xingrou rushed back home in a hurry.
In recent days, she had learned bits and pieces about what had happened at home. Mu Xingrou, who had never really cared about Mu Fengqie, now despised her even more after this incident. She always felt that Mu Fengqie had brought shame to the family and made her lose face too.
"You're finally back! Look at what your elder brother has been beaten into by that ungrateful wretch, Mu Fengqie. He's been bedridden all day and can't even get out of bed. And that ungrateful wretch has money but hides it instead of taking it out. What do you think we should do about this?"
Although Kong didn't like her daughters, Mu Xingrou had the same temperament as her. Moreover, Mu Xingrou would occasionally bring money back home. So, Kong was much gentler towards her.
Mu Xingrou frowned tightly, her face full of disdain and mockery. "I didn't expect Mu Fengqie to be so scheming. I thought with her looks, she could at least marry into a good family. It's all her own fault for being promiscuous. Not only did she ruin her own good future, but she's also of no use to the family!"
Just thinking about this made Mu Xingrou furious. The Mu family had such a promiscuous daughter, and some people were gossiping about her behind her back.
Kong quickly chimed in. "Now your elder brother's injury is serious. I know you've had a hard time, and I can't rely on you for everything. That little slut clearly has plenty of money but is unwilling to take it out to treat your elder brother..."
As she spoke, Kong even pretended to shed a few tears, looking extremely pitiful.
Seeing this, Mu Xingrou was even more determined to show the dignity of the eldest daughter of the Mu family. She comforted her softly, "Mother, I have my own plan for this matter. I will never let that ungrateful wretch, Mu Fengqie, get her way!"
The two of them stormed over to the thatched cottage. Coincidentally, Mu Fengqie and Jing Xinche were counting money inside. This scene was clearly seen by Mu Xingrou and Kong.
Although the amount of money they had was not much, it was enough to make people envious. This money was enough to buy several months' worth of food for a family of five.
"Why are you here again? Don't you know any manners? Don't you know you should knock before entering someone else's house?" Mu Fengqie sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Kong and the rest of the Mu family were like sticky plasters. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get rid of them. It seemed that cutting off the relationship might not be a bad idea.
Mu Xingrou frowned tightly, her face full of disbelief. "You live in a place like this?"
In Mu Xingrou's eyes, this shabby thatched cottage was not fit for human habitation. It was more suitable for livestock. Having lived in a large mansion for so long, she felt an innate aversion to the thatched cottage.
Hearing this, Mu Fengqie looked over and realized that the woman dressed like a noble lady was Mu Xingrou, the elder sister of the original owner. Just because she had married a landowner as a concubine, she thought she was superior to others and often looked down on people.
Mu Fengqie calmly put away the money, stood up slowly, and said softly, "What's wrong with a place like this?"
Kong grabbed Mu Xingrou and gave her a look with her eyes. Mu Xingrou nodded in understanding. The contempt and disgust in her eyes became even more intense. "Let's not beat around the bush. Leaving aside your elder brother's injury for now, mother has raised you for so many years. You can't forget your roots now that you're married."
Mu Fengqie scoffed. "What do you mean by that?"
"We're both married now. It's only right that we support our mother's family."
The meaning behind Mu Xingrou's words was obvious, but Mu Fengqie wasn't going to buy it.
Since she came here, she hadn't eaten a single grain of rice from the Mu family. Why should she give the money she had earned through hard work to others?
Mu Fengqie glanced at Mu Xingrou and snorted. "It's true that elder sister married a landowner as a concubine. A skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Although elder sister is just a concubine, her life is still better than mine. Elder sister might as well support the family more and worry less about other people's business."
She hated people who looked down on others the most. How dare a mere concubine act so arrogantly? Where did she get the courage?
Mu Fengqie deliberately emphasized the word "concubine".
The smile on Mu Xingrou's face visibly faded. Her facial expression changed unpredictably. Her face, turning various colors, looked extremely comical.
"If it weren't for mother, would you be who you are today? I'm warning you not to make things too ugly. You know that a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Given your current situation, I have plenty of ways to make you disappear from this world without a trace."
Mu Xingrou wasn't exaggerating. Given Mu Fengqie's current situation, killing her would be as easy as stepping on an ant. But Mu Xingrou didn't know one thing. With Jing Xinche around, no one could get close to Mu Fengqie.
Jing Xinche's eyes emitted a cold light. He said coldly, "We'll see if you have the ability. As long as I'm here, no one can hurt a single hair on my wife."
Jing Xinche's voice was firm and straight to Mu Fengqie's heart. Although the man in front of her was only twenty years old, he always made her feel an inexplicable sense of security.
Mu Xingrou's face turned ugly after being embarrassed. She was used to throwing her weight around in the mansion. How could she bear such humiliation? So, she reached out her hand. It seemed that her slap was about to land on Mu Fengqie's face.
Jing Xinche's pupils suddenly shrank. He waved his big hand and quickly grabbed Mu Xingrou's hand, then forcefully threw her away.
Mu Xingrou was just a woman. Being thrown like this, she fell directly to the ground.
Mu Fengqie closed her eyes tightly. The pain she had imagined didn't come. She opened her eyes suddenly and looked at Mu Xingrou sitting on the ground in disbelief.
At this moment, the anger in her heart had already faded. She was so excited that she almost clapped her hands. She didn't expect this young lad to show such an overwhelming display of boyfriend charm!
"You're really going too far! Don't be too happy too soon, you little slut!" Kong roared.
At this moment, the greed of the two of them was fully displayed. Mu Fengqie patted the dust off her body and said indifferently, "A woman follows her husband wherever he goes. Now that I'm a member of the Jing family, I have nothing to do with the Mu family anymore. If you come to disturb my life again in the future, then let's just wait and see!"
Mu Xingrou snorted and pulled Kong out. Kong was envious of the money and reluctantly followed Mu Xingrou out of the thatched cottage.
Mu Xingrou always thought of herself as a high - ranking master. Having suffered a setback at Mu Fengqie's place, she couldn't swallow this humiliation. It wasn't really because she wanted to help Kong, but because she wanted to satisfy her own vanity.
Kong muttered to herself unhappily, "That damned little slut. I should have buried her alive back then!"
Mu Xingrou was much calmer. She had already started analyzing Mu Fengqie's changes. A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes. "Mother, I feel that Mu Fengqie is different..."
The former Mu Fengqie was timid and submissive, which was far from the sharp - tongued Mu Fengqie just now. Could it really be a coincidence?