Lian Manman secretly clicked her tongue, just in such a short time, Lian Shouli had managed to say a few words. She feared as soon as he had mentioned splitting the family, Lady Zhou had lost her temper.

"Old Three, when things are fine, why speak of splitting the family?" Old Master Lian sat on the kang, speaking in a deep voice.

"Father, I..., if we separate, everyone would be more at peace." Lian Shouli, stunned by a slap from Lady Zhou, blurted out the words he usually didn’t dare to say.

"At peace, you might as well kill me. Then you can take your wife and child and go away. You’ll be at peace then," Lady Zhou scolded while ramming her head into Lian Shouli’s chest.

Lady Zhou was sitting on the kang, and she lunged forward with such force that Lian Shouli couldn’t help but take a step back. Lady Zhou’s excessive force made her body veer towards falling off the kang. Lian Shouli hurriedly used both hands to steady Lady Zhou, but she kept battering her head towards him like a person hell-bent on dying, continuing her assault. Afraid that Lady Zhou would fall off the kang, Lian Shouli bore the pain, leaned in, and adjusted his body so Lady Zhou’s head would hit his softer abdomen.

"What sin have I committed... I raised you with my own hands, and now that you’ve all grown wings, you look down on me, wishing I were dead this very moment. Oh heavens, open your eyes and look, I can’t go on living..." Lady Zhou then raised her hand, slapped Lian Shouli across the face, and burst into loud sobs.

Lian Manman watched, surprised to see that this time Lady Zhou was not fake crying but truly weeping, the tears falling like rain.

"Mother, when have I ever disdained you? To split..."

"Old Three, come on, just strangle me to death. After that, do whatever you want, I won’t be around to see..." Lady Zhou grabbed hold of Lian Shouli again, punching his chest.

Lian Shouli’s face was flushed red, but he endured, refusing to pull away.

"Oh my heavens..." Lady Zhou clutched Lian Shouli, letting out a weeping howl, "Old Three, you heartless thing! The suffering I went through carrying you for ten months, the hardships I endured to raise you. That year you were ill, and we had no money, it was I who sold my silver bracelet to treat your illness, saving your small life. Have you forgotten? After getting a wife, you’ve forgotten your mother. Had I known it would come to this, I should not have treated your illness; letting you die would have been a relief... You merciless wretch, in my monthly duties, I should have strangled you."

"What are you all looking at? Get out and call the neighbors; Old Three disdains his own mother, a spit from everyone could drown you... You’re not afraid of people breaking your spine, you..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Lady Zhou seemed to want to say ’go ahead and split up,’ but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

"Mother, I never disdained you. It’s just the division..." Lian Shouli hugged his head, wailing.

"Have you made up your mind?" Lady Zhou lifted her head, staring coldly at Lian Shouli.

In the midst of this turmoil, Lady Zhou’s hair had become completely disheveled, with strands of white hair tumbling messily by her temples. After a bout of crying, her eyes turned red. Seeing Lady Zhou like this, Lian Shouli’s heart abruptly softened, and he remained silent, simply standing there stupefied.

"Fine, then you strangle me first, here, do it—strangle me to death." Lady Zhou seized Lian Shouli’s hands, placing them around her neck and tightening them forcefully.

Heavens, Lady Zhou was using her life to blackmail Lian Shouli into not splitting up the family. She was laying it all on the line. Lian Manman couldn’t help but shiver; only now did she deeply realize how lucky they were to have separated from the family. If it hadn’t been for Lady Zhang’s last breaths, clearly not long for this world, Lady Zhou would not have agreed so easily. If Lady Zhou had turned against Lian Shouxin the way she was doing now to Lian Shouli, what would have become of him.

He surely wouldn’t have fared much better than Lian Shouli.

Lian Shouli’s hands, forced upon Lady Zhou’s neck, could feel the pulsing of her blood vessels and the bobbing of her throat, while Lady Zhou’s eyes were wide open, clutching at his hands and tightening her grip.

"Mother, Mother, I won’t split up the family." Eventually, Lian Shouli crumbled, and tears fell from the grown man’s eyes.

"You may not now, but your wife and your daughter will make you want to later. You might as well strangle me first," Lady Zhou didn’t release Lian Shouli.

"Mother, I won’t speak of splitting up ever again, never again. Yeye, Yeye’s mother, come here..."

Lady Zhao, clearly terrified by Lady Zhou’s desperate actions, approached with Lian Yeye, trembling all the while.

"Kneel down, all of you kneel down and kowtow to your mother," Lian Shouli’s voice trembled as he spoke.