This shout stunned everyone. After a pause, they all looked toward Edward Walker and John Walker!

This shout actually came from Billy Walker, who had always been meek and submissive!

It took a while for the The Bennett Brothers to come back to their senses. The brother-in-law gave a dry laugh and said, “What do you mean?”

“Don’t you dare yell at my sister!” Edward Walker swept his bloodshot eyes over his elder and younger brothers-in-law, finally landing on Mrs. Bennett. His bravado faded, and he muttered softly, “I won’t split the family…”

“Say that again?” The The Bennett Family were stunned.

“I won’t split the family.” Edward Walker spoke even more quietly. “If you want to leave, then go…”

“Fine, fine,” Mrs. Bennett had thought she had Edward Walker completely under her thumb, but who would have thought he’d dare defy her? Instantly furious, she began packing her clothes. “Just you wait for the authorities to come arrest you!”

“Edward Walker, you still have time to change your mind.” The elder brother-in-law, seeing things falling apart, hurried to patch things up: “Once my sister steps out that door, she’s no longer your wife. And the debt your family owes mine has long been due. Before, since we were relatives, we were embarrassed to collect. But now, for the sake of a useless brother, you’d rather lose your wife? Then we don’t need to show any mercy. Tomorrow, we’ll file a complaint at the county office, accuse you of not repaying your debt and of injuring your wife. Your life will be over, you know that?”

“I won’t split the family…” Edward Walker was indeed frightened pale, but still kept his head down, repeating those four words, his feet nearly grinding a hole in the floor tiles.

“Edward Walker, you’d better think this through.” Even Old Lady tried to persuade him: “Even the mute widow from East Street needs a bride price of five strings of cash these days. I don’t have the means to get you another wife!”

“I won’t split the family…” Edward Walker had thought it through very clearly. He finally raised his head and said, “Cuilian has her family to look after her, so I’m at ease.”

“Pah!” Mrs. Bennett nearly spat a mouthful of phlegm onto Edward Walker’s face. She picked up her bundle and stormed out in anger. “Billy Walker, just wait for the day you regret it so much you beg me on your knees!”

When she reached the courtyard, still unable to calm her shame and anger, she walked to the west wing and saw her brother-in-law Henry Walker, who was calmly watching her. His eyes, black and white and piercing, were even more frightening than Old Lady’s.

She cursed herself for being addled today—what was there to fear from this sickly good-for-nothing? Mrs. Bennett glared at him with a twisted face, pointing at his nose and cursing, “Useless wretch, your very existence is a curse on this family! I, Old Lady, will watch you bring ruin to the Wang family!”

Henry Walker remained as calm as still water, but finally spoke:

“Sister-in-law, I’ve made many mistakes in the past and made you angry. That was my fault. But I’ve turned over a new leaf now. If you want to split the family because of me, you can wait a little longer. In just a few months, the Wang family will turn around! Otherwise, I’ll leave and won’t drag you down anymore.”

“Hahaha…” Mrs. Bennett burst out laughing as if she’d heard a joke. “You, change your ways? A dog can’t stop eating shit. As long as you’re here, the Wang family will never get better!”

“You can just watch…” Henry Walker sighed softly and said no more.

“Fine, I’ll watch!” Mrs. Bennett laughed loudly and strode away. “Let’s see how you keep ruining this family!”

……

The The Bennett Siblings left, naturally taking their dowry with them. That blockhead Edward Walker even helped them call a cart and carry boxes, working hard at it.

This left the neighbors baffled. They’d heard the Wang family arguing up a storm—so why was Edward Walker now helping the The Bennett Family move their dowry boxes? Could it be they were splitting the family?

A neighbor couldn’t help but ask, “Edward Walker, are you moving out?”

Edward Walker shook his head and said dejectedly, “Cuilian is going back to her family. I’m staying.”

The neighbors were quite surprised and couldn’t help but look at Edward Walker with newfound respect. Clearly, Mrs. Bennett didn’t have a good reputation among the neighbors.

When Edward Walker returned, he saw Old Lady standing in the courtyard. He lowered his head and said softly, “Mother…”

“Edward Walker, you did the right thing.” Old Lady looked at him approvingly. “Your brother may be a good-for-nothing, but he’s still your brother. If you abandoned him now, I’d definitely report you both to the authorities.”

Edward Walker said uneasily, “But now the The Bennett Family wants to go to the authorities too.”

“Go to hell with that!” Old Lady spat. “You fool, your father was once a magistrate’s assistant—don’t you even know the basic laws? A husband beating his wife—unless there’s a serious injury, it doesn’t count! She just got a little scratched, so the beating was for nothing!”

“Oh…” Edward Walker nodded gloomily, but was also relieved.

“Go get some rest.” Old Lady knew this decision must have been hard for him, so she sent Edward Walker back to his room to rest. She herself went to the door of the west wing, squinting at her youngest son. “I heard everything you said just now!”

“I was saying it for you to hear, Mother.” Henry Walker met Old Lady’s gaze. Their eyes, both black and white and sharp, were exactly alike.

“Empty words are useless.” Old Lady scoffed. “Show me some results before you talk big, or I’ll just take it as hot air.”

“Just watch.” Henry Walker knew she was goading him, but still raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, “I, Henry Walker, am not the same anymore… Ow…”

His resolute vow was met with a pitch-black rag—Old Lady had good aim, and it landed squarely on his face.

“You little brat, learn to wipe your own ass first.” Old Lady clapped her hands and went to prepare dinner.