Chapter 36: Stuart Married a Daughter-in-Law Who Defies All Rules

Grace plopped down hard onto the floor, staring at Annette in disbelief. Then she started pounding the ground and wailing loudly, "Oh dear, the daughter-in-law hit me! Look at this city girl Stuart brought home — she's fierce! She even dares to hit her own mother-in-law!"

As she cried and slapped the floor, throwing a tantrum, Annette could hardly believe her eyes.

Carl watched from the side, clearly displeased. He jabbed a finger at Annette's nose. "You're going against the heavens! Just wait till my brother comes back — he'll sort you out."

Annette hated being pointed at like that, her expression darkening. "Take your hand away."

Carl sneered, "What if I don't? What, you want to hit me too? Do you think our family's been giving you face all this time?"

Annette didn't bother replying. She grabbed Carl's fingers and bent them hard, then kicked his leg sharply.

Carl yelped in pain and hopped away, then pointed at Annette with his injured hand. "Just you wait. I'll have my brother deal with you today."

Annette looked down on them with disdain. Such weak threats — they thought they could bully her?

If they wanted to fight, fine. But she'd make sure they learned their lesson so they'd never dare bother her again.

When Carl turned to grab an iron shovel leaning against the wall, Annette was faster. She bent down, picked up a stone from the ground, and threw it hard at the back of his head — painful but not fatal.

Clara gasped. Grace, startled, stopped crying and looked toward the commotion. Neighbors gathered at the door, stunned by the sudden violence.

Time seemed to freeze, then with a heavy thud, Carl collapsed to the ground.

Grace suddenly felt a tight grip on her neck, silencing her. After a moment, she scrambled to her feet, lunging toward Annette. "You little witch!"

Before she could reach her, Annette kicked her down again and glared coldly. "I, Annette, never back down. If you don't accept it, you can kill me today — or I'll make sure you submit."

She kicked Grace hard in the backside. Grace screamed like an animal.

The onlookers were dumbfounded. Traditionally, mothers-in-law beat daughters-in-law — but here in Woodacre Village, it was the daughter-in-law who was doing the beating.

Carl got up, blood smeared on the back of his head. Seeing Annette's furious look, his arrogance vanished.

Annette smiled with satisfaction as Carl and Grace fell silent. These people were all talk, scared of real strength.

One lesson was enough. They wouldn't dare again.

She cast a cold glance at Grace. "Listen carefully. You can scheme against anyone you want, but don't target me, Annette. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

With that, she dusted off her clothes and went back inside.

Grace felt like her face had been dragged on the ground and trampled, but since she couldn't beat Annette, she wiped her face, grabbed the chicken she had dropped, and slipped back into the kitchen, then into her room.

Carl felt humiliated but unable to fight Annette. Outside the gate, by the courtyard wall, a crowd gathered — even some neighbors stood on their rooftops watching.

Holding the back of his head and frowning, Carl glared at Clara. "Why are you just standing there? Go back inside."

He couldn't beat Annette, but he could take it out on his wife.

One by one, the family went inside. The crowd slowly dispersed, whispering, "Second son married a city girl. Pretty, yes — but fierce! She even hit her own mother-in-law. So unfilial."

Compared to that, everyone agreed Laura was more obedient and sensible.

Poor Stuart — he had a good thing with Laura but chose to marry this wild woman instead.

Annette stretched and returned inside, calm and unbothered. Sitting on the kang bed, she wondered: Did Stuart and the others make it to the hospital? Was Nancy's life in danger?

If Stuart knew she had hit his mother and brother, would he be angry? Even if he came back to divide the family, it was still his mother.

And what about Richard, coughing all night? With all this chaos outside, he hadn't spoken or come to check. Was he not home or just pretending not to hear?

After the commotion, Annette didn't expect Grace to feed her. The buns Stuart bought yesterday were still in the lunchbox. She planned to warm them and eat, then take her things to find Stuart at the county hospital.

She boldly went to the kitchen carrying the lunchbox.

Seeing the stove still warm, Annette placed the box on it to warm the buns. The filling was still cold, but she ate anyway.

After finishing, she washed the box, packed her things, and took Stuart's new basin with her as she left.

Grace had been watching through the window. After a while, Annette came out carrying her bag and left.

Grace turned to Richard, who was leaning on the kang, and said, "Annette left. Do you think she'll go complain to Second Brother?"

Richard squinted, a calculating look flashing over his simple face. "Complain? Good. Let Second Brother see what kind of wife he has."

Then he glared at Grace. "And you — why so eager for money? Nancy's matter isn't settled yet. What if it gets out?"

Grace suddenly seemed to realize her daughter's uncertain fate. She wiped her eyes and started crying.

…

Annette left the Zhou home, noting the tractor's direction. Following the wheel tracks, she knew she could reach Oakridge Town and take a bus to the county seat.

Not far out of the village, a donkey cart passed by, heading toward town.

Annette decided to hitch a ride, smiling warmly as she stopped the driver. "Sir, are you headed to town? Could you give me a lift?"

The man driving the donkey cart saw her unfamiliar face and smooth, fair skin — not looking like a village girl — and thought she might be a returning educated youth. He stopped and kindly invited her aboard.

Annette climbed up, holding her bag close, and touched the sack beneath her. "Sir, what's in the sack? Are you taking it to town to sell?"

"Just getting some seeds for the commune. Planting season's coming. Which team are you with? I don't recall seeing you before."

Annette wasn't sure if he knew Stuart. "Do you know Stuart? I'm his wife."

The man was surprised, turning for a second look. "What? You're Second Brother's wife?"

Annette nodded. "Yes, we came back yesterday. I'm heading to the county for something."

He nodded repeatedly, smiling with satisfaction. "Good, very good. Second Brother finally brought home a wife."

Annette thought for a moment. "Sir, did you watch Stuart grow up here?"

The man laughed. "Yeah, Second Brother was smart but quiet. The other kids called him 'little mute.'"

Annette pictured little Stuart being bullied, a lonely, pitiful kid. Her heart clenched. "That's awful!"

The man told her many stories about Stuart's childhood on the way to town. Annette listened eagerly.

Fortunately, she caught a bus to the county.

Once in town, she asked for the county hospital and went straight there.

But at the hospital entrance, she unexpectedly saw Stuart walking outside side by side with Laura…