Jiang Xu didn't speak, only bit her lip and nodded firmly.
Parents would always be parents. Even though Jiang Xu was already fifty, in front of her father, she was still that little girl.
Jiang Tao fell silent for a moment, then slowly rapped his knuckles against the table.
"Did he hit you? Domestic violence?"
As he spoke, anger flickered in Jiang Tao's eyes, mixed with a trace of regret.
A shadow of sorrow passed over Jiang Xu's gaze.
Her once-beautiful life had turned gray the moment she married Fang Jianjun.
The past was something she didn't even dare to recall.
She remained silent, but Fang Zhiyan beside her spoke up instead.
"Yes."
"From the time I can remember, until before I started school, he hit her constantly."
"Even when I came home during school breaks, I saw Fang Jianjun raise his hand against her."
"A man like him doesn't deserve a wife!"
"Everyone in the village knows he's scum. Even the neighbors couldn't stand watching him beat my mother—they ended up helping her escape."
As he spoke, a flash of hatred also crossed Fang Zhiyan's eyes.
Bang!
The next second, Jiang Tao slammed his palm furiously against the table.
The bowls on the table clattered loudly.
Jiang Tao's face was dark with rage.
"He hit you, and you just let him?"
"He hit you—why didn't you tell me?"
"You have a father! You have an older brother!"
"When you suffered, why didn't you tell your family?"
"Did you have to endure this torment silently, until your child grew up?"
Jiang Xu's scolding was filled with fury.
His heart ached for her, but there was also frustration—like hating iron for not becoming steel.
Jiang Xu closed her eyes in pain.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't want you to worry. I… I didn't dare let the family know."
"I was afraid… it would tarnish our reputation."
"Hah. Hahaha!"
Jiang Tao let out a cold laugh.
"Afraid the family would know? What did I teach you before?"
"We're family. We're your eternal support. And yet you say something like this?"
Jiang Xu lowered her head and said nothing.
Jiang Tao sighed deeply, his entire body seeming to weaken slightly.
"It's also my fault for misjudging him. I actually let you marry him."
"If I'd known he was such a beast back then, I would never have allowed you to marry him!"
Then, he turned his gaze to Fang Zhiyan.
"And you—why didn't you tell me?"
"You just stood by and watched your mother get beaten?"
Fang Zhiyan didn't answer.
The person he was before wasn't him—the him now was the him of the future.
But the original owner of this body had also been courageous, studying relentlessly in hopes of rescuing his mother from that household.
He had succeeded—and yet, he hadn't.
Jiang Tao shook his head and continued, "And just now, with so many people watching—"
"He's your father. How could you hit him? If word gets out, what will people think of you?"
Hearing this, Fang Zhiyan smiled.
"They'll look with their eyes."
Jiang Tao was momentarily stunned, almost not processing the words.
When he finally understood, he was both angry and amused.
"You… ah, forget it."
"In the end, this is all Fang Jianjun's fault. He's utterly despicable!"
Jiang Tao sighed. "I must've been blind back then, letting you marry him and suffer for so many years."
Then, his gaze settled on Fang Zhiyan again.
"You were the one who brought your mother out?"
Fang Zhiyan nodded.
A trace of approval flashed in Jiang Tao's eyes. "Good. You're worthy of being my grandson."
"It's good you got her out—no more suffering. But after leaving, why didn't you come to me?"
"Your father, your brother—they're all here. You'd rather live in a rented place than come home?"
He turned the question back to his daughter.
At this, Jiang Xu's tears fell once more.
"Dad, I… I was afraid of damaging your reputation."
Jiang Tao was a well-known barefoot doctor in the area, revered for his medical ethics.
Many would give him a thumbs-up at the mere mention of his name.
Precisely because of this, if people found out that the esteemed Dr. Jiang Tao had a daughter who was beaten and driven out by her husband—where would that leave his dignity?
Hearing this, Jiang Tao was again at a loss for words.
Since when had his reputation become chains that burdened his children?
He sighed softly and shook his head. "Never mind. What matters is that you're out now."
"From now on, don't go back to that Fang household. Now that you're out, your father will take care of you. Come—let's go home."
With that, Jiang Tao stood and gently took Jiang Xu's hand.
For a moment, Jiang Xu wept uncontrollably, her tears falling like rain.
Jiang Tao's home wasn't far from where they were.
Otherwise, the village women's director wouldn't have known to call Jiang Zhao for help.
They took the bus, and within ten minutes, they arrived at the entrance of a village.
This was Jiang Village—where Jiang Tao lived.
As for Jiang Xu, she had grown up here.
Returning now, she was filled with an overwhelming sense of familiarity.
Jiang Tao didn't speak, leading them toward the house.
Before they even reached the door, movement came from inside, and someone hurried out to greet them.
"My daughter!"
It was Jiang Xu's mother, Zheng Xuehua.
The white-haired old woman burst into tears the moment she saw her daughter.
"My child, how could you have suffered like this?"
"It's all my fault—I should've gone to bring you home sooner!"
Zheng Xuehua pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
Then, another figure emerged from inside.
It was Jiang Zhao's wife, Aunt Sun Yue.
Her eyes were also brimming with tears as she looked at Jiang Xu.
The three women held each other, weeping.
Jiang Tao, meanwhile, slowly walked inside.
He had never imagined that his act of repaying a debt of gratitude back then would ruin his daughter's life.
When Fang Jianjun had come to propose marriage, he had brought many gifts and was smooth-tongued, claiming to have saved Jiang Tao's life.
That was why Jiang Tao had agreed to let his daughter marry him.
And as for the gifts Fang Jianjun had brought, Jiang Tao hadn't kept a single one—he had returned them all.
Yet, it had still led to this mistake.
At this thought, Jiang Tao sighed softly and sat down in a nearby chair.
"If you want a divorce, then divorce him!"
"After it's done, you'll live here. I'll take care of you!"
Hearing this, Jiang Xu quickly shook her head. "No, Dad. I don't need to live at home."
Right now, the head of the Jiang household was her brother Jiang Zhao, with Aunt Sun Yue as the matriarch.
It was only natural for the old couple to live here, but if Jiang Xu stayed as well, Sun Yue might not agree.
But before she could finish speaking, Sun Yue grabbed her hand.
"Little sister, you stay here. It's fine—I'll protect you!"
At these words, Jiang Xu began crying again.
Only in her own home could she feel warmth and hope.
Living in that Fang household had meant endless labor, constant scolding, and beatings!
That kind of life had been pure despair.
"If we're talking divorce, Fang Jianjun won't agree easily given his nature."
"I have money. We'll pay him—make him agree to the divorce!"