The wounds could no longer be hidden.
No further questions were needed, everyone understood why Yue Xiaofang had come back on New Year's Eve.
The snow outside was so heavy; anyone returning to their parent's home in such weather must have endured severe beating.
The most honest Yue Jianxi trembled with anger, "Ma Jinbao that beast, he actually laid hands on you."
Her sister had chosen this husband herself.
People in the village generally sought brides from families with some wealth, at the very least, a bride who wouldn't be a burden.
With three sons in the Yue Family, everyone feared Lin Chunju would demand a triple dowry, making it harder for the sons to find wives.
They also worried that because of the poor condition of the Yue family, Yue Xiaofang might dig into her husband's family to support her own people.
Thus, even though Yue Xiaofang was beautiful and capable, no matchmakers had come calling.
It was only when Ma Jinbao from a neighboring village happened to visit and saw Yue Xiaofang that he claimed to have fallen for her at first sight and eagerly sent someone to propose.
Lin Chunju did not like Ma Jinbao.
She felt that although he spoke nicely, his eyes were always sizing up everything inside and out of the Yue Family, revealing his calculating nature.
Yet, Yue Xiaofang agreed.
She felt that as a daughter, once she came of age, she would become water that had been thrown out and needed to make space for future sisters-in-law.
Despite repeated persuasions from the three brothers of the Yue Family, Yue Xiaofang insisted on marrying herself off to Ma Jinbao, the only suitor who came forward.
The Ma Family wasn't wealthy in their village either; otherwise, they wouldn't have come to the Yue family to look for a bride.
However, Yue Xiaofang didn't see this as a problem. Having grown up in the Yue Family, she knew well that poverty didn't compromise one's ambition and believed that their lives would gradually improve.
The Yue Family did not ask for a large dowry, but Lin Chunju, worried about her daughter being looked down upon in the other village, gritted her teeth and doubled the dowry.
The year she got married, the people of the Yue Family nearly starved for most of the year.
Yue Xiaofang's mother-in-law smiled so broadly her face almost split, boasting everywhere about how capable her son was.
After the marriage, to prevent the Ma Family from suspecting that her daughter might support her mother's family, Lin Chunju always urged her not to come back unless necessary and assured her everything was fine at home.
Over time, Yue Xiaofang's contact with her family lessened, though she often heard news from others.
It was said that shortly after Xiaofang got married, the state began promoting a contract system for land use, and Xiaofang and Ma Jinbao took on a contract for a Fruit Orchard.
It was said that Xiaofang was very capable; she and her husband managed the Fruit Orchard so well that the Ma Family was becoming increasingly wealthy, and everyone in the village talked about their impending prosperity.
But how had Lin Chunju never heard that her well-off daughter was being beaten to a bruised mess?
Yue Xiaofang, looking at her mother's expression, threw herself into her arms and sobbed bitterly.
"Mom, it's my incompetence."
Lin Chunju stroked her daughter's hair as tears swirled in her eyes.
Yue Jiandong gritted his teeth in hatred, "Ma Jinbao bullies the Yue Family because they're from another village, thinking he is beyond the reach of the emperor, to dare treat you thus."
He knew his sister's character better than anyone; understanding and always worried about causing the family concern, she could swallow any hardship.
To be beaten to the point of fleeing back home showed how much she had suffered.
Yue Jiannan moved to a corner to pick up a hoe, "I'm going to fight him right now."
This time it was not only him, even Yue Jianxi rolled up his sleeves, eager to rush to the Ma Family immediately.
"We definitely need to go, but we must find out the full story and plan carefully before we go. What's the use of rushing over there like hotheaded youths?"
Lin Chunju hugged her daughter, letting Yue Xiaofang cry her heart out.
The sounds of sobbing echoed around the room as Yue Xiaofang wished she could pour out all her grievances.
The three grown men of the Yue Family's chests heaved with breaths, their hatred for Ma Jinbao reaching its peak.
He was the one who came and promised to treat Xiaofang well, and it was also he who had beaten her to a bruised and battered state on New Year's Eve.
He truly was a beast!
After Lin Chunju felt her daughter had cried enough, she took a handkerchief, gently wiped her face, and led her back to her room.
Zhang Ying and Wang Xiaoni also went along with her.
Yue Xiaofang bit her lower lip and stripped off her clothes. Only then did the women see the various scars covering her entire body, with horrifying marks even on her thighs and around her waist.
Zhang Ying, whose heart was the softest, burst into tears.
"How could Ma Jinbao treat you ?"
Yue Xiaofang bowed her head low, "It's not just him, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law have also hit me."