Grandma 03

Fang Zhiyi was well aware that this grandmother had an "advantage" most normal people wouldn't notice. She was fiercely protective—but only of those who stood on her side. The problem was, no one in the Fang Family could tolerate her.

Zhao Yumei had been in unusually good spirits these past few days. Years of living alone had left her lonely, and now that a grandson was bustling around her, she couldn’t help but feel delighted. Gradually, she began to accept him.

Children are the worst at hiding things.

On the third day, the Village Party Secretary came to inform Fang Zhiyi that the construction site had paid out compensation money, which was temporarily being held by the village committee.

Fang Zhiyi glanced back at the house—Grandma was still asleep.

No need to rush.

Then the drama began.

Eldest Uncle strode through their door, followed closely by Third Uncle and Third Aunt. But when Eldest Uncle reached out to grab Fang Zhiyi, the boy dodged backward, avoiding his grasp.

Eldest Uncle frowned, taken aback. "Zhiyi, come with me. From now on, you’ll live at my place."

Third Aunt hurried forward. "Zhiyi, come to our house instead!" She shot Eldest Uncle a challenging look.

Eldest Uncle turned and snapped, "I’m the eldest of the Fang Family! My brother died in an accident—it’s my duty to take care of his son!"

"Pah!" Third Aunt sneered. "Don’t make me laugh. You really expect us to believe you’re doing this out of kindness? Zhiyi, be a good boy and come with me."

Then another voice cut in. "You all act like I don’t even exist, huh?"

Eldest Uncle turned. "Aunt? What are you doing here?" His expression darkened. Her arrival never meant anything good.

Great-aunt huffed. "I’m a Fang too! The boy’s coming with me!" She jerked her chin at her grandson, who stomped over to Fang Zhiyi with an impatient, "Let’s go!"

Fang Zhiyi retreated again.

"Who said you could take him?" Eldest Uncle yanked Cousin Brother aside, nearly sending him stumbling. The boy gaped in shock.

"Rebellion, is it?" Great-aunt shrieked. "You little brute, how dare you lay hands on my grandson?"

She lunged at Eldest Uncle, clawing and pulling. He didn’t dare fight back, only dodged awkwardly.

Seeing the chaos, Third Aunt whispered to Fang Zhiyi, "Come on, I’ll make your favorite fried eggs."

Fang Zhiyi shook his head.

Another figure sauntered in—Cousin Uncle, looking as lazy as ever. He grinned at the crowd. "What’s all this? A family reunion to split the money?"

Instantly, all eyes turned to him. The blunt accusation made everyone shift uncomfortably.

"What’s it to you? This is a Fang Family matter!" Third Uncle snapped.

Cousin Uncle scoffed. "I’m the kid’s cousin uncle—why shouldn’t I be here?"

Before long, the argument turned physical. Just like in the original plot, the yard descended into chaos. Fang Zhiyi did his best to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

"Fang Zhiyi!" Cousin Brother hissed, seizing the chance to corner him. "If you don’t come with my grandma, I’ll beat you up every day from now on. And I know where you go to school."

Fang Zhiyi glimpsed a shadow behind him and smirked. "Cousin Brother, you’d hit me?"

"I—" Before he could finish, a hand shot up and slapped him hard across the face.

The crisp sound silenced the squabbling crowd.

"Grandma..." Fang Zhiyi whined, putting on a pitiful act.

Zhao Yumei stormed out of the house, her face thunderous. She’d been sleeping soundly until the noise outside grew unbearable.

"What’s with the long face? Disgraceful!" she barked at Fang Zhiyi. The boy rolled his eyes internally—this old woman really spared no one.

"Mom? You—you’re here?" Eldest Uncle stammered.

Zhao Yumei scanned the crowd. "Oh, so you still remember I’m your mother?"

Even the fiery Great-aunt took a step back. Fang Zhiyi stifled a laugh—just how formidable had Zhao Yumei been in her youth?

"You think I don’t know what you’re after? Trying to pocket your own brother’s blood money? Shameless beasts! Over my dead body!" Though aged, Zhao Yumei stood with the imposing aura of someone who could hold off an army single-handedly.

"You—you hit me?" Cousin Brother finally recovered, his face burning with humiliation.

"So what if I did?" Zhao Yumei pulled out a rusted kitchen knife from behind her back. "You dare threaten my grandson in front of me?"

The boy froze.

"Look at you spineless ingrates! Letting outsiders bully your own mother, and you just stand there?" Zhao Yumei’s voice was venomous. "Ungrateful wretches!"

Eldest Uncle snapped out of it and shoved Cousin Brother away. "Get lost!" The boy, still just a kid, fell hard on his backside.

"How dare you!" Great-aunt screeched.

Zhao Yumei turned to her, eyes sharp despite their age-clouded haze. "Fang Cui, itching for another lesson, are you?"

Great-aunt retreated another step. She’d suffered plenty at this sister-in-law’s hands in the past.

Then Zhao Yumei felt a tug on her sleeve. She looked down to see Fang Zhiyi clutching her clothes, gazing up at her with pleading eyes.

Something in her stirred.

"Starting today, Fang Zhiyi stays with me! Any objections?"

"Mom—" Third Uncle started.

Zhao Yumei cut him off with a glare. "Third Son, you’ve done well for yourself, haven’t you? Your brats don’t even recognize their own grandmother."

Third Uncle lowered his head guiltily. His wife had taught the kids to ignore Zhao Yumei—and he’d allowed it.

The standoff continued, everyone cowed by Zhao Yumei’s notorious temper.

Then, the village committee arrived in a hurry. The Village Party Secretary spotted Fang Zhiyi immediately. "Zhiyi, your mother’s here!"

The crowd turned in shock.

Lin Meilan, her face heavily made-up, swept into the yard. "My son!"

But before she could take two steps, Zhao Yumei shattered her act. "Well, well. If it isn’t my daughter-in-law who ran off with another man. Did the bastard dump you?"

Lin Meilan froze at the sight of her mother-in-law.

"Mom..." she mumbled weakly.

Zhao Yumei snorted. "Don’t ‘mom’ me. Get out!"

"Mom! I was tricked into leaving! The moment I heard about Zhiyi’s father’s death, I rushed back!" Lin Meilan pleaded.

Zhao Yumei’s glare could have pierced steel.

Perhaps sensing his lover’s distress, the bald man behind her stepped forward.

Zhao Yumei eyed him. "Goodness, you scared me. What’s this, little slut? Now you’re seducing monks?"

Fang Zhiyi bit his lip hard to keep from laughing—now was not the time.

"What did you say, you old hag?" the bald man roared, charging forward. But he’d forgotten one thing—while the Fang relatives hadn’t settled their dispute, they were still family.

Whether out of respect for Zhao Yumei as their elder or alarm at Lin Meilan’s sudden appearance, they weren’t about to let an outsider step in.