"What do you think you're doing?"

Su Yumei hadn't recognized Lin Mu and simply treated him as a nosy interloper. Pointing at him, she snarled, "I'm telling you, mind your own business!"

"My own business?" With eyes as sharp as blades, Lin Mu advanced toward Su Yumei. "My mother came to pay respects to her father," he said coldly. "That is a matter of basic human decency. As a daughter visiting her father's grave, it's a show of filial piety. And you want to stop her? What are your intentions?"

Lin Mu's words made the people around them nod in agreement; they all felt the young man was right.

Su Yumei's expression changed, and she snorted. "So you're the vile brat of that wretched woman, Su Rou. No wonder you're so ill-bred! Like mother, like son, indeed!"

Her words were like a sharp blade stabbing directly into his mother's heart.

"What? Am I wrong?" Seeing Su Rou's complexion shift and her expression fill with pain, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Su Yumei's eyes. "Everyone in the Su Family knows you eloped with some wild man back in the day. When you returned, you were even carrying a bastard child. That's this little mongrel, right?" she said, her gaze fixed on Lin Mu, dripping with scorn.

SLAP!

No sooner had she finished speaking than a figure appeared before her and slapped her across the face.

"AAH!"

With a scream, Su Yumei was sent flying several meters, crashing to the ground. The one who had struck her was none other than Lin Mu.

"You little bastard, how dare you hit me?" Half of Su Yumei's face swelled up, the five-finger imprint clearly visible on her cheek. The intense pain twisted her features. Pointing at Lin Mu, she shrieked, "You dare hit me? Do you have any idea who I am? In Wufeng County, I can have you killed in minutes—"

SLAP!

Before Su Yumei could finish, the other half of her face was struck again.

PFFT!

This time, the blow sent several of her teeth flying.

Rubbing his wrist, Lin Mu spoke without expression, "If you dare to spout any more filth, believe me when I say I'll kill you right here, right now."

"You..." Su Yumei wanted to retort with something harsh, but Lin Mu's gaze made her shiver involuntarily. For some reason, she found his eyes utterly terrifying.

Everyone else was shocked speechless by the scene.

Lin Mu actually dared to slap Su Yumei? Not only was she his aunt, but her status in Wufeng County alone meant that ordinary people would never dare to offend her.

"Ah, young people acting impulsively will end up suffering for it," an old man lamented, shaking his head, clearly anticipating the consequences.

"Hmph, I think he did the right thing. For an eldest sister, an elder, to treat her own sister and nephew like that is completely unreasonable," someone else disagreed, even thinking Lin Mu's actions were befitting of a passionate young man.

"Still, youthful exuberance and hot-headedness are sure to lead to great suffering." Despite this, many people were still not optimistic about Lin Mu's prospects.

"Kid, you just wait!" Su Yumei hissed venomously as she was helped to her feet. Glaring fiercely at Lin Mu and Su Rou, she added, "Su Rou, I won't forget this!"

Lin Mu, however, was unfazed by her threats and helped his mother up.

"Xiao Mu, you..."

Lin Mu cut his mother off. "Mom, good people are bullied, and gentle horses are ridden. I promised you I wouldn't cause trouble, and I don't care what they say about me, but... I will not tolerate them insulting you in the slightest!"

An icy chill emanated from Lin Mu, and his emotionless words made everyone shiver.

"Not a single word!"

Hearing him, Su Rou sighed. Knowing his personality, she felt a mix of worry and pride. Her son has grown up. He can protect her now.

"Second Sister, Xiao Mu, you two should leave," Su Xiaomei said as she approached. She looked at Lin Mu with a strange expression that was mostly fear. Grabbing Su Rou's arm, she urged, "Second Sister, you don't understand. Eldest Sister's husband is the deputy director of the Wufeng County Public Security Bureau. After Lin Mu hit her, he definitely won't let you off."

"Second Sister, Xiaomei is right," an elderly bystander kindly advised. "You should take your son and leave quickly. That Lei Chengjun is incredibly petty and vengeful. If you stay, it won't end well for you."

"Second Sister, you can't delay any longer," Su Xiaomei pleaded, full of worry and inwardly blaming Lin Mu for his impulsiveness. "Once Lei Chengjun gets here, you won't be able to leave."

"I..." Su Rou was clearly worried about Lin Mu, but she had come to pay her respects to Old Master Su. How could she leave? Yet, if they waited any longer, she knew Su Yumei's temperament meant she would never let Lin Mu go.

"Mom, tell me the truth. Do you want to pay your respects to Grandfather?" Lin Mu asked, holding his mother's hand with a gentle smile. "If you do, then I'll stay with you."

"I do!" Su Rou's eyes welled up with tears as she choked out, "I'm his daughter, after all."

"Alright." Lin Mu nodded. He glanced around and said in a level voice, "Then we'll stay. Let's see who dares to stop you from paying respects to Grandfather!"

"Such big words for a young man. Aren't you afraid you'll bite your tongue?" a sarcastic voice cut in just then.

The crowd parted to let a chubby, middle-aged man in a trench coat walk through. He oozed authority, and at his side was Su Yumei, her face a mask of hate. This was Lei Chengjun, the deputy director of the Wufeng County Public Security Bureau and Su Yumei's husband.

Su Yumei's gaze was icy, as if she could devour Lin Mu whole. "You little bastard, go on, be arrogant now! This time, I'm going to break every bone in your body!"

"Eldest Sister, Brother-in-law, Xiao Mu is young and doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against him," Su Xiaomei pleaded, stepping forward to beg for mercy on their behalf.

"He's young and doesn't know any better?" Su Yumei retorted viciously. "Then what about these two slaps? Am I supposed to have gotten them for nothing?"

"I..." Su Xiaomei was at a loss for words, blaming Lin Mu even more for his rashness.

"Since the child doesn't know any better, surely the adult does?" Lei Chengjun spoke up, squinting at Su Rou. "Your son is reckless, so it's only right for you, his mother, to suffer in his place." He was clearly targeting Su Rou.

Turning to his wife, Lei Chengjun said coldly with his hands behind his back, "Yumei, go on. Hit his mother exactly how that brat hit you. Don't worry about the consequences. I've got your back."

"Alright!" Su Yumei sneered and slowly advanced on Su Rou, raising her hand to slap her.

It's over! The same thought crossed everyone's mind as they watched the scene unfold.

SLAP!

A crisp slapping sound echoed as Su Yumei's body was sent flying once again, crashing down right in front of Lei Chengjun.

"OUCH!" Su Yumei cried out, her eyes rolling back as she fainted.

"You've got her back?" Lin Mu asked, slowly approaching Lei Chengjun. His voice was indifferent. "There are some things you truly can't handle."

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