Yang Rusong’s face turned pale. That Yang Dani dared to curse at him? He was a scholar, for heavens’ sake. How dare she? He then lifted his hand, pointing at Yang Ruxin, "You..."
"You what?" Yang Ruxin raised her hand and slapped his away. "Think you’re something special because you’ve read a few books? Coming here to strut around like a cocky wolf? I’ve got just two words for you: Scram, quickly." If she had been indifferent to this younger cousin before, now she was filled with nothing but disgust.
"Yang Dani, you are utterly unreasonable," Yang Rusong said, getting his words out with difficulty. "Is it wrong to ask you to show filial piety to your elders? You dare to scorn a scholar and defy the heavens..."
"Come off it!" Yang Ruxin burst into scornful laughter. "When have I ever scorned a scholar? I’m not taking the blame for this mess. I scorn someone like you who brings shame on scholars." The kid was quite cunning, trying to set her up. "Who said I’m not filial? Before the division of the family property, all the chores were done by us. After the division, we still provided money for the elderly care. What more do you want from us in terms of filial piety?"
"Dividing the family is... is unfilial..." Yang Rusong said stubbornly, raising his voice.
"Yang Rusong, you should take that talk back to your own parents. Do you even know why we divided the property?" Yang Ruxin’s voice suddenly rose. "It was because my mother collapsed, and fearing the expense, you all conspired to throw us, the main branch, out of the house, understand?"
Yang Rusong instinctively took a step back because Yang Ruxin’s expression looked extremely terrifying at that moment.
"If elders are kind, the younger generation will naturally be filial. Your damn family of worms nearly drained us dry and caused our death, and yet you still demand filial piety?" Yang Ruxin pointed at Yang Rusong’s nose. "Over all those years, why didn’t you show any filial piety, huh? Anyone could point fingers at our main branch, but not you, Yang Rusong, because you don’t have the right..."
Yang Rusong kept retreating, realizing for the first time that his cousin sister was quite fierce. Was this the same cousin sister he knew before?
"My mother is lying at home right now," Yang Ruxin ground out through clenched teeth. "She was injured by your father. A grown man clubbed her on the head. Have you not asked your father why he was so cruel? She is his sister-in-law, your aunt, and who did all the work at home and in the fields over the years? Who sewed your clothes and socks?" With that, she took a step forward and tugged at the robe Yang Rusong wore, "Look, this fine cotton robe is made from cloth that my mother earned from her needlework, staying up two nights to sew just for you..."
Yang Rusong hurriedly retreated two more steps, not wanting any physical contact with Yang Ruxin because he felt like she was about to strike him.
"But after she got injured, did you ever come to see her once? Don’t say you didn’t know. You think I don’t know that you came snooping around for information? And then you just ran off, didn’t you?" Yang Ruxin didn’t approach further but half-closed her eyes, "With your attitude, how can you show your face reading the Sage Books? With your morals, if you became an official, you’d be corrupt. Let me tell you, you’re nothing but trash. In the future, don’t let me see you, or else..." With that, she shook her fist, "I won’t care about your status, I’ll still beat you till you’re looking for your teeth on the ground. Don’t believe me? Just try it..."
Yang Rusong’s footing suddenly faltered, and he nearly fell over.