Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 447: Chapter 437: Melee

When Xu Jinsan saw his niece stealing the baby formula, his mind went blank.

He couldn’t fathom how his niece and sister-in-law could do such a thing so brazenly. He had pretended not to see them stealing food last night, even pulling Yinyin along in the charade.

He’d thought that after being discovered, his niece would at least be terrified and would have learned her lesson. He never imagined that not even a day later, she would dare to steal the baby formula.

That formula was everything. It was Pingping and An’an’s very lives.

When the adults got hungry, they could always find something to get by. But the little ones’ bodies couldn’t handle that.

There were only a few cans of formula in the whole house, and they had to be carefully rationed for the two children. How could Xu Ru do something like this?

While Xu Jinsan was still reeling from shock, unsure how to react, Tang Mo emerged carrying a sleeping Pingping, leaving An’an to sleep alone in her room.

”What’s going on here?”

Tang Mo asked, putting on the exact same shocked expression as Xu Jinsan.

”Jinsan, Xiao Ru doesn’t know any better. If you could just...”

Tan Jing knew that as long as she could smooth things over with Xu Jinsan, everything would be fine, so she forced a smile.

Xu Jinsan was her husband’s older brother. Even though they were the same age, Tan Jing used to address him with more respect.

But as Tan Jing grew increasingly confused about her place in this family, the way she addressed him changed.

”Aunt, Pingping and An’an have so little food. If Xu Ru eats it all, how are they supposed to survive?”

Tang Mo’s tone was pitiful. She had to place herself in a position of weakness right now; otherwise, it would be difficult to explain herself once Xu Jinsan came to his senses.

Tan Jing knew full well that this girl, Xu Yin, couldn’t stand her and was just trying to stir up trouble, so her tone soured.

”Are those two strays you picked up more precious than your own cousin? Xu Yin, you’re a grown woman. Don’t you know who your real family is?”

Zhou Jingyi, who had come out to see what the commotion was, heard every word.

”I don’t need you to tell me about my daughter. You should focus on controlling your own.”

This was the first harsh thing Zhou Jingyi had said since Xu Yuanshan and his family arrived.

Zhou Jingyi was absolutely furious. She forgot all about the little sweater she was knitting, marched over to Tang Mo and Pingping, and stood protectively in front of them like a mother bear defending her cub.

She had been tolerant of Tan Jing for long enough. But now, not only had she caught them stealing the formula, but she’d also heard them insult all three of her children. Even the good-tempered Zhou Jingyi was now seething with rage, glaring at Tan Jing.

Tang Mo looked at Xu Jinsan with an expression of utter grievance. ”Dad.”

Seeing his daughter being bullied, Xu Jinsan’s expression darkened.

”Sister-in-law, we’re not done talking about Xiao Ru. Let’s not drag Yinyin into this.”

’I’m about to faint from fury,’ Tang Mo thought. The women were on the verge of a brawl, and all Xu Jinsan could do was utter a few weak, ineffectual words.

’No wonder their family met such a miserable end in her past life. They truly deserved it.’

’Fine. If things aren’t heated enough, I’ll just add some more fuel to the fire.’

Holding Pingping, Tang Mo walked toward the table to retrieve the can of formula. Xu Ru was standing right there. Tang Mo slowly drew closer. Just as they were about to brush past each other, Tang Mo slammed a bolt of spiritual power into Xu Ru’s arm.

The blow was a heavy one, and Xu Ru’s expression instantly twisted.

The others noticed the change in her expression but simply assumed she was glaring resentfully at Xu Yin and paid it no mind.

Xu Ru was convinced that Xu Yin had just struck her, so she immediately raised her hand to retaliate.

Tang Mo spun around, using her body to block both their line of sight and Xu Ru’s hand.

Now, Xu Ru’s hand was aimed directly at the head of Pingping, who was in Tang Mo’s arms.

All anyone saw was Xu Yin walking past with the baby, when suddenly Xu Ru’s expression contorted, and she raised her hand to strike Pingping.

Of course, Tang Mo wasn’t about to let Xu Ru actually hit Pingping. She immediately used her spiritual power to force Xu Ru’s hand open. At the same time, the hand she was using to hold the baby secretly gave Pingping’s leg a hard pinch.

’Sorry, Pingping. You’ll have to be my little pawn for today. Big sister will make it up to you later.’

The soundly sleeping Pingping felt a sharp pinch on her thigh, jolted awake, and immediately burst into tears.

”Xu Ru, are you insane?! Why did you hit a baby!”

Tang Mo shrieked.

”I didn’t even touch her! I was trying to hit you!”

Xu Ru had clearly felt *something* block her hand, and now she was being falsely accused. Her anger exploded, she lost all reason, and she raised her hand to strike at Tang Mo again.

”Don’t touch my daughter!”

Across the room, Zhou Jingyi saw Xu Ru make Pingping cry and then raise a hand to her own daughter. She completely snapped, rushing forward and grabbing Xu Ru’s clothes.

When Tan Jing saw Zhou Jingyi charge in, she immediately jumped into the fray to help her own daughter.

As the fight broke out, Tang Mo darted away the instant Zhou Jingyi charged past. She thrust Pingping into the arms of the still-dazed Xu Jinsan, then dove into the melee.

And so, the two mother-daughter pairs began to viciously tear at each other.

For Zhou Jingyi, who had been a model wife and mother for decades—a woman who had never even raised her voice—to start a fight for Xu Yin’s sake was something Tang Mo had truly not expected.

But it was also a testament to Tang Mo’s influence over this period; Zhou Jingyi’s personality had slowly begun to change.

Normally, Zhou Jingyi wouldn’t have been a match for Tan Jing, who had spent her life in the countryside and was physically stronger.

However, Tang Mo had been subtly strengthening Xu Jinsan and Zhou Jingyi’s bodies all this time. She had even been training with them, teaching them many simple and practical techniques.

Now, Zhou Jingyi’s Combat Power was far beyond that of an ordinary woman. She grabbed a fistful of Tan Jing’s hair, holding her so tight that Tan Jing couldn’t even struggle free.

But Tan Jing was no pushover. Screaming in pain, she clawed at Zhou Jingyi’s clothes.

Nearby, Xu Ru tried to help her mother, but Tang Mo wasn’t about to let her. She grabbed Xu Ru’s arm and held on tight, all while shouting, ”Auntie, stop hitting my mom!”

Pinned and unable to move, Tan Jing and Xu Ru suddenly felt an agonizing pain in their chests, backs, and stomachs, as if being struck by a heavy hammer again and again. It was so intense they could barely stay on their feet.

This was, of course, Tang Mo’s doing. ’They dared to fight me?’ she thought. ’How could I possibly pass up such a golden opportunity?’ Her spiritual power formed into a great hammer and began to pound away at them.

’But I can’t kill them just yet; that would be letting them off too easily.’ Tang Mo carefully controlled her power, holding back just enough.

”Enough!”

Xu Yuanshan roared.