Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Petty Fear Power but Not Virtue
Listening to the neighbors’ chatter, Chen Jie laughed.
Alright, the double standards are real—the mont Lu San hits soone, no one stops him, but when I’ve barely swung a stick twice, people start nagging and whining.
When it cos down to it, it’s because I, Chen Jiusi, used to be a pushover and easy to talk to.
Lu San becos a thug, and everyone is scared to bother him, let alone point fingers.
Thinking this, Chen Jie scoffed out loud. Sure enough, the common folk hold villains and good people to different standards. Why even bother being a decent person?
Today, I, Chen Jiusi, am going to let you all know that I’m not your mother’s idea of a good guy!
With that thought in mind, Chen Jie said, “Fine, since everyone’s pleading, I can’t just disregard your feelings.”
Hearing Chen Jie relent, the neighbors glanced at each other.
They imdiately began to offer up placating words.
“Yes, I’ve always said Jiusi is the most reasonable of all. And you have to admit, Lu San and his wife sure don’t have it easy; it’s good to be rciful when you can.”
“Yes, strictly speaking, this whole affair was stirred up by the Su girl. If she hadn’t provoked Lu Qinsi, it never would have escalated to this point.”
“Exactly, exactly, I’ve told you all before, that Su girl is bad luck—her father died when she got married, and then she ‘killed’ her mother-in-law. She must be cursed.”
“Aye, isn’t that the truth? Look at Jiusi; since marrying her, he’s lost the entire family fortune left by his old uncle, and I tell you, she’s probably going to kill him, too!”
The crowd chattered on. In the past, when they said these things, not only would Chen Jiusi not bla them, but he’d even think they had a point and go ho to give Su Yunjin a beating.
So this ti, they spoke the sa way, after all, it was a way to deflect the conflict and curry favor with the Lu family. Why wouldn’t they?
anwhile, Su Yunjin in the courtyard turned pale upon hearing these words, her hands clenched fiercely, her nails nearly digging into her flesh.
The death of her father and mother-in-law had already burdened her with too much. Now, hearing the venomous gossip of the neighbors was like stabbing her in the heart.
Am I really cursed by the heavens?
“Yeah, Jiusi, if it doesn’t work out, just divorce her. This woman is bad luck…”
At this point, a group of people began urging Chen Jie to divorce his wife.
Chen Jie was just about to explode with rage at this bunch. Lu San and his wife bully our Yunjin, and now you all have the gall to sha my Yunjin, huh? Just goes to show, nice guys finish last!
“Shut your damn mouths!”
Chen Jie bellowed, silencing the crowd when a busybody murmured, “Ah, so we can’t even talk now.”
“I’ll fuck your mother, co out here, co!”
With a face full of murderous intent, Chen Jie, holding a stick, pointed at the busybody who turned deathly pale and scurried behind her husband.
The man was about to stand up for his wife, but seeing the murderous look in Chen Jie’s eyes and the stick in his hand, he chickened out.
Smiling sheepishly, he said, “Jiusi, we were wrong. We won’t speak of it anymore, won’t say a word.”
Chen Jie, stick in hand, looked around at the neighbors and said, “I’m telling you, Su Yunjin is my wife, legally wed to , Chen Jiusi. If any of you motherfuckers dare to gossip about her behind my back, I’ll beat you every ti I hear it. Don’t believe ? Just try.”
“And you, Lu San, weren’t you motherfuckers going to break my leg? Fuck!”
Chen Jie landed a strike directly on Lu San’s right knee, shattering his kneecap. In the next mont, Lu San let out a terrible scream—”Ah…”
—and passed out from the excruciating pain.
Chen Jie whirled around to face the neighbors, his eyes bloodshot, and spat a mouthful of saliva on the ground!
“Ptui!”
“This is what happens when you ss with Chen Jiusi.”
As Chen Jie brandished his stick and pointed at the neighbors, all those he looked upon lowered their heads.
Chen Jiusi looked like a man on the run, which really scared them.
The weak are frightened by power, not virtue. In the villages of ancient tis, if you couldn’t command respect from your neighbors, they would bully you to the point where not even your bones would be left.
Chen Jie slapped the bloody stick on the ground and said to the now terrified Lu Qinsi, “If I catch you bullying my wife again, I’ll kill you!”
After saying that, Chen Jie turned and headed straight for his house.
At that mont, everyone at the scene was struck by Chen Jie’s imposing aura, while Su Yunjin inside the yard opened her eyes wide, tears falling from them!
He had actually stood up for her, he had really stood up for her.
While Daisy at this ti said with wide eyes, “Brother-in-law is so impressive!”
At that mont, Daisy’s eyes were filled with little stars. Those people who had bullied her sister before were now too scared to even speak because of her brother-in-law. Her brother-in-law was a true hero!
Drip, drip!
Daisy felt tears fall onto her cheek. As she looked up, she saw Su Yunjin with her eyes wide open, tears dropping one by one.
“Sister, are you crying?”
Daisy said this as Su Yunjin wiped her tears and replied, “I’m not.”
After she spoke, she turned and ran toward the house—she didn’t want Chen Jie to see her crying.
Daisy touched the tears on her face, stuck out her tongue, and tasted the bitterness. They were tears!
On his way to the courtyard, Chen Jie left the neighbors in shock. Only when Chen Jie had walked away did they start to gossip.
“When did Chen Jiusi beco so fierce…”
“Yeah, I was scared to death just now.”
“Isn’t it? And how has he changed so drastically? He used to grit his teeth at the ntion of Su Yunjin, but now he’s actually defending her?”
The crowd buzzed with astonishnt and confusion.
But just then, soone suddenly noticed Chen Jie returning. Everyone fell silent imdiately.
At that mont, Chen Jie actually picked up two fish from the ground, which Lu San had brought.
“They’re quite plump.”
Chen Jie muttered, then continued ho with the fish in hand, passing by the onlookers and saying, “It’s getting dark. Aren’t you all going ho?”
With that, he entered the yard.
Upon hearing this, the people outside imdiately said, “Let’s go, let’s go, ti to head ho.”
Looking at Chen Jiusi who had entered the yard, Chen Xiaohu’s eyes brightened. He then said to his father, Chen Erba, “Dad?”
Chen Erba nodded and said, “Just now, for a mont, I thought I saw my uncle. Seems like Jiu Si has grown up. Let’s go ho.”
“Alright!”
Saying this, Chen Xiaohu assisted Chen Erba ho.
anwhile, Chen Jie had entered the yard and closed the gate. Looking at Daisy standing at the entrance, he asked, “Where’s your sister?”
Daisy, still sowhat afraid of Chen Jie, pointed to the house and said, “She went inside. Sister cried.”
“Cried?”
Chen Jie was taken aback, recalling the neighbors’ hurtful words. He sighed and said, “It’s no surprise. Anyone would cry if they were talked about like that.”
“Alright, let’s not bother her then. Ruirui, how about so fish soup tonight, does that sound good?”
“Fish soup?”
Upon hearing about the fish soup, Daisy’s eyes widened. She swallowed her saliva frantically, already imagining the delicious taste of the soup.
User Comments
0 comments from readers