"Yes."
"When Lin Wan and Ah Hui first got into college, they caused quite a commotion with Liang Hongi. We were all hoping and praying for our children to get into college, and it turns out both of them did. No money — isn’t that nonsense? Can’t even borrow, their family is so poor, who in this village would lend them anything?"
"Back then, Liang Hongi was shalessly borrowing money all over the village. But so people, you know, took advantage of the borrowing to try to sleep with her. I know all about this."
"Wow, you really know the details, huh? You didn’t say such things, did you?"
"Get out of here, don’t say things you shouldn’t. Soon my wife will be here."
"Haha, look at him looking all scared. It’s not his wife he’s afraid of, it’s clearly because he’s afraid Lin Guozhi will hear and co beat him up."
"Get lost, I didn’t, and if there’s anyone to be beaten up, it should be those who refused to lend money and only lusted after his wife."
"Today, Old Zhang’s wife shalessly tried to make ties with Liang Hongi’s family, and what happened? Liang Hongi slapped her face so hard she couldn’t lift her head."
"With Old Zhang’s wife’s mouth, it’s only won who enjoy her company. The deeds their family has done in the village over the years, none of them decent. Does she argue less with the villagers every year?"
"Just listening to gossip, but this ti, I really heard so insider news from her." The woman took a bite of food and smiled mysteriously.
"What matter is it?"
"That pair of won from Ye Weijun’s family, don’t you know? With the New Year approaching, Ye Weijun went to S City to find them."
"Didn’t Ah Qing say after the New Year she’d take Qiu Hualan to be a maid? What, is their family doing well too?"
"No way." The woman rolled her eyes. "Didn’t you hear a few months ago Liang Weixiang ca back and said in the village that Ye Family’s mother and daughter weren’t good, deceitfully taking their money."
"What happened, said it in the village? How co we didn’t know?"
"Liang Weixiang was saying halfway when her husband dragged her ho, accused her of making trouble for no reason, and beat her up. Made her la."
"What does that have to do with Ye Family’s mother and daughter?"
"Heard their two families tead up in business and lost money, but got cheated by Ah Qing’s mother and daughter duo. They’re shouting to go find Ye Weijun for money."
"Doing business?" a villager sneered. "Who can do that? Since Liang Hongi and her family got rich, there have been villagers who tried business, and how many succeeded? Not boasting, but soone like Liang Weixiang, eight out of ten tis will lose clean."
"Who knows, anyway she said they were cheated by Qiu Hualan’s mother and daughter."
"And that’s what you’re so secretive about, what’s there to say?"
"Get lost, what do you know? What cos next is the key."
"What matter?"
"When Liang Weixiang was dragged away by her husband, she said Ah Qing got herself a man outside. Also, that man is already married, and heard they have a child now. Ah Qing’s mom went over not as a maid but to help take care of the child."
"Wow, isn’t this hooliganism, going to jail for this."
"What jail? She’s wrapped up tightly, who would report her?"
"That girl Ah Qing, a college student, how did she do such a thing? With such good conditions, how many unmarried good n could she find? Why fixate on a married man?"
"We just don’t know."
...
The villagers’ conversations shifted from Liang Hongi’s family to Qiu Hualan’s family.
anwhile, Lin Wan and her family were enjoying a lively dinner at her uncle’s house.
"We saw that girl Big Niu on our way back through the town today, she was being dragged and beaten by her mother-in-law," Liang Hongi said to Liang Jian Country and his family.
Cha Zhenfang sighed. "We know about this, her mother-in-law beating her is common. Unfortunately, Da Guo and Ah Xiang don’t stand up for the eldest daughter, and her maiden family doesn’t help her. What can be done? In the past, her big brother would intervene. A big uncle standing up doesn’t count for much."
"It’s necessary to talk to them, after all, she’s their daughter. Letting her be bullied just disrespects her family," Little Grandmother was distressed hearing about her daughter’s family affairs, puzzled at the couple’s thinking.
"Mom, I’ll take a trip tomorrow to talk to Da Guo about it," Liang Jian Country could only say this, not wanting to get involved in Ah i’s family matters. If not for thinking highly of his big niece, he wouldn’t bother.
Little Grandmother put down her chopsticks and addressed Liang Hongi, "Ah i, Ah Xiang has caused you a lot of trouble in S City this year. I heard from Ah Zhi about her troubles there. It’s true she was wrong. After coming back, Da Guo has beaten her quite a bit, and she’s learned her lesson. You shouldn’t hold grudges against her. In the future, they mustn’t go out and stir up trouble."
"Auntie, I understand." Liang Hongi never intended to trouble Liang Weixiang. She’d already dealt with her in S City. As long as her mother and daughter duo don’t cause trouble, that was enough.
But hearing Liang Weixiang was beaten, Liang Hongi was rather pleased. The man who she was proud of even laid hands on her — it was quite humiliating.
Anyway, that mother and daughter pair deserved a beating.
After the family finished their al and chatted, Lin Guozhi didn’t stay long and left with the kids.
The family had traveled for two days without much sleep, they went back to freshen up and catch so rest. Day after tomorrow, Ah Zhi was getting married, they would have their hands busy tomorrow too.
Liang Hongi intended for them to cook on their own after dealing with Ah Zhi’s affairs day after tomorrow.
Tomorrow, during a break, let Ah Hui go to town to buy cutlery and vegetables.
Back ho at night, Little Star refused to sleep, kicking her small legs running all over the room.
Liang Hongi boiled a pot of hot water, ready to bathe. These past few days staying at the motel felt utterly dirty.
"You guys bathe first, I’ll take Xiao Yi for a walk outside," while the won bathed, Lin Guozhi and Han Yi went up to the mountains.
"Dad, let go with you," Ah Hui understood Lin Guozhi’s intentions: dealing with Li Fugui, he thought he had it figured out.
"You stay ho and watch the house, Xiao Yi and I will be back in a while," Lin Guozhi didn’t want his son involved.
He and Han Yi were soldiers, had killed before. They were desensitized to it, like slaughtering a pig, but his son was different.
He hadn’t seen such a scene, afraid he’d have psychological shadows afterwards.
"Dad, I have nothing better to do at ho," Ah Hui understood his father’s aning but still wanted to go.
"Ah Hui, Dad and I will be back in half an hour, you can prepare hot water. It’s been cloudy all afternoon, I bet it’ll rain soon," Han Yi patted Lin Yinghui’s shoulder, giving him a look that left no room for refusal.
Their reticence could only make Lin Yinghui concede, feeling a little disappointed.
Before Han Yi left, he changed into casual clothes and casually took a dagger from his bag, Lin Wan instantly understood.
She hugged Little Star, feeling uneasy, afraid sothing would go wrong.
At ho, she was distracted. Aside from Liang Hongi who seed unbothered, everyone else was tense.
...
Lin Guozhi and Han Yi weren’t discovered on their way to the back mountain. After less than twenty minutes uphill, they reached the place where he had tied up Li Fugui.
Li Fugui was already exhausted, crooked-neck sleeping, probably had been yelling muffled shouts, as Lin Guozhi removed the cloth from his mouth, his throat hoarse, unable to make a sound.
Possibly scared stiff, the guy wet his pants.
Lin Guozhi looked on with a mocking smile. "With this courage, I don’t know how you ever beca village chief. Li Fugui, when you did those conscience-less deeds before, didn’t expect today’s reckoning, did you? It’s your bad luck running into this ti. Ideally, today I’ll settle the score for you over these years."
Lin Guozhi was known for his efficiency, he told Han Yi, "Ah Yi, I’ll handle it here, you go wait for up ahead."
Han Yi nodded, handed Lin Guozhi a dagger, turned around less than half a minute before hearing Li Fugui’s slaughter-like scream.
In this desolate, mountainous and wintery place where wild boars road, no one ventured this way.
No matter how loud Li Fugui scread, no one would hear.
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