Second Grandpa and the others had seen what happened back then with their own eyes, had experienced it firsthand. They had even been scolded by Sun Jiaming’s grandfather until their faces turned red, yet they hadn’t dared to make a peep.
Many mbers of the Zhou family were defiant. Relying on their numbers, they tried to stop the punishnt. In the end, Sun Jiaming’s grandfather went back ho, fetched his hunting rifle, and pointed it at the Zhou family. Only then did the Zhou family dare not move.
Sun Jiaming’s grandfather pointed the rifle at Zhou Ermao. Zhou Ermao was punished with the plank, and one of his legs was crippled. From then on, everyone called him Limp Zhou.
Furthermore, Sun Jiaming’s grandfather made the Zhou family compensate the widow with food and money for her and her child’s dical treatnt. He then declared to the entire village that if anyone dared to bully the mother and child again, or if anyone in the village ever did sothing like that in the future, they would suffer the sa fate as Zhou Ermao.
Initially, when Sun Jiaming’s grandfather beca the village chief, many people had supported him out of respect for Sun Jiaming’s great-grandfather. But it was this incident that truly established his authority. From that day forward, there wasn’t a single person in the village who wouldn’t listen to him.
Unfortunately, Grandpa Sun passed away in his forties. Sun Jiaming’s father could have beco the village chief, but he was too honest and couldn’t compare to his own father at all. After two years of being unable to manage anything, he gave the position to soone else. It was later passed to Zhou Da Kui. Otherwise, the village chief would still be from the Sun family.
Because of Grandpa Sun’s legacy, even though the Sun family no longer held the village chief position, no one dared to provoke them. Moreover, many felt that Sun Jiaming was just like his grandfather in his youth. Even though he didn’t live in the city, he was capable and wasn’t short on money. He was a filial grandson, and the food he bought for his grandmother was all earned by himself, not by relying on others. That’s why many people held him in high regard.
Furthermore, Sun Jiaming was on good terms with many of the younger generation. If he called out, more than half the young people in the village would listen to him. So, even though the Zhou family had the village chief on their side, they didn’t dare to offend Sun Jiaming.
And the hunting rifle in Sun Jiaming’s hands was the very sa one his grandfather had used to point at Limp Zhou.
Many people still rembered, which was why they were so shocked and terrified. Second Grandpa and the others were afraid too.
Zhou Da Kui, however, was furious. ’So many years have passed,’ he thought. ’I can’t believe that hunting rifle is still around and still holds so much power.’ This proved that the Sun family’s influence in the village was still imnse, which angered and frustrated him, as if the Sun family had stolen sothing that belonged to him.
Due to her age, Gu’er didn’t know the story about Sun Jiaming’s grandfather.
Hearing it now, she was truly moved. ’If the village had an elder like that, a village chief like that, how could I have suffered such bullying tonight!’
’Second Grandpa and the others even brought up Grandpa Sun... How did they have the nerve!’
The crowd’s mories were stirred by the story Sun Jiaming told. Looking at the rusted hunting rifle, they began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Jia Ming is right! For daring to harm a young woman, getting slashed once is letting him off easy. And he dares to demand a slash in return? Beat him! Beat him until he’s like Limp Zhou!"
"Exactly! Sister Gu’er did nothing wrong in this. Why should she have to cut herself? She can’t! Is there no justice?"
"We’ll listen to Brother Jia Ming! If anyone dares to tell Sister Gu’er to cut herself again, we’ll give them a public plank-beating too!"
Many of the young people on good terms with Sun Jiaming shouted out in support.
At that mont, the situation in the village was finally no longer one-sided.
Those who had previously only felt pity for Gu’er but hadn’t stepped forward now ca out to support her.
The mbers of the Zhou family looked at one another. It was as if history was repeating itself. Back then, Sun Jiaming’s grandfather had crippled one of their own. Could it be that today, the Sun family would win again?
But Sun Jiaming’s parents had already agreed to let him marry Zhou i. Sun Jiaming was about to beco the Zhou family’s son-in-law. They had thought that once the two families were united, the Zhou family’s status in the village would be unshakable. Gradually, the Sun family’s influence would fade, and the Zhou family would have the final say in everything. But now, it was clear that wasn’t the case. Sun Jiaming’s influence was far from small.
More than half of the young people listened to him, and the older generation, still filled with reverence for his grandfather, certainly wouldn’t dare to speak against him. It was becoming clear this matter would not be easy to handle.
"Second Grandpa, Fourth Grandpa, Sixth Grandpa, Uncle Zhou," Sun Jiaming asked coolly, "do you still think Gu’er should cut herself? Are you still going to bring up my grandfather?"
Second Grandpa and the others all lowered their heads. Although they were sowhat annoyed, feeling they had lost face to a junior, the scenes from the past flashed before their eyes.
They were afraid. They were afraid of Sun Jiaming’s grandfather.
’Now, looking at Sun Jiaming, it’s as if his grandfather is standing before us once again, glaring furiously. Is this another Mr. Sun?’
"Jia Ming, say no more. We’re washing our hands of this. You handle it as you see fit."
Second Grandpa knew perfectly well that at this point, the only way to save a shred of dignity was to back off. If they let Sun Jiaming actually scold them, they would have no face left at all.
Sun Jiaming snorted inwardly. ’These people are all cut from the sa cloth, from youth to old age. No wonder Grandma said Grandpa looked down on them.’
With their retreat, even more people in the village sided with Sun Jiaming.
Sun Jiaming ignored the old n and walked over to Zhang Da.
Zhang Da was already stunned. He hadn’t personally experienced the incident with Sun Jiaming’s grandfather, but he had heard the stories. He had seen Limp Zhou with his own eyes. He was terrified. ’Am I really going to be beaten into a cripple like Limp Zhou?’
’I don’t want that!’
At that thought, Zhang Da dropped to his knees with a THUD.
"Brother Jia Ming, Sister Gu’er, I was wrong! I’m not human! I’m a bastard! Please, just spare ! I really didn’t touch Sister Gu’er! As soon as I entered the house, she smashed with a stool and hacked at with a knife! I didn’t even get to touch her hand! Spare ! I’m scum! My back is already slashed, I can’t take another beating! I have no one at ho. If I’m crippled, I won’t be able to survive!"
Zhang Da begged incessantly.
At this mont, no one laughed at Zhang Da for being a coward. With the precedent of Limp Zhou, everyone believed that if Sun Jiaming truly gave the word, so of the young n would definitely step forward to beat Zhang Da.
Watching Zhang Da kneel and beg, Gu’er felt a complicated mix of emotions. She hated him, so much that she wished him dead. But in her past life, Zhang Da had already died once. He had gotten cancer, withered away to skin and bones, and died after months of agony. ’That could be considered his retribution, couldn’t it?’
’Looking at him now, he’ll definitely never bother again. Forget it. Let it go. This is a way of letting go of my past life, too. From now on, Zhang Da will no longer be my nightmare, no longer a person in my life.’
Sun Jiaming looked at the pleading Zhang Da. The man was nothing to fear. After this, he would likely never dare to have designs on Gu’er again.
His back was already injured. If he were beaten again, with no family to care for him, he might not survive.
However, if Gu’er insisted on a beating to vent her anger, Sun Jiaming didn’t mind playing the villain. After all, Zhang Da truly had ill intentions. If Gu’er hadn’t fought back, Sun Jiaming didn’t dare to imagine the consequences.
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