“Liu Yuemin, is that the same attitude you had when speaking to the ‘Red Armband’ earlier?” Chen Lishu asked, her stern expression softening as she spoke calmly.
“What?” Liu Yuemin was momentarily stunned. “They’re the ‘Red Armband’.”
“If you didn’t dare to demand from them, why did you come to threaten and extort me?”
Liu Yuemin paused at her question, then angrily retorted, “You ask me why? It’s all because you couldn’t live a good life and insisted on making those damn hair accessories. Just to show off your skills. We’re both daughters-in-law of the Gu family. I joined the family before you, and I’ve given the old Gu family two grandsons. Yet, ever since you entered, Mom and Dad have treated you with special favor, stirring everyone to revolve around you.”
Finally, Liu Yuemin said resentfully, “You must compensate me for this money today, or I’ll bring the ‘Red Armband’ over.”
Chen Lishu nodded, saying no more, and turned to close the courtyard gate.
Liu Yuemin thought she was scared, a smug look appearing on her face. “You’re scared now, aren’t you? Don’t worry, we’re family after all. Once you give me the money, this matter will be over. I absolutely won’t say a word.”
Chen Lishu nodded and walked swiftly towards Liu Yuemin. Suddenly, she lashed out, grabbing her hair tightly with one hand while striking her face with the other.
Since some people were beyond communication, violence was the only solution.
She would fight until Liu Yuemin was scared enough not to cause trouble again.
Chen Lishu fought without any particular style, nor did she adhere to principles like ‘don’t hit the face’. Since Liu Yuemin had already thrown all shame to the wind, what reason was there to preserve her face? Taking advantage of the initial strike and having a clear target, she realized that thick winter clothes wouldn’t offer much protection against a few blows. She focused on scratching, and within moments, Liu Yuemin’s face was streaked with blood, eliciting screams of pain.
While Liu Yuemin was reeling from the pain and trying to dodge, Chen Lishu raised her leg and delivered a powerful kick to the back of her knee. As Liu Yuemin fell, Chen Lishu quickly straddled her, simultaneously clasping her neck tightly. Her face was grim as she spoke in a chilling tone:
“Dare to extort me? You must be tired of living. Believe it or not, I can choke you to death right now and bury you in a random pit in this yard. Do you think anyone would notice?”
As Chen Lishu spoke, her fingers tightened around Liu Yuemin’s neck.
Liu Yuemin immediately felt suffocated. Her face turned ashen as she looked into Chen Lishu’s dark eyes.
She didn’t doubt for a second that Chen Lishu meant what she said. For a brief moment, she truly sensed a murderous intent in Chen Lishu’s gaze.
“Third sister-in-law, I was wrong, I was truly wrong. My mind was clouded by greed. I’ll never dare to do it again. For the sake of our family, please spare me this once.”
Seeing that Liu Yuemin was sufficiently frightened, Chen Lishu loosened her grip and got off her. She glanced at the scratches on Liu Yuemin’s face and asked condescendingly, “Do you know what to say when you get home?”
“Yes, I know.”
Liu Yuemin, having learned her lesson, touched the burning wounds on her face. “This matter has absolutely nothing to do with third sister-in-law. It’s all the doing of that slut Zhao Xiaoju, and I never came here.”
Chen Lishu nodded with satisfaction, gesturing with her chin towards the gate. “Go ahead.”
Seeing that Chen Lishu was finally letting her go, Liu Yuemin scrambled to her feet, paid no attention to the dust on her clothes, and quickly pulled open the gate and fled.
Only when Liu Yuemin’s figure had completely disappeared did Chen Lishu tidy her wrinkled clothes and close the courtyard gate.
Liu Yuemin returned home in a disheveled state, filled with both hatred and fear towards Chen Lishu. She said nothing to Gu Xingmin about her visit to Chen Lishu, shifting all the blame to Zhao Xiaoju.
Gu Xingmin, upon learning that the hair accessories were gone and that he had also lost forty yuan, stood up from his seat, his eyes wide, ready to go to Liu’s house to settle the matter. Liu Yuemin could not stop him, and the commotion alerted Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufu.
“Is this something to be proud of? Do you have to shout about it for everyone to know?” Li Xiulan pushed her second son, guiding him back into the house.
Gu Xingmin retorted, “We can’t just let this go. That’s forty yuan.”
“That was a penalty from the ‘Red Armband’. If you have the ability, go and get it back from them. If you go and make a scene at your father-in-law’s house and end up hurting someone, how will we get through the year?”
Gu Xingmin fell silent.
“Just consider it paying for a lesson learned. Know what kind of people they are and interact less with their family in the future.” As Li Xiulan spoke, her gaze fell on Liu Yuemin. She wanted to scold her a little, but seeing the shocking injuries on her face, she opened her mouth and finally said, “Hurry and wash your face and apply some medicine.”
These two, day in and day out, were both a source of worry.
Seeing that it was getting late, Li Xiulan prepared to go to the kitchen to cook. Realizing they were out of matches, she called out to Gu Song, “Xiao Song, we’re out of matches at home. Go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a box.”
A child’s legs were fast; he’d be back in no time.
“Mom, I’ll go,” Gu Xingye suddenly said. Without waiting for Li Xiulan’s agreement, he walked out directly.
“Why has this child become so diligent recently?” Li Xiulan muttered to herself, watching her elder son’s retreating back.
Gu Xingye walked all the way to the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, and two women emerged from within.
“Did you hear? Branch Secretary Zhang’s daughter, Xiaoju, has started receiving marriage proposals,” one of them said.
Gu Xingye’s ears perked up at this remark, and his footsteps involuntarily slowed.
“She’s almost twenty by the New Year, so it’s time for her to be proposed to,” the other agreed.
“You don’t know, but I heard that the Branch Secretary and his wife intend to marry their daughter to Teacher Wang, who teaches in the village.”
“Teacher Wang? The university graduate? His conditions are not bad, and he’s handsome too.”
“…”
Listening to the receding conversation of the two women, Gu Xingye hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and pushing open the door to enter the supply and marketing cooperative.
During winter, when farming was slack, even buying needles and thread could lead to a whole basketful of conversation. As Gu Xingye entered, two women were standing by the counter, chatting with Zhang Xiaoju. Seeing him enter, she paused her conversation and smiled at him. “What do you want to buy?”
Gu Xingye’s heart skipped a beat as he looked into her eyes, which curved like crescent moons. “I’m just looking around.” With that, he began to scan the counter intently.
Zhang Xiaoju nodded, then turned back to speak with the others.
The supply and marketing cooperative was small, with a counter only three to four meters long. Gu Xingye walked back and forth several times but did not see the two women leaving, feeling a bit anxious.
“Xingye, have you figured out what you want to buy?” One aunt, dizzy from his pacing, couldn’t help but ask.
“My mom told me what to buy, but I forgot. I’ll look a little longer, maybe I’ll remember.”
“You talk endlessly. It’s almost time to cook. Let’s go,” the other said, noticing the time.
Gu Xingye breathed a sigh of relief as the women left.
“Have you remembered what you wanted to buy?” Zhang Xiaoju asked with a smile.