Chapter 20: Sack Trap

Zhao Lihong and Xu Zhigang stormed off angrily, and unexpectedly, the gathered crowd erupted in applause.

Clutching her lower back, Zhao Lihong muttered, “Truly, the poor and desolate breed unruly people!”

Xu Zhigang furrowed his brows. Fang Xiaoluo was nothing like before, her sharp tongue was formidable now. Supporting Zhao Lihong by the arm, he spoke in a low voice, “If that little brat actually takes us to court, it could get messy.”

Zhao Lihong scoffed. “She’s just bluffing. What does she know? File a lawsuit? For what? I’ve never even heard of half those charges!”

Xu Zhigang mulled it over and nodded. What could she even achieve if she filed? The courts weren’t run by the Fang family, and surely, no one would entertain such frivolous claims.

Back at home, after Zhao Lihong and Xu Zhigang left, Fang Xiaoluo thanked her neighbors before heading inside to check on Fang Shijun.

“Dad, are you okay?” she asked.

Taking a few deep breaths, Fang Shijun waved her off. “I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s my fault for being useless and making you handle these things on your own.”

Once she was sure her father was alright, Fang Xiaoluo felt relieved.

“Dad, your health is more important than anything else. Don’t let them get under your skin,” she said, comforting him.

Fang Shijun nodded. “You’re right. You know, it’s strange, ever since you came back, I’ve felt better every day. It’s like I might even recover soon.”

Zhang Xinyan brought over a cup of hot water. “Good things lift the spirit. Our own daughter coming home has brought us good fortune.”

Then, with a sigh, she added, “I never thought Yaqiu would turn out like this, going around spreading lies about you.”

Fang Xiaoluo replied, “Just look at the kind of people Zhao Lihong and Xu Zhigang are, and you’ll understand what Yaqiu has become.”

—

The next morning, Fang Xiaoluo got ready and told her parents, “Mom, Dad, I’m heading to the city today. Don’t wait for me for dinner.”

“Are you really going to the court to sue them?” Zhang Xinyan asked.

“Yes, of course,” Fang Xiaoluo said firmly.

Though worried, Zhang Xinyan supported her daughter’s decision. “I don’t understand these things, but if you think it’s necessary, go ahead. Just be careful.”

“Don’t worry, Mom.”

Dressed neatly, Fang Xiaoluo rode her bike straight to the provincial courthouse.

After asking about the process, she wrote up a complaint on the spot, submitted it, and left with the receipt.

But instead of heading straight home, she went near the Xu family’s residence.

Thanks to the original owner’s memories, the area was all too familiar to her. Observing for a while, she spotted a child who clearly didn’t live nearby. Handing him a bag of candy, she asked him to deliver a message to the Xu family.

The child was a complete stranger, ensuring Yaqiu wouldn’t be able to trace him later.

—

Inside the Xu home, Yaqiu was lounging on the sofa, munching on sunflower seeds. Her stomach bore a large bruise from being kicked by Zhou Yanwen the day before.

Suddenly, a young boy ran through the front gate. “Are you Xu Yaqiu?” he asked.

“Yes, I am. Who are you?” Yaqiu replied, puzzled.

The boy said, “There’s a guy named Zhou Yanwen outside. He asked me to deliver a message, he wants to apologize to you. He’s over at…”

Yaqiu barely listened to the rest of the sentence, preoccupied with her thoughts. Before she could respond, the boy had run off.

Thinking to herself, she mused, ‘Zhou Yanwen? Apologizing? Maybe he’s come to sweet-talk me after all. That’s not too bad.’

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if he might be trying to make amends for more… intimate reasons. With that thought in mind, she dragged her feet before finally heading to the location the boy mentioned.

—

Meanwhile, Fang Xiaoluo, well-acquainted with the layout of the alleys, was lying in wait in a secluded spot. She knew no one would pass by this area unless they were specifically looking for it.

After a long wait, she finally heard footsteps growing closer.

“Yanwen, are you here? Yanwen?” Yaqiu’s voice called out.

Fang Xiaoluo shook out the sack in her hand and swiftly threw it over Xu Yaqiu’s head.

Startled, Xu Yaqiu let out a scream, but her vision went black, and she toppled to the ground.

Immediately after, punches and kicks rained down on her. The relentless blows left her unable to get up, the strikes coming fast and furious.

Fang Xiaoluo didn’t hold back, focusing her hits on Xu Yaqiu’s face. Muffled cries came from inside the sack, but they grew weaker with every hit.

Panting from exertion, Fang Xiaoluo delivered two more punches squarely at the sack where Xu Yaqiu’s mouth should be. The blows left her unable to make a sound.

Exhausted, Fang Xiaoluo sat down heavily on Xu Yaqiu’s back. “Loose lips get retribution. Say one more word of nonsense, and I’ll finish you off!”

Fang Xiaoluo knew that even without identifying herself, Xu Yaqiu would likely pin this on her. But if she spoke, it would confirm her identity.

Panicking, Xu Yaqiu called out, “Fang Xiaoluo? Is that you?”

In response, Fang Xiaoluo stomped hard on her, then left without another word.

Writhing in pain, Xu Yaqiu struggled to pull the sack off her head. By the time she managed, Fang Xiaoluo was long gone.

Sitting on the ground, bruised and swollen, Xu Yaqiu looked pitiful, but fury burned in her heart. Clenching her fists, she seethed, “Fang Xiaoluo… Fang Xiaoluo! This isn’t over!”

—

After dealing with Xu Yaqiu, Fang Xiaoluo returned to Honghe Village in high spirits.

Before she even reached her house, she saw a truck parked outside.

As she stepped inside, Zhang Xinyan came out to greet her. “Xiaoluo, you’re back! This is Director Wei, and he insists on giving us all this furniture.”

Director Wei walked over with a cheerful grin. “Comrade Fang, look, you and Comrade Shen are getting married. Consider this a wedding gift from us. Marriage is a big event, how could you refuse?”

Fang Xiaoluo glanced at the truck filled with furniture, an armoire with a mirror, a dressing table, a writing desk, a washstand, a dining table, chairs, a dish cabinet… everything imaginable.

“Director Wei, this… this is too much!” Fang Xiaoluo said, stunned.

Director Wei waved her off. “Not at all, not at all! Compared to my son’s life, this is nothing. These were semi-finished products we rushed to complete. You ‘have’ to accept them! I can’t take them back, my wife would never let me back in the house.”

“Besides, you and Comrade Shen are my lifesavers. If we didn’t do something to repay you, we’d feel guilty forever.”

After thinking it over, Fang Xiaoluo decided that building good relationships was important. She could always return the favor later when the Wei family needed help.

“Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony then.”

Hearing this, Director Wei beamed and quickly instructed his men to unload the furniture.

There was so much furniture that it couldn’t all fit in the Fang family’s modest house. Villagers gathered to admire the stylish new pieces, showering compliments.

Among the onlookers was Wang Hongfang, whose eyes were filled with envy.

If this furniture stayed here, wouldn’t it have been hers if she married Fang Qiang?

She had wanted to marry Fang Qiang before, but her mother disapproved, saying the Fang family was too poor.

But now, with Comrade Shen giving the Fang family a bride price of 3,000 yuan, they were well-off! Her mother would definitely approve now.

—

Once the furniture was unloaded, Zhang Xinyan invited everyone inside for tea.

Fang Xiaoluo washed some apples and placed them on a tray, but before she could serve them, a commotion broke out outside.

“Is this where Fang Xiaoluo lives?”

Hearing the clamor, Fang Xiaoluo caught the words “police.” Others in the house heard it too, and everyone went outside.

Wiping her hands, Fang Xiaoluo stepped forward confidently. “That’s me. Officers, is there something I can help you with?”

“Hello,” one of the officers said, “we’re from the Jiangcheng Mountain Substation. Do you know Xu Yaqiu?”

Fang Xiaoluo nodded. “I do.”

“Well, Xu Yaqiu has filed a complaint accusing you of assaulting her. We need you to come with us to the station to verify the details.”