Chapter 3 Settlement of Accounts

Lu Tingbai stormed all the way to Zhang Guizhi’s house, kicked the door open with one blow, and barged in, seething with anger.

Zhang Guizhi was so startled she jumped up in fright. “Lu Tingbai, what are you doing?”

“What am I doing? Don’t you know very well what you’ve done?” Lu Tingbai’s eyes blazed as he grabbed Zhang Guizhi by the collar and lifted her up.

“You… let me go! What do you think you’re doing?” Terrified by his fierce appearance, Zhang Guizhi struggled desperately.

“Where is Li Jiaojiao?” Lu Tingbai asked through gritted teeth.

“Jiaojiao… Jiaojiao, she…” Zhang Guizhi’s eyes darted around, unable to meet his.

“Speak!” Lu Tingbai roared, making her whole body tremble.

“She… she went to the city…” Zhang Guizhi stammered.

“The city? What for?” Lu Tingbai pressed closer step by step.

“She… she went to look for work…” Zhang Guizhi’s voice grew weaker and weaker, barely audible.

“Looking for work? Don’t try to fool me!” Lu Tingbai shoved her away, laughing angrily.

“No… it’s not like that…” Zhang Guizhi feebly tried to explain, not daring to look into his furious eyes.

Lu Tingbai sneered, his gaze as sharp as blades. “Not like that? Then tell me where she went!”

Driven into a corner, Zhang Guizhi had no choice but to tremble and say, “Jiaojiao… she really went to look for work…”

“Work?” Lu Tingbai snorted in contempt. “More like she was afraid of marrying me and ran away, isn’t that it?”

His words hit the mark. Zhang Guizhi’s face turned pale, and she stammered incoherently, “No… she just… just…”

“Just what?” Lu Tingbai cut her off coldly. “Your Li family is really calculating, huh? Stuffing a fool into my hands and thinking you could get away with it?”

Zhang Guizhi’s face changed at those words. She immediately rushed into the courtyard, throwing herself on the ground and wailing loudly. “Oh heavens! Everyone come look! The new son-in-law is bullying us, using his rank in the army to oppress people!”

Watching her rolling and crying, Lu Tingbai’s face grew darker. His voice was icy. “You think you can avoid responsibility like this? Let me tell you—I won’t let your Li family off so easily!”

Hearing this, Zhang Guizhi cried even louder. “Injustice! Injustice! The new son-in-law is bullying us because he’s a big shot in the army!”

Neighbors heard the commotion and gathered around. Some whispered:

“Why is Lu Tingbai so fierce? Causing trouble right after the wedding.”

“Yeah, poor girl from the Li family…”

Lu Tingbai swept his cold gaze across the crowd and spoke in a deep, harsh voice: “Everyone listen carefully! The Li family tricked me by marrying me a fool. Not only that, they’ve hidden away the real bride! Tell me—can I endure this?”

The neighbors erupted in shock.

“What? The Li family did something like that?”

“That’s too much!”

Seeing this, Zhang Guizhi cried even harder. “We’re innocent! There’s no fraud here! Mian isn’t a fool—she’s just… just not too clever!”

Lu Tingbai let out a cold laugh. “Not too clever? Do you take me for a fool? Everyone here knows what Li Mian has been like since she was a child!”

Zhang Guizhi was struck speechless and could only keep wailing. “Please judge fairly, everyone! This son-in-law is abusing his power, bullying us widows and orphans!”

Lu Tingbai waved impatiently. “Enough nonsense! If you don’t tell me where Li Jiaojiao is today, I will not let this rest!”

Realizing that making a scene was useless against his determination, Zhang Guizhi reluctantly gave in. “All right, all right, I’ll tell you… Jiaojiao… she’s at a friend’s house in the city…”

Lu Tingbai’s eyes lit up, his voice cold. “The address!”

Zhang Guizhi hesitated, but finally revealed it. “At Li Hongmei’s place, on the east end of the village… she’s Jiaojiao’s cousin.”

Lu Tingbai gave a cold snort and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Zhang Guizhi quickly cried out: “Son-in-law, please forgive us. I only did it because I felt sorry for Jiaojiao…”

Lu Tingbai paused, turning back with a frosty glance. “Sorry for her? And what about me? What about my dignity? Do you think you can trample on it so casually?”

With that, he left Zhang Guizhi’s house without another word, heading straight east.

At that moment, Li Jiaojiao was happily munching on wedding candies. Suddenly, a loud, urgent knocking came at the door.

“Jiaojiao, open up, it’s me!”

Hearing the voice, Li Jiaojiao’s heart jolted. She quickly hid the candies and ran to open the door.

Standing outside was her cousin, Li Hongmei.

“Hongmei-jie, why are you here?” Li Jiaojiao asked tearfully.

Li Hongmei hugged her tightly, her voice full of pity. “Jiaojiao, I heard everything. You’ve suffered. Don’t be afraid, I’ll help you.”

“Hongmei-jie, what should I do?” Li Jiaojiao finally broke down, throwing herself into her cousin’s arms and sobbing. “My mother locked me up because she didn’t want me to marry Lu Tingbai. Now Mian has taken my place and married him instead. He’ll definitely blame me! I really don’t know what to do…”

Li Hongmei gently patted her back, soothing her. “Don’t be afraid, Jiaojiao. Calm down first. We’ll think of a way together. There must be a solution.”

Li Jiaojiao nodded, forcing back her tears. The corners of her lips curved into a smug smile. Who would want to marry a crippled man burdened with a child anyway?

Bang, bang, bang! The pounding on the door grew harsher, as if it would smash it down. Li Hongmei instinctively tightened her arms around Li Jiaojiao, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

“Li Hongmei, I know you’re home! Open the door!”

Lu Tingbai’s voice squeezed through his teeth, laced with suppressed fury. It echoed in the empty courtyard, stirring up a round of frantic barking from the dogs.

Li Jiaojiao shrank into Li Hongmei’s arms, her eyes wide with fear. Her small hands clutched tightly at Li Hongmei’s clothes, as if she were clinging to the last straw of survival.

Heart aching, Li Hongmei urged her to hide inside first. Then she took a deep breath, steeling her courage as she walked to the door. Standing behind it, she asked in a low voice, “Comrade Lu, it’s so late… what are you doing here?”

“What am I doing?” Lu Tingbai let out a cold laugh, his tone frosted with ice. “Li Hongmei, get Li Jiaojiao out here!”

Li Hongmei bit down hard, forcing herself to respond, “Jiaojiao isn’t here. You… you should go back.”

“Not here?” Lu Tingbai’s anger twisted into a mocking laugh. “Oh, that’s a good one! Li Hongmei, do you really take me for a fool?”

He suddenly kicked the door. Bang! The deafening crash made Li Hongmei cry out in fright.

Inside the room, Li Jiaojiao’s heart pounded in panic as she listened to the commotion outside. She was both anxious and furious. She knew it—Lu Tingbai had come straight to their door.

Damn Zhang Guizhi! She had promised it was foolproof, that Lu Tingbai wouldn’t dare make a fuss. And now look—Lu Tingbai was here, loud and unyielding!

Irritated, she raked her fingers through her hair, her thoughts a tangled mess. What should she do? If she went out now, Lu Tingbai would never let her off easy. But if she didn’t, knowing his temper, who knew how far he would go?

Bang! Another thunderous crash. The door shuddered violently, as if it might burst open at any second.

Li Jiaojiao’s face drained of color, her heart leaping into her throat.

No, she couldn’t hide anymore!

Clenching her teeth, she made up her mind in one swift moment. With a fierce tug, she yanked the bedroom door open and stepped out.