Chapter 58: Are You Trying to Kill Us?

Chen Juhua came charging in with a kitchen knife.

No one dared to stop her; they scrambled to get out of the way.

The villagers had their hands full—some were trying to hold Chen Guoqiang back, while others had to keep an eye on the knife in Chen Caihua’s hand, making sure it didn’t land on them… It was exhausting.

Seeing his mother arrive with a knife, Li Hongjun was no longer afraid.

The brigade leader’s face darkened as he sternly reprimanded, “Chen Juhua! What do you think you’re doing with that knife? Put it down immediately!”

Chen Juhua wailed at the top of her lungs, “Brigade leader! If I don’t bring a knife, you all will bully us widows and orphans to death!”

Li Hongjun, who had been arrogant and domineering just moments ago, now looked pitiful. “Mom, save me!”

When Chen Juhua saw her precious son’s nose bleeding from the beating, her heart shattered!

Tears instantly welled up.

She sobbed as she questioned, “What did my Hongjun do wrong that you had to beat him like this, force him like this?”

“We have such a hard life! Hongjun’s father, do you see this? Why did you have to meddle back then?”

“Wasn’t it good enough to just live?”

“You died for them, and what was the result? Look at how they’ve repaid us!”

“Look at how the whole village is bullying us orphans and widows now!”

Hearing her cry like that, the villagers felt uneasy.

Orphans and widows…

And Li Hongjun’s father’s death did have something to do with the village back then.

Chen Juhua had raised Li Hongjun alone all these years…

Sigh…

Song Yue noticed the shift in atmosphere and pieced things together from Chen Juhua’s words.

She roughly understood the situation.

Since the villagers remained silent, she would speak up.

Song Yue’s voice was calm. “He’s guilty of molestation.”

The moment she spoke, everyone turned to look at her, even making space for her.

Chen Juhua was stunned to see Song Yue. She had spent the entire day working with this young woman and thought she was a decent person.

Why was she suddenly stepping forward? And accusing her son of molestation?

Song Yue met Chen Juhua’s gaze directly. “You know what happens to people guilty of molestation, don’t you, Auntie Juhua?”

Of course, Chen Juhua knew the consequences. She panicked inside but still tried to talk tough.

“Molestation? Who did he molest? You, Song Yue?”

“Song Yue, we just worked together today! How could you make false accusations?”

“I even told Hongjun to stay away from you. How could he have molested you?”

Li Hongjun also realized what was happening and looked at her with disdain. “Oh! So you’re the unlucky woman my mom always talks about.”

“So it’s you! You really bring bad luck to men. I’m so unlucky to have run into you today.”

Many villagers had heard rumors, and the men standing closest to Song Yue instinctively took a few steps back.

Song Yue glanced at Chen Juhua and Li Hongjun, then turned to the brigade leader, speaking in an indifferent tone.

“Brigade leader, this argument is tiring. Just report it to the police.”

There was no point wasting words with people like them.

Let the police handle it.

Hearing the word “police,” a flash of panic crossed Li Hongjun’s eyes.

The brigade leader noticed this. How could he not understand what was going on?

Chen Juhua, however, was oblivious to her son’s reaction and chimed in,

“Call the police, then! Look at how badly my Hongjun has been beaten! We must call the police!”

Li Hongjun became even more frantic when he heard his mother insisting on calling the police.

The brigade leader nearly lost his temper.

If not for all the people around, he would have slapped some sense into this woman.

Did she really not know what kind of person her son was?

Calling the police would be like walking straight into a trap!

Song Yue chuckled at the brigade leader. “Since everyone agrees, then I’ll have to trouble you to make the report.”

The brigade leader gave her a complicated look before turning to the mother and son.

“Chen Juhua, Li Hongjun, are you sure you want to call the police?”

Chen Juhua was about to agree when—

The brigade leader cut her off. “Chen Juhua, you know what kind of person your son is.”

Chen Juhua froze.

What kind of person her son was…

The brigade leader then turned to Li Hongjun. “Li Hongjun, you know in your heart whether you committed molestation or not.

Once you’re at the police station, you won’t be able to talk your way out of it. They’ll conduct a proper interrogation.”

“I’ll give you three minutes to think it over. I’ll come back and ask you then.”

After addressing them, he turned to Song Yue and spoke in a lower voice.

“Song Yue, can we speak privately?”

Song Yue glanced at him, then walked outside.

The two moved away.

Meanwhile, Chen Guoqiang was itching to punch Li Hongjun again.

The others rushed to hold him back, and the brigade leader had to run back and scold him.

After a good scolding, Chen Guoqiang finally dragged Yang Chunhua home.

Only then did the brigade leader return to Song Yue.

Looking a little embarrassed, he asked, “Song Yue, can we settle this privately? I mean, you’ve already beaten up Li Hongjun pretty badly…”

Song Yue cut straight to the point. “What do you mean by ‘settle privately’?”

The brigade leader replied, “Compensation—money, goods.”

Song Yue named her price. “Twenty yuan, twenty eggs.”

The brigade leader was stunned.

After a moment, he took a deep breath. “Song Yue, can you lower it a bit? They’re widowed and orphaned…”

Even he trailed off at the end.

This involved a woman’s reputation.

To put it bluntly, Li Hongjun had been harassing Yang Chunhua, who was heavily pregnant. If anything had happened to her, money wouldn’t have solved the problem.

And if Song Yue hadn’t been capable, she would have been the one suffering.

Her reputation would’ve been ruined…

Song Yue studied the brigade leader’s expression.

She had already given Li Hongjun a beating.

Even if they settled it privately today, with his personality, he was bound to end up in jail sooner or later.

Besides, the brigade leader had helped her before.

She still needed his help with her housing situation.

It wouldn’t be wise to offend him completely.

Under his hopeful gaze, Song Yue relented.

“For your sake, fifteen yuan, fifteen eggs.”

She added, “That’s the lowest I’ll go.”

“Alright.” The brigade leader sighed. “I’ll go talk to Chen Juhua.”

Song Yue nodded. “Alright. Once she agrees, have her bring the money to the educated youth dormitory.”

She had worked all day, even gotten into a fight—she was starving.

Since the compensation wasn’t going anywhere, she might as well go eat first.

The brigade leader was surprised. “You’re not waiting for the money?”

“No.” Song Yue shook her head, then flattered him.

“With a righteous, selfless brigade leader like you, dedicated to serving the people, I trust they won’t dare refuse.”

The brigade leader, pleased with the compliment, immediately felt better.

He smiled. “Alright, once I get the money from Chen Juhua, I’ll bring it over to you. We can also discuss your housing.”

“Great.”

The brigade leader went to negotiate with Chen Juhua.

Song Yue picked up the bundle of firewood she had gathered earlier and started heading back.

She had barely taken a few steps when—

A loud screech erupted behind her.

“What?!”

“Fifteen yuan and fifteen eggs?!”

“For what?!”

“Brigade leader! Are you trying to kill us widows and orphans?!”