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Outside the courtyard, spectators saw Zhou Ping throwing a tantrum on the ground, and some, lacking in empathy, began to mock her.
Unaccustomed to such humiliation, Zhou Ping suddenly sprang up from the ground and lunged at Zhang Lan, unleashing a string of insults. However, Mingcheng and the others weren’t about to let her get away with it. These half-grown young men were not to be trifled with. Zuo He and Mingyuan stepped forward, each seizing one of Zhou Ping’s arms and executing a powerful body slam.
Some who had been on the receiving end of Zhou Ping’s temper cheered from the crowd. “Good slam! Kids like these are the ones with promise. Look at the kind of children they raise. Even at such an old age, they still insist on riding around like they’re on a horse. What an unruly bunch.”
Advancing, Wang Qian fixed a cold gaze on Zhou Ping. “Aunt, I advise you to think carefully about why your son is being disciplined today. If you want to fight, go ahead. We’re not afraid of a fight. Look behind you; these people here are all enjoying their holiday. They’re free every day. If you want to fight, we’ll accompany you every day, whether it’s day or night. If you’re not tired, we’re more than willing to keep you company. We don’t mind. It saves my brothers from having nothing to do after they’ve eaten their fill.”
Wang Qian was now playing hardball, making it clear that they were neither afraid nor hesitant to engage in a fight. She believed this approach could effectively handle Zhou Ping’s feigned madness and stupidity. When it came to fighting with the villagers in the past, who had the time to quarrel with her every day? Everyone tried to avoid getting into conflicts with her. In reality, if someone were pushed to their limit, there would be nothing to fear. If worse came to worst, the situation would escalate until it reached its breaking point.
Zhou Ping had always thought she was a formidable presence, and that was why people feared her. However, today, Wang Qian’s words presented a situation she had never encountered before. Sitting on the ground, she began to wail, spewing out profanities one after another, which even caused Zhang Lan to furrow her brow.
“Aunt, try cursing again and see if I won’t shut you up. I detest people with mouths like cesspits. Big brother, go find a cloth to gag her. Uncles, does anyone know where the neighborhood captain and the community security director live? Please get them here. If we don’t resolve this today, I won’t let it go,” Wang Qian said.
Zhang Lan rarely refuted her daughter’s words. She knew that this child was astute and well aware of when to advance or retreat, so she stood beside her daughter, boosting her confidence.
Some people in the crowd, not afraid of causing a scene, went to find others as Wang Qian had instructed. Zhou Ping’s mother rushed over upon hearing that her daughter had been attacked. Upon seeing her daughter sitting on the ground, the elderly lady, unconcerned about who was right or wrong, lunged at Zhang Lan.
But Zuo Hao and Zuo Yu, experienced from years of training, easily restrained the frenzied Zhou Ping’s mother.
Pointing at Zhang Lan, Zhou’s elderly mother said, “Who do you think you are, daring to cause trouble on our property and bully my daughter? I’ll teach you a lesson, you slut.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Qian and Wang Xuan pounced on the elderly lady and bit her. Yelping in pain, the bitten Zhou’s elderly mother was too preoccupied with her throbbing arm to continue swearing.
Geng Lianhua rushed over and, upon hearing her in-law insult her daughter, walked up with a displeased expression and delivered a resounding slap. “Qu Zhaodi, let me tell you, you’re not free to cause trouble in our family. My daughter is not someone you can discipline. If you want to avoid trouble, leave now. Otherwise, we’ll figure out who’s right and who’s wrong. I’ve put up with you for many years. Today, I won’t tolerate it anymore. If you’re brave enough, try insulting me.”
Outside, the situation was chaotic. Zhang Wanyou was lying on the kang and couldn’t rise; it seemed his back wasn’t his own. Today’s disturbance was his fault, and the children had intervened for his sake.
Qu Zhaodi was stunned by the slap from Geng Lian Hua. Few people dared to lay a hand on her in all these years. Zhou Ping, seeing her mother suffer, got so furious that she scrambled up from the ground and lunged towards Geng Lianhua. Ming Yuan and Ming Cheng desperately held her back, rendering her motionless for a moment. Unable to strike the old lady, Zhou Ping turned her aggression towards the brothers. Wang Qian promptly dashed to the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and approached, saying, “Brothers, let go. Let’s see if she dares to touch our grandmother again today.”
Seeing their sister brandishing the knife again, the brothers immediately released their grip on Zhou Ping. Seeing Wang Qian with the knife, Zhou Ping remained defiant, “You little brat, try touching me, and I won’t believe someone would dare to mess with me.”
She continued to reach for Geng Lianhua, and Wang Qian, without hesitation, came at her with the knife. Luckily, it was winter, and Zhou Ping was wearing a padded jacket. Wang Qian managed to control the force, which only tore the cotton inside the jacket, without causing harm.
When Qu Zhaodi saw the girl really swinging the knife, without any restraint, she yelled in alarm, “Girl, run! This girl is going mad.”
After being slashed by Wang Qian, Zhou Ping’s legs began to weaken. No one had ever treated her like this before. Hearing her elderly mother’s shout, she started running, her steps unsteady. Wang Qian had already drawn the knife this time, so how could she let…
How could they let her escape so easily? Wang Qian shouted and chased after her with the kitchen knife.
Ming Cheng and Ming Yuan ran out as a precaution. Zuo Hao and Zuo Yu stood by, protecting the mother and daughter. It was at this moment that Geng Lianhua remembered that her husband had not shown up.
“Lan’er, where’s your father? Why haven’t we seen him?” she inquired.
In front of everyone, Zhang Lan recounted the whole story once again, “Mom, I’m afraid Dad has injured his back and is now lying on the kang unable to move.”
Someone in the crowd started clamoring, “Just look at this, this is the outstanding grandson raised by Qu Zhaodi’s family. He’s already in his teens and still rides on his grandfather’s back like a horse. Is this something a human would do? The old man is of such age; how can his back withstand being tossed around by a dozen young men? Clearly lacking discipline, just like his mother. They are not of good breed.”
Hearing someone in the crowd cursing at him, Zhang Jiabao immediately stood up and began to curse back at the crowd. Everyone shook their heads, wondering what kind of creature he was. It was all beyond understanding.
Zhou Ping was chased by Wang Qian with a kitchen knife through the streets. Onlookers stood at their doorways, witnessing Zhou Ping’s unprecedented disheveled state.
“Girl, keep at it. Chase her down and give her a good lesson. Let this scoundrel know she can’t mess with anyone. This time, teach her a lesson,” someone urged.
The gleaming kitchen knife emitted a chilling glint in the sunlight. Zhou Ping, upon glancing back at the knife held by Wang Qian, quickened her pace in fear.
It wasn’t until she saw the village head and the security officer, accompanied by militia members, approaching that she felt a sense of relief and rushed over. “Officer, please, come and help me quickly. If you don’t come soon, there might be a casualty at our house.”
The security officer, somewhat annoyed, pulled his hands away from hers. “What’s with all the pulling and tugging? Speak if you have something to say.”
Seeing Wang Qian chasing after her with the knife, the security officer had a strange feeling. This pretty girl, wielding a knife, exuded a sort of heroine’s spirit. Perhaps this was the best way to deal with someone like Zhou Ping.
Turning back, the security officer questioned, “Zhou Ping, what outrageous thing have you done today, making a child pick up a knife to chase after you? You bully even such a young child. Do you have any conscience left? If you don’t reflect on your mistakes, the next struggle session will start with you. It’s time we rectified the atmosphere in our village.”
Although Zhou Ping was fearless, she did fear government officials. She feared being publicly criticized and physically punished.
Quickly, she put on a pitiable look, “Officer, today’s incident wasn’t my fault. Our children were attacked. Can’t I even say a few words? Look at the girl behind, she’s our niece. Can’t you see the disrespect she’s showing her elder?”
Upon hearing that she was Zhang Lan’s daughter, the other party’s smile widened. No wonder, the girl was so pretty, taking after her mother.
Seeing Zhou Ping holding onto someone, Wang Qian reckoned the person must be of some authority, perhaps at the level of a captain or an officer.
Gasping for breath, she ran over and, with a pair of bright, lively eyes, gazed at the newcomers. They were both elderly but seemed rather amiable.
“Hello, sirs. Your timing couldn’t be better. I was just about to seek your judgment today.”
As she walked, Wang Qian recounted in detail the events of the day to the two individuals, then looked up at them, observing their pensive expressions.
“Uncle, kids don’t lie. If you don’t believe me, ask the neighbors who were watching. They all saw everything that happened here,” Wang Qian asserted.
The security officer briefly inquired with the surrounding crowd and found their accounts aligned with what Wang Qian had described.
“Zhou Ping, what can I even say to you? You’re all grown up, yet you’ve caused disharmony in the neighborhood over a child’s matter. The entire village is unsettled because of this. And how do you even educate your child? Allowing him to ride on his grandfather’s back like a horse. If this gets out, aren’t you afraid of being ridiculed? Have you ever considered that if you continue to raise your son this way, he might struggle to find a wife in the future?”
“And you, Qu Zhaodi, as a mother, failing to discipline your own daughter and instead indiscriminately attempting to harm others. Do you have any regard for the law? Look at the daughter you’ve raised. Always getting into arguments and conflicts. The atmosphere in our village has been disrupted by you two. Take them both back to the team for proper education. If they don’t repent, the next struggle session will be for Zhou Ping and her son.”
With the captain’s command, the militia directly escorted the mother and daughter away. Zhang Wei, who had returned from outside and was hiding in the crowd, didn’t know how to face his parents and quietly left with his son.