Chapter 22: I’ll Go All the Way

When Chen Manman saw her son in Grandpa’s arms, she was finally relieved of her worries.

She charged forward, knocked Chen Shufang to the ground, grabbed Xu Zhi by the collar and snarled, “So you’re the one who hit my son!” Then she lifted him up and flung him toward the courtyard wall like a kite with a broken string.

Bang!

The loud crash made Chen Shufang’s heart clench. “You bitch! How dare you hit my son! I’ll fight you to the death!” she screamed and lunged like a mad dog toward Chen Manman.

But Chen Manman was ready. She kicked out hard, landing squarely in Chen Shufang’s abdomen. The force of the blow sent her flying to the side, where she collapsed, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Chen Shufang looked at her in shock, her face twisted. “You bitch!”

The screams from the courtyard brought Grandma Chen and her eldest daughter-in-law rushing out.

“Manman, what’s going on?” Grandma Chen’s heart sank at the sight of her daughter and grandson lying on the ground, barely conscious.

“Nana! Xu Zhi nearly crushed Erhu’s hand!” Chen Manman’s voice was sharp with fury. Today, she was determined to make Xu Zhi cry for his mother.

As she moved forward again, Grandma Chen hurried to stop her. “Manman, wait—talk it out! If this keeps up, someone’s going to die!”

“Nana, don’t stop me. If we don’t correct Xu Zhi now, who knows what he’ll grow up to become? He’s already capable of hurting children—what next? Murder? Arson?” Chen Manman’s eyes burned with cold fury.

Chen Shufang was hysterical. “Bullshit! Chen Manman, how dare you hit my son? I won’t let this go!”

“I’ll go all the way!” Chen Manman’s eyes were icy. “If I cripple him, I’ll pay the medical bills!”

Step by step, she approached the now-terrified Xu Zhi lying by the wall.

“No! I won’t do it again! Cousin—no—Sis, please, don’t hurt me!” The arrogance on Xu Zhi’s face was gone, replaced with sheer terror.

Chen Manman’s voice turned fierce and dark. “Did you ever think about letting Erhu off? He’s just a small child, and you still went for his hand. You deserve this!” She raised her foot and stomped hard on Xu Zhi’s wrist.

Crack!

The sound of breaking bones echoed, followed by a wailing scream. “Ahhh! Mom! My hand! Ahhh!”

“My boy! Mommy’s here!” Chen Shufang cried as she crawled over and held her sobbing son. “How are you, baby?”

Xu Zhi’s hand hung limp. Seeing it, he screamed in agony, “Mom! My hand is broken! Kill her for me!”

“AHHH!!! Chen Manman, you bitch! I won’t let you get away with this! You’ll pay for what you’ve done!” Chen Shufang shrieked and tried to attack her again.

Grandpa Chen rushed over. “Calm down! Take the kid to the hospital—now!” His voice was firm as he gently laid down Erhu and carried Xu Zhi on his back.

Grandma Chen stood frozen, still in disbelief at what had just happened.

Chen Manman picked up Erhu, took him inside, and carefully applied medicine to his wrist. After tending to him, she placed both boys on the heated brick bed, gave each a bottle of milk from her space, and told them to play quietly indoors.

Grabbing some money, she headed outside and saw her sister-in-law Yao Chunzhi still stunned in the courtyard.

“Sis-in-law, when Mom and Dad get back, let them know Dahu and Erhu are inside. I’m going to the hospital to check on things,” she said calmly, a stark contrast to her earlier rage.

Yao Chunzhi’s mind buzzed as she met Chen Manman’s eyes, recalling her earlier ruthlessness. She shivered.

This sister-in-law is terrifying! I’d better steer clear from now on!

“O-okay… you go ahead,” she stammered.

Chen Manman hopped on her bicycle and sped off. Her grandfather probably had them in the ox cart already.

Not long after, she caught up to the cart. Onboard, Chen Shufang was still sobbing and cursing Chen Manman.

Soon, they arrived at the hospital. After treatment, Xu Zhi’s hand was set in a cast and he was transferred to a ward.

Chen Manman kept her word and paid the hospital bill—more than ten yuan.

By the time everything was done, night had fallen.

Inside the ward, Chen Shufang finally calmed a bit now that her son was resting. “Chen Manman, I’m not letting this go! Xiao Zhi is your cousin—how could you do this to him?”

“He hit first. I’ve paid the medical fees. I just hope he learns a lesson. Out in the real world, no one will be as kind as me. Next time, it might not be just a broken hand.”

“Your son’s fine! Look what you did to Xiao Zhi! You must compensate us! If you don’t give us 300 yuan, I’ll go to the police!”

“300? So that’s what this is really about. I bet Xu Zhi got into some trouble and you’re trying to squeeze us for money,” Chen Manman said coldly.

“N-no! He broke his hand—you have to pay 300!” Chen Shufang stammered, clearly rattled.

Chen Manman watched her closely. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask at Xu Zhi’s school or at Uncle’s factory…”

Before she could finish, Chen Shufang lunged in a panic. “Don’t you dare!”

Chen Manman stepped aside easily, and Chen Shufang fell flat on her face.

Seeing the fury in her eyes, Chen Manman just smiled. “So I was right.”

“AHHH!” Chen Shufang screamed in frustration.

“Manman, please help Xiao Zhi. We really need that money. If you give us 300 yuan, we’ll act like this never happened.” If they didn’t get the money, her husband could lose his job. Her mother-in-law would kick her out, and she had no job of her own. She couldn’t let that happen!

“That’s your problem.” Chen Manman pushed her aside. “I’ve paid the medical bills. That’s enough.” She slapped another large bill on the table.

“This is compensation for Xu Fang. If you keep pushing, it becomes extortion—and I will go to the police.” With that, she turned to leave.

Chen Shufang blocked her way. “You can’t go! You haven’t given me 500 yuan!”

“If you push it any further, you’ll regret it. Let your son recover. I’ll come visit in a few days.” Chen Manman brushed past and walked out.

Outside the hospital, she briefly explained the situation to her grandfather and told him to return home with Mr. Niu on the ox cart. She was headed to the police station.

Grandpa Chen refused to go at first. Just then, under the dim streetlights, a bicycle came speeding through the night…