Previous
Fiction Page
Next
Font Size:
Chapter 14
Gu Chi stood up, tall and straight, his entire presence radiating a cold, oppressive aura that made Yan Xiaohai flinch instinctively.
The man before him spoke with an icy face: “Who are you calling a whore?”
Yan Xiaohai’s face went numb on one side from the slap, swelling rapidly. He was a little scared now, but ever since childhood, he had always looked down on Yan Qingqing. Deep down, he had always thought she was cheap.
So he opened his mouth and said, “It’s not just me saying it—everyone says so. She’s cheap! Gu—Gu Chi, you’ll see for yourself later. Yan Qingqing isn’t any good! Don’t let her fool you!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yan Qingqing grabbed the basin Yan Xiaohai had dropped on the ground earlier and smashed it into his face!
Bang!
Yan Xiaohai screamed in pain.
“Ow!”
Blood gushed from his nose as he shouted angrily, “Yan Qingqing, what are you doing? How dare you hit me?!”
Yan Qingqing let out a cold laugh, pointing at him and cursing, “Ever since you were little, I was the one who raised you! You were born when I was five. All year round, I washed your diapers and clothes, cooked food and fed you! I taught you to walk and talk, afraid you’d go hungry or cold!
When you were seven and sick all the time, the clinic couldn’t cure you. I carried you fifteen li to see an herbal doctor! Because we couldn’t afford medicine, I knelt and begged him for a prescription, then dug up herbs in the mountains, dried them, brewed them, and coaxed you to drink until you recovered. I was only twelve years old! You call me cheap? Tell me—what part of me is cheap?”
Her eyes burned as she spoke.
Her feelings toward Yan Xiaohai were complicated.
Back then, everyone in the Yan family treated her poorly, but little Yan Xiaohai had depended on her. He’d always called her “sister” in a baby voice and even shared his food with her.
But as he grew older, steeped in the Yan family’s contempt, he too started calling her “whore” every chance he got.
Her heart had grown cold and shattered piece by piece.
Yan Xiaohai’s gaze flickered. He knew that Yan Qingqing had indeed cared for him deeply.
But so what?
He stiffened his neck and shouted, “Everyone knows you seduce men! Flirt with whoever you see! You’ve disgraced the whole Yan family! If the Gu family didn’t need a bride to ward off bad luck, would they ever marry you?!”
Yan Qingqing slapped him across the face again!
Smack!
Madam Gu’s voice trembled: “You mustn’t slander her! A girl’s reputation is precious—she’s still your older sister! How can you say such things about her?”
Gu Chi ground his teeth, ready to drag Yan Xiaohai outside and teach him a lesson, but Yan Qingqing stopped him.
“Fine! Let’s make things clear today. Tell me—who have I seduced? How did I seduce them? Did you see it with your own eyes?”
Yan Xiaohai froze, clutching his face.
He hadn’t actually seen anything.
“I haven’t seen it, but so what! If you hadn’t done something, why would Mom call you a slut? Why would she beat you? If you were innocent, why would she hate you so much?
And another thing—we Yan family adopted you, we did you a huge favor! You can’t just get married and stop caring about your own family! Are you giving me food or not? Dad, Mom, and Big Brother are waiting at home!”
Yan Qingqing finally understood—Yan Xiaohai wasn’t just biased. He was rotten to the core.
He was completely unreasonable!
She grabbed a broom from the corner and started beating him with it!
“You’re right! If you hadn’t done something wrong, no one would hit you! It must be because you’re cheap and rotten that you deserve this beating! Yan Xiaohai, I treated you like my own brother, poured my heart into you!
Even a dog would wag its tail at me for that! From now on, I’m cutting ties with you! From today, every time I see you, I’ll beat you!”
Yan Xiaohai had never been beaten by Yan Qingqing before, let alone this viciously. The broom hurt like fire on his body!
Just as he tried to fight back, Gu Chi stepped in—not to break it up, but to hold him down so Yan Qingqing could beat him more!
In the end, Yan Qingqing stopped only when she was exhausted, throwing the broom aside and telling him to get lost.
Yan Xiaohai fled in terror, his clothes shredded, his face and hands burning with pain. Just a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, he cried so hard snot bubbles came out.
As soon as he reached home, he howled, “Mom! Yan Qingqing hit me!”
He burst into tears, adding fuel to the story as he told it.
Yang Zhaodi was so furious she nearly fainted!
Yan Dahai’s eyes darted as he scratched his head—lucky he hadn’t gone too, or he’d have taken the beating himself!
Yan Fugui slammed the table in rage: “Outrageous! The Gu family beating you like this? They must pay! Let’s go to the village chief! I’m on good terms with him—this won’t go unresolved! Yan Qingqing and Gu Chi must come kneel and apologize!”
The whole family hastily stuffed themselves with a few coarse cornbread buns and pickles before rushing to the village chief’s house to lodge their complaint.
Beating Yan Xiaohai had left Yan Qingqing feeling much better!
Even if she had been blind in the past, foolishly good to Yan Dahai and Yan Xiaohai, she’d never show them kindness again!
This habit of mothering everyone had to end.
She’d originally wanted to explain to the Gu family that Yan Xiaohai’s words were nonsense—but it turned out there was no need.
Madam Gu grabbed her hand tenderly. “That broom handle must’ve hurt your hand! Next time you want to hit someone, let Second do it. Don’t do it yourself!”
Gu Chi’s face was still dark. “Both Yan brothers have filthy mouths. I’ll make them apologize to you!”
They didn’t need Yan Qingqing to explain—they all believed her completely.
Madam Gu even boiled an egg to soothe her hand, which was red and sore from gripping the broom so tightly. Yan Qingqing almost cried again.
Before, no matter how she explained, no one believed her.
Now she didn’t need to explain at all—no matter who slandered her, the Gu family stood firmly by her.
This was what a real home felt like.
Seeing Gu Chi still seething with anger, as if he wanted to go beat Yan Xiaohai again, Yan Qingqing quickly stopped him.
“If you go hit him, people will say you’re unreasonable and use brute force to bully others. The Gu family won’t be able to live peacefully in the village. This started because of me—I’ll handle it.
I’m going to settle all accounts with the Yan family once and for all, and I’ll get that four hundred yuan back! If they want to tear things apart, I won’t save face for them.”
Gu Chi reluctantly agreed but insisted, “Fine, but I’m going with you. If anyone dares hurt you, I’ll break his hand.”
Yan Qingqing couldn’t help laughing. “All right, have it your way.”
Madam Gu sighed, “Good girl, don’t overthink it. Our Gu family doesn’t care about gossip. What matters most is protecting you!
Chi doesn’t care about his reputation either—that’s why villagers call him a bully. I’ve long seen through it: the poorer a place is, the more twisted people’s hearts are. Being sincere is useless!”
Father Gu added from inside, “I heard Yan Fugui has connections with the village chief. If this blows up, it may be bad for us.
I remember the township head’s father lives in the next village—he’s an old herbal doctor. Chi, go invite him over and pass by the village chief’s house. Yan Fugui will definitely go there to make trouble. When you arrive, explain the facts.
If the village chief dares to play favorites, once the township head’s father hears, it’s as good as the township head knowing. That will put him in line.”
Hearing how everyone in the Gu family was thinking on her behalf, Yan Qingqing’s heart softened with gratitude.
She agreed quickly and blurted out, “Dad, Mom, I’ll remember!”
With such in-laws, she couldn’t help but call them that!
Gu Chi froze for a moment, his eyes lowering, but inside he was bubbling with joy.
Did he hear right? Yan Qingqing just called them Dad and Mom?
Did that mean she accepted him too?
Before Gu Chi could savor it, someone arrived with news.
“Yan Qingqing! Your parents and brothers are at the village chief’s house. He wants you there immediately!”
Yan Qingqing stood up, exchanged a glance with Gu Chi—he told her not to be afraid—and then hurried off while he went to fetch the old herbal doctor.
As soon as Yan Qingqing entered the village chief’s house, she heard Yang Zhaodi wailing and feverishly crying in front of everyone.
“Village Chief, you must stand up for us! When Yan Qingqing’s real parents abandoned her, didn’t we adopt her and save her life? Everyone knows how much kindness we showed her! But now this girl has grown up, gotten proud, and no longer treats us like family!
Look at the wound on my head—that’s from Yan Qingqing hitting me! Dahai was beaten by Yan Qingqing and Gu Chi this morning! And just now, Xiaohai went to check on his sister out of concern and was beaten too!
Look at the injuries on Xiaohai’s face and body—what sin have I committed to raise such an ungrateful wolf? Village Chief, our whole family can’t survive if Yan Qingqing and the Gu family keep oppressing us!”
Yan Fugui added with a cough, “It’s outrageous! That girl behaves worse than an animal! If we’d known, we never should’ve adopted her!”
The onlookers in the village chief’s house all pitied the Yan family.
Seeing their injuries, hearing Yang Zhaodi and Yan Xiaohai crying, they all cursed Yan Qingqing too.
When Yan Qingqing walked in, the scolding didn’t stop.
Madam Zhang even stepped forward. “Yan Qingqing! Shameless girl! Without your adoptive parents, would you even be alive today? Kneel and apologize to them!”
The village chief’s face darkened. “In all my years leading Old Pig Village, I’ve never seen such an unfilial wretch! This scandal disgraces the whole village!
Yan Qingqing, you and your husband Gu Chi beat them, didn’t you? I’ll settle this today—you will compensate the Yan family three hundred yuan, and every month you’ll give your adoptive parents ten yuan. Then the matter will be over!”
Yan Qingqing burst out laughing.
The village chief’s face hardened. “What are you laughing at?!”
Previous
Fiction Page
Next