Chapter 17: The Shen Family Comes Calling

“Wow! Flags too!!”

Liu Xinghe was utterly astonished. She hurriedly pulled a letter from her bag and handed it over, bowing as she sincerely expressed her thanks:

“Thank you, Director, and thank you to all the police officers. You’ve worked so hard. This is a letter of gratitude I wrote for our station—thank you for your dedication, for relieving the people’s worries, for solving cases so quickly, for enforcing the law impartially, and for always putting the people first. You are truly a dependable support for the public.”

She was genuinely thrilled by these two commemorative flags. She had only expected either a certificate or a flag from the station—never imagined she would get both. She felt like crying!

Now, with one certificate and two flags in her hands, who could compete with her?

From now on, if anyone slanders her, she would brandish the “Meritorious Report” flag; if anyone bullied her, she would display the “For the People, Eliminating Harm” flag. She would carry them wherever she went.

Director Zhang was fantastic.

“Thank you for your letter of gratitude. I accept it on behalf of the station, and I thank you for your recognition on behalf of all the officers. We will continue to work hard, and we welcome your supervision,” Director Zhang said solemnly, saluting Liu Xinghe as he took the letter.

After placing the letter safely, Director Zhang reminded her as she was about to leave:

“Xinghe, Shen Qiang’s parents came to the station today to inquire about him. Be careful. If anything happens, come find us. There are patrolling officers on the streets—if they make a move on you, shout for help. I’m actually more worried that they might try to pressure you as elders.”

“I understand, Director. Thank you for telling me. I won’t be bullied. After experiencing something like life-and-death situations, I’ve realized one thing: if you don’t want to be bullied, you have to become strong yourself.”

As for those so-called Shen elders? Liu Xinghe wasn’t afraid of them at all.

“Director, I’ll go now. I’ve already told the Youth Office to buy a ticket for tomorrow afternoon. You and Aunt Ming can come by at noon to pick up the key.”

“Alright.”

Director Zhang watched Liu Xinghe leave with concern.

She, however, felt no worry. She hadn’t used her full strength in a long time—it was time to stretch her muscles.

Outside the Liu family courtyard, around the corner.

The eldest Shen son’s family and Old Lady Shen were standing there, having dressed up especially for the occasion.

Old Lady Shen pulled her grandson aside and instructed: “Dabao, when you see Sister Xinghe return, go hug her leg and speak sweetly. Call her ‘sister,’ alright?”

“I won’t. She’s a little bastard. I won’t call a little bastard my sister. I won’t, I won’t…”

The little boy, Dabao, plopped onto the ground, kicked his legs, rolled around, and screamed in protest, using the words he had heard from his mother.

“Oh my, my son…” The eldest daughter-in-law panicked, rushed over, and grabbed the rolling child, covering his mouth.

Old Lady Shen shot a glance at her eldest daughter-in-law, who gave an awkward smile:

“Eldest daughter-in-law, I told you to teach Dabao how to speak. Look at what you taught him—can’t do anything right, just eats and sleeps.”

“Mom, don’t be mad. I’ll teach him.” The eldest Shen son smiled ingratiatingly and took his son: “Dabao, listen to Grandma. Go hug her and say ‘sister.’ Then you can have a big house, eat meat, eat big buns. Don’t you want that?”

“Yes!”

Dabao licked the snot at the corner of his mouth as if it were meat and buns.

“Then listen to Grandma. Remember?” The eldest Shen son glanced forward and saw Liu Xinghe approaching, nudging his son: “Son, go! Hug her and say ‘sister’—big buns and meat.”

Dabao’s eyes lit up. He sniffed and bolted forward, shouting as he ran: “Sister! Sister! I’m Dabao! Sister…”

Liu Xinghe held up the two rolled flags in front of her, pushing back the small chubby boy with a pale, snot-streaked face, looking at him with disdain: “Where did this little beggar come from, charging around yelling like that?”

Don’t think she didn’t hear him—this brat had just insulted her.

The pampered little boy, not used to being wronged, forgot his father and grandmother’s instructions, flailing his arms, kicking, spitting, and yelling:

“Little bastard! Little bastard! You dare hit me, little bastard, phooey, phooey, phooey…”

“Fine, if you don’t want your mouth, I’ll sew it shut for free today.”

Liu Xinghe said viciously, pulling a threaded embroidery needle from her sleeve, bringing it close to the little chubby boy’s mouth.

“Waa—!” The boy cried in fright, covering his mouth as he shouted toward the wall: “Mom! The little bastard wants to sew my mouth! Waaah—”

Her eyes flicked to the adults hiding around the corner—they finally couldn’t sit still and rushed out.

Hmph. Letting the child lead while the adults hide—typical Shen family behavior.

She was not fond of children anyway.

The eldest daughter-in-law rushed over, grabbed the little boy, holding him tight. Seeing a small mark near his mouth, she lifted her head to scold Liu Xinghe but was held back by the eldest Shen son.

Old Lady Shen shot a glance, and they didn’t dare utter a word. Holding the child, they stepped back, fearful that Liu Xinghe might act madly and sew the boy’s mouth.

“Xinghe, I am your grandmother. I apologize for your parents’ matters. It’s my fault for not raising them well. I apologize to you. Look at how thin you’ve become. Come, open the door. I’ll cook you something delicious to nourish you. From now on, we’ll rely on each other in this house. I’ll make sure you’re well-fed and healthy.”

Old Lady Shen smiled broadly at Liu Xinghe, leaning close.

Yikes! Liu Xinghe was about to be frightened to death by this family’s makeup—white powder smeared thickly across their faces, with red blotches on their cheeks, looking like corpse makeup!

Were they trying to scare her to inherit the house?

“I am your eldest uncle. Your father was worthless. From now on, I’ll take care of you as my own daughter. Girl, you’ve suffered enough.” The eldest Shen son bared his yellow teeth and slid forward with an oily grin.

They tried to flank her, reaching for the keys on her wrist to open the door.

Liu Xinghe balled her empty hand into a fist and, with the other hand holding the flags, struck both arms reaching for her without mercy.

Crack! Crack! The sound of bones breaking was music to her ears.

“Ah!”

Two pig-like, miserable screams followed.

Mother and son clutched their injured hands, spinning in place.

Bystanders, hearing the high-pitched screams, instantly became spectators, searching for the source of the noise, then quickly gathered around.

Liu Xinghe wrapped a blood-soaked gauze around her neck, sat down, and shouted first: “Ah! What are you doing? Help! Someone is trying to kidnap me! Help! Cough… my throat…!”