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On the way back, Wang Zhenhe almost ran the entire way, unable to quell the anger in his heart. Running was the only way he could find some relief.
He couldn’t believe that the mastermind behind it all was his once beloved sister, the little girl who used to follow him around calling him “big brother.” To think that at such a young age, she could be so malicious. If it had been his mother who had done such a thing, he wouldn’t have been surprised, but for Wang Zhi to follow in their mother’s footsteps and harbor even more malicious intentions made him feel that this bond of kinship was truly unbearable.
Since the arrival of electricity, people in every household didn’t go to bed as early as they used to. When Wang Zhenhe returned to the village, the main courtyard of the Wang family was still lit. He called for the gate to be opened, and it was his father who came to open it.
“Dad, is Wang Zhi asleep?”
Seeing his son’s troubled expression, his father asked with concern, “Not yet. She’s talking with your mother. When did you come back? You don’t look well.”
Wang Zhenhe didn’t respond to his father’s concern and strode into the house. On the kang, Wang Zhi was sewing and chatting with the old lady.
Wang Zhenhe’s sudden appearance startled the two people on the kang, especially when they noticed the kitchen knife in his hand. Wang Zhi, in particular, felt a sense of fear upon seeing her brother holding the knife, still shaken from the previous scare caused by the two children.
Instinctively, Wang Zhi moved behind her mother. “Brother, you’re back,” she said.
Without a word, Wang Zhenhe slapped Wang Zhi twice across the face with the knife in his other hand. “Do you know why I’m hitting you today? You should know in your heart. Don’t harm others and end up harming yourself. If you weren’t my sister, I would have killed you. It would have saved others from your mischief,” he said.
Seeing her beloved daughter being hit, the mother grabbed her son and began to scold him. Wang Zhenhe pushed her away as she lunged at him.
Wang Deshan, witnessing his son hitting his daughter without reason, felt displeased and raised his voice. “Zhenhe, what are you doing? You come in without a word and start hitting people. Who taught you this? Do you still have any respect for us, your elders?”
Wang Zhenhe didn’t argue with his father. Seeing the elder’s anger, he tearfully said, “Dad, how could I have such relatives? I wish I could kill them. Come here, and I’ll tell you why I hit her. Then you can judge whether your daughter deserved this beating.”
He took his father aside and explained the situation in detail. The elder was so furious that he grabbed a broom and began to hit Wang Zhi. “You troublemaker, I have to teach you a lesson today. What kind of person are you to tell someone to go and harm your sister-in-law?”
The father hitting his daughter caused a commotion, and the three family members began to argue on the kang. Wang Zhenguo, hearing the commotion from the next room, didn’t intervene. He simply listened from behind the wall. Wang Zhenhe noticed his brother’s head peeking out from behind the wall but didn’t pay much attention. As long as his brother didn’t join in, he wouldn’t resort to violence.
“Mom, please save me,” Wang Zhi pleaded, hiding behind her mother.
“Wang Deshan, if you lay a finger on my daughter, I’ll fight you to the end,” Zhu Qiyu confronted the father, showing a fearless expression. The two of them struggled for a while, both panting heavily.
Wang Zhenhe didn’t want to see the faces of his family members any longer. He firmly struck the kang twice with the knife. “Mom, from now on, you’re on your own. If I hear about any more mistreatment of my wife and children, this knife is for you. I’m willing to stake my life on it. We’ll go together to report to the King of Hell. We’ll settle this in the underworld and see who deserves to be punished.”
With a fierce glare at the mother and daughter on the kang, he left the main courtyard of the Wang family without looking back. His departing figure seemed desolate, exuding a sense of regret and determination.
Watching his son leave, Wang Deshan angrily slammed the broom on the kang. “Alas, what sin have I committed? I’ve given birth to such troublemakers. I’ve forsaken a peaceful life and allowed them to engage in such disgraceful behavior. How will I face our ancestors in the future?”
Zhu Qiyu sneered and sarcastically remarked, “Stop it. What have your ancestors left for you? They are too embarrassed to face us. Besides, why would you believe that rascal’s words? My good daughter was beaten, and who will I turn to for justice?”
Wang Deshan was incensed by her words. “You old hag, you’ve turned a good child into such a despicable person. Do you know what your good daughter has done? She actually instigated Zhu Jianshe to act like a hooligan. Do you think there’s any hope left for her? If this gets out, no family will want her. She’s a grown girl, why would she get involved with a hooligan? Do you think she deserved to be hit?”
The old lady turned to scold Wang Zhi, “You foolish girl, why did you have to get involved in something like this? It’s illegal, and you could end up in jail. If people find out about this, your reputation will be ruined. Who will want to marry you? Why did I give birth to such a foolish child? Use your brain in the future. Even if you dislike Zhang Lan, you don’t have to drag yourself into trouble.”
As the old lady continued to lecture her daughter, Wang Deshan, feeling increasingly agitated, said, “You old hag, is this how you teach? You’ve led a good child astray. Wang Zhi, I’m telling you, if I hear about any more of your bad ideas, don’t expect me to recognize you as my daughter. And you, you’ve been so unfair. He’s your own son, and he’s your own brother. Think about their well-being. What has Zhang Lan done wrong to you? You’ve been bullying them repeatedly. I’m warning you to be careful of the consequences. The heavens have eyes, and they remember everything you do.”
After Wang Zhenhe left, he found the place where the children were studying and picked them up. They had just finished their lessons and were excited to see him. “Dad, why are you here?”
Seeing the happy faces of the children, Wang Zhenhe’s heart, wounded by his family, was temporarily healed.
“Kids, I’m taking you home. Say goodbye to your grandfathers. We’re going home with your Grandpa Wu,” he said.
As the five children walked ahead, Wu Changyong followed behind with Wang Zhenhe. The elder could more or less guess what had happened that evening. “Zhenhe, is everything resolved?”
“Yeah, everything’s resolved, but I have to go back to work tomorrow. Uncle, I’m leaving the family in your hands and Uncle Zuo’s. Please take good care of the kids and their mother. My own relatives almost tore this family apart. The kids and their mother have suffered because of me,” Wang Zhenhe said with a hint of despondency.
The elder patted his shoulder upon hearing his despondent words. “Young man, you’ve come a long way. From now on, treat the kids and their mother well. It’s a way to make amends. Your good days with your wife are still ahead. Look at these kids, they’re smart and sensible. With them around, your family will be fine. Don’t worry about those clowns. Live your life well. That’s the right path. Don’t pay attention to them, and they won’t be able to bother you.”
As they walked and talked, Mingyuan occasionally turned back to urge them on. Watching the children playing happily, Wang Zhenhe seemed to regain his fighting spirit, and his steps lightened as he walked with the elder.
Observing Wang Zhenhe’s demeanor, Wu Changyong nodded inwardly. It’s good that he’s able to move on. If he had remained immersed in the struggles of family ties, he would have been ruined. Fortunately, he and Old Zuo didn’t misjudge this man.
Upon returning home, the siblings first went to see the old lady. After a nap, Hao Lianchun was in good spirits. She sat with Zhang Lan and the old man, chatting and occasionally giving advice on sewing the children’s clothes.
“Grandma, how are you feeling?” Zuo He asked, leaning into the old lady’s embrace.
Hao Lianchun gently rocked her grandson. “Zuo He, look, Grandma is feeling better. I can even hold you. Let’s see if your little tummy is full.”
The old lady playfully patted her grandson’s round belly, and Zuo He giggled. “Grandma, I’m full. Oh, by the way, I haven’t eaten the cookies that Uncle bought for us. Do you want one?”
Zuo He took out the cookies and candies from his bag, which Zhang Lan had packed for them, fearing they might get hungry while studying.
Hao Lianchun shook her head. “Grandma is full. Save the cookies for tomorrow. You and your brothers should get ready for bed. You have classes tomorrow.”
With the children back, the family rearranged the rooms and settled down for the night. After a long separation, the couple naturally enjoyed their reunion.
As Wang Zhenhe and his wife whispered to each other, Zhang Lan learned that the idea had actually come from her younger sister, which was hard to believe. “Zhenhe, how can Your sister be so malicious? How could she even think of such a thing, being a young girl herself? I don’t know what kind of person she’ll become if she gets married in the future.”
Wang Zhenhe sighed as he held Zhang Lan. “Wife, we can’t control her thoughts. Good deeds bring good results. If she continues like this, no one can help her. Even if she’s unlucky, it’s her own doing. Fortunately, you and the children are safe. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do.”
Zhang Lan also expressed her gratitude for the two elders they had invited to the house. “Zhenhe, I’m glad I listened to our youngest’s advice. Otherwise, I don’t know what would have happened. I was worried about scaring the children. They’re all so young. Wang Zhi has really caused trouble. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this treatment from her. Even if she doesn’t care about us, she should at least consider the face of her own nephew and niece.”