Chapter 10: Getting Even

Coaxed sweetly by Wei Miaomiao and treated with medicine, Lian Yuqing’s anger finally subsided. She asked, “Who was that lunatic?”

“He Xiaoshan, the village secretary’s daughter. We used to play together as kids—she wasn’t like this before.”

Using her father’s position like it’s a badge of power, huh? So what if her dad is the village secretary? Her own dad used to be the richest man around.

Thinking of that, a wave of sourness welled up in her nose. Now she was just a pitiful nobody with no power or influence, forced to live with her tail between her legs.

At dinnertime, Lian Yuqing stayed in her room and didn’t come out. Wei Miaomiao told the family about the fight.

Wei Chunsheng gloated, “Always getting into trouble, and she still lost the fight.”

“Chunsheng, that’s enough,” Wei Ximin said with a frown.

Wei Chunsheng curled his lip. Dad was always biased toward Lian Yuqing. In the six months since she married into the family, who knew how many arguments she’d had with others—every time the family had to clean up her mess.

“And your brother, still not home?” Chen Caiqi glanced out at the pitch-black sky, looking worried. A while later, she turned to her daughter. “Miaomiao, take some food to her.”

Wei Miaomiao immediately set down her chopsticks and ran to Lian Yuqing’s room. She knocked gently. “Sister-in-law, it’s me.”

“Come in.” Her voice sounded muffled.

Wei Miaomiao placed the bowl on the table. “Sister-in-law, it’s time to eat.”

Lian Yuqing lay on the bed, back facing the door, her voice dull. “Got it.”

Wei Miaomiao couldn’t help but urge, “Eat something at least, or your body won’t hold up. Are your wounds still hurting? I’ll go get some ointment.”

“No need. Just leave it there. I’ll eat later.”

“Alright.” With no reason to stay, she gently closed the door behind her.

As she stepped out, she ran right into Wei Dong returning home. “Big brother, you’re back!”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t you going to eat?” she asked, noticing him walking toward the room.

“In a bit.”

As he passed, she tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Sister-in-law cried.”

Wei Dong paused, then replied calmly, “I know.”

Seeing his nonchalance, Wei Miaomiao grew anxious and stomped her foot. “You need to comfort her! She’s a girl!”

Wei Dong found her words a bit amusing. He rubbed her head. “Did you forget how she used to bully you?”

“That’s a separate matter! Lately, she’s been really nice to me.”

Wei Dong didn’t even knock and simply pushed the door open, then gently closed it behind him.

As expected, the food was still on the table.

The figure on the bed seemed to be asleep. He quietly walked over.

But Lian Yuqing wasn’t asleep. She had assumed it was Miaomiao, but as soon as she caught a faint whiff of sweat, her anger surged. She clenched her fist and punched upward.

“Scumbag, go to hell!”

But he caught her fist in time. Wei Dong easily pinned her down and looked at her struggling beneath him, chuckling, “Trying to ambush me?”

Lian Yuqing snapped, “You’d better sleep with your eyes open tonight, or I’ll make sure you can’t have kids.”

He suddenly remembered the image of Sun Dazhi groaning in pain, clutching his groin, and felt a chill. Gritting his teeth, he said, “It was He Xiaoshan who provoked you, not me!”

“It was you! If you hadn’t flirted around, why would she come after me?!”

She kept struggling beneath him, their skin brushing, her scent wafting into his nose. Things were on the verge of getting out of hand.

“I’ll let go. Stop it.” Wei Dong warned in a low voice.

Once free, Lian Yuqing sat up. Her neck was sweaty and her hair stuck to her skin, which she brushed away. Taking advantage of his distraction, she twisted the soft flesh at his waist—hard.

Wei Dong grunted but didn’t push her hand away. Who would have thought that a cold, battle-hardened soldier would fall prey to a sneak attack by a little woman?

Fine. Let her vent.

Triumphant, Lian Yuqing beamed like a cunning little fox. With the bruise on her face, she looked even more animated and charming.

“I’m over ten years older than He Xiaoshan,” Wei Dong began explaining. “I joined the army at seventeen. I’ve barely even spoken a few words to her.”

Lian Yuqing turned away. “Just shows how charming you are. She likes you anyway.”

Wei Dong grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. “Lian Yuqing, speak properly.”

“She came at me like a maniac and stomped all over the stuff I bought. Why shouldn’t I hit her?! I didn’t even send her to the police station. I got hit too, and you just scolded me without knowing the full story. You’re a total idiot who can’t tell right from wrong!”

The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Her nose tingled, and tears streamed down.

Wei Dong, completely unprepared, was at a loss. He hoarsely said, “Don’t cry.”

Lian Yuqing buried her face between her knees. “I was my parents’ baby. I’ve never suffered before. Ever since I came here, I can’t eat well or sleep well. I keep getting scolded, picked on, and even beaten. It’s like I’ve been cursed for eight lifetimes! I want to go home! Waaah!”

Thinking about how her parents were gone and she had no home to return to, Wei Dong couldn’t help but feel pity. He sighed and pulled her into his arms, letting her soak his shirt with her tears.

Eventually, she wore herself out from crying and sat up from his embrace, stubborn as ever. “I’m not forgiving you or anything. I still hate you.”

“Yeah, it’s all my fault.”

He treated her like a child—don’t think she didn’t notice how patronizing he was. “Ahem. So what did you do this afternoon? Don’t tell me you went to comfort He Xiaoshan. I’ll never talk to you again if you did.”

Finally, getting to the point, Wei Dong stood up and brought over a bag from the table. “Here. Check if anything’s missing.”

She opened it to find facial creams—replacements for the ones smashed earlier.

There were even more than she’d originally bought.

“But I’m still in pain.”

Wei Dong raised an eyebrow. “So what do you want?”

Lian Yuqing put her hands on her hips. “Take me to get even. Then I’ll completely forgive you.”

She thought he wouldn’t agree—but to her surprise, he said yes right away. “Go change. Put on pants. Mosquitoes are out at night. They’re probably still awake.”

Thrilled, Lian Yuqing changed clothes, suddenly feeling her legs didn’t ache, and her waist wasn’t sore anymore. She loved causing trouble, especially when it was for justice.

Wei Dong waited by the door. When she came out, he turned on the flashlight. With no streetlights in the village, it was pitch black. He naturally reached out and grabbed her wrist.

She struggled at first, but after stumbling a few times—nearly falling if not for Wei Dong catching her—she obediently let him lead her.

“Even if she’s the village secretary’s daughter, I won’t back down,” Lian Yuqing said, giving him a heads-up. She was afraid he’d go soft because of family ties.

“Mm.”

The He family had finally quieted down after a night of chaos caused by He Xiaoshan.

Suddenly, someone called outside, “Uncle He, are you asleep?”

He Jiabao looked at his wife. “Sounds like Dongzi.”

He thought Wei Dong had brought his wife to apologize.

Wei Dong walked in holding Lian Yuqing’s hand. The whole He family was still awake—He Xiaoshan, her father, and older brother He Chenggang were all in the main room.

Wei Dong was the first to speak. “Uncle He, you’ve heard what happened this afternoon, right?”

“I’ve heard. The girls were both too impulsive,” He Jiabao said.

“It’s best to resolve it now, or it’ll just fester.”

He Jiabao nodded. He Xiaoshan’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, but she still raised her chin, waiting for Lian Yuqing to apologize.

Instead, Lian Yuqing stepped forward and declared firmly, “He Xiaoshan, you apologize to me.”