Chapter 25: Drama Queen Chen Manman

Chen Manman politely knocked on the door, and the commotion in the hospital room instantly stopped.

The moment Chen Shufang opened the door and saw Chen Manman standing outside, her suppressed fury exploded.
“You little wretch! You ruined me! How dare you still show up here? Did you scrape together the 300 yuan?”

Inside the room, Old Madam Xu heard the noise and came forward. She saw a young woman in her early twenties standing at the door—fair-skinned and smiling sweetly.

“So, you’re the one who broke my Xiao Zhi’s arm?”
Old Madam Xu had been domineering her whole life—always the one doing the hitting, never the one being hit.

“Grandma Xu, it was just a scuffle between kids yesterday. I already paid all the medical fees, and I gave my aunt ten yuan as compensation. Today, I also went to the supply store and bought a bunch of snacks to nourish your grandson,” Chen Manman said, raising the bag of goodies in her hand.

Old Madam Xu hadn’t known about the ten yuan compensation and shot a fierce glare at her daughter-in-law.

“Pah! You broke my grandson’s arm and think ten yuan is enough? My grandson is precious! If you don’t give me 500 yuan, don’t even think about leaving this hospital today!”

Old Madam Xu was ferocious. She’d heard that this niece of her daughter-in-law had a relative who sends money every month. She figured 500 yuan shouldn’t be a problem—300 to protect her son’s job, and 200 as compensation for Xiao Zhi.

She was clearly dreaming.

Grandma Chen was fuming. Manman hadn’t said anything about the 300 yuan yesterday, and today this old woman suddenly wanted 500?

“You old hag! What the hell are you thinking? 500 yuan? Why don’t you just fly to the moon while you’re at it!” Grandma Chen snapped, stepping protectively in front of Manman.

The two elderly women started cursing each other out, and soon, a small crowd gathered around to watch.

Seeing the scene heat up, Chen Manman pinched herself hard. The sharp pain brought tears to her eyes—just in time.

“Grandma Xu, our family doesn’t have 500 yuan. I know I hurt your grandson, but he beat my three-year-old son so badly he was covered in bruises and couldn’t get out of bed. It was a chaotic situation yesterday, and I only hit him to protect my child. Afterward, I immediately brought your grandson to the hospital and paid all the medical expenses. Before I left, I even gave ten yuan for nutritional support. Today, I came with snacks to see him again. But 500 yuan… we really don’t have it. Boohoo… Grandma Xu, can’t you please have a little compassion?“

Tears streamed down Chen Manman’s cheeks, her beautiful face made even more pitiful by the sobs.

The tone of the crowd instantly shifted.

“If someone beat my 3-year-old like that, I’d cripple the kid who did it!”

“This girl is so pitiful. That old woman is just evil. It’s clearly her grandson’s fault!”

“500 yuan? That’s outrageous! That’s like 15 years of saving without eating or drinking!”
(At that time, the average salary was only 20–30 yuan per month.)

Old Madam Xu panicked as she noticed the crowd turning against her. She grabbed Manman’s arm and tried to drag her into the hospital room, aiming for her hair with her other hand—intending to lock the door and do who-knows-what inside.

Chen Manman quickly dodged her hand and, realizing the drama had reached its peak, screamed tragically,
“Grandma Xu! Don’t hit me! Ah! Uncles, aunties! Please help me report this to the police! I’m afraid she’ll beat me and my grandma to death!”

She burst into tears again for added effect.

The surrounding onlookers had been unsure, but now a warm-hearted aunt shouted,
“Don’t be scared, dear. I’ll go to the police station right now. My son works there!”
She turned and rushed off.

Hearing that the police were coming, the onlookers became even more excited and gathered more closely.

Old Madam Xu started panicking, but then regained confidence—after all, her grandson was lying in a hospital bed.

Soon, the helpful aunt returned with a police officer.

It turned out to be a small county—none other than Officer Han Dalei, who had taken Manman’s statement the night before.
Someone in the crowd called out, “The police are here!” and everything fell silent.

Han Dalei recognized Chen Manman immediately—after all, she had just been at the station last night.

“Officer Han, just now… Grandma Xu tried to drag me inside and hit me…”
Manman explained everything, finishing with a fearful glance at the old woman, her body trembling.

Manman mentally praised her own acting—99 out of 100! One point deducted just to keep me humble!

“That’s not true! She broke my grandson’s arm! Asking for 500 yuan isn’t too much, is it?” Old Madam Xu protested frantically.

Officer Han:
“I’m already fully informed. Yesterday, Comrade Chen Manman came to the station and explained the whole situation. She admitted her mistake, and the 10-yuan compensation is fair. However, you trying to drag her inside to beat her falls under ‘intentional harm’—a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison, detention, or supervision.”

Old Madam Xu was stunned, visibly shaken.
“No, don’t arrest me! I didn’t hit her—she’s slandering me!” she cried, pointing at Manman in terror.

Manman, still in tears and looking wronged, raised the wrist Old Madam Xu had grabbed—red and bruised.

The crowd gasped.

“You old hag! We all saw you grab her and try to pull her hair!”

“Exactly! You were clearly about to hit her!”

The bystanders chimed in one after another, all condemning Old Madam Xu.

She grew increasingly flustered, trying to deny it.
“I… I just wanted her to come inside…”

Han Dalei’s expression darkened.
“You want to come sit at the station for a while?”

Old Madam Xu recoiled like a startled bird.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ll apologize! I was wrong!”

And just like that, the matter ended with her apology.

Before leaving, Officer Han turned to Chen Manman and said,
“Comrade Chen, if anyone bullies you again, just come to the station and find me.”
He glanced coldly at Old Madam Xu.

“I won’t! I promise I won’t!” she said quickly, waving her hands.

“Thank you, Officer Han! If anyone bullies me again, I’ll definitely come to you!”
Manman was truly grateful. Who wouldn’t admire such a righteous and kind police officer?

After the police left, Manman entered the hospital room, closed the door, and put the snacks on the table.
She looked at the Xu family with a not-so-innocent smile.

“Rest up and recover. I’ll come check on you again in a few days. If the medical expenses fall short, feel free to come find me in Chenjia Village!”
Her tone was a complete 180 from before.