Chapter 18

That day, after breakfast, Zhang Tieshan didn’t head to the fields or the mountains to hunt as usual. Instead, he led Zhang Qingshan and Luo Er, a close childhood friend from the village, straight to Lijiazhuang Village.

Zhang Qingshan was overjoyed to hear his brother was going to settle the score with the Li family. He practically skipped with excitement, feeling a triumphant surge of vindication. “Brother, I thought you were going to let this slide! I’m so glad you haven’t forgotten what they did. Those Li family bullies deserve to pay!”

Luo Er, walking beside them, spoke with a mix of anger and guilt. “The Li family truly went too far. While you were away, they frequently came to harass your mother, younger brother, and son. They stole all the valuables from your house and kicked them out. I fought them several times, but they outnumbered me, and their two sons are tough. I’m useless—I couldn’t beat them or even outargue them. Brother, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect your family.”

Zhang Tieshan would never blame Luo Er. He knew that villagers generally avoided getting involved in others’ family matters, preferring to watch the drama unfold.

When his mother and younger brother were being bullied, no one had stepped forward to help—except Luo Er. When they were driven out with nowhere to go, Luo Er had even offered them his family’s old house, giving them a place to stay. Zhang Tieshan was eternally grateful for Luo Er’s kindness.

Now that Luo Er knew Zhang Tieshan was going to settle the score with the Li family, he had volunteered to come along, worried they might not have enough people. This was a true brother, one Zhang Tieshan had chosen well.

Zhang Tieshan patted Luo Er’s shoulder. “Xiao Er, I’ve never blamed you. I’m only grateful.”

Luo Er exhaled in relief and smiled. “I thought you’d go after the Li family as soon as you got back. Why wait until today?”

Zhang Tieshan pressed his lips together, his mind drifting to Li Hehua’s departure the day before. “The Li family probably only found out I was back yesterday. Today’s visit is perfect.”

Though he had let Li Hehua off the hook, he wouldn’t let the Li family get away with their actions. They had bullied his family to this extent—if he didn’t retaliate, he wouldn’t be worthy of being called a man.

The reason he hadn’t confronted them sooner was because of the unexpected situation with Li Hehua. To settle the score properly, he needed to wait until she was divorced and sent back home.

Luo Er, who had grown up with Zhang Tieshan and knew him well, immediately understood without needing further explanation.

The three men headed straight to Lijiazhuang Village and rushed to the Li family’s residence without stopping. At the gate, Zhang Tieshan kicked it open without a word, sending the wooden door crashing to the ground with a deafening bang.

The thunderous noise startled the Li family, who hurried out into the courtyard to investigate. There stood Zhang Tieshan, his face cold and stern.

Their faces instantly paled.

Even before marrying Li Hehua to Zhang Tieshan, the Li family had known of him. In fact, everyone in the neighboring villages knew Zhang Tieshan. His reputation stemmed from his unparalleled strength and bravery.

While others struggled to carry one sack of rice, he could carry three. He was also a renowned hunter, having once single-handedly killed a wild boar—a feat that drew envy far and wide. Thanks to Zhang Tieshan, the Zhang family lived in prosperity, and countless families within a ten-mile radius coveted him as a son-in-law.

Zhang Tieshan was so formidable that no one dared provoke his family. The Li family had once been cautious as well, but blinded by greed and convinced Zhang Tieshan had died in battle after years of absence, they began plundering the Zhang family’s valuables and seizing their savings.

Now that Zhang Tieshan had returned, how could they not be terrified?

Mother Li stammered, “Tieshan, w-what are you doing?”

Zhang Tieshan’s eyes were dangerously dark as he slowly scanned the Li family. His gaze sent shivers down their spines, stripping away all their previous arrogance.

He advanced steadily, forcing the Li family to retreat step by step into the main hall. Only when Zhang Tieshan settled into a chair at the table did they stop, standing nearby and watching him nervously.

He ran his hand over the familiar furniture and smirked. “These chairs… they feel so familiar. Just like the ones I made before I left.”

The Li family’s faces flushed with embarrassment, unsure how to respond.

Zhang Tieshan’s gaze swept over the furnishings in the room. Each time he recognized an item, he pointed it out with feigned innocence, as if merely curious. Yet with each word, the Li family’s heads hung lower, their faces growing paler.

When Zhang Tieshan had exhausted his observations, he turned his cold gaze upon them. “Nothing to say? Perhaps you’d like to explain where these things came from.”

The Li family exchanged glances, realizing they couldn’t deny it any longer. If they tried, Zhang Tieshan might beat them to death on the spot. They weren’t foolish enough to risk that, having seen how he dealt with thieves in the past.

Still, no one wanted to be the first to speak. Finally, Li Changfu reluctantly stepped forward. “Tieshan, this is all our fault. It’s because our Hehua is so foolish. She insisted on bringing these things from the Zhang family to honor us. We told her not to, but she insisted on taking them to her natal home. So we thought we’d keep them safe until you returned, then send them back. Now that you’re here, we’ll transport them right away.”

Li Changfu’s wife quickly nodded. “Exactly! We’re at our wits’ end with Li Hehua. She’s so immature. When she came back yesterday, we even told her to go back and apologize to you. Our family doesn’t tolerate married daughters acting like that.”

Zhang Tieshan remained silent for a long moment after hearing their explanation. Then, he let out a chilling laugh that silenced the rest of their excuses.

“Do you think I’m a three-year-old you can fool?” he said, smashing the teacup beside him onto the floor. The Li family nearly screamed in fright.

Seeing the situation turn ugly, Mother Li quickly waved her hands and pleaded, “Tieshan, we were once in-laws. Even though you’ve divorced Hehua now, we still share years of history, right? Besides, if Li Hehua’s father hadn’t saved your father back then—”

Zhang Qingshan, who had been restraining himself, finally burst out, “You shameless lot! You all dragged those things away together, and now you’re claiming Li Hehua insisted on giving them to you? How utterly shameless! And you still bring up that life-saving debt to pressure my brother into marrying your daughter? Have you no shame?”

The Li family flushed at Zhang Qingshan’s words, but their thick skin prevailed. Mother Li spoke up, “Qingshan, we admit our attitude was wrong before. We’re all rough folk, clumsy in both speech and action. We may have accidentally hurt you, and for that, we sincerely apologize. Please, with your generous hearts, forgive us.”

Then she abruptly changed her tone, adding, “But you can’t forget that Hehua’s father saved your father’s life. That debt must still be acknowledged.”

Zhang Qingshan’s face turned red with anger. “You… you…”

Zhang Tieshan raised a hand to calm his brother, then turned a cold gaze on the Li family. “Stop bringing up that debt. Our family repaid it long ago. I don’t want to hear another word about it from any of you, or else…”

Though the threat was left unfinished, the Li family didn’t dare speak further.

Seeing their silence, Zhang Tieshan continued, “Now, about these supplies. I remember them being brand new when I left, but they’re clearly used now. I don’t like using secondhand things, so I won’t be taking them back. Here’s what we’ll do: you compensate me in silver for their value, and we’ll consider the matter settled.”

The Li family’s faces stiffened.

“So, you’re unwilling to pay?” Zhang Tieshan asked calmly.

Mother Li forced a strained smile. “Tieshan, our family isn’t well-off. We really can’t afford such a large sum. Could we just return the furniture? If that’s not enough, we’ll add fifty copper coins. Would that work?”

Zhang Tieshan’s lips curled into a smirk. He stood up and casually rotated his wrist. “So, you refuse to pay? Fine. Since you won’t pay with silver, you’ll pay with arms. One piece of furniture, one arm. Who’s first?”

The Li family paled, never expecting Zhang Tieshan to be so ruthless.

Li Changfu, his anger boiling over, roared, “Zhang Tieshan, you’re going too far!”

Zhang Tieshan remained unfazed. “Too far? If you disagree, step up and we’ll settle this. Maybe you’ll be the one to lose an arm. I heard you were pretty bold when you were living in my house.”

Though Li Changfu was strong and a decent fighter, he was no match for Zhang Tieshan. He didn’t dare move, frozen in place.

Seeing their hesitation, Zhang Tieshan grew impatient. His expression hardened, and he slammed his hand down on the table with a resounding crack. The sturdy furniture shattered into splinters.

The Li family nearly lost their balance.

“I’ll ask one last time: silver or an arm?”

His words sent shivers down their spines. Faced with the choice between money or injury, Li Changfu’s wife panicked. She turned to Mother Li, pleading, “Mother, let’s just pay! What will we do if someone is crippled?” She didn’t want her husband—or herself—disabled.

Mother Li’s lips trembled. After a long internal struggle, she finally nodded. “We’ll pay! We’ll pay!”

Zhang Tieshan shrugged indifferently. “Fine. I counted seven pieces of furniture. I won’t bother with the smaller items. Fifteen taels of silver will cover it all.”

“What? Fifteen taels?” the Li family exclaimed in unison.

“Tieshan, aren’t you being unreasonable?” Mother Li forced herself to say. “This furniture is barely worth two taels. How could it possibly cost fifteen?”

Zhang Tieshan raised his eyes. “Since you think the price is unfair, let’s also calculate the silver you stole. My mother said you took over ten taels. I want to know—where did that money go?”

The Li family remembered the stolen silver and could no longer say a word.

Zhang Tieshan shook his head and walked to the corner of the main hall. He picked up an axe leaning there, twirled it in his hand, and slowly returned. “Well? Have you made up your minds? I don’t have all day. If you haven’t decided, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

Li Changfu and Li Changshou grew frightened. They tugged at their mother’s sleeve in unison, urging her to hand over the money. They didn’t want to fight this terrifying man—they knew they wouldn’t win, even together.

Mother Li pressed her lips into a tight line, her eyes locked on the axe in Zhang Tieshan’s hand. Cold sweat trickled down her back. Just as he was about to reach her, she finally relented.

“I’ll pay! I’ll pay! I’ll go get the money right now.”