Chapter 007: Chop

With a loud “bang,” the iron gate slammed shut, followed by the voices of men and women—Zhu Fengping’s family had returned from the wedding.

Sitting on the sofa in the living room, reading a newspaper, Liang Kefeng remained unfazed.

As Zhu Fengping walked in, she warmly greeted her, “Kefeng, have you had lunch yet?”

“I had some rice cakes,” Liang Kefeng put down the newspaper, noticing a tall man with dark skin and slightly crooked eyes following behind Zhu Fengping.

Zhu Fengping pointed behind her, “This is my nephew, Abao. He brought you half a roast pigeon. Abao, this is your uncle’s daughter, Kefeng.”

Abao stared at Liang Kefeng, captivated. The fair-skinned beauty before him was even more stunning than the women in TV commercials, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

It wasn’t until Zhu Fengping called his name that Abao, a little embarrassed, retracted his gaze and handed the oil-paper-wrapped pigeon to Liang Kefeng. “Here, for you to eat!”

This was the fool, Abao, that Zhu Fengping and Liang Yaozu had arranged for her.

Liang Kefeng shook her head and declined, “I’m not hungry.”

Yuan Baoling, who had come in behind, moved forward and said, “If she’s not eating, I will.”

But Abao tightly gripped the oil-paper bag. “No, Baoling, you already ate. This isn’t for you.”

Then he smiled at Liang Kefeng and said, “You can eat it when you’re hungry.”

Yuan Baoling, teasing, said, “Abao, you’re smitten! Be careful, or this mainland girl will eat you up before you know it.”

Liang Kefeng folded the newspaper and lightly retorted, “Aren’t you the one smitten with your cousin? If you think he’s so great, why don’t you marry him yourself? After all, the laws in Hong Kong allow cousins to marry.”

No one expected Liang Kefeng to be so blunt, especially while smiling as if this whole situation was a joke.

Yuan Baoling was so furious that her teeth hurt. After a long pause, she finally forced out a few words: “Nothing good ever comes from a dog’s mouth!”

Liang Kefeng responded smoothly, “That phrase suits you perfectly.”

“You think you’re something special, huh? Mainland girl! Baldy!” Yuan Baoling was raging with helpless fury.

Hearing his sister’s insults, Yuan Baoquan, who had just entered, joined in the fray: “Mainland girl trying to read a newspaper, can you even understand traditional Chinese characters? Have you even got your ID card yet? I bet you won’t last long! Baldy mainland girl! If you’re so tough, stop wearing that wig!”

Liang Kefeng bit her lip lightly—this was the third time they’d called her bald.

“You want to keep calling me bald, huh? Just remember, I hold grudges!”

The two siblings were defiant, “So do we!”

Abao, feeling awkward, tried to mediate. “Don’t argue! The New Year is coming, no more fighting…”

“Yuan Baoling! Yuan Baoquan!” Zhu Fengping, coming out of the bathroom, quickly scolded her children, “What nonsense are you spouting? Come here, I need to talk to you.”

Afraid that her two younger children would ruin her plans, Zhu Fengping called them into the room for a chat. After that, neither of them bothered Liang Kefeng again.

*

Liang Kefeng, determined to stay informed, didn’t retreat to her room but continued reading newspapers and magazines in the living room.

Abao was tall, bulky, and had a face full of fat. He didn’t look particularly smart, but he wasn’t completely foolish either. He understood social cues and sat watching TV, occasionally trying to ingratiate himself with her.

He brought over a plate of sliced oranges and placed it in front of her, “Have some oranges, Kefeng. They’re sweet.”

After ignoring him a few times, Liang Kefeng finally responded during the last attempt, politely warning him, “I will never like you. If you leave now, it’s not too late.”

Abao, startled, stood up in a daze and went to find his aunt.

Zhu Fengping was in the dining room shelling peanuts. From her position, Liang Kefeng could see their conversation clearly through the newspaper.

Abao said, “Auntie, she said she doesn’t like me and told me to leave.”

Zhu Fengping replied, “Does it matter whether she likes you? Do you want to bring her home or not? Do you want a wife for the New Year or not?”

Abao nodded eagerly, “I do, but she definitely won’t agree.”

Zhu Fengping said, “If you wait for her to agree, you’ll be a bachelor for the rest of your life!”

Abao asked, “So what should I do?”

Zhu Fengping leaned in and lowered her voice, “Tonight, don’t go home. Sneak into her room at night…”

Abao hesitated, alarmed. “Isn’t that… wrong? Will Uncle agree?”

Zhu Fengping reassured him, “Don’t worry, your uncle is fully on board. Besides, I’ve already spoken to the three siblings—they won’t come out no matter what noise they hear tonight. Once you’ve crossed that line, even if she cries or throws a fit, it won’t matter. Then your uncle and I will arrange the marriage. After she has the baby, we’ll let her get her ID card.”

Abao still expressed concern, “But her head injury isn’t fully healed yet. I’m afraid it’ll cause problems.”

Zhu Fengping countered, “That’s exactly why you need to act now, while she’s still weak and can’t fight back. Just be tough, take off your pants, and this beautiful, fair-skinned wife will be yours…”

Clearly, this talk stirred Abao’s desires as a man. After steeling himself, he nodded, “Alright, I’ll do as you say, Auntie.”

Noticing Zhu Fengping glancing in her direction, Liang Kefeng calmly shifted her attention back to the newspaper, outwardly appearing as if she was unaware of the impending storm.

*

Later that evening, when Liang Yaozu returned home and entered the master bedroom, Zhu Fengping followed him in.

After closing the door, she whispered, “Everything’s set with Abao…”

Liang Yaozu let out a breath of relief. “Good, no need to wait until the New Year. What’s Liang Kefeng’s attitude?”

“What attitude? She’s noticed that Abao has a thing for her and even had the nerve to warn him, saying she didn’t like him and told him to leave!”

Liang Yaozu placed his wallet on the table and, after some thought, said, “Tonight, put some sleeping pills in her milk. It’ll make things much easier.”

Zhu Fengping nodded in agreement, “That’s a good idea. I’ll go find a doctor to prescribe some sleeping pills later. By the way, where were you today?”

“I went to Sifang City. Uncle Kun called to say that the Shuang Long gang was causing trouble…”

“Isn’t the new mahjong parlor outside Sifang City? That’s not under Shuang Long’s territory, is it?”

Zhu Fengping took Liang Yaozu’s coat and hung it up.

Liang Yaozu explained, “Shuang Long crossed the line. The protection fee used to be paid to Brother Pao of Wan’an.”

“Do you need to ask Adan for help? He’s been doing really well in Sifang City these past two years. Last time I saw him, he was wearing such a huge gold chain.” Zhu Fengping gestured with her finger to indicate its size. Adan was her cousin.

“No need. I’ll let Uncle Kun handle it. I’m not paying two protection fees.”

“That’s fine. If Uncle Kun can’t handle it, it’ll be a good excuse to fire him.”

“That’s what I was thinking too.”

Dinner was plentiful, and the atmosphere at the dining table was unusually peaceful. Even the usually troublesome siblings, Yuan Baoling and Yuan Baoquan, were exceptionally quiet.

After dinner, and a bit of TV, Liang Kefeng washed up early and went to her room to sleep.

Around 9:30, Zhu Fengping heated up some milk and went to knock on her door, only to find that Liang Kefeng was already asleep. She tried to wake her to drink the milk, but Liang Kefeng was sleeping too soundly, only murmuring a few times, unwilling to get up.

Zhu Fengping had no choice but to give up.

Seeing Zhu Fengping return with the untouched milk, Liang Yaozu, who was watching TV in the living room, asked softly, “Didn’t she drink it?”

“She’s sleeping like a dead pig. I couldn’t wake her. Honestly, it doesn’t matter whether she drinks it or not.”

Liang Yaozu asked suspiciously, “She won’t get suspicious, will she?”

“No, she’s just sleeping too deeply. Maybe the medicine Dr. Lin gave her has a sedative effect.”

Abao, sitting to the side, stood up nervously. “Second Aunt, what if she resists?”

“Do I need to teach you? Wait until 10 p.m. to go in. She didn’t lock the door. When you go in, quietly lock the door behind you. I’ve already locked the iron gate outside. If she screams, use this handkerchief to cover her mouth,” said Zhu Fengping as she handed Abao a handkerchief. “Use this one from me.”

Abao took the handkerchief, still feeling uneasy. “Got it.”

Zhu Fengping patted her nephew on the back. “Abao, put some effort into it. Try for two kids in three years!”

“Thank you, Second Aunt. Thank you, Second Uncle,” Abao grinned.

After the clock in the living room struck ten times, Liang Yaozu and Zhu Fengping watched Abao tiptoe into the innermost room.

After about five minutes with no sound, Zhu Fengping whispered, “I think it worked!”

Just as she finished speaking—

“Ahhh!!!”

Abao’s scream came from the room!

Liang Yaozu and Zhu Fengping rushed over and pressed their ears to the door, but there was no further sound inside.

The house was deathly quiet, with only the ticking of the wall clock in the living room.

Zhu Fengping gently pushed the door, but it didn’t budge—Abao had locked it after going in.

Liang Yaozu pulled her back. “It’s probably nothing. It’s normal for a man’s first time to be painful! Screaming is no big deal.”

They returned to the living room to wait. After 20 minutes, Abao still hadn’t come out. Zhu Fengping grew worried. “Should we check on him?”

Liang Yaozu shook his head. “I’m not going in there. What if they’re not dressed? He’s probably exhausted and fell asleep.”

He picked up a teacup and headed to bed.

But Zhu Fengping couldn’t shake her unease. She went back to the door, gently knocked, and softly called out, “Abao! Abao!”

After a few calls with no response, Zhu Fengping tried the door and found it unlocked…

Liang Yaozu had undressed and was about to sleep when he heard footsteps outside. He assumed it was Zhu Fengping. But after a few minutes, she still hadn’t come in.

What is Zhu Fengping doing? Could Abao be so clueless that he needs a hand-held lesson?

Deciding to check, he walked to Liang Kefeng’s room. Light leaked through the crack under the door, but the room was eerily quiet, like a pool of still water.

Could something have gone wrong?

Did Abao get too rough and suffocate her?

If they accidentally killed her, they’d have to find a way to hide the body. What terrible luck for the new year!

Liang Yaozu gently pushed the door, but as soon as it moved, the room’s light went out.

Only the faint light from the window outside cast shadows across the room.

“It’s me!” Liang Yaozu called softly, “Fengping? Abao?”

A gust of wind hit him before he could react, and then—*thud!*—he was struck and collapsed in pain.

Dazed, he found both his hands tied to two chair legs, and his legs were tightly bound.

The room’s light came back on.

The first thing he saw was Abao, tied up in the corner, his eyes vacant, with Zhu Fengping’s handkerchief stuffed in his mouth. Blood had pooled between his legs, and it seemed his manhood had been destroyed!

Liang Yaozu shuddered.

Zhu Fengping was nowhere to be seen.

Then he turned and saw Liang Kefeng sitting in the bamboo chair usually used for storing odds and ends near the door.

A bloody knife lay on the cabinet beside her.

Liang Kefeng spoke softly, “Don’t yell, or I can’t guarantee the safety of your wife and children.”

So, the footsteps he heard earlier—was Liang Kefeng escorting Zhu Fengping to the children’s room? Were all three of them tied up?

Liang Yaozu’s eyes flickered. “My children? I only have one daughter—*you*. Kefeng, it’s all Abao’s fault, he’s the one who was driven by lust. I… I was just looking for them when I noticed they were gone and came over here.”

Liang Kefeng stood up, walked to the window, and drew the half-closed curtains.

Then she approached Liang Yaozu. “Alright, I’ll give you a chance to tell the truth. If you say something that convinces me, I’ll let your whole family go. But if you lie, for every lie, I’ll cut off one of your fingers!”

Liang Yaozu’s face turned pale with fear!

Looking at Abao’s fate, he knew she wasn’t bluffing.

But how could she tell if he was lying or telling the truth? What if she was just pretending?

Before he could think more, Liang Kefeng started questioning him. “What’s your name?”

“Huh?”

“Three… two…” Liang Kefeng picked up the knife from the table and crouched down.

Liang Yaozu quickly said, “I’m your father! I’m Liang Yaozu—”

*Snap!*

The knife came down swiftly!

Before he could scream, a rag was shoved into his mouth.

Liang Yaozu curled up in agony, muffled cries escaping his throat. In the cold winter air, sweat poured from him due to the pain.

“I gave you a chance, but you didn’t cherish it. You don’t even know what mistletoe lotus seed egg tea is, and you claim to be my father? I’ll ask you again, what’s your name?” Liang Kefeng yanked the rag from his mouth and added, “Think about your second finger.”

“I… My last name is Yuan, I’m called Yuan Dong.”

The name matched the marriage certificate and death certificate in the safe.

Liang Kefeng stared icily at him. “Where’s my father? What happened to him? Don’t try lying, because I’ll ask your wife the same questions. If your answers don’t match, neither of you will have any fingers left.”

Yuan Dong glanced at his severed finger lying on the floor nearby. His heart pounded, and his mouth was dry as he stammered, “Your father… your father died in a car accident.”

“Be specific. When? Where? Why?”

“Last year, on October 23rd. Your father was driving me to look at a house. On the mountain road, he swerved too hard to avoid an oncoming truck, and we rolled off the mountain. He died on the spot.”

“What was your relationship with my father?”

“I’m your father’s twin brother. I’m your uncle!” Yuan Dong tried to play the family card. “Back then, your grandmother had twin sons, but the family was too poor to raise both, so they sold one. The Liang family took your father. Last October, on a ferry, I met your father, and we reunited as brothers. Kefeng, I’m your biological uncle!”

Liang Kefeng smiled as she pressed the knife to his face. “Uncle?”

She pointed at Abao. “An uncle who does this to his niece? Pretending to be my father, taking over my family’s wealth, and selling his niece?”

Yuan Dong tried to defend himself. “I didn’t mean to! I’ve been in Hong Kong for 30 years, living a miserable life. My family of five was crammed into a 200-square-foot apartment. Your father felt sorry for me and wanted to buy me a house. That’s why we were on the way to buy one when the accident happened. Just before he died, he said his biggest regret was not having a son and that he wanted to leave everything to his nephew, Baoquan. He passed away right after saying that, without leaving a written will. I had no choice but to assume his identity to fulfill his last wish. I had no other option. So I secretly buried him afterward.”

“How noble! You stole my father’s wealth and sold his daughter, all to fulfill his last wish?”

“No, no! I really didn’t think of selling you. It’s Abao’s own problem. It has nothing to do with me. You came to Hong Kong City and got injured. Didn’t I hire the best doctor for you? I spent money to buy you this and that.

“You haven’t been mistreated at all, right? After the New Year, once you get your ID, I was planning to come clean with you. By then, we can split the inheritance your dad left behind. I never intended to take it all for myself.”

Listening to Yuan Dong’s self-righteous lies, Liang Kefeng closed her eyes briefly. “Yuan Dong, you’re insulting my intelligence! Hold in your pain, don’t scream!”

With that, she drove a knife into the palm of his right hand.

“Ah!!!” Yuan Dong let out a scream but quickly clenched his teeth, biting his lips until they bled, with blood and saliva dripping down his chin.

Outside, car horns blared on the street, and across the road, people were noisily arguing after drinking at a food stall.

Even after enduring the excruciating pain, Yuan Dong tried to defend himself. “Everything I said is the truth. If you don’t believe me, ask my wife.”

Liang Kefeng shot him a contemptuous glance. “I don’t need to ask Zhu Fengping to know everything you said is a lie.”

“You claim this was all Abao’s doing and had nothing to do with you; you say the Admiralty barracks at Admiralty barracks is on break, so you couldn’t get an ID—those are all lies. I overheard you and Zhu Fengping in the kitchen, planning how to trick Abao into forcing her. The Admiralty barracks doesn’t go on break until New Year’s Day! You didn’t think I knew that?”

“And as for my father supposedly wanting to leave his estate to your son, that’s utterly ridiculous. Everyone at Liang’s knows my father valued his daughter the most! If he truly cared about having a son, why did he remain single all these years instead of marrying again? Wouldn’t he have preferred to have his own biological son rather than rely on a nephew?”

“Besides, we don’t even share the same surname! We’re Liangs, and you’re Yuans! Now, pick a finger.”

Yuan Dong shook his head frantically. “But I’ve already told you so much truth. Didn’t you say if I told the truth, you’d spare my family?”

Liang Kefeng replied, “Yes, I did say that. But I also said your truth had to convince me to spare your family. Clearly, you haven’t convinced me. And more than that, what you’ve said isn’t all true—it’s half-truths mixed with lies, trying to fool your way through. You’re not going to choose?”

Before she finished speaking, Yuan Dong shouted, “Left hand, left hand—”

But it was too late.

His right index finger was cut off!

Once again, his mouth was stuffed with a rag, and Yuan Dong curled up in unbearable pain. Today, he realized he was dealing with someone ruthless.