Captain Sun immediately turned stern toward Qian Laoshi: “Brother Qian, we really need to discuss this matter elsewhere.”
After seeing the Ma family off, Qian Laoshi squatted by the wall, looking utterly pathetic and cowardly: “Captain, it’s true that our family is reaching above our station with Yali and Qian Cheng’s marriage.”
Discuss it elsewhere? Better not discuss it at all. Let’s pretend this never happened.
Captain Sun and the onlookers hadn’t dispersed yet, thinking to themselves that although Qian Laoshi might be a cowardly man, he certainly doesn’t act cowardly when it comes to matters.
Captain Sun’s wife thought Qian Laoshi was afraid: “It’s good that you know. Our Yali has never suffered hardship. If she follows your Qian Cheng—who can’t lift a hand or carry a load on his shoulders—what would we gain from it?”
Qian Laoshi squatted on the ground, smoking his pipe: “But this is all our family has to offer.” Then he fell silent.
When an honest man gets stubborn, he can be quite blunt—take it or leave it. That’s the most cowardly demeanor paired with the toughest words—the arrogance of the poor.
Captain Sun: “Qian Laoshi, who are you trying to bully with this nonsense? This is just the arrogance of the poor.”
Qian Jin wouldn’t stand by and watch his father being cornered: “Dad, let me handle this.”
Qian Laoshi felt terribly guilty toward his eldest son: “It’s your father’s fault for being useless, for not raising Qian Cheng properly, and for dragging you down.”
Qian Jin reassured his parents: “It’s not a big deal. If a child isn’t raised well, we can just teach him again.”
Then he turned to Captain Sun: “Our family’s circumstances might fool others, but they can’t fool you.”
Captain Sun’s attitude toward Qian Jin was different—much more polite: “Nephew, you’re a sensible person.”
Qian Jin smiled amiably: “I’m still young; how dare I call myself sensible? In the years I was at home, I was endlessly mischievous, and the elders all scolded me for being a troublemaker. Please don’t laugh at me.”
He continued: “As for Qian Cheng’s matter, it’s better to call the two of them together to clarify things. After all, what they did outside wasn’t even reported to their families.”
Captain Sun flushed with embarrassment—his daughter’s actions couldn’t withstand such scrutiny: “What do you mean by that?”
Qian Jin then made his stance clear: “They’re both grown adults. They could decide their own marriage and settle it as they pleased. Why should their families pay the price now?”
He then roared: “Qian Cheng, get over here! What’s going on? Explain yourself to me!” He showed no respect for Captain Sun whatsoever.
Qian Cheng, being timid, was startled and instinctively retreated into the house.
As he spoke, Qian Jin pulled out his belt: “Ma Wuni hit you because you were reckless and acted without considering the consequences, treating the union of two families as a joke.”
Qian Jin swung the belt at Qian Cheng: “Now, on behalf of our parents, I’ll tell you what kind of family the Qians are—what we tolerate and what we don’t. Remember, this is the Qian family teaching you how to be a proper person.”
With a loud crack, Qian Cheng began howling in pain. Qian Jin paid no attention to his cries and pleas for mercy, striking him again and again without any intention of stopping.
The onlookers outside winced at the sound of the beating, feeling Qian Cheng’s pain. Qian Jin’s expression looked as if he were fighting for his life, even though he was the one doing the beating.
Captain Sun’s face turned extremely grim: “Nephew, you’re putting on this show for me, aren’t you?”
This wasn’t just scolding Qian Cheng—it was scolding him, scolding the Sun family. It was saying the Suns didn’t know how to behave, much less how to raise their children.
Qian Jin continued his actions without pause: “Uncle, if it were your child who did such a thing, wouldn’t you discipline them? The Qian family cannot raise a child like this—they must be taught a lesson.”
Captain Sun indeed had not disciplined his daughter; instead, he had brought her to their doorstep to force a marriage, leaving his old face with nowhere to hide. His expression was dark and gloomy.
Qian Cheng cried and howled, dodging Qian Jin’s lashes: “Qian Jin, you’re using your position to settle personal scores. Even my father never hit me.”
Qian Jin: “Our family has been honest and upright for generations, and then we get someone like you who forgets their roots and bullies girls. If I beat you to death, I’ll pay with my own life.”
Qian Jin’s fierce determination even made Captain Sun believe him.
The whole village knew that Qian Jin and Ma Wuni were like fire and water, completely incompatible. Suddenly, these two had agreed to marry, so it was no surprise that Qian Jin felt this way. If he really beat Qian Cheng to death, he’d pay with his own life.
But Captain Sun didn’t believe Qian Jin would actually kill Qian Cheng. He could withstand the pressure, thinking to himself, Go ahead and beat him to death if you dare.
However, Sun Yali couldn’t take it anymore.
She knew best about the irreconcilable relationship between Qian Jin and Ma Wuni. This guy didn’t care about living anymore and was trying to drag Qian Cheng down with him.
Sun Yali rushed over, not daring to pull Qian Jin—mainly because she knew she couldn’t stop him—and shielded Qian Cheng: “No, it wasn’t him bullying me. It was me, it was me. We were both willing.”
Qian Jin finally stopped swinging his belt. He could discipline Qian Cheng, but he had no obligation to discipline the Sun family’s child.
Ignoring the two troublemakers, he spoke directly to Captain Sun: “Uncle, although neither of them is any good, Qian Cheng bears more responsibility for this. He’s grown up now and should act like a man and take responsibility for his actions.”
This sounded reasonable, but for Captain Sun, it was a big problem. Handing over his daughter’s issue to Qian Cheng—what could a high school student possibly do to handle it?
Qian Jin continued: “Your daughter is a good girl. You raised her well—innocent and sincere, only caring about Qian Cheng as a person.”
The implication was clear: Your daughter threw herself at him. What kind of explanation do you want from me? You didn’t raise your child properly, and she was willing. Who’s to blame?
Over there, Qian Cheng was wailing like a ghost, and Sun Yali cried pitifully alongside him: “Dad, it’s not Qian Cheng’s fault. You can’t hit him anymore.”
No matter how capable Captain Sun was, he couldn’t stop his own daughter from being so shameless. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he said: “Fine, I won’t interfere.”
He found a way to save face and left with his people. Of course, he left Sun Yali behind, meaning the Qian family had to deal with her.
Qian Laoshi’s Wife watched her youngest son, her heart aching, not knowing how to help and not daring to blame her eldest son for being so harsh.
Today, it was a contest between the Qian and Sun families over who was willing to sacrifice their child. The Qian family was willing, and look—the Sun family had no choice.
At this point, she had to accept Sun Yali as her daughter-in-law, even if she held her nose to do it. She called Sun Yali over to help Qian Cheng back to his room.
Only then did Qian Laoshi speak: “Eldest, what do you think we should do?”
Qian Jin: “What should we do? Do exactly what you told the Ma family.”
Since Ma Wuni had spoken up, he couldn’t let her face be trampled on by others.
Qian Cheng, halfway to his room, heard this and, ignoring the pain, roared at Qian Jin: “Don’t mention the Ma family!”
Sun Yali: “Qian Cheng, don’t make me hate you.” Bringing up the Ma family at a time like this.
The Qian family woman sighed, after all, this Sun family girl was destined to end up with the Qians. She pulled Sun Yali aside and said, “Qian Cheng was in the wrong. Don’t defend him—he deserves to be taught a lesson.”
Sun Yali cried, and the Qian family woman comforted her. What else could she do? Such a mess.
Qian Jin simply walked away. He hadn’t even sorted out his own affairs yet—no way was he going to help someone else discipline their son.
That left Qian Laoshi and his wife facing Qian Cheng and Sun Yali. The atmosphere was truly shattered and awkward.