She gave Su Muyang an ingratiating smile and said coquettishly, “Brother, don’t wait a few more days! I already asked Dad, and that guy Wang Daqiang is being released today! They say revenge is best taken sooner rather than later, so why don’t we just make our move today?”
Looking at Su Mingyi’s mischievous expression, Su Muyang couldn’t help but find it amusing. He raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, “Oh? Judging by that look on your face, have you come up with another devious idea? Let’s hear it.”
Seeing how interested her brother was, Su Mingyi immediately perked up. Her large eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned close to Su Muyang’s ear and chattered away, telling him every detail of the plan she had carefully devised.
Su Muyang listened, raising his eyebrows from time to time. By the time she finished, he couldn’t help giving Su Mingyi a thumbs-up. When it came to being devious, his little sister was definitely the best.
Su Muyang indicated that he understood. As it happened, he had been wanting to teach Wang Daqiang a lesson himself!
Su Muyang went out to find his good buddies, while Su Mingyi and Su Mingyue went to a secluded spot not far from the ancestral hall. Other people wouldn’t be able to notice them there, but they could clearly see the ancestral hall. As soon as Wang Daqiang came out, they would be able to spot him immediately. Then they could go and call her second brother over, since he was waiting nearby.
Su Mingyue and Su Mingyi had not been waiting for very long when they saw Su Heping arrive at the ancestral hall together with Wang Daqiang’s parents. Not long afterward, they led Wang Daqiang away toward his home.
Su Mingyue and Su Mingyi quietly followed behind them. Su Mingyue crouched down and kept watch from a spot not far from their house, while Su Mingyi went to find her second brother. Before long, Su Mingyi returned with Su Muyang and four or five other young men, bringing them over to where Su Mingyue was.
Su Muyang asked Su Mingyue, “How is it?”
Su Mingyue replied, “Wang Daqiang’s parents have both gone out to work in the fields. His grandmother should still be at home.”
Su Muyang nodded at one of the young men beside him. The man stepped forward, walked to the entrance of Wang Daqiang’s house, and called into the courtyard, “Is anyone home? Is anyone home?”
“Who is it?” Wang Daqiang’s grandmother slowly came out of the courtyard.
The young man said to her, “Grandma, I’m from the town. I want to trade for some vegetables here in the village that don’t require ration coupons. I happened to see your courtyard gate open when I was walking by, so I thought I’d come over and ask. What do you think?”
As soon as Grandma Wang heard that he had come to trade for vegetables, her eyes immediately lit up.
In those days, people in the countryside couldn’t exactly say they were selling things. Private buying and selling was not permitted, so they could only trade.
Grandma Wang asked him, “Young man, what do you want to trade with?”
The man replied, “I couldn’t bring any other goods with me. I’m afraid someone might report me, so I can only trade with money. Would that be all right?”
Grandma Wang smiled. “Of course! Why wouldn’t it be? Come on, the vegetables are all in the backyard. Take a look and see what you want. I’ll give you a cheaper price.”
The young man cheerfully followed Grandma Wang to the backyard.
Once Su Muyang and the others saw that Grandma Wang had been led away, they looked around carefully. It was around mid-morning, and most of the villagers were out working in the fields, so there was hardly anyone on the road.
The group crouched furtively beside the wall, cautiously watching their surroundings. After confirming that no one else was around, they exchanged glances. Then, like a pack of hungry wolves, they charged toward Wang Daqiang’s house.
One after another, they quickly slipped into the courtyard.
As soon as they entered, they split up and began searching the various rooms.
It didn’t take long before they found Wang Daqiang’s room.
At that moment, Wang Daqiang was sitting on the edge of the bed, completely unaware that danger was closing in on him.
In the blink of an eye, a dark figure suddenly rushed up behind Wang Daqiang. Before he could react, a large burlap sack came down from above and landed squarely over his head.
Wang Daqiang was horrified. He tried to struggle, but it was already too late.
Immediately afterward, a barrage of punches and kicks rained down on him, beating him until he cried out in agony.
After giving him a thorough beating, the men finally stopped, breathing heavily.
They dragged the battered and dazed Wang Daqiang over to the latrine.
One of them pulled out a thick rope and skillfully tied it around Wang Daqiang’s waist. They did this to prevent him from accidentally falling into the latrine and drowning.
Then, without the slightest mercy, they threw him in.
With a loud splash, Wang Daqiang fell into the foul-smelling latrine, sending filthy water splashing everywhere.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
The men took the other end of the rope and tied it tightly around a nearby tree, making sure that Wang Daqiang’s head remained above the surface so he could breathe.
Only after everything was done did they nod in satisfaction. Then, like startled rabbits, they took off running as fast as their legs could carry them, disappearing in an instant.
Just then, Grandma Wang returned to the courtyard carrying a basket of fresh vegetables, chatting and laughing with the young man.
The young man picked through the vegetables, choosing this and that. In the end, he bought a penny’s worth of vegetables. After paying, he turned around and left.
Grandma Wang stood at the doorway, watching the young man’s retreating figure gradually disappear into the distance.
Then she turned around and walked toward the house with slightly unsteady steps.
When she reached the middle of the courtyard, the corner of her eye suddenly caught sight of the door to Wang Daqiang’s room standing wide open.
She couldn’t help feeling puzzled, and her brows knitted tightly together.
She muttered to herself, “Daqiang, why’d you leave the door to your room open? It’s so cold today. Aren’t you afraid of catching a chill or coming down with something?”
As she said this, she hurried her steps and rushed toward Wang Daqiang’s room.
Still muttering under her breath, Grandma Wang entered the room.
To her surprise, however, the room was completely empty. There wasn’t even a trace of Wang Daqiang.
Her heart immediately jumped into her throat.
Where could Daqiang have gone? He was right here just a moment ago!
Grandma Wang searched the courtyard, then went through every room in the house, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.
She immediately raised her voice and shouted throughout the courtyard, “Daqiang! Where are you? Daqiang! Answer your grandma!”
Meanwhile, Wang Daqiang was still unconscious.
All he could feel was that he was dreaming, because he kept smelling an overpowering stench of feces.
It wasn’t until Grandma Wang’s anxious, concerned cries reached his ears that they finally began pulling him back from the dark depths of unconsciousness into the real world.
The moment his consciousness gradually returned, an indescribably disgusting stench surged toward him like a raging flood, striking him directly in the head.