Su Heping’s words frightened Wang Daqiang and his grandmother so badly that neither of them dared to say another word, and they had no idea what to do. Just then, Wang Daqiang’s father, Wang Aiguo, returned from the fields. Su Mingyue’s grandfather and Su Heping’s second son, Su Muyang, also arrived together.
When Wang Aiguo saw Su Heping and Old Madam Su, then glanced at Old Madam Wang and Wang Daqiang, he smiled and asked Su Heping, “Captain, what’s going on? What brings you to my house today?”
The neighbors around the Wang family’s house had also gathered to watch. Hearing Wang Aiguo’s question, they all pricked up their ears. They genuinely had no idea what had happened.
Su Heping glanced at Wang Aiguo and explained the entire matter. He then repeated to Wang Aiguo what he had just said to Wang Daqiang.
Wang Aiguo had already learned about the incident yesterday. He had originally intended to pretend he knew nothing and muddle through it. He had never expected the brigade leader to seize upon his son’s own words, nor had he expected that, even though Su Mingyue’s father was already gone, the brigade leader would still care so much about the two children.
In Wang Aiguo’s view, Su Mingyue’s family now consisted of only two little brats. If it were him, he certainly wouldn’t bother taking care of two burdens like that. He really couldn’t understand what the brigade leader was thinking!
Although Wang Aiguo was thinking all this, he showed nothing unusual on his face. But when he heard that the brigade leader intended to report the matter to the police, Wang Aiguo visibly panicked.
He thought anxiously to himself: No matter what, I absolutely cannot let the brigade leader report this to the public security authorities! Just as the brigade leader said, he really couldn’t be certain whether anyone had seen Daqiang coming down from the mountain.
If someone really had witnessed it, and the brigade leader reported the matter to the police, and that person then identified Daqiang, wouldn’t Daqiang’s entire life be ruined?
With that thought, Wang Aiguo hurriedly put on an ingratiating smile and said obsequiously to the brigade leader, “Captain, please don’t get so worked up. Let me ask Daqiang exactly what happened first. You can rest assured. If Daqiang really did it, I will definitely give Mingyue a satisfactory explanation.”
With that, Wang Aiguo immediately turned around. His face instantly took on a stern expression as he stared severely at Wang Daqiang and asked in a low, serious voice, “Daqiang, I’m asking you this seriously now. Was it really you who accidentally pushed Mingyue down?
“If you made a mistake, then as a grown man, you need to have the courage and backbone to take responsibility. Remember, a real man conducts himself openly and honestly and has the courage to own up to his actions! Tell me the truth. If this really wasn’t your doing, then deny it openly. But if you really did it, then honestly admit it. Our family can apologize to Mingyue. It’s not some enormous matter! Understand?”
Su Heping was an extremely clever man. He immediately understood the hidden meaning behind Wang Aiguo’s words, and the corners of his mouth curled into a disdainful sneer.
He stared sharply at Wang Aiguo and said coldly, “Aiguo, what a surprise! You usually look like such an honest, simple fellow. I never expected that you’d learn to play little tricks with me now.
“Let me tell you plainly: I have solid evidence in my hands. Otherwise, do you think I would have come all the way to your house and confronted you so openly and boldly? You know what kind of person I am. I don’t do things unless I’m certain of them. Hmph! You’d better think carefully before making your decision.”
The reason Su Heping said this was actually to frighten the Wang family. Originally, because they all lived in the same village and would have to see each other every day, he had only intended to give Wang Daqiang a good lesson—lock him up in the ancestral hall for two days—and then make the Wang family pay some compensation to Mingyue.
He also intended to use this incident to intimidate the other villagers and make them watch what they said.
But what he had never expected was that, at such a critical moment, the Wang family would still dare to play these little mind games with him! Did they really think he was a sick cat that wouldn’t fight back?
When Wang Aiguo heard this, his heart jolted.
So that was why the brigade leader had completely disregarded the usual consideration between fellow villagers and come directly to their doorstep to demand an explanation. It turned out that he really had solid evidence in his hands!
Could it be that…someone had actually witnessed Daqiang pushing that little girl, Mingyue, down yesterday?
No, he couldn’t keep waiting like this. It seemed their family had no choice but to admit it first.
Sigh! What terrible luck! How had things turned out like this? How had someone managed to catch them with evidence? That Wang Daqiang really was nothing but trouble!
It would have been bad enough that he was always causing trouble wherever he went, but this time he had actually left someone with evidence against him. It was enough to make a person furious!
The more Wang Aiguo thought about it, the angrier he became, an inexplicable fury rising rapidly in his chest.
Finally, he could no longer suppress his anger. He suddenly turned around and roared at Wang Daqiang, “Daqiang, tell the truth right now! Stop dragging your feet and explain everything!”
At this moment, Wang Daqiang was completely intimidated by his father’s furious, menacing expression. In fact, the moment he heard the brigade leader say those things, he had already begun to feel terrified.
However, he had still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that with his father there to back him up, nothing too serious would happen.
What he had never expected was that his father, who had always doted on him, would refuse to protect him this time. Instead, his father was now aggressively demanding an explanation from him.
This sudden turn of events caused the already terrified Wang Daqiang to completely break down. Tears poured down his face like a burst dam.
Sobbing, he stammered, “I…I really didn’t…mean to…Dad…I only…gave her a little push…I had no idea that Su Mingyue was so fragile. She fell straight into that hollow in the mountain…and her head started bleeding right away…When I saw that, I was terrified…My mind went completely blank. I just wanted to get away from there as quickly as possible…so…I panicked and ran away…Dad, Captain, I swear, I really didn’t mean to hurt her!”
The neighbors who had gathered around to watch were all stunned when they heard this. Their faces filled with shock and disbelief, and before long, they began talking among themselves in a flurry of voices.