With a “creak,” the door opened.
Everyone turned toward the sound. Wu Xiuxiu was just about to step forward when Liu Guiying reacted as if she had only just noticed them.
“Oh my, you scared me! In-laws, you’re here? What’s the matter?”
“Wait a moment if you’ve got something to say. I’m going next door first.”
“Mom, wait—” Sun Jianguo tried to stop her.
“If you’ve got something to say, hold it in. If you’ve got nothing useful, shut it. Don’t block my way.”
Then, as if she had just noticed Sun Xiumei, Liu Guiying said, “Oh Xiumei, perfect timing. It’s about your delivery. Come with me to Aunt Ma’s house.”
Sun Jianguo looked at his mother-in-law.
Seeing her nod, he didn’t stop them anymore.
Liu Guiying sneered inwardly—what a loyal dog.
She pulled her daughter and granddaughter along toward her old friend’s house.
“Hongxia, Hongxia!”
Ma Hongxia, whose son worked in the army and who didn’t need to work in the fields, quickly came out upon hearing her friend’s call.
“I’m here, I’m here.”
“Hongxia, let Xiumei and little Fang stay at your place for a while. Help me out—go to the police station and tell my elder brother something’s happened at home. Ask him to come quickly.”
Ma Hongxia asked urgently, “What happened? So serious?”
“It’s too complicated to explain now. I’ll tell you later when it’s settled.”
“Alright, I’ll go right away. Xiumei and little Fang can stay in my room. Here’s the key—lock the door when you leave.”
And she hurried off toward the police station.
“Mom, can you handle this alone?”
Xiumei now realized the outsiders were clearly hostile and worried for her mother.
“Stop talking nonsense. Go inside quickly. If I can’t handle it, can you? You’re in this condition—what help can you be? Besides, your uncle is already on the way.”
Liu Guiying ushered them inside.
After arranging them, she touched something hidden in her chest pocket and steadied herself before walking back home.
..
“What brings you here so early in the morning, in-laws? Come in and sit.”
Liu Guiying greeted them warmly as if she knew nothing.
“No need to sit. I can’t afford to sit in your house,” Wu Xiuxiu said coldly.
“I’ll be blunt. When Jianguo came to our house last time, where is the 600 yuan he borrowed?”
Wu Xiuxiu directly labeled it as a loan.
Even though Liu Guiying was prepared, she was still stunned by this shameless twist.
“Borrowed money? What borrowed money? Sun Jianguo borrowed money from you? If you have grievances, go find the person who borrowed it.”
“You old thing, stop pretending! Pay up!” Wang Xiaoming shouted angrily.
Wu Xiuxiu quickly stopped him—she didn’t want violence, only money.
Then she sat on the ground and began wailing.
“Aiyo, everyone come look! The Sun family is refusing to repay debt! They borrowed 600 yuan and deny it now!”
“My family is ruined! We’re being forced to death!”
Liu Guiying also sat down immediately, slapping her thigh and crying out—using the same tactics against them.
The neighbors quickly gathered.
“Did the Sun family get blocked at their door again?”
“Looks like it. Probably bullying them now that Sun Shengli is gone.”
People started judging before even hearing the full story.
When the first neighbor asked for proof, Wu Xiuxiu froze.
“There’s no IOU—we’re family! Who writes IOUs between relatives?”
That only made people laugh at her more.
“You sure know how to act.”
The crowd clearly leaned toward Liu Guiying.
..
Seeing things not going her way, Wu Xiuxiu signaled her sons.
Wang Xiaoming couldn’t hold back anymore and rushed forward.
“You old woman, don’t toast and refuse to drink!”
He shoved toward Liu Guiying.
At that moment, she stepped back, stumbled, and “accidentally” fell toward the iron shovel beside the wall.
At the same time, she secretly squeezed a blood pouch hidden in her clothes.
When she raised her head, blood poured down dramatically.
“Ah—blood! Someone’s hurt!”
The neighbors panicked immediately.
“Go call the police! Someone’s going to die!”
Wang Xiaoming froze completely.
“I didn’t hit her! I didn’t even touch her properly!”
But no one listened.
In full view of everyone, the Wang family—even her own relatives—also assumed he had done it.