“You don’t need to interfere. It has nothing to do with you,” Lin Laoyao said. “A father’s debts are repaid by his children. Take out the money. Don’t tell me you don’t have any. If there’s no money, we’ll take someone away today.”
“Uncle Yao, you’re so eager to ask me for money every day. If people didn’t know better, they’d think you’re the one who owes it.”
“Cut the nonsense. Don’t try to play tricks on me you’re still too inexperienced,” Lin Laoyao sneered. “If there’s no money, we’ll take your sister to settle the debt. Yes, I can’t force you since you’ve got a marriage certificate, but who told you you have a sister?”
Lin Laoyao signaled the men he brought with him to act. Lin Qimo immediately shielded Lin Tangtang and pushed her into the house.
Seeing that Lin Laoyao was clearly there to cause trouble, Aunt Qiu shouted loudly:
“Everyone come help! Someone is causing trouble!”
The women who had been busy in the kitchen all rushed out.
Each of them held a spatula, but seeing the two strong men opposite them, their momentum immediately weakened.
“This has nothing to do with you. This is a family matter. Even the brigade leader can’t interfere.”
“Lin Hao, don’t you go too far,” Aunt Qiu shouted calling out Lin Laoyao by his full name. “You brought people here in broad daylight. The soybeans on the ground belong to the collective you must compensate for them. And if you dare kidnap someone, that’s human trafficking. You’ll get shot for that!”
Lin Laoyao tilted his mouth into a crooked smile. “I said it’s a family matter. Anyone who interferes will regret it.”
“A few broken basins of soybeans? I’ll pay for them later.”
Hearing this, the women realized they wouldn’t really lose anything if compensation was paid. Since they were working for Lin Qimo and had received benefits from her recently, even if they didn’t dare physically intervene, they were still willing to speak up.
“This is robbery! You barged into someone’s house to steal we can report you to the village brigade!”
“Exactly! A grown man bringing people to bully his niece aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
“Looks like that old Tan woman causes trouble every few days. It’s clearly hereditary. The mother is like this, and so is the son. They only bully children without parents aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?”
Lin Laoyao spread his hands with a thug-like attitude. “Tie them up and take them away. Don’t listen to these old women’s nonsense.”
At this point, Lin Qimo had already locked Lin Tangtang and Lin Xiaobao inside the house and secured the door.
She stood at the doorway holding a sharpened woodcutting knife.
Seeing her fierce expression, the two strong men even hesitated.
“Brother Hao… she really looks like she’ll actually cut someone,” one of them muttered.
“She’s just a little girl. Hurry up and do it.”
Hearing Lin Laoyao’s order, the two men stepped forward again with hemp rope, reaching out to grab Lin Qimo.
Lin Qimo stood still, holding the knife. Her gaze and the cold, oppressive aura she gave off felt almost murderous.
She sneered and swung the knife directly at their outstretched arms.
Luckily, the two men had some skill and dodged in time.
Lin Laoyao grew anxious. “Pin her down! Smash the door open and take the one inside away!”
He had already calculated the timing he chose this moment specifically when Li Da and Li Er were not around, and Qin Wenying’s couple were also out.
“Hurry up!” he urged.
Just as one of the men was about to grab her, Lin Qimo slashed again with the knife.
“Get lost! If anyone comes closer again, I’ll kill them!” she said coldly.
Although she looked thin and weak, Aunt Qiu felt her heart tighten with fear. Even she didn’t dare step forward, let alone the other timid women behind her.
Lin Qimo, stay strong! What kind of nonsense is this can’t even hold a knife steadily? You’ve already died once what are you afraid of!
Encouraging herself internally, the dizziness in her head eased slightly, and she continued swinging the knife to keep the two men at bay.
No matter what, she had to buy time.
The two strong men could only circle left and right to avoid the knife.
Lin Laoyao grew furious and, without another word, grabbed a thick wooden log from the ground and threw it at Lin Qimo.
At that moment, Li Da rushed in and saw this scene. He kicked Lin Laoyao hard.
Lin Laoyao was knocked down flat on his face.
The wooden log flew out with reduced force and rolled to a stop beside Lin Qimo’s feet.
Lin Laoyao got up from the ground and pointed at Li Da, cursing, “You brat from the Li family, you’ve got guts. I’ll have your father teach you a lesson later!”
Li Da said, “Uncle Lin, you brought people here to cause trouble at the workshop and even hit people. You’re the one in the wrong.”
“I spit on you! What workshop? It’s just some shady setup. You people really think you’re something special country bumpkins who’ve never seen the world!”
The women who had been scared earlier now felt a bit more confident seeing Li Da, a half-grown boy return.
One round-faced aunt retorted, “You’re not from a village? Your parents aren’t from a village? Your ancestors weren’t from a village? All eighteen generations of your family weren’t from a village? You forgot where you came from! Eat the water and forget the well digger. What’s wrong with you? Think you’re so high-class? Stay in the city if you’re so great stop looking down on us villagers!”
Village women were ruthless when they cursed just a few words were enough to insult all eighteen generations of your ancestors.
Lin Laoyao’s face darkened. He glanced at the woman coldly. “Shut up. Say another word and I’ll slap you unconscious.”
The aunt shrank her neck in fear and stepped back.
Aunt Qiu stepped forward, full of authority. “Go on then! Touch me and try!”
Seeing the brigade leader’s wife stand up, the other women finally gathered courage and followed her lead.