"What's going on? What happened?"
Wang Quanan was drinking with Tang Tiansheng's family in a private room on the second floor.
Tang Tiansheng was just saying that the business he was currently running needed a partner, and he wanted to go into business with Wang Quanan.
In half a year, they could earn enough to build a new house!
Wang Quanan was drinking until his face was flushed red, his heart full of delight, when he suddenly heard his precious daughter's scream. He immediately put down his wine glass and ran downstairs.
Tang Tiansheng followed closely behind.
Wang Xueping had just sent Fang Zhiwei out to help her move things when she heard the commotion from the outer room and hurried out as well.
"Wang Quanan, you're useless as village chief! Your daughter's being bullied right under your nose!"
Wang Quanan's wife had already rushed to Wang Yanli's side, looking at the injury on her face with heartache.
Wang Yanli's older brother, Wang Dafu, rolled up his sleeves and pointed at Qin Qing.
"So you're the one who hit my sister?"
"What? A grown man wanting to hit a woman? Dagang Village really has fine manners!"
"I'll hit whoever I damn well please! What are you gonna do about it?"
Wang Dafu was a stubborn brute who doted on his sister even more than his father did on a regular basis.
Ignoring Qin Qing's taunts, he clenched his fist and charged forward.
"Hey hey hey! Dafu, stop stop stop!"
As soon as Tang Tiansheng came downstairs, he saw his younger sister and niece.
Before he could even feel happy about it, Wang Dafu was about to throw a punch. He quickly rushed in front of Qin Qing, forcing a smile as he blocked Wang Dafu.
"Dafu, this is a joyous occasion for our family. If there's a problem, let's talk it out properly. Spilling blood wouldn't be good."
"Tang Tiansheng, am I giving you too much face?! Who the hell do you think you are? Get the hell out of my way!"
Wang Dafu didn't give Tang Tiansheng any face at all.
Tang Tiansheng glanced at Wang Quanan and gave a fawning smile.
"Village chief, look at Dafu here. It's great that young men have such hot blood! Have him run a few trips with me, and in the future he can pick whichever wife he wants!"
Wang Quanan thought about Tang Tiansheng's earlier promise.
Earning enough for a small building in half a year—that temptation was too great!
He cleared his throat a couple of times, pulled Wang Dafu back, and put on his village chief airs.
"Dafu, we haven't even figured out what happened yet. How can you go around hitting people? Yanli, you tell me—what happened?"
With all the commotion Wang Yanli had caused, the villagers had gathered around.
The moment they saw Tang Min and Qin Qing appear, they all started whispering among themselves.
That Tang family's famous fox spirit—how does she still have the nerve to come back to the village?
Back then she abandoned Dapeng and married Qin Changyuan, nearly driving Dapeng to his death!
Wang Dapeng's family had been sworn enemies with the Tang family ever since. They hadn't even shown up to this banquet. If they were here, they'd tear Tang Min apart!
"Dad, it's this woman."
Wang Yanli pointed at Qin Qing. "She was coming on to Brother Zhiwei, and then she hit me!"
"You hit me first, and insulted my mother. What? Just because you're the village chief's daughter, you can hit people whenever you want? Just because you eat more than everyone else and weigh two hundred catties more?"
Qin Qing's words were vicious.
Even though being plump was considered a sign of good fortune in this era, Wang Yanli knew she was a bit too overweight.
No one had ever dared call her fat before. Now Qin Qing had stabbed right at her sore spot.
"I'll tear that bitch's mouth apart!"
Wang Yanli charged forward, and Tang Tiansheng quickly blocked her.
"Yanli, Qing'er didn't mean it that way. Third sister, talk some sense into Qing'er! Tell her to watch her mouth!"
Qin Qing looked at Tang Tiansheng, who was blocking Wang Yanli, with some surprise.
She had always believed that her eldest uncle simply didn't want to care about them, which was why he had never once come to visit them in all these years.
But the concern he was showing now didn't seem fake.
"Qing'er, let's… let's not cause your uncle any more trouble. We should just leave." Tang Min urged weakly.
The family had finally managed to hold a grand celebration, and she didn't want to ruin her eldest brother's mood.
"Leave? Where are you going! After all these years, you've finally come back once—you're not allowed to leave!"
"Eldest brother…" Tang Min's nose tingled with emotion.
Hearing Tang Tiansheng say this, Wang Xueping rushed over.
She viciously pinched Tang Tiansheng's waist and lowered her voice.
"Are you out of your mind? Can't you see the whole village hates this mother and daughter? If we keep them here, how are we supposed to live!"
"But she's my sister!"
"Sister my ass! Can't you see Jingru has been staring over here the whole time? If you want your son to marry a good wife, shut your mouth and let me handle this."
Tang Tiansheng glanced over at Bai Jingru.
Bai Jingru wasn't making a scene or shouting—she just stood quietly to the side, with Tang Zhiqiang beside her wearing an apologetic smile.
But Bai Jingru's delicate brows were slightly furrowed, and her expression clearly showed dissatisfaction.
His heart skipped a beat. No matter how important his sister was, she couldn't be more important than his son.
"Yanli, I'm truly sorry for putting you through this! But Dafu, a man hitting a woman—that really isn't right!"
Wang Xueping wore a smile, seemingly speaking fair words.
But her next sentence took a sharp turn.
"Now then, Yanli, tell me—how do you want Qing'er to make it up to you? We'll do whatever you say!"
"Have her kneel before me in front of everyone! Slap herself ten times! Then get the hell out of Dagang Village! Only then will I let this go!"
Wang Yanli was utterly arrogant.
Her father, her brother, and the whole village would all back her up.
She refused to believe she couldn't put this vixen in her place!
Wang Yanli scanned the courtyard but didn't see Fang Zhiwei anywhere.
Probably didn't bring enough gift money and got chased off by Wang Xueping—fine by her, that way Zhiwei wouldn't come to help this woman.
"You hear that? Kneel for my sister, right now!" Wang Dafu bellowed with full force.
"Just as I'd expect from my daughter—broad-minded! Go on, kneel."
Wang Quanan's attitude was condescending, as if he were granting Qin Qing some kind of favor or charity.
"Your daughter looks like a Maitreya Buddha, but she's not one! Making me kneel to her—dream on!"
Qin Qing's words once again drove Wang Yanli into a frenzy.
"You cheap bitch! If you won't kneel, I'll beat you until you do!"
Wang Yanli charged out again. Tang Tiansheng tried to stop her but was firmly grabbed by Wang Xueping.
The Wang family knew how strong Wang Yanli was, and since she wanted to vent her anger, no one tried to stop her.
"You filthy whore! You've got a sharp tongue—I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Seeing Wang Yanli charging at her, Qin Qing didn't dodge or flinch.
She reached for a bowl on the table, smashed it hard, grabbed a piece of broken porcelain, and sidestepped Wang Yanli's charge in a flash.
She yanked hard, pulling Wang Yanli back and locking her in place, pressing the shard of porcelain directly against Wang Yanli's face.
With the slightest pressure, blood began to seep out.
"Yanli!"
"Sister!!"
No one had expected Qin Qing to be so ruthless, actually taking Wang Yanli hostage.
"Fatty, I suggest you don't move. Otherwise, if my hand slips, that face of yours is ruined. Sure, you're fat now, but fat plus ugly—I doubt anyone would want you then, right?"
"You! You! Waaah!!!! Dad, save me!"
Wang Yanli was both shocked and terrified, bursting into tears on the spot. Her loud voice shot straight to the heavens, piercing Qin Qing's eardrums with pain.