On his way over, Niu Laoliu had already learned what had happened and understood why he’d been called.
Niu Family Village wasn’t that big. As the production team leader, how could he not know every household’s situation?
The problem was, this wasn’t something he could easily interfere in.
Niu Lidong had finally managed to find a wife. If he, as the production team leader, had tried to stop the marriage from happening, people would have criticized him for it.
Still, he knew perfectly well that the Niu family had relied on deception and fraud to secure the marriage.
It was a difficult situation.
But things were different now.
Niu Lidong’s marriage fraud had been exposed, and he had even beaten his wife.
Now that the bride wanted a divorce, he, as the production team leader, had to stand up and say something fair.
So Niu Laoliu came.
The moment he entered the courtyard, Niu Lidong, Niu Lijun, and Zhao Lanfen immediately perked up.
Their production team leader had arrived.
Surely someone would finally speak on their behalf.
“Team Leader!”
Niu Lidong stood up, still holding the bowl of food the Bai family had served him.
He wanted to accuse the Bai family of something, but he didn’t dare.
Niu Laoliu didn’t bother wasting words with him.
They lived in the same village.
How could he not know exactly what kind of person Niu Lidong was?
“Old Liu, I’m here,” Niu Laoliu said. “Say what you have to say and stop beating around the bush.”
Liu Dalong didn’t hide anything.
“I’ve been waiting for you. Take a good look. See what your villager has done to Bai Feng’er.
“Look carefully!
“I’m telling you, I’m older now, so my temper has mellowed. If this had happened when I was younger, whichever hand he used to hit her—I would’ve crippled that hand.”
After hearing that, Niu Laoliu marched straight toward Niu Lidong.
“You little brat! What’s so impressive about beating your wife? That’s something only worthless men do!
“The fact that someone was willing to marry you in the first place is already a blessing from your ancestors. You finally bring a wife home, and you still dare lay hands on her?”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to slap Niu Lidong.
Liu Dalong immediately grabbed his arm to stop him.
If they started fighting, things would become much harder to resolve.
Some things couldn’t be discussed properly once fists started flying.
“Don’t beat him half to death,” Liu Dalong said. “If he gets seriously hurt, our Xiao Guan Village isn’t taking responsibility for it.
“I called you here to discuss something.
“Bai Feng’er wants a divorce.
“What do you think?”
Niu Laoliu rubbed his forehead.
To be honest…
If he had a daughter of his own, he wouldn’t have married her to someone like Niu Lidong either.
Not only had they tricked the bride into marriage, but Niu Lidong’s mother was no saint either.
That old woman could torment a daughter-in-law to death.
With a family in such poor circumstances, if they’d managed to trick someone into marrying in, the least they could’ve done was treat her well.
Instead…
Zhao Lanfen deliberately picked fights every single day.
Objectively speaking, Niu Laoliu felt Bai Feng’er was right.
But he was still the production team leader.
He had to at least put on a show for Niu Lidong’s family.
If he appeared too eager to support the divorce, how would he face them afterward?
They all belonged to the same production team.
If resentment grew too deep, his future work would become difficult.
“Ahem…”
“What if…” he said slowly, “I go back and properly discipline Niu Lidong? The kid sometimes just loses his head. Let’s give him another chance.”
The moment Niu Lidong heard that, his eyes lit up.
He hurriedly admitted his mistake.
“Feng’er, come home with me. Even the team leader is here now. Don’t push your luck. At worst, I’ll treat you better from now on.”
After last night’s ordeal, Niu Lidong had become somewhat frightened.
Even so, he was still unwilling to completely lower his head.
Zhao Lanfen also forced a flattering smile.
“Team Leader, we know we were wrong. If Lidong acts foolishly again, I won’t let him off. Our whole family came here to apologize. Feng’er, just come home with us.”
Her face wrinkled into a smile like a blooming flower.
Every word she spoke sounded sincere.
Once we get home, I’ll settle the score with you. I’ll break your legs and see how you run away again!
“Feng’er, don’t let everyone laugh at us. Come home with us.”
As she spoke, she reached out to grab Bai Feng’er’s hand.
Bai Feng’er froze as though she’d been turned to stone.
She couldn’t even move.
Smiling faintly, Lin Yi gently pulled Bai Feng’er behind her.
“If you’re here to take someone home, shouldn’t you first ask whether she wants to go?”
“Of course she does!” Zhao Lanfen replied without hesitation. “How could she not? Isn’t that right, Feng’er? You’re already a member of the Niu family now. Even if you die, you’ll still be a ghost of the Niu family. We—”
She was still talking nonstop.
Lin Yi couldn’t be bothered listening.
Instead, she looked directly at Bai Feng’er.
“Do you want to go back with them?”
No matter what anyone else said, Bai Feng’er’s wishes were what mattered.
If Bai Feng’er wanted to return, there was no point involving themselves any further.
Bai Feng’er immediately shook her head.
“No.
“I’d rather die than go back.”
Those words were enough.
Lin Yi finally felt reassured.
After all, it would be ridiculous if everyone fought so hard for her only for Bai Feng’er to willingly return in the end.
Liu Dalong also asked Bai Feng’er directly.
Her answer remained exactly the same.
She would rather die than return.
This marriage had to end.
The instant Niu Lidong heard that, he exploded.
The smile he’d been forcing vanished completely.
“What? You still want a divorce?
“Feng’er, stop making trouble and come home with me!”
He lunged forward to grab her.
Bai Feng’er had been beaten by him so many times that the moment she saw his hand reaching toward her, she was so frightened her soul nearly left her body.
Just then—
A hand suddenly shot out from beside her.
Smack!
Lin Yi knocked Niu Lidong’s hand away with a sharp strike.
“Ow!”
Niu Lidong cried out in pain.
His crippled leg immediately gave way beneath him, and he crashed hard onto the ground, nearly knocking out a tooth.
Lin Yi had trained in self-defense before.
As a woman climbing the corporate ladder, she had needed the ability to protect herself.
The moment Niu Lidong reached out with his filthy hand, she struck downward with the edge of her palm like a knife.
He had been completely unprepared.
How could he not suffer?
“Argh!”
Before Niu Lidong could even finish crying out, Niu Laoliu kicked him squarely in the backside.
The kick hurt so much that Niu Lidong bared his teeth in pain but didn’t dare make another sound.
Niu Laoliu scolded him,
“You worthless fool! This is Bai Feng’er’s parents’ home, and you’re already acting like this. Who knows what you’d do if you got her back to your own house?
“I can’t guarantee your behavior anymore.
“Get up and go with Bai Feng’er to the commune right now and get the divorce.”
Niu Lidong finally lost his temper.
“Team Leader, you’re being completely unfair! Lin Yi was the one who hit me, and you’re still taking her side! Whose production team leader are you, anyway?”
His hand felt like it was about to break, yet the team leader wouldn’t even defend him.
Niu Laoliu snorted.
“I didn’t see a thing.
“All I saw was you reaching out with your filthy paws.”
No one present had actually seen what happened.
All they saw was Lin Yi lightly swat him once before he suddenly fell to the ground.
After all, how much strength could a woman possibly have?
Surely she couldn’t have seriously injured a grown man.
Someone watching the commotion suddenly shouted,
“Niu Lidong, you deserved it! No wonder your wife wants to divorce you. Is it because you’re not much of a man?”
Those words instantly made Niu Lidong’s face burn.
He was already sexually impotent, and nothing terrified him more than people pointing it out.
The remark struck him right where it hurt most.
“You keep talking nonsense, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
His vicious expression surfaced immediately.
He looked nothing like the humble, apologetic man who had been begging for forgiveness just moments ago.
Not only were the spectators stunned—
Even the Bai family was taken aback.
Some people might appear well-behaved on the surface…
But underneath, they were rotten to the core.
Realizing his true colors had already been exposed, Niu Lidong simply gave up pretending.
“Fine!
“You want a divorce?
“Then return the bride price!”
Back then, Niu Lidong had given the Bai family sixty yuan, two bolts of cloth, a red headscarf, and various other small gifts.
None of it was especially valuable.
Now he wanted every bit of it returned.
After beating someone half to death…
He still had the nerve to demand the bride price back?
Bai Jingmin wasn’t reluctant because of the money.
What made him feel wronged was the injustice of it all.
His perfectly good daughter had been married off.
Now she was divorcing, and on top of everything else, they were expected to refund the bride price.
What had their family gained from this marriage?
Nothing.
Zhao Lanfen had come prepared.
She had deliberately brought the matchmaker with her.
When the marriage had originally been arranged, the Niu family’s matchmaker had been Niu Youwan.
He had come along yesterday as well.
Now Zhao Lanfen pushed him forward.
Niu Youwan desperately wished he could stay out of this mess.
Unfortunately, Zhao Lanfen was the kind of unreasonable country woman no one wanted to offend.
“I… I’m the matchmaker…”
Before he could continue, Lin Yi cut him off.
“There’s no need to involve the matchmaker.
“We won’t be returning a single cent of the bride price.
“Not only that—
“Your family should be paying Bai Feng’er’s medical expenses.”
With that, Lin Yi gently pulled Bai Feng’er over.
She rolled up Bai Feng’er’s sleeve, exposing the dark purple and black bruises covering her arm.
Then she raised her voice so everyone in the courtyard could hear.
“Everyone here, take a good look!”
Her clear voice rang through the courtyard like a clap of thunder.
Every head turned toward Bai Feng’er’s injuries.
“Do you see these?
“Niu Lidong caused every one of these bruises.
“Her entire body is covered with injuries like this.
“He was beating her to death!
“If Bai Feng’er goes back with him today, do you think she’ll even survive?
“I don’t think this is merely a divorce anymore.
“Team Leader, I think we should report this to the police.
“Let the Public Security officers uphold justice.
“Our country has long had laws protecting women.
“No matter the reason, beating someone into this state is a crime.
“Yesterday I already suggested calling the police and having Niu Lidong arrested. It would’ve been much simpler.
“But Bai Feng’er still cherished the bond of husband and wife and couldn’t bear to completely turn against him.
“If it had been me, this matter would’ve been settled yesterday.
“Since the Niu family refuses to cooperate…
“It’s still not too late to report it to the police now.”