The three of them stood before Jiang Fusheng like three towering mountains.
Jiang Fusheng felt a wave of warmth wash over her.
Wow! What a sense of security!
The group that had been about to attack suddenly froze, their eyes filled with fear of the three members of the Xiao family.
“What are you afraid of? They’re unarmed and there’s only one man among them. We outnumber them and we’ve got weapons. Let’s go straight in and not give them a chance to react,” Jiang Yaozu shouted to the crowd.
Holy shit!
Has Jiang Yaozu gone mad?
“Stop!” Jiang Fusheng darted forward, spreading her arms to shield Xiao Changhe. “Jiang Yaozu, you’re inciting a fight. What if someone gets killed?”
“Who told you not to come back with us?” Jiang Yaozu raised an eyebrow, utterly unconcerned; after all, it wasn’t him who’d die if anything went wrong.
“You!” Jiang Fuseng gritted her teeth, a wave of helplessness washing over her.
Although Aunt Xiao and the others were strong and looked like they could hold their own, there was simply no way they could stand up to the dozen or so people in front of them!
More importantly, she didn’t want Aunt Xiao and the others to suffer even the slightest injury.
“I’ll go with you first—”
“No way!” Xiao Changhe reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace and locking her shoulders with his arm. “You’re mine.”
Jiang Fuseng: ?
Since when had she become his?
Seeing this, Xiao’s mother raised a fist the size of a clay pot and challenged Jiang Fu and the others, “Lai Di is one of us Xiao family. If you try to take her away by force, you’ll get a taste of this old woman’s fists first!”
Jiang Fu glared furiously. “Is he serious? Fine, fine, fine! Yaozhu, go into the village and round up as many of our clan as you can. Tell them we’re being bullied by the Xiao family!”
Calling for reinforcements? That won’t do! Jiang Fuseng’s mind raced. “Xiao Changhe, grab Jiang Yaozhu!”
At her words, Xiao Changhe took steady strides, knocking aside anyone in his path in a matter of moments. With a sweeping gesture of his large hand, he seized Jiang Yaozhu—who hadn’t had time to dodge—and hoisted him back in front of Jiang Fusheng as though he were a little chick, holding him firmly in place.
Good heavens!
Jiang Yaozhu had been pampered with fine food and drink since childhood; he weighed at least 160 jin, yet Xiao Changhe had lifted him with such ease?
“Let me go!” Jiang Yaozhu’s feet left the ground as he struggled frantically, only to find he couldn’t reach Xiao Changhe’s arms no matter how hard he tried.
“Lai Di, what are you doing? Let your brother go…” Chen Shuying was terrified and rushed over in a panic.
“Stop right there!” Jiang Fuseng raised her hand to stop her, forcing Chen Shuying to stand a metre away. “I know you’ve already taken those 20 yuan.”
“What twenty? I don’t understand.” Chen Shuying, feeling guilty, averted her gaze and clenched her fists.
That little minx actually knows!
No wonder she’s fighting so desperately!
Jiang Fuseng had long anticipated that Chen Shuying wouldn’t admit it so easily. “Never mind. Your precious son is in my hands right now. If you want him to come out of this unscathed, then let’s have a proper chat.”
Jiang Fu stormed forward in a rage. “You little brat! If your brother gets hurt, I’ll never let you off the hook!”
“Is that so?” Jiang Fuseng grabbed Jiang Yaozu’s wrist and twisted it violently.
“Ah!” Jiang Yaozu screamed in pain. “Dad, Mum, help me!”
Jiang Fu’s face turned pale. “You, you… you dare to be so cruel to your younger brother? I’ll call the police!”
“Go on then, call the police! You’re all trying to sell me off to that old man. I’ve got nothing left to lose—I’ll drag him down with me!”
Seeing her death-defying expression, Chen Shuying, who was worried for her son, dared not take the risk. She could only tug at Jiang Fu’s sleeve. “Honey, don’t provoke her. Our son is still in their hands!”
Jiang Fu swallowed his anger, glaring furiously at Jiang Fusheng. “What do you want?”
Jiang Fusheng held out her hand. “I’ve told you, I’ve remarried Xiao Changhe. Now I want you to give me my dowry.”
“You’re dreaming!” Jiang Fu’s eyes widened.
Jiang Fusheng’s lips curled into a smirk. She glanced at Jiang Yaozhu, who was drenched in cold sweat, and gently cradled the wrist she’d just dislocated. “Little brother, don’t blame your sister. If you must blame anyone, blame Mum and Dad—they’re the ones who won’t give it.”
“What… are you going to do…?” Jiang Yaozhu stared at her in terror.
“To let you taste what it was like when you bullied me as a child, of course!” Jiang Fuseng tightened her grip and squeezed down hard.
“Aaah—”
A scream like a pig being slaughtered erupted from Jiang Yaozhu’s mouth.
Having never known hardship or pain since childhood, he couldn’t take it and fainted on the spot.
“No, no, we’ll give it to you! Stop it now!” ” Chen Shuying turned pale with fear and whispered, “We’ve made a mistake this time. Let’s give her the money to placate her for now; we’ll find a way to get it back from that little brat later!”
Even though Jiang Fu was a thousand times reluctant, he had no choice but to give in. “How much?”
Jiang Fuseng released her grip and held up five fingers. “500.”
“500? Why don’t you just go and kill yourself!”
“Stop your nonsense! In the three years I’ve been married into the Qian family, I’ve sent plenty of money back to my parents’ home—far more than 500 every year. You’d better give me the money now, or else you’ll have to make another one!”
With that, Jiang Fusheng reached out her hand towards Jiang Yaozhu’s neck.
“Here! If your father won’t give it, your mother will! Just don’t hurt Yaozhu.”
Though Chen Shuying was reluctant, she had no choice but to reach into her pocket. However, as she counted the money, she exchanged a glance with Jiang Fu, hatching a plan.
Chen Shuying clenched the money in her hand. “Come and get it!”
“Put it in your purse and toss it over here. Hurry up!” Jiang Fusheng rolled her eyes. She wasn’t stupid; she knew full well what little schemes the couple had up their sleeves.
With no other option, Chen Shuying had to comply.
Jiang Fusheng picked up the purse, counted the money, slipped the notes into her pocket, then tossed the tattered purse back at Chen Shuying’s feet. “Remember this: from now on, I’m Xiao Changhe’s wife.”
Having said that, she turned to Xiao Changhe. “Give him back to them!”
Xiao Changhe grunted in acknowledgement and casually flung Jiang Yaozu onto Jiang Fu and his wife.
“Ah! My Yaozu, my poor son.” Chen Shuying hurriedly caught him. “Darling, let’s go quickly. We must take Yaozu to the clinic to be checked over.”
“No! I can’t let this go!” Jiang Fu clenched his fists and turned. “You’ve all seen it—this unfilial daughter of mine has actually colluded with outsiders to bully her own family. Help me, everyone! Let’s all pitch in and drag her back!”
“Still as cunning as ever, are you?” Jiang Fusheng narrowed her eyes slightly, paused for a few seconds, then shouted, “Uncles and aunts, we’ve had the Marriage Law since the early 1950s, which abolished arranged and forced marriages! If you help drag me back, my parents will certainly force me to remarry some old man. All I need to do is report you for violating a woman’s will and breaking the law knowingly. As accomplices, you’ll end up behind bars too! And I’ve got a perfect track record when it comes to filing complaints!”
Those who had initially intended to help Jiang Fu instantly lost their enthusiasm.
“Uncle Jiang, it’s not that we don’t want to help you, but you’ve gone too far. Forcing Laidi to marry—we’re clearly in the wrong here!”
“Exactly. We could end up behind bars for this, so I’m not getting involved.”
“I’ve just remembered I haven’t fed my cat yet. I’m off!”
Within a few short minutes, everyone had made up an excuse and cleared off.
“You lot, you… you cowards!” Jiang Fu was so furious his chest heaved violently and his face flushed crimson.
Chen Shuying glanced at Jiang Fusheng and the others, then grabbed Jiang Fu by the arm. “Let’s go. She says she’s marrying Xiao Changhe—they’re from the same village. We’ll figure something out later.”
“Hmph!” Jiang Fu shoved Chen Shuying aside and stormed off in a rage.
“Husband, wait for me!” Chen Shuying, supporting Jiang Yaozhu, struggled to keep up.
Phew!
It was finally over.
Jiang Fuseng let out a long sigh as her taut nerves finally relaxed.
“You were very… very brave just now.” Xiao Changhe’s voice broke the silence.