“Ah…”
The person outside the door gasped in surprise.
How could Zhou Ye possibly stand there and take the hit? She quickly took two steps back and hid behind Aunt Li: “Auntie, save me!”
Perhaps out of consideration for their neighborly relationship, Zhou Yuanyao actually stopped in his tracks.
“Zhou Ye, was it you? Did you steal the things from our house?”
Zhou Ye looked at Zhou Yuanyao with confusion, saying pitifully: “Uncle, what are you talking about? I went out with my sister early this morning and have been together the whole time! What exactly was stolen from the house?”
Zhou Yuanyao seemed to have lost his mind: “Gone, everything’s gone! Our hundred thousand yuan, and the gold bars? All gone! Well? Was it you or not?”
Aunt Li stiffened all over, looking at Zhou Yuanyao in astonishment.
Zhou Ye looked up in shock, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Yu Wen immediately stepped forward to pull Zhou Yuanyao back: “What nonsense are you talking? When did our family ever have that hundred thousand yuan? What gold bars? Have you lost your mind from anger?”
Zhou Yuanyao trembled with rage, then came to his senses: “Right, I really have lost my mind from anger. What our family lost were tables and chairs, all heirlooms passed down from our ancestors! I’m so unfilial!”
The people around them had subtle shifts in their expressions.
Lost his mind from anger? Mistaking tables for a hundred thousand? Chairs for gold bars?
But still, a hundred thousand yuan! Was Director Zhou daydreaming?
Later, when Zhou Zijun returned, the family dragged Zhou Ye back into the house and began their interrogation.
“Zhou Ye, where did you go today?”
Zhou Yuanyao held a water cup, his hands shaking so badly he could barely hold it.
Zhou Ye lowered her head and said quietly: “I was with my sister the whole time. We went to the mall to buy clothes – sister bought me a shirt!”
Afraid that her embezzlement would be discovered, Zhou Zijiao immediately added: “Yes, Dad, we were together the whole time, never separated!”
Zhou Yuanyao closed his eyes, trying his best to calm down!
“Get back to your room!”
“Yes!” Zhou Ye almost instinctively dashed toward the basement!
But at the doorway, she flicked her wrist, sprinkling some unknown medicinal powder.
Zhou Yuanyao immediately grabbed Yu Wen by the throat: “Tell me, where’s the money? Did you take it?”
Yu Wen, choking from the grip, frantically patted Zhou Yuanyao’s hand: “Old Zhou, have you gone mad? How could it be me? Cough cough cough… Have you forgotten our plan? Cough…”
Suddenly remembering something, Zhou Yuanyao released his grip, panting heavily as he stared at the others: “Tell me, which one of you was it? Or who leaked the information?”
After catching her breath, Yu Wen said slowly: “It couldn’t be Zhou Ye. She didn’t even know about that money, and even if she did, she wouldn’t have the courage or capability to take it!”
The others knew this all too well.
The three Zhou siblings were inwardly shaken – that was a hundred thousand yuan after all. Although it was obtained through questionable means, once it was in their home, they were the ones who got to enjoy it.
Zhou Zijun carefully thought back – it definitely couldn’t have been him, so that left… Zijiao and Ziyue?
“Zijiao, was it you? You’re always spending money recklessly…”
“Brother, what nonsense are you talking? Why don’t you say it was you? Don’t you spend money on your girlfriend? You’ve had your eye on that money before.”
“Ziyue, was it you then?”
Zhou Ziyue also became anxious: “Brother, what are you talking about? I didn’t even know where it was kept?”
The three siblings were arguing fiercely. Zhou Yuanyao clenched his fists, growing increasingly unable to control himself. The four people before him seemed to have transformed into his sworn enemies!
One after another, they screamed about wanting him dead.
No…
He had struggled so hard to reach this point—this absolutely couldn’t happen!
Zhou Yuanyao grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it with all his might!
“Ah!”
It struck Zhou Zijun squarely on the head, and blood immediately gushed out like a fountain.
“Zijun!” Yu Wen rushed over frantically. Seeing her son covered in blood, she screamed hysterically, “Zhou Yuanyao, have you gone mad? This is your son, your only son!”
Zhou Yuanyao seemed possessed by rage. Tilting his head, he snarled viciously, “You’re all so damn noisy! Go to hell, all of you!”
With that, he charged forward, his fists mercilessly pummeling Yu Wen, Zhou Zijiao, and Zhou Ziyue!
Yu Wen, trying to shield the children, bore the brunt of the assault!
Down in the basement, Zhou Ye listened until the timing felt right, then slowly moved beneath the window. They couldn’t die now—dying too early would let them off too easily.
You care about face? Then I’ll strip you of all dignity!
You crave wealth? Then I’ll plunge you into utter poverty!
“Help! Help! Is anyone there?”
“Help! Uncle is beating Auntie to death!”
“He’s killing someone!”
“Help!”
Zhou Ye’s cries successfully drew the attention of their neighbor, Aunt Li. “Child, what’s happening at your house?”
“Aunt Li, please save my aunt and my cousins quickly! I only heard screams, but now it’s gone silent—have they been beaten to death? Aunt Li…”
Aunt Li sensed disaster and hurried off to gather help.
A group of people burst into the Zhou residence, horrified by the gruesome scene.
“Old Zhou, what are you doing?”
“Old Zhou, put down the knife now!”
“This… this… get them to the hospital, quick!”
Zhou Yuanyao, still lost in his fury, grew even angrier seeing the crowd protecting his wife and children.
What business is it of yours? Huh?
He raised the knife and lunged forward. Yu Wen, her heart shattered, was about to close her eyes in despair when a small figure shielded her. “Uncle, don’t kill anyone!”
Yu Wen opened her eyes to see Zhou Ye fearlessly protecting her, deeply moved.
She glanced at her own children—even her son was hiding behind her.
The Zhou family was rushed to the hospital. Zhou Yuanyao seemed to snap back to his senses, staring dumbfounded at the scene before him.
What… what have I done?
Whether by the Zhou family’s luck or Zhou Yuanyao’s incompetence, despite the violent beating, everyone had only suffered superficial injuries.
Zhou Ye felt a twinge of disappointment.
But it didn’t matter—the cracks within were far more critical than external wounds.
Back home, Zhou Yuanyao regained his composure and looked at Yu Wen with heartache. “I’m sorry, my dear. I don’t know what came over me. Am I sick?”
Outwardly calm, Yu Wen inwardly raged: Sick? More like deranged!
But she replied gently, “Old Zhou, you’ve been too high-strung lately. If word of today gets out, it could ruin your reputation. You must be careful.”
Zhou Yuanyao was deeply moved. “Yes, yes! You always understand me best.”
Yu Wen spoke with tender concern, “Especially those top-secret documents in your possession—they must never fall into others’ hands! Your future is our family’s lifeline. Old Zhou, if it’s too risky, bring them home. I’ll keep them safe for you.”
“Remember this!”
Zhou Yuanyao was deeply moved. Even though he wasn’t human and had beaten his wife, she still cared for him wholeheartedly!
“Alright, I understand! I’ll find a way to bring it home tomorrow! You’re the one I trust most!”
The couple embraced as if nothing had happened during the day!
Early the next morning, Zhou Yuanyao went to the factory, where he heard the incident had serious consequences. Superiors had arrived and were going to hold a major meeting for criticism.
As usual, Zhou Ye prepared breakfast, helped Yu Wen get seated, and served meat porridge!
Looking at the table full of injured family members, my heart felt comforted!
“Bad news, bad news… Sister-in-law, hurry to the Steel Factory!”