Originally, Yang Tiehua thought that once she returned the money to Old Shen, everything would be settled.
But to her surprise, the moment she arrived at the Shen family courtyard with Niannian and An’an, they were surrounded by six or seven men.
Yang Tiehua looked at them warily and pulled Niannian and An’an behind her. “What do you want?”
Old Shen stepped out, puffing on his pipe, revealing his yellowed teeth. “Yang Tiehua, you wretched woman, how dare you play me. Since you’ve played me, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Yang Tiehua straightened her back. “Old Shen, if you dare lay a hand on me, do you think my brothers will let you off?”
“Your brothers? What a joke. You won’t even make it out of Shenjia Village, and you think your elder brother can find you?” Old Shen sneered, blowing out a mouthful of smoke, completely unafraid.
A fat man beside him tugged at his sleeve. “Uncle, when I went to the market, I heard her maternal uncle is some kind of leader at the sugar factory.”
“So what if he is a leader? My uncle is about to be promoted to deputy factory director. No matter how big her uncle is, can he be bigger than mine?
Besides, the sugarcane grown in Shenjia Village is the best in the whole town. Even the factory leaders have to be polite to me!
Brothers, get her. Tie this wretched woman up and I’ll take her into the bridal chamber. Since her mother-in-law won’t marry me, then she will!”
Yang Tiehua lowered her voice. “An’an, when things get chaotic, take your sister and run.”
“Sister-in-law…” Niannian called out fearfully.
“Don’t be afraid, stay with your brother.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she charged forward like a fierce beast, slamming into the men rushing toward her.
Yang Tiehua was already strong, and with that impact, two men were knocked to the ground, howling in pain.
Seizing the opportunity, An’an grabbed Niannian and ran.
“Second brother, what should we do? My sister-in-law won’t be able to beat them,” Niannian said while running.
“We’ll go to the sugarcane fields. I heard my sister-in-law’s brother mention before that her father transports sugarcane. Maybe he’s there.”
Old Shen didn’t care at all about the two children who had run off.
This was Shenjia Village. As long as he hid this woman afterward and refused to admit anything, no one could do anything to him.
Yang Tiehua was strong, that was true.
But these seven or eight were all grown men. No matter how strong she was, she couldn’t withstand them all. Soon, a stick struck her back, forcing her down onto one knee, and they took the chance to subdue her.
“Yang Tiehua, look at you showing off. Do you really think I can’t deal with you?” Seeing Old Shen’s yellowed teeth, Yang Tiehua wanted nothing more than to smash his face in.
“Old Shen, I advise you to let me go. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting to face a firing squad. My family will never let you off.”
Yang Tiehua was extremely confident about this.
Given how much the original family doted on her, if they couldn’t find her, they would turn Shenjia Village upside down. Old Shen wouldn’t have a good life.
But Old Shen clearly wasn’t afraid. He stepped closer, his face full of lewd intent. “Even if I take you right here and now, no one would dare do anything to me. If you know what’s good for you, obediently become my wife, otherwise…”
Before he could finish, he reached out with a filthy hand.
Yang Tiehua lifted her foot and kicked him between the legs, making him howl in pain.
Clutching himself, Old Shen’s face twisted in agony. “Ah, you wretched woman, you dare kick me? You’re asking for death. Strip her clothes off!”
The moment Old Shen gave the order, the men’s eyes lit up, and several hands reached toward her.
Just as one of them was about to grab her chest, something suddenly flashed past in front of Yang Tiehua.
The two men who had reached out jerked their hands back as several screams rang out.
“Ah!”
Seeing the two men crouching on the ground clutching their hands, Yang Tiehua immediately looked toward the doorway.
Turning her head, she saw a tall figure rushing in, followed by a loud, rough shout, “Damn it, who dares touch my sister, looking for death!”
It was Yang Tiechui.
He charged in without hesitation, kicking one man after another, sending the two restraining Yang Tiehua flying.
“Little sister, are you alright?” Yang Tiechui supported her, his face full of concern.
Seeing her elder brother, the tension in Yang Tiehua’s heart instantly eased.
Whether it was the original owner’s emotions or her own lingering fear, her nose suddenly stung, her eyes reddened, and the words came out instinctively. “Big brother, they bullied me.”
Seeing his sister cry, Yang Tiechui immediately panicked. “Little sister, don’t be afraid. Big brother is here!”
As he spoke, he shielded her behind him.
When Old Shen saw his men being beaten, he felt his authority in Shenjia Village being challenged.
“Good, very good. Since you siblings have come here to die, neither of you will leave Shenjia Village! Brothers, grab your weapons!”
At his command, five or six more villagers rushed in with tools.
Including those who had gotten back up, there were now twelve men.
All twelve surrounded the two of them.
Yang Tiehua grew worried. “Big brother, what do we do? There are so many of them.”
Yang Tiechui lifted his chin proudly. “Don’t worry, little sister. I called for backup!”
Old Shen and the others instinctively looked toward the door. For a moment, everyone froze, then burst into laughter.
“Hahaha, this cripple is your backup?” Old Shen laughed so hard he could barely breathe, his toad-like face growing even more grotesque.
Yang Tiehua turned to look and saw Fu Ziheng standing there, leaning on a wooden stick as a crutch. In one hand, he held a slingshot, while the hand gripping the crutch also held small stones.
Thinking back to what had just flashed past her, it must have been Fu Ziheng who had struck away those reaching hands.
Seeing him, Yang Tiehua’s gaze softened, even her voice gentled. “Brother Ziheng, why did you come? Your leg hasn’t healed yet, you should be resting at home.”
Hearing how gentle her tone was, Yang Tiechui felt a bit displeased. “Little sister, don’t worry. I brought him here on my bicycle. When we got off, I even carried him to the door. He hasn’t walked a single step!”
Yang Tiechui’s words made Fu Ziheng feel deeply embarrassed.
Right now, he was nothing but a burden.
“Enough! Do you think this is a marketplace, chatting away like this? Yang Tiehua, since your man is here, even better. Let him see with his own eyes what you look like beneath me!” Old Shen grew more and more unrestrained, emboldened by being in his own village.
“You old bastard, asking for a beating!” Yang Tiechui swung his fist, knocking out one of Old Shen’s yellowed teeth.
Catching the bloodied tooth in one hand and clutching his bleeding mouth with the other, Old Shen let out a guttural roar that echoed through the courtyard.
“Ah, my tooth! You dare knock out my tooth! Men of Shenjia Village, get him! Break this man’s limbs, and strip that woman and tie her up!”
The villagers grabbed carrying poles and hoes, rushing toward Yang Tiechui.
Suddenly—
“I want to see who dares!”
A voice, as rough as a broken gong, boomed out, making their ears ring and freezing them in place.