Chen Zhiwei’s words—“Let’s go ask the school teacher”—struck Chen Zhiyuan right at his weak point.
All of his arrogance came from being a scholar.
A scholar’s reputation was everything—not just for him, but for his parents’ hopes as well. If the teacher found out he had bullied a weaker cousin and stolen from him, forget about earning honors—he would likely be expelled from the school immediately.
Chen Zhiyuan’s face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled, but he couldn’t say a single word. All his earlier arrogance vanished, replaced by sheer panic.
Chen Jinbao, however, didn’t think that far. Seeing Chen Zhiwei approach, he was both afraid and angry, yet still stubbornly shouted, “You wouldn’t dare! I’ll tell my mother and grandmother!”
“Tell your mother? Tell your grandmother?” Chen Zhiwei smiled—but there was no warmth in it, only icy coldness. “Perfect. Let the whole village see what kind of ‘precious sons’ the first and second branches of the Chen family have! Uncle Zhang Meng,” she turned to him, “please bear witness. I’ll take them to the village chief now—and then we’ll go straight to the school in town!”
“Don’t! Don’t go!” Chen Zhiyuan finally panicked, shouting in alarm. He grabbed Chen Jinbao, who was still trying to yell, cold sweat breaking out on his face.
“Not going?” Chen Zhiwei stopped, her gaze icy. “Then tell me—how are we settling this?”
Chen Zhiyuan gritted his teeth, humiliated but forced to lower his head. “We… we were wrong… we’ll leave now…”
“Leave?” Chen Zhiwei’s voice suddenly rose. “You beat my brother, stole our things, and think saying ‘we were wrong’ is enough? Is there such a cheap deal in this world?”
She stopped wasting words.
Her figure flashed forward like lightning.
Before the two boys could react, she was already upon them.
Smack! Smack!
Two crisp, resounding slaps landed squarely on their faces. The force made their vision spin, their cheeks swelling instantly.
“This is for my brother,” Chen Zhiwei said coldly.
Before they could even cry out, her fists followed like a rainstorm.
She struck only the fleshy parts—the arms, back, and thighs—causing deep, searing pain without leaving obvious marks. She controlled her strength, but every punch carried terrifying force.
“Ahhh!”
“Ow! Stop! It hurts—!”
Chen Zhiyuan and Chen Jinbao had never been beaten like this before. They howled and cried, trying to flee, but Chen Zhiwei tripped them effortlessly. They fell to the ground, completely powerless to fight back, curling up and begging for mercy.
Zhang Meng watched in stunned silence. He knew the girl was strong—but he hadn’t expected her to be this skilled. Fast, precise, ruthless—like a trained fighter.
The children watching nearby were too frightened to make a sound.
Chen Zhiyi, however, watched his sister—like a war goddess—punishing the two boys who had always bullied him. His small fists clenched tightly, his eyes shining brightly.
Only after the two were battered, bruised, and crying so hard they could barely beg anymore did Chen Zhiwei stop.
She grabbed them by their collars and hauled them up like dead dogs, her voice cold as ice.
“Now, take what you stole—and come with me.”
“Go… go where?” Chen Zhiyuan stammered, trembling.
“To the old house. To your dear grandmother—for medical compensation,” Chen Zhiwei sneered. “My brother was beaten like this. Shouldn’t he see a doctor? Take medicine? Or would you prefer I go to the best clinic in town and send the bill directly to your school?”
Chen Zhiyuan shuddered, not daring to refuse. Chen Jinbao was already terrified beyond speech, only sobbing.
Chen Zhiwei had her brother carry the damaged rabbit meat, while she marched the two limping, miserable boys forward. With Zhang Meng and a group of curious children following, they headed straight for the Chen family courtyard.
Liao Jinfeng and Madam Wang were picking vegetables when they saw the scene—both nearly fainted from shock.
“You cursed girl! You dare hit my grandson?!” Liao Jinfeng shrieked, rushing forward.
Chen Zhiwei shoved Chen Zhiyuan toward her. Liao Jinfeng immediately grabbed him, heart aching, while Madam Wang rushed to her own son, wailing loudly.
“Enough!” Chen Zhiwei’s sharp shout silenced them.
She held up the ruined rabbit meat.
“Everyone, take a look! Yesterday, my brother and I had nothing to eat. I risked my life going into the mountains to hunt and barely managed to catch this rabbit. We didn’t even finish eating it—and today, they barged into our home, ate it, ruined it, and beat my brother! We have both witnesses and evidence—Uncle Zhang Meng can testify! I want justice! My brother’s medical fee—one tael of silver! Not a coin less. Otherwise, I’ll drag Chen Zhiyuan to his school and ask his teacher if this is what they teach!”
Her words were firm, each sentence justified.
Even Liao Jinfeng, fierce as she was, didn’t dare gamble with Chen Zhiyuan’s future.
In the end, under the villagers’ pointing fingers and Chen Zhiwei’s relentless pressure, Liao Jinfeng gritted her teeth, went inside, and tremblingly brought out one tael of silver, throwing it at Chen Zhiwei.
Her gaze looked like she wanted to skin her alive.
Chen Zhiwei picked up the silver and swept a cold glance over everyone in the old house.
“Remember this lesson. From now on, we stay out of each other’s lives. If anyone dares trouble us again, I’ll drag them to hell with me—even if it costs my life.”
With that, she took her brother’s hand and walked away proudly, under the villagers’ mixed gazes of awe, sympathy, and fear.
Back at the broken hut, Chen Zhiwei carefully cleaned her brother’s wounds with spiritual spring water and asked softly, “Does it hurt?”
Chen Zhiyi shook his head, his eyes sparkling. “No! Sis, you’re amazing!”
Chen Zhiwei patted his head, her gaze firm.
“From now on, no one will bully us again. But Zhiyi—do you want to learn martial arts? It’s just the two of us here. When I’m not around, you need to be able to protect yourself.”
“Can I? I want to—I really want to! I want to protect you too!” Chen Zhiyi’s eyes shone brightly.
Chen Zhiwei smiled and ruffled his hair.
“Of course you can. Once you’ve learned well, I’ll be counting on you to protect me.”