By the time Yan Mingguo caught his breath, the men with guns were gone.

The militia captain stood there dumbfounded.

"Yan Mingguo, you're lying! Didn't you say you could make the decision? If you can't make the decision, why did you take my betrothal money!"

"Give me back my money!" The old man was about to pounce on him.

Wei Aiguo reached out.

Song Yan: "Let me do it!"

Song Yan's feet moved as fast as her words.

She kicked the man to the ground. The remaining few people, who must have come with him, seemed hesitant to come up.

Wei Aiguo: "If you know what's good for you, don't get involved in this mess! Get out of here!"

The old man spent 300 yuan on the bride price, which he had scraped together by borrowing from all sides and selling his possessions. It seemed he wouldn't be able to get a wife now, but he couldn't accept losing the money. He still wanted to try and get a better bride.

The people who came with him grabbed him. "After these people leave, we'll settle accounts with Yan Mingguo!"

Song Yan: "He's a smart man, at least he knows not to court death!"

Yan Mingguo wanted the two sides to fight so he could profit. "They're taking Er Ya away, where are you going to find a wife then!"

Song Yan: "I took Er Ya away, and they can ask you for money."

They're trying to steal people; I can take their lives!

"Are you all idiots?" Song Yan asked the men from the other village.

Wei Aiguo was also burning with anger. But he understood why Song Yan was at the forefront.

He's a soldier; he can't fight with civilians unless his life is in danger.

"Anyone who has nothing to do with today's events, whether they're from the village or not, can leave now and I won't pursue the matter!"

"Anyone who participates in attacking soldiers, I'll make sure they get shot!" Song Yan's words were filled with hatred.

Wei Aiguo's fierce gaze swept over the group of people.

These people really did slowly back away.

Yan Mingguo tried to speak, but Wei Aiguo grabbed his chin, silencing him completely.

"Which bastard dares to grab my man? Does he have a death wish?" A woman screamed as she ran towards them. When she saw Song Yan grabbing her man, she pounced on him.

Song Yan kicked her away without any mercy. "Yan Mingguo, hand over the compensation money!"

Yan Mingguo bit his lip.

Song Yan guessed what he was thinking. Did he think that soldiers shouldn't do anything to ordinary people?

But I'm not a soldier.

Why did Song Yan tell the people to disperse? Because she didn't want so many people to see it.

There are only three or five people left.

Song Yan handed the knife to Wei Aiguo, then grabbed Yan Mingguo's right arm with his right hand and twisted it backward. Everyone saw that the arm was stretched out in a very strange position.

Song Yan's left hand was pinching Yan Mingguo's mouth shut, so he didn't make a sound.

Yan Mingguo's face was pale and contorted, and anyone who looked at him felt pain.

The people watching weren't fools; this sudden movement sent chills down their spines. They instinctively backed away.

Song Yan whispered in Yan Mingguo's ear, who was sweating profusely, "I've taken lives with my hands, one more won't make a difference to me."

After this is over, you can go ahead and sue me! Don't worry, I definitely won't go to jail! Nor will I get shot!

But the reason I'm here to find you is to take your life!

Yan Jincui said, "She told me to take your life!"

Song Yan slowly released his grip and stood up straight. However, his feet were still on Wang Ming and Yan Mingguo's legs, so he could only kneel.

"Yan Mingguo, hand over the compensation! Have you taken advantage of her family in any other way? Spit it out!" Song Yan spoke softly, but Yan Mingguo felt as if he were being urged to his death.

"I'll take the money!" Yan Mingguo opened his mouth for a long time before finally uttering these three words.

The woman Song Yan kicked out was his wife; she struggled to her feet. "Why should we give his family money!"

"Give me the money!" Yan Mingguo's voice was choked with sobs.

Er Ya never imagined Yan Mingguo would end up like this, and she couldn't help but sob. "After my sister died, he stole all the money from my family. It was my sister's allowance, meant for my schooling!"

Song Yan used his feet slightly.

Yan Mingguo's knees ached terribly as he knelt on the ground. "Go get the money, go get the money now!" he roared.

Yan Mingguo's wife could only go and collect the money.

The place wasn't far away, and the money arrived quickly. Wei Aiguo took it and handed it to Yan Jincui's parents so they could count it.

“We still need 50 yuan!” Er Ya said.

Song Yan grabbed Yan Mingguo's broken arm and squeezed it hard. This time, he still didn't cry out. Song Yan then whispered in his ear, "I feel like it's not just 50 yuan that's missing."

Song Yan turned to look at the few people left. "What does Yan Jincui's family matter to you? Why are you still standing here?"

Song Yan's ruthlessness was terrifying. As soon as she said that, the remaining people turned around and left.

Once the excruciating pain subsided, Song Yan released Yan Mingguo.

“Go back and get the money! You damned woman, if you can’t bring the money, I’ll beat you to death! Bring all the money!” Yan Mingguo roared, his eyes bloodshot.

He thought he was going to be in excruciating pain, but then it subsided, and he didn't want to experience it again...

The thatched hut, which used to be surrounded by half the village, is now only occupied by Yan Jincui's relatives, Song Yan and his wife, and Yan Mingguo and his wife.

The woman brought over a wooden box, which was full of 10-yuan notes, and it looked like there were at least seven or eight hundred of them.

What kind of family can have seven or eight hundred yuan these days, especially in such a remote and impoverished rural area?

Song Yan didn't count it; he just grabbed most of it and threw the rest to the woman. He then shoved the money into Er Ya's hand. "Let's go!"

Wei Aiguo reached out and lifted Yan Mingguo up. Having a hostage was better.

“We also want to ask her if her third grandmother is coming with us,” Er Ya’s mother said.

"OK!"…

As Song Yan had expected, the Third Grandma they were talking about was the old woman with poor eyesight whom they had met at the entrance of the village.

The old woman didn't hesitate at all. "I'll go with you. I'd rather starve to death outside than starve to death in this village!"

The old lady didn't have much; she only had a few pieces of clothing and some food. And not much food at all.

As they were about to leave the village, Yan Mingguo's wife followed behind, anxiously shouting, "Let my husband go!"

Everyone was peeking out of their homes, but no one came out.

Song Yan beckoned to the woman, signaling her to come over. The woman shook her head, thought for a moment, then turned and ran away.