He Daqiang originally didn't care at all about Zhang Hongyan coming to cause trouble, thinking it was just a little squabble between young girls.
But now this matter has actually affected his family's reputation, and He Daqiang, a man who cares a lot about his image, can no longer sit still.
"Don't worry, Mr. Heping. It's normal for kids to fight. Xiaohua definitely didn't do it on purpose."
He Xiaohua saw stars after being hit by the rolling pin: "Aunt Zhang, I really know I was wrong. I didn't push Qingqing on purpose. Qingqing is fine now, right? We are best friends. Qingqing will definitely forgive me."
"Stop talking nonsense. You should hit yourself on the head the same way you hurt my Qingqing, or don't blame me for taking matters into my own hands," Zhang Hongyan said, giving her son a wink.
Gou Dan, who was standing by, immediately understood. He went outside the yard, found a large rock, threw it in front of He Xiaohua, and began to gesture with his hands: "My sister has a huge hole in her head. I'm watching you smash it. If you don't smash it hard enough, I won't stand for it."
Hearing Gou Dan's words, He Xiaohua remembered the blood flowing from Xia Qingqing's head that stained a large patch of land red, and she shuddered.
If she were to suffer such severe injuries, she would surely die. He Xiaohua looked at her mother in despair: "Mom, save me, I don't want to die."
Mother He was also frightened by the large rock and immediately felt that Zhang Hongyan had gone too far. She had raised her daughter to this age with great difficulty, and if she were to be driven to her death by Zhang Hongyan, she would feel extremely guilty.
"Zhang Hongyan, don't go too far! Are you trying to force my Xiaohua to her death?"
Zhang Hongyan scoffed disdainfully, "Fine, you can't bear to see your daughter get hurt, then I'll just report it to the police and have He Xiaohua arrested and sent to a labor camp."
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Captain Zhang Yougen finally arrived. He had already heard the messenger explain what had happened and knew that Zhang Hongyan had threatened to report to the police.
The captain separated Zhang Hongyan and He's mother, who were wrestling, and said with a frown, "He Ping's family, you can talk things over. Don't be so impulsive."
Zhang Hongyan stopped hitting the person and threw away a few strands of hair in her hand: "Captain, you've come at the right time. You must get justice for my Qingqing."
The captain nodded and asked with concern, "Is Qingqing feeling better now?"
Speaking of her daughter, Zhang Hongyan's tears instantly flowed: "My Qingqing is in such a terrible state. She has a huge gash on her head, and she's bleeding all over. I have to feed her by hand every time she eats."
“It’s all because of this vicious He Xiaohua. Captain, do you think such a cancer can stay in our production brigade? I’m going to report her to the police and have her arrested. People like her should be sent to labor camps,” Zhang Hongyan said viciously, pointing at He Xiaohua who was cowering behind He’s mother.
The captain was speechless. If he remembered correctly, he seemed to have seen the two children from the Heping family digging for wild vegetables at the foot of the mountain today.
The captain didn't deliberately undermine Zhang Hongyan, and slowly said, "He Xiaohua was indeed in the wrong, but reporting it to the police is definitely not an option. If such a scandal happens, how can our brigade still be rated as an advanced brigade? He Pingjia, you should also consider the interests of the collective more."
Zhang Hongyan understood this principle, which is why she didn't report it to the police immediately; her family still had to live with the brigade.
"So my Qingqing's injuries were just for nothing?" Zhang Hongyan glared at He Xiaohua, clearly wanting to vent her anger.
After the brigade leader mediated, it was decided that the He family would compensate Xia Qingqing with 50 eggs to help her recover, plus 20 yuan.
"No, 20 yuan is too much. My family doesn't have any. Captain, you're trying to kill me!"
Seeing the look of distress on He's mother's face, which made her feel like she was about to faint, Zhang Hongyan reluctantly agreed.
The captain looked at He's mother, who was lying on the ground throwing a tantrum, and said to He Daqiang with some impatience, "He Daqiang, control your wife."
“If you’re not willing to pay compensation, then I won’t get involved anymore. Just send He Xiaohua to a labor camp. I want to see how He Dabao will get married in the future, since he has a sister who’s a prisoner.”
Hearing the captain's words, He Daqiang felt a pang of anxiety. Dabao was the only son of the He family, and he absolutely could not let the matter of losing money affect him.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, He Daqiang disregarded the cost and yelled at his mother, "Stupid woman, hurry up and give them the money!"
Ultimately, He Daqiang was still in charge of the He family. Seeing that her husband had spoken, He's mother no longer dared to roll on the ground.
He turned his back, pulled out a wad of bills from his pants, and counted out 20 yuan with tears in his eyes.
The more distressed He's mother appeared, the happier Zhang Hongyan became. She snatched the money from He's hand, which she was clutching tightly: "Here, take it and give it to me."
"There are still 50 eggs left, give them to me quickly, my Qingqing is waiting to take care of her health."
After Zhang Hongyan and her family of three left with 20 yuan and 50 eggs, He Xiaohua was met with a brutal beating.
Her nose started bleeding, and no matter how much He Xiaohua begged, her mother showed no intention of letting her go.
Finally, He Daqiang couldn't stand it anymore and frowned, saying, "Alright, stop hitting him. If you break him, how will he get married?"
——
Xia Qingqing, who was staying at home, saw that it was getting dark and the others had not returned, so she decided to go to the He family to check on the situation. As soon as she stepped out of the gate, she bumped into Zhang Hongyan and the other two.
Zhang Hongyan spotted her daughter from afar, handed the basket of eggs to her husband, and rushed to support Xia Qingqing.
"Didn't Mom tell you not to go out? It's cool at night, and if your head gets chilled, you'll suffer later."
Xia Qingqing smiled ingratiatingly at Zhang Hongyan: "Mom, I know. I was just a little worried because you haven't come back for a while."
Zhang Hongyan said excitedly, "Don't you believe your mother's strength? None of those people in the He family are good fighters. I can take care of their whole family by myself."
“Yeah, Mom’s got the job of three,” Gou Dan agreed from the side, then happily pointed to the basket Xia’s father was carrying: “Sister, look what this is.”
Xia Qingqing had already noticed Xia Heping carrying a basket full of eggs, and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Did the He family pay for all of this?"
"Yes, the He family also had to pay 20 yuan in compensation. He Xiaohua was really badly punished by her mother, and she's probably still being beaten by her parents right now."
Xia Qingqing felt extremely relieved to hear this. She knew He's mother's temper; the lost eggs and money would definitely make her torment He Xiaohua terribly.
Seeing her son's incessant chatter, Zhang Hongyan rolled her eyes at him: "Alright, alright, Gou Dan, you can talk later. Let's go home first. Your sister can't catch a cold."
After returning home, Xia Heping placed the eggs on the table and revealed a simple and honest smile: "Qingqing, now you don't have to be stingy with eggs. These eggs are enough for you to eat for another month."
Xia Qingqing gave a wry smile: There's no need for that, she's already tired of it.
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