Chapter 52: Want to hide after hurting someone?
"Brother! I was wrong! I was really wrong!" Chen Kangnian knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face. He kowtowed to the cold shovel, "For the sake of our brotherhood, you can't kill me!"
The shovel stopped an inch away from his head.
Chen Kangbo's arms were knotted with muscles, veins bulging, and he trembled slightly. Killing him and dirtying his own hands for such a bastard wasn't worth it. But letting him go was like this. He couldn't swallow the rage that was choking him. His red eyes turned to Feng Lan, like a caged beast, seeking direction.
Feng Lan's face was long gone of tears, leaving only a glacial coldness. She walked over to her husband, whispered a few words into his ear, a voice only the two of them could hear.
The murderous intent in Chen Kangbo's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a colder, more resolute look. He nodded and threw away the shovel. The iron tool landed on the fallen leaves with a dull sound, like a death knell.
He grabbed Chen Kangnian by the collar, lifted him up from the ground like a tattered rag doll, and said in a voice without a trace of emotion: "Come on, follow us to the town. To the county government office."
Go to the county government office? Chen Kangnian was terrified when he heard that. But before he could even plead for mercy, Chen Kangbo turned to the two half-dead young men. He ignored the young man surnamed Qian, who was clutching his waist and had fainted from the pain, and instead walked straight towards Fatty Li, who had been knocked unconscious by his punch.
He picked up a wooden stick as thick as an arm from the ground. It was the weapon his sisters had used to resist.
"Brother, you..." Chen Kangnian looked at him in horror.
Chen Kangbo ignored him and walked to Fatty Li, raised his foot, and stepped hard on the hand that had just tried to grab Daya's clothes.
“Crack!”
A teeth-grinding sound of bone-breaking exploded in the silent forest.
Fatty Li suddenly woke up in severe pain and let out a howl that was not like a human voice.
Chen Kangbo had an expressionless face. He walked over to the young man named Qian and did the same thing to him, stepping on his other hand.
“Crack!”
There was another crisp sound.
"ah--!"
In the woods, the only sounds left were the heart-wrenching howls of the two young thugs and the chattering of Chen Kangnian's teeth in extreme fear.
He didn't take their lives, he just broke their dirty hands.
After doing all this, Chen Kangbo threw away the stick, as if he had just dusted it off. He walked over to Feng Lan and her daughters, and his voice regained a touch of warmth: "Let's go home."
The family walked down the mountain in silence without looking at the three beasts howling in the forest.
Back in the East Courtyard, the familiar gate creaked shut, isolating everyone from the outside world. But the fear and humiliation of the forest hung like a lingering cloud, shrouding everyone's heart.
Feng Lan heated up some water and had her daughters wash up thoroughly. Erya and Sanya were frightened, but they were young after all, and having beaten the bad guys themselves, they had vented their fear. Now, nestled against their mother, their emotions gradually calmed down.
Only Daya hasn't said a word since she returned home.
She washed herself clean, changed into clean clothes, then quietly returned to her room and closed the door.
No matter who called out outside, she didn't answer.
Feng Lan's heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by a hand, the pain choking her. She knew that even though the two beasts hadn't succeeded, the fear of being coveted like merchandise, of being violently violated, had pierced Daya's heart like a poisonous sting. This wound was harder to heal than any other wound in her body.
For dinner, Feng Lan had specially stewed some meat to calm the children. But there was always one empty seat at the table. The bowl of white rice and braised pork remained untouched from beginning to end.
Late at night, Feng Lan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. She could hear Daya's subtle, suppressed sobs in the next room. The sound was like a kitten's paw, scratching her heart again and again.
Chen Kangbo sat on the edge of the bed. The man who was like a demon during the day now looked like a child who had done something wrong. He held his head in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees, and his broad back was full of powerlessness and self-blame.
"It's all my fault," he said hoarsely, "I failed to protect her."
Feng Lan sat up and gently hugged him from behind: "This is not your fault. If you want to blame someone, blame those conscienceless beasts."
She paused, then continued, "Kumber, don't go anywhere tomorrow. Just stay home. I'll go to the headman's house and then to town. We can't just let this go."
The next morning, just as Feng Lan was about to go out, Erya grabbed the corner of her clothes.
"Mom, I'm going to call my eldest sister to eat."
Erya walked to Daya's door and didn't knock. Instead, she cried out "Ouch" and fell heavily to the ground as if she tripped.
"Hiss...it hurts..." She hugged her ankle, tears coming uncontrollably, and she cried so sadly.
Inside the room, the sobbing stopped abruptly.
A moment later, the door creaked open a crack. Daya's pale, haggard face peeked out from behind the door. Seeing her sister lying on the ground, a flash of panic crossed her eyes, and she rushed out without a second thought.
"Erya, what's wrong with you? Where did you fall?" She squatted down and wanted to help her sister.
Erya hugged her tightly, buried her head in her arms, and sobbed softly: "Sister, I'm afraid... I'm afraid that you don't want us anymore..."
Daya's body stiffened.
Erya raised her head, her eyes red. She deliberately said in a tone that was both boastful and comforting, "Sister, don't be afraid. Dad and Mom left early this morning, saying they were going to the town government office to seek justice for you! Dad said he'd arrest those bad guys and break their legs!"
Her words, half true and half false, were the most effective medicine at the moment.
Daya was stunned. She looked at her sister's confident face, and recalled her father's reliable back yesterday. The frozen ice in her heart seemed to crack a tiny crack.
Mom and Dad...are they seeking justice for her?
She was not alone. She was not abandoned.
Just then, there was a sudden loud noise outside the courtyard gate.
"Open the door! Chen Kangbo! Feng Lan! Get out here!"
"You want to hide after hurting someone? It's not that easy! If you don't give us an explanation today, we will tear down your house!"
It was the voices of the Qian and Li families in town.
Feng Lan's face changed, and she quickly protected her two daughters behind her. She didn't expect that the other party would come to her door so soon.
The gate slammed loudly, and it was clear that the people outside were not going to give up. Soon, the villagers who had come to watch the excitement gathered around and pointed at the east courtyard.
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