"It won't be good if the water gets cold, Grandpa, why don't you check the temperature?"
Her voice was as soft as a feather, but her eyes were fixed on the old man's ankles covered with age spots.
Grandpa Su then raised his eyes, his cloudy yet sharp gaze lingering on Li Jinhua's face for a few seconds before sweeping over the steaming water.
Steam rises and twists on the water's surface.
"You're quite filial."
The old man spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone so calm that one could not discern his emotions.
Su Mingqiang rubbed his hands together, his face full of a fawning smile.
"Sir, Jin Hua knows she was wrong, and prepared this especially for you."
The old man neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply slammed his "chariot" heavily onto the chessboard.
"General."
Li Jinhua's hands trembled slightly as the hot water in the basin sloshed around, splashing a few drops onto the back of her hand, scalding her and making her wince.
She endured the pain and pushed the basin of water closer to the old man's feet.
"Grandpa, try it, it's not hot..."
Grandpa Su suddenly put down the chess piece in his hand and looked straight at Li Jinhua.
"Is this water hot?"
Li Jinhua's heart skipped a beat, but she managed an even sweeter smile.
"It's not hot. I added cold water, so it's just lukewarm."
The old man nodded, then suddenly grabbed Li Jinhua's wrist with lightning speed, so forcefully that she cried out in surprise.
"Ah! What are you doing?"
Before she could finish speaking, the old man had already forcefully pushed her hand into the boiling water.
"ah--!"
A piercing scream tore through the night sky.
Li Jinhua struggled frantically, splashing water everywhere, wetting the old man's trouser legs and the floor.
Her fingers twisted and twitched in the boiling water, like a live fish being thrown into a frying pan.
Su Mingqiang jumped up from his chair in fright.
"Sir! Sir, what are you doing!"
The old man remained expressionless, still gripping Li Jinhua's wrist tightly, his voice eerily calm.
"Didn't you say it wouldn't be hot?"
"Let me go! You old geezer! Ah—"
Li Jinhua screamed hysterically, while her other hand reached up and scratched wildly at the old man's arm.
The old man then released his grip, dodging Li Jinhua's attack.
Li Jinhua immediately pulled her hand away; her originally fair palm was now bright red and swollen.
She held her injured hand, her face covered in tears and snot.
"Su Mingqiang! Are you just going to stand by and watch your grandfather bully me?"
She turned to her husband, her voice hoarse.
"My hands are burning!"
Su Mingqiang stood there, looking helplessly at his wife and then at his grandfather, his lips trembling as he couldn't speak.
The old man slowly took out his pipe and tapped it on the sole of his shoe.
"Li Jinhua, do you think I can't see through your little schemes? Picking eggplants without even considering their age!"
Li Jinhua's crying stopped abruptly, a hint of panic flashing in her swollen eyes.
"I knew you had bad intentions the moment you walked in."
The old man lit his pipe and took a deep drag.
"That meal was ridiculously salty, the braised pork was sickeningly sweet, and there was more ginger than chicken in the chicken soup—you did all of that on purpose, didn't you?"
Li Jinhua's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembled but she couldn't utter a word of rebuttal.
"And this basin of foot-washing water."
The old man pointed with his pipe to the basin of water on the ground, which was still steaming.
"You probably just poured that out of the pot, didn't you? What? Trying to scald this old man to death?"
"I don't!"
Li Jinhua retorted sharply, but guiltily looked away.
The old man sneered and turned to Su Mingqiang.
"Mingqiang, go and close the door."
Su Mingqiang mechanically followed the instructions, his face as pale as paper.
The old man slowly got up and looked down at Li Jinhua, who was slumped on the ground.
"I was thinking that if you were truly repentant, I'd let your parents and brother out tomorrow. After all, it's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester."
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Li Jinhua's red and swollen eyes.
"But now."
The old man's voice suddenly turned cold.
"They'll have to stay inside for another ten days."
"What?"
Li Jinhua suddenly looked up, her hope instantly replaced by anger.
"You old bastard! You dare! I'll fight you to the death!"
As she spoke, Li Jinhua struggled to her feet.
Ignoring the injury on her hand, she brandished her claws and lunged at the old man.
Su Mingqiang hurriedly stepped forward to stop her, fearing that she might really hurt his grandfather. However, she scratched his face with her claws, leaving three deep bloody marks.
"Ah! Jin Hua, have you gone mad!"
Su Mingqiang covered his face and backed away.
The old man remained motionless, simply watching the farce unfold with cold indifference.
"Ten more days."
Li Jinhua was struck dumb, frozen in place.
"What...what did you say?"
"Every time you cause trouble, they'll lock you up for ten more days. If you want them to stay in there indefinitely, keep causing trouble."
The old man exhaled a smoke ring.
"Keep going, let's see how long you can keep this up."
Li Jinhua's chest heaved violently, and the anger in her eyes almost materialized.
She stared intently at the old man, her teeth grinding together, but she dared not utter another sound.
The old man nodded in satisfaction.
"That's more like it."
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