Su Yufen's cries became even more heart-wrenching. She curled up on the ground, clutching her clothes tightly to her chest.
Wang Xiulan held her daughter, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom...Mom..."
Da Mao and Er Mao cried so hard they could barely breathe, their little hands constantly tugging at their mother's clothes.
Su Jianguo took a deep breath and walked up to Master Li.
"Thank you for making this trip. We'll head over now. By the way, have you notified their family?"
Master Li nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said...
“I went to Tiezhu’s house first. His family said that Tiezhu’s wife had taken the child back to her parents’ home, so I rushed over. Tiezhu’s family should have taken him back by now. By the way, we didn’t report that Tiezhu was drinking.”
Before Master Li finished speaking, his meaning was already quite clear.
Those who were his colleagues had done more than enough.
If Zhang Tiezhu's drinking was reported, he probably wouldn't even receive compensation in the end. This can be considered as his colleagues taking care of Su Yufen, a widow and her orphan.
Su Jianguo nodded gratefully to Master Li.
He never expected that his decision not to let his eldest daughter go back would have such a huge butterfly effect. In his previous life, Zhang Tiezhu was perfectly fine and lived for more than ten years before he died.
Of course, the most important thing right now is to take my daughter back to Zhang Tiezhu's house.
Since Su Yufen had fled back to her parents' home due to domestic violence, Su Jianguo knew without a doubt that she would encounter a lot of trouble at Zhang Tiezhu's house.
"Father...Father..."
Su Yufen's voice was broken and fragmented.
"Tiezhu, he...he..."
"Xiulan, help Yufen into the house first."
Su Jianguo said in a deep voice, handing the two children over to his wife.
"Mingfu, go ride your bicycle and call your senior brothers Zhao, Wang, and Yang. Tell them there's been an emergency at home and ask them to bring their weapons."
Su Mingfu put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and ran outside.
After all, someone in Zhang Tiezhu's family had died, and Su Jianguo couldn't guarantee that the family wouldn't blame Su Yufen for it.
Wang Xiulan helped her daughter into the house, but Su Yufen's legs felt like they were made of lead, and she staggered with every step.
Grandpa, is my dad dead?
Da Mao tilted his dirty little face up, his dark eyes filled with fear.
Er Mao put his thumb in his mouth, his face covered in tears and snot.
Su Jianguo squatted down and wiped away the tears on the two children's faces with his rough hands.
"Don't be afraid, Grandpa's here."
His voice was deep yet firm.
"Go, go with Grandma and Mom."
Only Su Jianguo and Master Li remained in the courtyard.
"Master Li, have a smoke and take a break. You've worked hard."
Su Jianguo handed over a cigarette, his fingers moving with surprising steadiness.
Mr. Li took the cigarette, but his hand was shaking so badly he almost dropped it.
Half an hour later.
The sound of a bicycle bell came from afar, growing closer and closer.
The first to rush into the yard was Zhao Hongqi, a burly man who stood 1.85 meters tall like an iron tower. He was carrying a steel pipe in his hand, and the sweat on his forehead glistened in the moonlight.
"Master!"
Zhao Hongqi's voice was loud and clear.
"What happened?"
Next came Wang Tiezhu and Yang Dalei, who rode their bicycles into the yard one after the other.
Wang Tiezhu had a wrench tucked into his waistband, while Yang Dalei carried a canvas bag bulging inside, its contents unknown.
Su Jianguo briefly explained the situation, and the expressions of his three apprentices all became serious.
"Master, this is a difficult matter. How can we handle it? It's all a family affair."
Zhao Hongqi frowned.
That's why I called you here.
Su Jianguo stubbed out his cigarette.
"Come with me to the Zhang family's house in a bit. Keep an eye on Yufen and the children."
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching cry came from inside the house, followed by Wang Xiulan's anxious calls.
Su Jianguo rushed into the west room, only to find Su Yufen huddled in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), trembling all over, her face as pale as paper.
"I don't want to go... Dad, I don't want to go..."
Su Yufen shook her head, her tears soaking a large patch of her lapel.
"They'll say I brought bad luck to Tiezhu...they'll beat me to death..."
Wang Xiulan wiped away her tears, wanting to comfort her but not knowing where to begin.
Da Mao and Er Mao hid behind their grandmother, their little hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.
Su Jianguo sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), the bed board creaking under the weight.
"Yu Fen."
His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the crying that filled the room.
"Don't worry, with your father around, no one can lay a finger on you."
Su Yufen raised her tearful eyes, her gaze unfocused.
"You don't know... last time Tiezhu got drunk and hit me, my mother-in-law was right there and said he did the right thing... saying I need to be disciplined and that I'm not a good wife..."
She suddenly began to tremble violently.
"Now that Tiezhu is dead, they will definitely..."
The room fell eerily silent. Su Jianguo slowly stood up, his fists clenched tightly.
"Master, this matter cannot be left like this!"
Zhao Hongqi shouted from outside the door.
"If the Zhang family dares to bully Senior Sister, I..."
"Shut up!"
Su Jianguo gave a stern shout and turned to his daughter.
"Yufen, no matter how much of a scoundrel Tiezhu is, he's still the children's father. We have to go tonight, not for anything else, but to get justice for the two children."
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