Zhang Guifang was startled. When she turned around, she saw that it was Liu Yuan. She panicked and almost dropped the hoe in her hand.
Liu Yuan strode over, her heart aching at the sight of the damaged vegetable patch. She glared at Zhang Guifang and demanded sharply, "Why did you do this? What did these vegetables do to you?"
"I...I..." Zhang Guifang stammered, unable to speak.
Seeing her like this, Liu Yuan became even angrier. She stepped forward, trying to stop Zhang Guifang from continuing her sabotage.
Seeing this, Zhang Guifang remembered Tan Wang's words, her heart hardened, and she shoved Liu Yuan aside, cursing, "Get out of my way! Mind your own business!"
Liu Yuan was caught off guard by Zhang Guifang's sudden attack and was pushed to the ground. His head hit a rock hard, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Upon seeing this, Zhang Guifang panicked. She never imagined she would accidentally injure someone; this was a huge disaster!
She was so frightened that she trembled all over. Forgetting about damaging the vegetable garden any further, she turned and ran away.
Not long after, a villager passed by and found Liu Yuan unconscious. He quickly took her to the village doctor.
In the afternoon, Xu Kuo and Niu Erbao returned from selling fish and heard about the incident. Xu Kuo was immediately enraged, and an invisible murderous aura emanated from him.
He first ran to the village doctor to confirm that Liu Yuan was only temporarily unconscious and not in mortal danger, and then breathed a sigh of relief. He told the village doctor to take good care of Liu Yuan, then called a few villagers to go find the security team, while he stormed angrily to Niu Erbao's house.
Niu Erbao was also terrified. He knew his mother had caused a huge disaster and was frantic with worry.
"Master, what should we do?" Niu Erbao's voice was trembling with tears. "My mother... she didn't mean it..."
"Not intentional?" Xu Kuo laughed angrily. "She intentionally injured someone! That's illegal! She'll go to jail!"
Niu Erbao was so frightened that he sat down on the ground with a thud, his face ashen: "Master, please save my mother! She's old and can't take any more trouble!"
"Erbao, you're being foolish!" Xu Kuo looked at Niu Erbao with exasperation. "The more you protect her, the more unruly she becomes! If you don't teach her a lesson this time, who knows what trouble she'll cause next time!"
He took a deep breath and said firmly, "This matter must be handled officially!"
Although Niu Erbao was scared, he knew that Xu Kuo was right.
He gritted his teeth and nodded: "Master, I'll do whatever you say..."
The two arrived at Niu Erbao's door, and Xu Kuo kicked the door open with a "bang".
Zhang Guifang was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) pretending to be asleep when she heard the noise, which startled her so much that she sat up abruptly.
Xu Kuo strode in, grabbed Zhang Guifang from the kang (a heated brick bed), and roared, "Zhang Guifang, what a mess you've made!"
Upon seeing that it was Xu Kuo, Zhang Guifang immediately became arrogant: "Xu Kuo, you little brat, what do you think you're doing? This is my house, get out of here!"
Xu Kuo sneered, his eyes flashing with cold light: "What are you doing? Liu Yuan was seriously injured by you and is still unconscious! You can wait to go to jail!"
"What? Seriously injured?" Zhang Guifang's heart skipped a beat, but she refused to admit it. "Don't scare me! I only gave her a light push, who knew she was so fragile!"
"A gentle push?" Xu Kuo laughed angrily. "Do you think I'm a fool?"
Just then, the security team arrived.
Upon seeing the security team arrive, Zhang Guifang immediately changed her tune, crying and rushing forward: "Comrades, you must help me! Xu Kuo trespassed on my property and tried to scare me! Arrest him immediately!"
The security team members exchanged glances. They all knew that Xu Kuo and Secretary Wen had an unusual relationship. Moreover, Liu Yuan was a city dweller, and they heard that he was powerful and influential. They dared not do anything reckless.
The security team swarmed forward and surrounded Zhang Guifang.
Zhang Guifang's heart skipped a beat. Panicked, she shouted, her voice trembling with fear, "You, you... what are you going to do?"
The men ignored her, twisted her arm behind her back, and held it down tightly.
Xu Kuo stepped forward and mocked, "What are you doing? Zhang Guifang, you've committed a crime! Get ready to go to jail!"
He paused deliberately, emphasizing his words: "I'll go find Secretary Wen right now and ask him to take good care of you and give you a longer sentence!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifang's legs went weak. She was used to being arrogant in the village, but how could she not be afraid of facing imprisonment?
She yelled in a shrill voice, "Xu Kuo, you're slandering me! You're taking revenge! You've conspired with the guards to bully an old woman like me!"
A cold glint flashed in Xu Kuo's eyes: "Bully you? Zhang Guifang, why don't you take a good look at yourself in the mirror! Do you even deserve it?"
He took a step closer, his tone menacing: "Liu Yuan is from the city, her family is powerful and influential. You beat her up like that, do you think they'll let you off the hook?"
Zhang Guifang trembled violently. She wasn't afraid of Xu Kuo, but she was afraid of the city people, those with power and influence. If they really pursued the matter, her life would be over!
Thinking of this, she knelt down in front of Xu Kuo with a thud, pleading with snot and tears streaming down her face: "Xu Kuo, Xu Kuo, I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! Please forgive me this time! I'll kowtow to you! I beg you, please talk to Liu Yuan and tell her not to pursue this matter anymore, I... I'll do anything for you!"
Xu Kuo felt no sympathy for her disgraceful state; she had only herself to blame!
"If you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?" Xu Kuo's voice was cold. "You made this mistake, so you must bear the consequences!"
Seeing that Xu Kuo wouldn't budge, Zhang Guifang turned and rushed towards Niu Erbao, wailing, "Erbao, Erbao, please save your mother! Your mother is your own mother! You can't just watch your mother go to jail!"
Seeing his mother like this, Niu Erbao couldn't stop the tears from flowing. But he knew that no one could help her with this.
"Mother, go inside... and reform yourself properly." Niu Erbao choked up, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat.
Hearing this, Zhang Guifang was struck dumb. She completely broke down, sat on the ground and wailed, repeatedly saying, "I know I was wrong, I really won't do it anymore, please, I was wrong."
Seeing her like this, the security team didn't delay any longer, they simply picked her up and dragged her away.
Xu Kuo didn't look at her again and turned to walk towards the village doctor's house.
When they arrived at the village doctor's house, Liu Yuan had already woken up and was leaning weakly against the headboard.
“Xu Kuo…” Liu Yuan’s eyes reddened when he saw Xu Kuo. “I’m sorry, I didn’t watch your vegetable garden properly. Those vegetables… Zhang Guifang ruined them all…”
Xu Kuo's heart tightened; it was just as he had imagined.
Niu Erbao stood to the side, looking puzzled: "Why would my mother go and ruin Master's vegetable garden? She has no grudge against those vegetables..."
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