The Huang family of four, banging and cursing loudly, headed towards Zhongjiawan.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, forming a long queue behind them.
Eyes gleamed with gossip, faces beamed with excitement, and mouths chattered as people shared their exclusive firsthand news in all directions.
“I know, I know. I’ve met Huang Baohua’s son-in-law. I heard he’s a rich young man from the city, and his parents are both officials.”
"I've seen him too. He was wearing a watch and leather shoes, very impressive. Huang Baohua and Xie Dapeng were extremely proud of him."
“He always says that his daughter is promising, that no matter how many girls in the city want the sons of officials, he only has his eye on his daughter.”
"Yes, yes, yes, they brag everywhere that their in-laws are going to arrange a job for their son, or that their in-laws have taken a liking to their best friend, and so on."
"He even said he wanted to go to the city with his daughter and son-in-law to enjoy a comfortable life, and that the whole family would be on government-supplied food rations from now on!"
"I never expected this young master to actually dislike city girls, preferring only country girls, and not just one, hehehe~"
"What do you mean by 'don't like'? That's just being improper. If you ask me, if he were a decent person, why would he choose someone from the mountains instead of a knowledgeable and cultured girl from the city?"
"And what about the little girl from Zhongjiawan?"
"What's going on? Didn't you hear the Huang Baohua family cursing?"
"Her precious son-in-law had only been here for two days when he was snatched away by someone else."
"I heard that at the end of last month, he was in the grove of trees near Niu Tou Lin in front of the town entrance with that little girl from Zhongjiawan!"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't talk nonsense! That's not what I heard!"
"It's Huang Baohua's prospective son-in-law from the city. He was harassing the girl from Zhongjiawan. He was the one who almost got beaten to death last time."
"Wang Mazi, didn't you also come out to stop the fight? You were hit by the security guards with stones."
"Oh, I remember, I remember, that kid's howling startled me, it almost tripped me on the threshold!"
"His nose was covered in blood! It was terrifying."
"Later I heard that even the county's public security officers were alarmed."
"Yes, yes, I saw it too. It seems the one who hit her was a member of the security team. He said he just happened to run into her and saved the girl."
"I heard she's getting married next month, and her fiancé is a teacher at the town's elementary school!"
"You know, when people are at their wits' end and encounter something like this, who can they turn to for justice? The Huang Baohua family is making such a scene; aren't they just forcing people to die?"
"A young lady acting like this, who can stand it? It's so embarrassing!"
"Let's go, let's follow them and see what's going on inside. Who knows what secrets we might not know?"
"Don't people always say that flies don't land on eggs without cracks?"
"Why would someone drag her into the woods when there are so many people in town?"
"It's probably that girl from Zhongjiawan who acted improperly and ruined Huang Baohua's son-in-law."
"Look how angry Xie Dapeng's family is. I heard that their son-in-law has been sent to the forest farm for education."
"The golden hen that lays eggs in your hands has flown away. Tsk tsk tsk, if it were me, I would be furious too."
"You should watch your mouth, people say flies can land anywhere..."
Lu Jingzhi was watering flowers at the door when he saw a crowd of people shouting and cursing as they rushed towards his house. His pupils dilated, and he quickly stepped into the house with trembling legs and bolted the door.
Why is this happening? Weren't they supposed to protect witness privacy? Weren't they supposed to keep it confidential?
The bad guy's punishment had just been handed down, and now...
Hearing the faint noise outside, Zhong Linfang put down her needlework and came out.
"Grandma, what's all the noise outside?"
"What are you doing out here? Hurry up and go inside, hurry up and go inside."
"Bang bang bang~"
A violent banging on the door rang out.
Each sound felt like a blow to Lü Jingzhi's heart.
"What's that bitch's name? Zhong Linfang, right?"
"Zhong Linfang, you shameless little slut, come out here..."
Huang Baohua, her face contorted with rage, picked up a piece of rubble from the side and slammed it against the door.
"I told you not to seduce men, I told you not to ruin people..."
"If you dare do such a shameless thing, then come out! Now you know how to hide it~ Pah~"
Huang Baohua's son, Huang Hongjun, was even more irreverent, shouting in a sarcastic and unpleasant voice.
"Zhong Linfang, come on~ let's come out and have some fun~"
"We're no worse off than those city people!"
Inside the house, Lü Jingzhi held his pale granddaughter tightly in his arms, his face ashen.
Zhong Linfang nestled in her grandmother's arms, "Grandma, Grandma, she... they know~"
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, don't listen to their nonsense, don't listen!"
Lu Jingzhi raised his hands, trembling, to cover his granddaughter's ears.
But the foul language and sharp shouts from outside still pierced Zhong Linfang's mind like needles.
Even though they had considered the possibility of facing some gossip and public opinion, they did not expect it to come so fiercely.
Hearing the foul shouts and curses outside, Zhong Linfang felt a surge of anger and almost fainted on the spot.
She bit her tongue hard, trying to regain a bit of clarity.
"No, no, that's not how it is..."
"They're lying, boohoo, Grandma, they're lying~"
"I didn't, I didn't..."
Most of the villagers in Zhongjiawan who were at home came out to join in the fun.
Behind the Zhong family's house, an old lady who was close to Lü Jingzhi watched the farce outside and hurriedly waved and called out to her daughter-in-law.
"Cuihua, Cuihua".
“Your Aunt Lu’s family is all old and young, and there’s no man at home. Captain, hurry up and find the captain to come back.”
"This is outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous! Do they really think Zhongjiawan is easy to bully?"
"Is this the Xie family? They're taking advantage of their own village's size to cause trouble in our Zhongjiawan. Go to the fields and find the brigade leader."
"Okay, Mom, I'm going right now."
The old lady looked at her daughter-in-law's large pregnant belly and said, "Be careful, be careful."
Huang Baohua knocked on the door for a while. The door was bolted from the inside, so she knew the person was hiding inside and wouldn't come out.
"Dapeng, come here, take this door down and drag that piece of junk out for everyone to see."
Zhong Linfang looked at the shaking wooden door and cried out in terror, "Grandma!"
A fierce glint flashed in Lü Jingzhi's eyes, and he quickly pushed his granddaughter into the inner room.
"Go inside, leave the rest to Grandma."
He pushed Zhong Linfang into the inner room and closed the door, then picked up a wood-chopping knife from behind the door.
With a swish, the bolt was pulled off.
Ouch~
Xie Dapeng, who was lifting the door, missed his target and fell face-first into the doorway.
Before he could get up, a wood-chopping knife slashed down his neck.
Ah~
Xie Dapeng's pupils contracted, and he instinctively dodged backward. The woodcutter's knife grazed his forehead and slashed down, sinking three-tenths of an inch into the muddy ground.
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