Chapter 514: Old Case 2
514 Old Case 2
At Wang Mugen's home, Tao Pandi watched his son tell the truth about the man's death.
It turned out that when Wang Mugen was twelve years old, Tao Pandi's nephew from her mother's side was getting married, and the money for the bride price was not enough, so Tao Pandi's brother came to find Tao Pandi.
"Pandi, I'm really at my wit's end. I've borrowed from all the relatives around me, but I still can't get enough money for the bride price. I have no choice but to come to you to find a solution." Tao Pandi's brother complained while drinking the sugar water poured by his sister.
Tao Pandi also said sadly: "The money in the family was given to mom last time. Now, apart from the tuition for Mugen, there is not a penny left. Even the tuition was borrowed by the child's father."
Tao Pandi's elder brother also sighed and said, "Brother-in-law is more capable than us. He can even borrow money for his children's education. Unlike us, we can't even borrow money. Your nephews only went to school for one year and then stopped. Alas, it's useless to study so much. They still have to go home to farm in the end."
Tao Pandi agreed, "That's what I said, too. But your brother-in-law is sometimes stubborn and won't listen. I told him a long time ago not to send Mugen to school, but he said I was just a woman. What a waste of money. I'd rather buy some pork and send it back to my parents' home."
Tao Pandi's brother's eyes sparkled and he said, "Mom misses you every day at home. When you have time, go home more often to see mom and dad. It's okay to go back empty-handed. Mom and dad won't blame you. Besides, you still have me, your brother. If I have something to eat, you will definitely have something to eat. Your nephews also said they want to provide for aunt in her old age."
Tao Pandi was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. Wang Mugen, who was hiding in the crack of the door and eavesdropping, curled his lips in dissatisfaction. This uncle was very good at talking and often coaxed his mother into giving him all the good things in the house.
Wang Mugen didn't dare to go out either. His uncle beat people very hard, but his mother didn't protect him. Instead, she helped to beat him. His uncle also said that he was helping to educate him, otherwise he would become a bad person in the future. Then his mother was very grateful.
From then on, whenever his uncle came, he would hide and stay far away. Today, as soon as he entered the house, he heard his uncle talking at the door, so he had to hide in the utility room.
This utility room used to be where my grandparents lived. After they passed away, this room was used to store utensils - wooden barrels, baskets, etc.
There was a crack in the middle of the door of this room, which was just right for him to peek. He wanted to see what his mother was going to give his uncle today.
Wang Mugen saw his mother standing by the table for a while, and then she seemed to have made some important decision.
He saw his mother enter the room, and after a while she came out with something wrapped in a handkerchief.
When they reached the table, his mother opened the handkerchief. His eyes suddenly widened. Wrapped in the handkerchief was a handful of dimes and a few cents. He guessed that the money should be the tuition money his father prepared for him.
He wanted to rush out and grab it back, wanted to yell that it was his tuition fee, but he didn't dare to move his legs.
He still remembered that one time when he tried to rob the money his mother gave to his uncle, his uncle grabbed him by the neck and held him in the air. The feeling was terrible, as if he was drowned and unable to breathe.
He heard his mother say, "This is the tuition money prepared for Mugen. Since my nephew doesn't have enough money for the bride price, and I, as his aunt, don't have much money either, I'll use this little money to make up for it."
Tao Pandi's brother took the money from the handkerchief one by one with a look of disgust, saying, "Alas, this is not enough, it's still far from enough."
Wang Mugen wanted to rush out and yell, "If it's not enough, don't take it. This is my tuition."
Wang Mugen didn't shout out, but someone at the door shouted out.
"What are you doing?" Wang Mugen's father walked in from outside with his trouser legs rolled up high. It was obvious that he had just returned from the fields.
Wang Mugen's father walked to the table and took a look. What was there to understand? The handkerchief wrapped in the money was there, but the money was gone. He knew without guessing that it was taken away by his brother-in-law.
"Dad, you're back." Tao Pandi said guiltily.
Tao Pandi's brother looked down on this weak man, but he was very good at saving face and shouted with a smile: "Brother-in-law, you are back. Oh, you must be tired, Pandi, why don't you go and get some water for your brother-in-law."
Wang Mugen ignored this smiling brother-in-law and turned to his wife, shouting, "Where's the money? Where's the money wrapped in the handkerchief?"
Tao Pandi suddenly shouted, "Money, money, money, you only know how to ask for money. My eldest nephew doesn't have enough money for the betrothal gift, so I'm going to help my brother get some. What do you think? That little money is not enough for my brother. If you lend me more, will my brother still not be able to get enough?"
Wang Mugen's father was stunned for a moment, then he yelled back: "That was borrowed to pay for my son's tuition, how could you give it out? And you think it's too little? If you think it's too little, don't give it."
After Wang Mugen's father yelled at his wife, he turned to Tao Pandi's brother and said, "Brother, that money is for Mugen's tuition. School will start the day after tomorrow. Without tuition, there will be no school. Give me back the money."
Tao Pandi's brother said, "Brother-in-law, what you said is wrong. This is a wedding gift given by Pandi to her eldest nephew. How can a gift given out be returned?"
Tao Pandi's brother said to Tao Pandi again: "Pandi, please talk to your brother-in-law nicely. I will leave first. I still need to borrow money from others."
Tao Pandi's brother turned around and left, but Wang Mugen's father stopped him and said, "Brother, give me back the money."
"No, if you give it to me, I'm mine."
"I'm sorry."
So, one of them refused to return the money, and the other started to snatch it from the other's pocket.
Tao Pandi's brother likes to cheat and act slyly when doing his work. He is no match for people who work honestly.
The money in Tao Pandi's brother's clothes pocket was taken out, some of it fell on the ground, and some of it was held in the hands of Wang Mugen's father.
Tao Pandi's brother yelled angrily: "Pandi, why are you still standing there? Come and help."
Upon hearing the sound, Tao Pandi also rushed over and tied her man tightly with both hands. Her brother tried to pry the money out of her hands by breaking her fingers.
Wang Mugen's father clenched his hands tightly and tried hard to break free from his wife. Tao Pandi hugged the man with both hands as if hugging a tree, and the man could not struggle free for a while.
Tao Pandi's brother tried to pry his fingers open for a long time but failed. In anger, he grabbed the bowl of sugar water he had just drunk on the table and smashed it.
Blood suddenly gushed out of Wang Mugen's father's head. Tao Pandi was so scared that he loosened his hand and pushed the man away. The man who was knocked unconscious fell to the corner of the table and was injured again.
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