Free Web NovelChapter 27: Chapter 27: Threat
Miao Fenghua stormed back to the Tang Family with Su Dan, stick in hand. The house, quiet for barely two minutes, instantly erupted into chaos once more.
The moment Miao Fenghua entered, she began cursing furiously and swinging her stick, plunging the Tang Family home into instant, utter chaos.
"You damned girl, you little bitch! How dare you scare and trick me! See if I don’t beat you to death!" Miao Fenghua attacked Su Li with abandon. She had a stick, and her strength, built from years of manual labor, was considerable. For the moment, all Su Li could do was dodge.
Watching Miao Fenghua screaming bloody murder, Mrs. Tang was so furious she could barely breathe. "In-law, stop! Stop it this instant!"
Miao Fenghua paid her no mind. Not content with just chasing and beating Su Li, she yelled for Su Dan to help. "Dan Dan, quick, help me block her off!"
"Alright," Su Dan replied instantly.
Panicked, Mrs. Tang and the now-recovered Little Tang Mo sprang into action. One tried to snatch Miao Fenghua’s stick while the other latched onto her leg, both trying to protect Su Li.
But Miao Fenghua was a large, powerful woman. Mrs. Tang and Little Tang Mo were no match for her; one was shoved away, and the other was kicked to the ground.
Su Li knew how to handle herself. Free from the threat of Miao Fenghua’s stick, she had twisted Su Dan’s arm and was about to teach him a lesson. But when she saw what was happening, she couldn’t spare him another thought. She immediately let Su Dan go and rushed to help the other two.
She helped Mrs. Tang to her feet and scooped up Little Tang Mo, but before she could react, Miao Fenghua’s stick came down, striking her hard across the back.
Su Li grunted in pain. She hadn’t been able to dodge while protecting Mrs. Tang and Little Tang Mo; now, her movements were completely restricted. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
In just that brief moment, Su Li took several more blows, and the pain drained the color from her face.
Su Li clenched her jaw, refusing to let go of Little Tang Mo. She had fought so hard to get him back; she wouldn’t let him get hurt now.
’As for protecting Mrs. Tang, it’s not because I’m some kind of saint. Whether she lives or dies is none of my business.’ But right now, Su Li had to protect her. She couldn’t let Miao Fenghua and Su Dan hurt Mrs. Tang.
’It’s for one reason only: to secure a clean divorce and leave this place for good. I don’t want Mrs. Tang’s injury to become another endless entanglement with the Tang Family. When I leave, it will be a clean break.’
’Miao Fenghua and Su Dan are my mother and brother. If they hurt Mrs. Tang, outsiders will see it as *me* hurting her! How can I let that happen?’ frёeωebɳovel.com
’I have to leave cleanly, with no ties to them for the rest of my life!’
With these thoughts racing through her mind, Su Li gritted her teeth and shielded Mrs. Tang and Little Tang Mo with all her might. Of course, neither of them knew what she was thinking. Seeing her protect them so fiercely, how could they not be moved?
Little Tang Mo let out a loud WAIL, crying and struggling as he tried to shield Su Li. "Don’t hit my mommy! Stop hitting her!"
"Somebody, help! Help us!" Mrs. Tang screamed for help, but no one came.
"What are you yelling for? I’m not hitting you!" Hearing Mrs. Tang’s cries, Miao Fenghua, who was already brandishing her stick with gritted teeth, felt a flash of murderous intent. She actually swung the stick at Mrs. Tang.
Su Li’s face paled. She threw herself at Miao Fenghua with all her might, knocking her aside. "Stop!"
Miao Fenghua was incredibly strong. Mrs. Tang was elderly; a single blow from that stick would seriously injure her. The same went for Little Tang Mo. He was so small, he could never withstand such a strike. It wouldn’t be surprising if one hit killed him.
Knocked aside, Miao Fenghua staggered before regaining her footing. She spat into her palms and snorted. "You damned girl. You dare to push me."
She looked insufferably smug. "Hurry up and cough up the money. We’re broke back home. As a daughter, you owe me your filial piety, and as a sister, you have to help your brother! The family is in trouble, so just give me some of the money Tang Yuanxiao sent you!"
Su Li’s gaze was heavy as she stared at Miao Fenghua. "Mom, what you and my brother are doing right now isn’t just scrounging for money. It’s a crime. You can go to jail for this. Think carefully about whether you want to continue, or you’ll regret it later!"
"Pah! Regret my ass! The only one who’s going to have regrets is you! Now tell me where the money is," Miao Fenghua snapped impatiently. "All you do is protect that little brat and your mother-in-law. You’re heartless! I’m your real mother!"
Su Li’s expression was grim. "Mom, I’m telling you the truth. You need to think this through."
Miao Fenghua spat. "Don’t even think about tricking me again. ’A crime,’ ’jail time’... why don’t you just say they’ll execute me by firing squad! Now, where’s the money?"
Su Li’s face fell completely. "Don’t even think about getting your hands on the Tang Family’s money."
"Damn girl, still talking tough." She looked at Su Dan. "Dan Dan, you go find it."
"Fine." Su Dan had been waiting impatiently. He immediately kicked open the door to Su Li’s room and started ransacking the place.
"Stop it!" Burning with rage, Su Li lunged forward to stop Su Dan.
Miao Fenghua swung her stick at her. "Damn girl, you stay right where you are."
The blow sent Su Li falling to her knees. Miao Fenghua brandished the stick triumphantly, looking down on the three of them.
"Don’t move, and stop your wailing. I’m not afraid of you lot. The Tang Family even built a tile-roofed house, you’re living so well, but you can’t even be bothered to help out your own relatives. Since you’re so heartless, don’t blame me for being rough. I’m not leaving today until I ’borrow’ some money. Move again, and don’t blame this stick for not having eyes!"
Su Li’s eyes were red with fury. Watching the thuggish behavior of Miao Fenghua and Su Dan, she held back Mrs. Tang, who was about to charge forward. Then she gently patted Little Tang Mo, who was sobbing uncontrollably in her arms, also wanting to attack Miao Fenghua. Finally, she just sat down on the floor.
She sat there on the floor, a wretched sight. Her back and legs, where she’d been hit, throbbed and trembled with pain, but her eyes held nothing but cold resolve.
"Miao Fenghua. Su Dan. What you are doing now is home invasion, robbery, intentional assault, and making violent threats. Every single one of those is a crime that means paying compensation and going to jail. I am giving you one last chance to stop. If you don’t, I will call the police, and after that, there will be no turning back."
Su Li spoke, her tone calm and icy.
"Go ahead, call them. Call them all you want," Miao Fenghua retorted impatiently, her attention focused on Su Dan.
"Fine. As it happens, I know a police officer. He’s a fair man, and he will see that justice is done for us. Once we’re at the station, the law will decide your punishment."
Su Li stated this calmly and seriously. This time, she wasn’t bluffing; everything she said was true. Their actions truly did constitute a crime.
Unfortunately, neither Miao Fenghua nor Su Dan took her seriously. Su Dan continued to rummage through Su Li’s room, his head down, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
Miao Fenghua heard her, though, and she scoffed. "Damn girl, still trying to scare your mother? Go on, make all the reports you want. I’d like to see who dares to arrest me."
She waved the stick. "I refuse to believe the police are so bored they’d get involved in a trivial family squabble like this. If they did, they’d be worked to death."
Miao Fenghua let out a few loud, arrogant laughs before calling out to Su Dan, "Dan Dan, did you find anything?"
"No, nothing." Su Dan’s voice was laced with frustration. He kicked at the textbooks Su Li had gotten from Teacher Liang. "Locking up a few crappy books. It’s ridiculous."
Stepping on the books, he came out impatiently. "Su Li, where did you hide the money?"
"There is no money," Su Li said flatly.
"Damn girl, still acting tough," Su Dan cursed. Then, a cunning glint flashed in his eyes. "If you can’t give us the cash, then take us to pick up the money your brother-in-law mailed back. It was a full sixty yuan! I saw it in the letter, so don’t even think about denying it."
Miao Fenghua’s eyes lit up. "That’s right! Take us to get the money. If you don’t do as you’re told..."
Her gaze fell on Tang Mo in Su Li’s arms, and a murderous glint flashed in her eyes. "If you don’t obey, I’ll kill this little burden!"
"You dare!" A murderous glint flashed in Su Li’s own eyes, her gaze terrifyingly sharp.
