Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 41: Fright
"Okay. As long as you’re here, Brother, I’m not scared."
The closer she got, the colder Zhang Minzhen’s heart grew. She could now clearly see what Gu Jinhua was holding, and the eager, excited expressions on the faces of the other Gu family members. She was suddenly grateful her brother had insisted on coming with her. ’Otherwise, I really would have been in for it.’
"So, you’ve brought your sister to apologize? Truly, someone from a major institution knows the right thing to do." Seeing Zhang Wei Qiang and Zhang Minzhen arrive and park their bicycle, Chen Suxiang approached with a smirk, trying to flatter him.
"Apologize? What does my sister have to apologize to the Gu Family for? Shouldn’t your son be the one apologizing? What, are you planning to have your daughter put that pair of ’floozy shoes’ on your son and parade him around town? Don’t worry. Even if your son isn’t willing, I can make that little wish of yours come true."
Zhang Wei Qiang took a step, shielding his sister as he sidestepped the approaching Chen Suxiang. He then quickly parked the bicycle on the side, locked it, and put the key in his pocket.
Chen Suxiang tried several times to get close to the brother and sister, but was frustrated to be dodged every time. Even Gu Jinhua ran over to join the attempt, but the two women found that whether they tried to encircle them or launch a pincer attack, the result was the same.
Since Chen Suxiang and Gu Jinhua couldn’t even get near the siblings, let alone carry out their plan to assault them, Chen Suxiang resorted to a different tactic. She threw herself on the ground, slapped her thighs, and started wailing, turning black to white: "It was your sister who was cheating! She’s the slut! Oh, my poor son! Why didn’t you open your eyes and pick a better wife? You’ve been so wronged! That bitch’s lover threw acid on you, and then the bitch herself stole the family’s savings and ran off, abandoning you! And now her brother from her maiden family is using his good job to bully us..."
Seeing how effective her mother was—her caterwauling had already drawn a crowd of people who had been watching from afar—Gu Jinhua smugly fanned the flames from the side: "There’s not a single good person in the Zhang family! My poor older brother, he’s been completely under that venomous woman Zhang Minzhen’s thumb ever since he married her. Zhang Minzhen is lazy and greedy, she makes my brother do all the housework, and she controls the money only to send it back to her own family! When my brother was hospitalized, she just took the kids and left without a backward glance..."
"My poor, miserable son..." The mother and daughter went back and forth, successfully attracting a circle of onlookers, including employees from the supply and marketing co-op and passing pedestrians.
Ye Rong stayed far away.
Zhang Wei Qiang was so angry he had to laugh.
He stretched, his joints letting out a series of sharp CRACKS. Then, in a blur of motion, before anyone could react, he snatched Gu Lihuang—who was standing on the sidelines watching the spectacle—by the collar. He hauled him over like a kitten, his intimidating presence flaring to life. His voice was loud and clear, ensuring everyone nearby could hear him distinctly:
"So it seems you’re all determined to turn the truth on its head. You have no intention of admitting the fact that Gu Lihui was cheating, fathered fraternal twins with another man’s wife, and got acid thrown on him by her husband for it, is that right?"
Chen Suxiang froze as if she herself were being strangled. She stared in terror at her younger son, whose face had turned beet red. He was clearly unable to breathe, his legs dangling and kicking as he struggled, the whites of his eyes showing. She shrieked, "Let him go! Now! He’s going to die—"
"Don’t worry about it. Since the Gu Family is so determined to lie and leave my sister with no way out, then I might as well throw my own life away too. If he dies, big deal. I’ll just take care of your entire Gu family, one by one, and then turn myself in. Trading my one life for all of yours? I’d say that’s a bargain."
Zhang Wei Qiang sneered, not the least bit hurried. He gave Gu Lihuang, still in his grasp, a little shake. This time his voice was much lower, so that only the nearby Gu family members could hear him.
"Mom, don’t listen to him. He wouldn’t dare." Gu Jinhua was also a little frightened by her younger brother’s condition, but she simply didn’t believe Zhang Minzhen’s brother actually had the guts to kill someone.
"So your brother’s life is worthless, is it? Want to test that theory yourself? As far as I know, your family of four lives nearby, right?" Zhang Wei Qiang’s gaze hardened, his perception of Gu Jinhua’s venomous heart growing even clearer.
He was, in fact, controlling his strength; Gu Lihuang was definitely not in as much danger as he looked, nor was he about to breathe his last. But being held dangling in mid-air was an absolutely wretched experience, and the visual it created for the onlookers was quite dramatic.
But for his own sister to be able to calmly say "he wouldn’t dare" under these circumstances revealed the depths of her cold-blooded, heartless nature. She didn’t even care about her own brother’s safety.
Gu Lihuang struggled for his life, like a fish out of water. He couldn’t speak, so he could only fix a pleading gaze on Chen Suxiang. In his heart, besides immense terror and a powerful will to survive, a deep resentment toward Gu Jinhua was taking root.
He was truly scared to death being choked like this. The moment Gu Jinhua said that the God of Killing "wouldn’t dare," he had felt a tangible, chilling wave of murderous intent wash over him. He had never felt so close to death before.
’He regretted it. This didn’t even concern him, so why the hell did he come to join the spectacle? His own sister... not only did she not try to save him when his life was in danger, she even wanted to kick him while he was down...’
"Put him down! I won’t spout any more nonsense! I’m begging you, please..." Chen Suxiang struggled to her feet, making as if to kneel.
"Stop. Believe it or not, if you kneel or try to pull any other stunts, I can make sure your two sons never stand up on their own legs for the rest of their lives." Zhang Wei Qiang delivered the threat in a deceptively light tone, but it was enough to terrify Chen Suxiang, who had been about to try another trick.
"I won’t! I won’t dare!" Chen Suxiang shuddered in fear and quickly shook her head.
"Brother—" Zhang Minzhen was truly worried seeing Gu Lihuang’s condition. She was terrified that her brother might lose control, and with so many people watching, he would really have to pay for it with his life. She secretly tugged his sleeve from behind and whispered a warning.
"Don’t be scared. It’s fine." Zhang Wei Qiang first turned to comfort her, then released his grip and dropped the man to the ground. He clapped his hands together as if brushing off dirt. "You got off easy."
"COUGH COUGH, COUGH COUGH COUGH..." Clutching his throat and coughing, Gu Lihuang didn’t even bother trying to stand on his rubbery limbs. He simply scrambled on all fours toward Chen Suxiang, his only thought to get as far away from that devil, Zhang Wei Qiang, as possible.
