Free Web NovelChapter 441: Chapter 441: Knocked Flat
But Felix Thorne was not so easily appeased. His nerves were stretched taut, and his attention snapped back to the uncle-nephew duo. He remembered how those two bastards had spirited away his precious daughter, and his gaze shot toward them like a dagger.
Goldie Thorne felt like strangling his nephew. ’Why did he have to bring up a sore subject? The matter had already been dropped, but the little brat had to mention it again, even getting him dragged into the beating. I’ll beat that little bastard half to death later.’
Jim Thorne’s calves were trembling, and the hand holding the can of Coke was shaking too. He looked utterly pathetic. Tang Xiaonan was torn between amusement and exasperation. ’What a silly brother.’
"Daddy, I want to drink the Coke."
Tang Xiaonan cried out. She had no other choice but to use this trick to divert Felix Thorne’s attention.
It was an old trick, but it was tried and true. Felix Thorne shot the uncle-nephew duo a vicious glare, snatched the Coke from Jim Thorne’s hands, and looked lovingly at Tang Xiaonan. "Daddy will open it for you."
"Okay, hurry up, Daddy!"
Tang Xiaonan nodded, continuing to urge him on. Felix Thorne glanced at the can and was a little stumped. There wasn’t even an opening. How was he supposed to open it?
Jim Thorne said appeasingly, "You just pull the ring on top, and it’ll open."
In return, he earned another fierce glare. Felix Thorne grunted and hooked his thick finger into the pull-tab. Jim Thorne wanted to warn him not to pull too hard or it would break, but Felix was too fast. Before he could speak, there was a sharp SNAP. The ring was now looped around Felix’s finger; he had indeed pulled it right off.
Jim Thorne started to speak again, but Goldie Thorne kicked him irritably and whispered, "Are you stupid? Let him stay busy. It’d be best if he can’t get it open all night." That way, he wouldn’t remember to settle the score with them.
Jim Thorne’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Goldie Thorne with admiration. ’Uncle Goldie really is the smart one.’
Goldie Thorne was immensely pleased with himself. He pulled his nephew and quietly shuffled toward the doorway. If Felix Thorne remembered them again, this position was good for a quick escape. Spending a night on the mountain was better than getting a beating.
"How’d you break it? Why’d you use so much force? Did you think you were butchering a pig?!" Phoebe Huxley grumbled, dissatisfied.
"I barely used any force! This thing is just flimsy. Not everything from overseas is good," Felix Thorne said, extremely frustrated.
"Just pry it open with a screwdriver. We’re living people; we’re not going to be defeated by a can," Byron Thorne muttered, and went to find a screwdriver.
The whole family gathered around the single can of Coke, busying themselves. With all the CLANGING and CLANKING, anyone who didn’t know better would have thought they were tinsmiths. Tang Xiaonan kept quiet. ’All they have to do is tap the edge of the lid a few times,’ she thought, but decided not to say anything. ’It’s better to let them all stay busy. That’s the only way to save my third brother’s poor butt.’
CLANG!
The crisp sound was followed by a collective gasp from the family, and then by Phoebe Huxley’s complaining voice. "I told you not to use so much force! You knocked the whole lid in. How is Xiaonan supposed to drink it now?"
Tang Xiaonan blinked. ’Knocked it in?’
’What kind of maneuver was that?’
She had been drinking Coke for years and had never seen anyone manage to knock the lid in. ’How on earth did my dad do it?’
Overcome with curiosity, Tang Xiaonan squeezed through and pushed aside Felix Thorne’s arm. The reddish-brown Coke sat on the table, surrounded by the family. Tang Xiaonan climbed onto a stool to look down, and she almost died laughing.
The Coke lid had been knocked out of shape by Felix Thorne; its round form was now flat and a bit curled. One final knock had sent it falling right into the Coke. Felix Thorne picked up the can in frustration and said to Tang Xiaonan, "We can still pour it out to drink."
