Chapter 20: Want a Fight? Bring It On. Who’s Afraid?
Erhu’s mother never expected Wen Yao to charge at her directly. With that sudden impact, she was knocked straight into her own courtyard. By the time she recovered, Wen Yao was already standing at the doorway, towering over her with a glare like a furious little beast, leaving her momentarily stunned.
“You little bitch, how dare you push me!” she shrieked and scrambled up, lunging toward Wen Yao.
But Wen Yao wasn’t stupid—she turned and ran.
Erhu’s mother chased after her, cursing every foul word she could think of, but Wen Yao was as slippery as an eel in a rice paddy. No matter how she lunged, she couldn’t catch her.
Fuming and out of breath, Erhu’s mother resorted to shouting for help. The rest of the Li family, hearing the commotion, rushed out, only to find her bent over, panting, pointing at Wen Yao.
“Catch that little bitch! I’m going to beat her to death today!”
The Li family were butchers in Gutong Village and considered themselves the wealthiest household in the area. Arrogant and domineering, Erhu’s mother was burly and imposing, and Erhu’s father, Li San, was tall and muscular. Erhu had an older brother and two younger brothers.
Because of their wealth and Erhu’s mother giving birth to so many sons, the villagers rarely dared cross them, even though everyone knew they weren’t exactly decent people.
Li Erhu was the village bully among the kids. He picked on anyone he didn’t like, and those he bullied couldn’t out-talk or out-fight him, so they could only swallow their grievances.
No one expected him to be tripped up today by Wen Yao, that quiet little girl from the Wen family.
Even more shocking, Wen Yao—raised to be obedient and demure by Liu-shi, who never let her leave the house—was now throwing punches? That was practically the biggest scandal Gutong Village had ever seen.
Li Dahu, the eldest son, was the same age as Wen Jun and had always considered himself the most outstanding youth in the village. But he despised Wen Jun, who not only inherited Liu-shi’s good looks but was also literate. If not for Wen Xiuyi’s scandals, there’d be plenty of girls lining up to marry Wen Jun. That alone made the always-proud Li Dahu feel inferior and even more hostile toward the Wen family.
Li Erhu was two years younger than Wen Yao but stood a full head taller. At Erhu’s mother’s command, he and his brothers tried to corner Wen Yao.
Li San helped Erhu’s mother up and roared, “You dare come to my house looking for trouble? Catch her!”
With the two brothers flanking her, Wen Yao’s eyes darted around. Just as she was about to be surrounded, she slipped under Li Dahu’s arm like a mudfish, and the two brothers collided into each other and crashed to the ground.
The scene was so ridiculous that Wen Yao doubled over laughing, unable to straighten her back. Even the crowd of onlookers burst into laughter.
“All brawn, no brains,” Wen Yao scoffed.
Li Erhu had never been humiliated like this before. He scrambled up, howling, “I’m going to kill you!”
Wen Ying arrived leading the Wen family elders just in time to see Wen Yao surrounded by the entire Li family—even Li’s two youngest boys, five and six years old, were taking swings.
Seeing that Wen Yao was about to be overwhelmed, Granny Luo’s face turned cold.
“Wen Nong! Wen Jin! Wen Fa! Still standing there? Can’t you see your cousin’s being beaten?”
At her command, Wen Nong and Wen Fa, along with twelve-year-old Wen Jin from the third branch, all shouted and charged forward.
“Li Dahu, what are you doing? You’re a grown man bullying a girl. Don’t you feel ashamed?” Wen Nong stepped in front of Wen Yao, glaring at Li Dahu.
Sparks flew between the young men.
Li Dahu wanted nothing more than to tear Wen Yao apart. He spat viciously, “Wen Nong, mind your own business. Move!”
Wen Nong stood tall. “What? You want a fight? Come on then. Who’s afraid?”
“If you don’t move, I’ll beat the hell out of you too,” Li Dahu growled, finger nearly jabbing Wen Nong in the face.
Old Man Wen and Granny Luo pushed through the crowd and entered.
“Who are you calling ‘hell’? You think you’re somebody’s elder? Li San, is this how you raise your sons?” Granny Luo snapped.
Li San sneered. Seeing that the whole Wen family was here—except that useless Xiuyi—he said coldly, “Granny Wen, your brat came to my door throwing rocks and beat my wife. If I don’t teach her a lesson, what’s to stop everyone from doing the same?”
The Wen family turned to Wen Yao, stunned.
This quiet girl… was that fierce?
Wen Yao realized she had to speak up before they twisted the story. She quickly pinched herself, and tears welled up instantly.
“Grandpa, Grandma—sob sob—you’re finally here! They bullied us, they bullied us too much!” she wailed and dropped to the ground, sobbing loudly.
Datou broke free from Wen Di’s hand and ran to Wen Yao, trying to wipe her tears with his little hands.
Taking the opportunity as she hugged him, Wen Yao whispered one word in his ear, “Cry.”
Datou froze for just a moment, then those big eyes filled with tears. In less than three seconds, they were spilling down his cheeks.
Wen Yao almost wanted to give him an award for that performance.
Compared to her loud sobbing, Datou’s silent, pitiful tears—his trembling little body and frightened glances at the Li family—tugged at everyone’s hearts.
Finally, someone couldn’t take it anymore. “Li San, Granny Wen—maybe we should hear the kids out first?”
Li San glared at the speaker. “What’s there to ask? She threw a rock at my house and beat my wife. Everyone saw it! Unless the Wen family gives me an explanation today, this won’t end.”
Granny Luo didn’t even glance at him. She just looked at the sobbing siblings and asked calmly, “Wen Yao, why’d you throw the rock and hit someone?”
Wen Yao’s sobs turned to hiccups. She’d started out faking it, but now she was genuinely crying. “Li—Li Erhu called Datou an unwanted mute without a mother. He hit Datou too! Look, he’s all bruised!”
She yanked up Datou’s sleeve, revealing a big purple bruise on his arm.
Wen Ying jumped in, “Grandma, Second Sis is telling the truth. I was there! I told them not to say that to Datou, and Li Erhu hit me too!”
“Li Erhu, how dare you hit my sister!” Wen Nong and Wen Fa shouted in unison, ready to pounce and beat Li Erhu into the dirt.
