Chapter 14: The Lingering Worry Finally Dies
Even if he were beaten to death, he wouldn’t teach them.
That brat really deserved a good thrashing!
After going to school, his words became even more infuriating.
Mao Dan clenched his fists, ready to strike Wang Xuewen’s face, but someone quickly reached out to stop him. “Brother, don’t hit his face.”
Hitting his face would be too obvious; it would be hard to explain to the elders at home afterward.
Just as Wang Xuewen was about to be pleased that they were being reasonable, he saw Wang Xuezhou suddenly pull out a rope from somewhere and tie him up. Then he took off his socks and stuffed them into Wang Xuewen’s mouth, while Mao Dan hoisted him over to the edge of a tree.
Mao Dan, used to hard labor, was quite strong. With Wang Xuezhou’s help, the two of them quickly hoisted Wang Xuewen upside down.
Nearby, Wang Jiaoyue crouched anxiously, lowering her voice. “Sister, should we go tell Grandpa and Grandma?”
Wang Chuyue looked pleased. “Let’s wait a bit longer.”
It would be best if Ugly Dan got a serious lesson from Big Brother before they decided whether to complain.
...
When someone is hung upside down, blood rushes to the head within ten minutes.
After five minutes, Wang Xuezhou let his brother lower the captive. “Don’t you think you’re better than us, smarter than us? If you answer one question correctly, I’ll let you go. Nod if you agree.”
“Mmm mmm mmm!” Wang Xuewen frantically nodded.
“Good. First question: Which leg is the longest?”
Wang Xuezhou removed the stinky sock from Wang Xuewen’s mouth. Eagerly, Wang Xuewen answered, “The tallest person has the longest legs.”
Expressionless, Wang Xuezhou stuffed the stinky sock back in. “Wrong! The leg that steps straight to the sky is the longest! Hang him up again.”
Another five minutes passed.
“When beating a dog, you look at its master. When beating a tiger, what do you look at?”
“You... you look at the tiger’s father and mother!”
“Wrong! You look at whether it has guts. Keep him hanging.”
...
“What does our family never eat for breakfast?”
“Never meat!”
“Wrong! Never dinner. Hang him again.”
After several rounds, Wang Xuewen’s glare at Wang Xuezhou changed from anger and defiance to terror.
---
Damn it, who would have told him this was his cousin six years younger? This was pure devilry! He would never bully him again.
...
While the whole family was still enjoying the joy of making money, one afternoon Wang Chengzhi hurried home in a rented carriage, causing a commotion.
He immediately searched for Old Wang, startling the entire household.
Old Wang and Wang Chengyao hurried back from the fields and, seeing Wang Chengzhi’s urgency, their hearts sank. “Second son, what happened?”
Wang Chengzhi got straight to the point: “Father and Third Brother are coming with me to the city. There’s trouble there.”
Old Mrs. Liu anxiously asked, “Is it because of the silk flower business?”
“No.” Wang Chengzhi grabbed Old Wang and Wang Chengyao, ready to leave, while distressed Mrs. Liu stomped her foot. “If not that, then what? You’re killing me with suspense!”
Wang Chengzhi shook his head, unwilling to say a word, and briskly left with the two men.
Everyone at home was in turmoil; even the usually sarcastic Mrs. Gao was silently praying for their safety.
“Second son, you’re already on the way. Just tell me what’s going on!” Old Wang forced calm.
Wang Chengyao quietly stared at his brother, waiting for an explanation.
Wang Chengzhi gritted his teeth. “It’s Big Brother.”
“What?!” Old Wang’s head buzzed. “Your brother? What… what happened to him?” Clutching Wang Chengzhi’s arm tightly, he didn’t let go.
Feeling the grip, Wang Chengzhi realized his father had misunderstood. His face darkened as he explained, “Big Brother isn’t hurt; it’s just…”
That day, Wang Chengzhi was in high spirits, taking the silk flowers to sell as usual in the western part of the city.
When most were sold, he turned into Yudai Alley, where a very generous lady bought all the remaining seven or eight silk flower hairpins without even haggling.
Overjoyed, Wang Chengzhi packed up and prepared to go home.
As he walked, he saw his elder brother Wang Chengzu carrying something, cautiously looking around before stepping forward.
Wang Chengzhi instinctively stepped aside and followed.
His brother didn’t seem to be asking for favors or seeking knowledge—it was suspicious.
He followed Wang Chengzu all the way to the place where he had just sold the silk flowers. Wang Chengzu knocked on the door, and a lady opened it. Seeing him, she warmly embraced him, familiar and intimate.
Judging by her appearance, she was the same woman who had just bought the hairpins.
Shocked, Wang Chengzhi hurried to pack up and rent a carriage to rush back and ask Old Wang for advice.
Old Wang’s face was ashen. After hearing the story, he was silent and speechless.
Wang Chengyao looked at his second brother in shock, silently asking if it was true.
---
After receiving a confirming nod, he gasped.
If this news got home, it would be unimaginable.
Soon, the three arrived at the place Wang Chengzhi had mentioned. Looking at the small courtyard with white walls and black tiles, Old Wang’s face darkened ominously.
“Second son, knock on the door.”
Wang Chengzhi stepped forward and knocked. Soon, Wang Chengzu’s impatient voice came from inside: “Who is it?!”
Footsteps approached, and when the door opened, Wang Chengzu’s mouth fell open. “Father???”
“Get lost!” Old Wang pushed him aside without courtesy and strode inside.
“Father! Wait!” Wang Chengzu shouted, trying to stop them from entering the main room.
A woman’s coquettish voice came from inside: “My dear~ Who’s outside?”
Hearing that voice, Old Wang’s heart sank completely.
He kicked open the door to the room from which the voice came, and the scene inside unfolded before the three.
A woman was lying seductively on the bed, her shoulders bare, hair tousled, her side profile enough to stir imaginations.
“Wretch! Shameless woman!”
Seeing the situation clearly, Old Wang was so furious he was near madness.
“Ah—”
The woman suddenly realized, turned her head, and saw two strange men and an old man in her room. She screamed and hurriedly pulled a quilt over herself.
“Father, father, listen to me, this… this… this is a misunderstanding!”
Wang Chengzu, sweating profusely, rushed in and saw his father's anger, quickly trying to explain.
“Misunderstanding? Explain it to me! I’ve worked my whole life without a penny to spare, spending my money to support your studies, and this is how you repay me? I’ll beat you to death today for being a disgrace!”
Old Wang was enraged. He grabbed a vase at hand and smashed it over Wang Chengzu’s head.
With a crisp crash, the vase shattered.
Old Wang froze; he hadn’t expected his son not to dodge.
Wang Chengzu was stunned; he hadn’t expected his father to actually strike him.