Chapter 48: Husband

Zhou Qing's heart skipped a beat.

Could something have happened to Wang Qiang?

Has someone actually served the people?^[1]

Wang Qiang's mother, after being pushed down, got up and lunged at Zhou Qing again.

"You little slut, seducing men! What did my Wang family ever do to you that you have to harm my son? Tell me! Tell me where you've taken my son, you shameless whore!"

Wang Qiang's mother crazily charged at Zhou Qing. Zhou Huaishan, who was already at the door, rushed over like a gust of wind. Before Shen Li could act, Zhou Huaishan kicked Wang Qiang's mother away.

"Get lost! Your son's missing, go find him! What does it have to do with my daughter?"

Zhou Huaishan, who had been a dandy all his life, didn’t believe in the common decency of not hitting his sister-in-law.

Let alone his sister-in-law's sister.

He only knew one thing: anyone who bullied his daughter was a bastard.

After kicking Wang Qiang's mother, Zhou Huaishan stood next to Zhou Qing, alongside Shen Li, forming a pair of gatekeepers to protect her.

Wang Qiang's mother never expected that Zhou Huaishan, usually too cowardly to even fart in public, would dare to hit her.

As she sat on the ground wailing, Wang Qiang's mother slapped her thigh and screamed, "I can't live anymore! What's the point of living after being kicked by my in-laws? How can I live with this shame?"

At the mention of "in-laws," Sun's face turned pale. She quickly glanced at Zhou Huaishan, wanting to run over and shut Wang Qiang's mother up.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps came from outside.

Luckily, Zhou Qing and the others didn't seem to catch on to the term "in-laws." Seeing no reaction from them, Sun breathed a sigh of relief.

The clan leader led the way, followed by Old Zhou, Zhou Huaihai and his wife, Wang Qiang's father, and a stern-looking old man Zhou Qing didn't recognize. They all entered with serious expressions.

Before they could speak, Shen Li spoke first, looking at the clan leader.

"There's a commotion in the middle of the night, and no one knows why. Since it's disturbed even you, it must be serious. However, this is still my home."

With that, Shen Li glanced at the stern-looking old man beside the clan leader.

The clan leader spoke directly, "Wang Qiang has been missing for a day and a night. Someone saw him and Qing entering an abandoned temple to shelter from the rain. The Wang family came to ask about it."

Shen Li responded, "Just asking? The kind of asking that involves hitting people?"

This sentence wasn’t directed at the clan leader but at the old man beside him, with a tone full of hostility.

He was, after all, the head of a shadow organization, having experienced bloodshed and violence. His cold demeanor now exuded a menacing aura.

The old man felt a chill under Shen Li's gaze.

The clan leader, however, felt a sense of satisfaction. 

Someone from Wang Village went missing and they came to Qingyang Village looking for them, causing such a big commotion, without showing any respect to him as the clan leader.

Zhou Huaihai, seeing Shen Li's attitude, angrily said, "What's with your attitude? How can you speak to Wang Clan Leader like that? Do you think you have any reason to be this way?"

Shen Li retorted, "What kind of attitude should I have? This is Qingyang Village, not Wang Village. Why is the Wang Clan Leader acting all high and mighty here?"

Clan Leader: ...

Young man, you're quite articulate.

Wang Clan Leader: ...

When did I act high and mighty?

The Wang Clan Leader glared fiercely at Wang Qiang's mother, "Ask properly."

Wang Qiang's mother, fuming, got up from the ground, gritted her teeth, and glaring at Zhou Qing, "Did you see Wang Qiang on the day it rained?"

Zhou Qing replied, "No."

"You're lying! Someone saw you and Wang Qiang entering an abandoned temple together!" Wang Qiang's mother screeched.

"Someone? Who? Give me a name!"

Zhou Qing didn’t believe it. It was raining so heavily that day, who could have seen her and Wang Qiang entering an abandoned temple?

Standing beside Zhou Qing, Shen Li coldly eyed Wang Qiang's mother.

"If someone saw Wang Qiang and Zhou Qing entering the temple together, and now Wang Qiang is missing, report it to the authorities. Since you don't believe anything we say, why waste time? Report it."

As soon as Shen Li said this, Sun and Wang exchanged a glance.

Zhou Huaihai lowered his head, his eyes flickering as he looked to the side.

Wang's brother-in-law and his wife were furious, "Report it? Fine, don't think we'll be scared by reporting it! The truth is on our side! Let’s report it now!"

The clan leader glanced at Old Zhou and said to the Wang Clan Leader, "Then report it to the authorities. What do you think?"

"No," Zhou Huaihai immediately objected.

The clan leader looked at him.

Zhou Huaihai licked his lips, saying, "It's the middle of the night, there won't be anyone at the government office. Even if we report it, it won't be until tomorrow. If we waste a night's time and something happens to Wang Qiang..."

Wang Qiang's mother immediately started wailing, "If something happens to Qiang, I can't live anymore."

With red eyes, she glared at Zhou Qing, "Where is Qiang? He's your husband, you can't be so heartless!"

Zhou Qing: ...

What?

Zhou Huaishan's eye twitched, "What nonsense are you spouting? How is your bastard son my son-in-law? Since when is he our son-in-law!"

Shen Li's eyes glinted with a murderous intent.

Wang Qiang's mother spat, "Your family accepted our betrothal gift. The two children exchanged their birthdates, and the marriage contract was written. If Zhou Qing isn't my daughter-in-law, then what is she!"

"When did my family accept your betrothal gift?" Zhou Huaishan raged.

Wang Qiang's mother gritted her teeth, "Two days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, your family accepted ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift. What, you want to deny it? I'll tell you, if my son is fine, you'll marry him honestly. If something happens to him, even if he dies, you'll follow him to the grave!"

Zhou Huaishan was so angry he trembled. He raised his hand and slapped Wang Qiang's mother across the face.

Slap!

The slap was loud and clear.

"Bullshit! When did I accept your ten taels of silver? You'll follow him to the grave, your whole family will!"

Zhou Huaishan suddenly erupted. No one had a chance to react. After the slap, Wang Qiang's mother stumbled to one side.

Wang Qiang's father quickly reached out to support her.

The clan leader and the Qingyang Village clan leader were dumbfounded.

Zhou Huaishan?

Hitting people?

Hitting women?

"What are you doing hitting people? Are you even human?" Zhou Huaihai grabbed Zhou Huaishan, ready to punch him.

Zhou Huaishan pushed Zhou Huaihai away.

"Get lost! What do you think you are? So what if I hit people? She slandered my daughter, I can't hit her? Never mind her, I'll hit you too!"

Zhou Huaihai couldn't withstand Zhou Huaishan's shove. To avoid being at a disadvantage, he quickly let go.

"You... you... you have no respect for the law!" Zhou Huaihai yelled, seething with rage.

Zhou Huaishan grabbed Wang Qiang's father's collar, glaring at him angrily, "Who accepted your silver? Who exchanged the birthdates?"

Wang Qiang's father tried to break free, but his wrist suddenly went numb from a mysterious impact, couldn’t muster any strength.

"Your mother accepted it. What, trying to back out now? The marriage contract is set, denying it is useless!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huaishan immediately understood what was happening.

He pushed Wang Qiang's father aside and turned to grab Zhou Huaihai's collar.

"Why are you grabbing me? Let go, let go!"

Zhou Huaihai, fearing another beating from Zhou Huaishan, shouted urgently, trying to pry Zhou Huaishan's hand off.

Zhou Huaishan punched him in the eye.

Zhou Huaihai immediately saw stars.

Bang!

In that moment, Zhou Huaihai felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck.

Zhou Qing had picked up a wooden stick and hit Zhou Huaihai hard.

Zhou Huaihai staggered forward from the pain, and Zhou Qing kicked him.

Failing to keep his balance, Zhou Huaihai fell with a thud. Zhou Qing, holding a rope, pounced on him and wrapped it around his neck.

"What are you doing?"

"Let go of your uncle!"

"Qing, calm down!"

...

The scene became chaotic as Zhou Qing tightened the rope around Zhou Huaihai's neck.

Shen Li silently flicked a small stone at Zhou Huaihai, preventing him from getting up.

The clan leader’s breath caught in his throat, "Qing, listen to me, let go, let go, this could turn deadly."

Zhou Qing held the rope tightly, choking Zhou Huaihai.

"Third Grandfather, I just want to know, how did I get betrothed to someone? Who arranged it? You know exactly what kind of person Wang Qiang is, right? Who sold me for ten taels of silver! If we can’t resolve this today, I won’t live either, but I’ll take someone down with me."

If Wang Qiang’s mother hadn’t caused a scene today, she wouldn’t have known she already had a husband!

Sun picked up a stick from the ground and hit Zhou Qing.

"Damned girl, let go, let go!"

Zhou Huaihai was being strangled by Zhou Qing, and Sun was trembling with fear.

Shen Li grabbed the raised stick from Sun and stood next to Zhou Qing.

Sun couldn't swing the stick down, and seeing Zhou Huaihai's face turning purple from suffocation, she cried in panic and knelt down in front of Zhou Qing.

"Qing, take it out on me, let go of your uncle, let go."

Zhou Qing ignored her, her eyes fixed on Old Zhou.

Zhou Huaishan stood beside Zhou Qing and roared angrily, "Speak, what is going on!"

No one expected things to escalate this far.

Old Zhou felt a pain in his chest and couldn't catch his breath.

Sun, with tears streaming down her face, sobbed, "I took the silver, I exchanged the birthdates, Qing, if you're angry, take it out on me, let go of your uncle."

Zhou Qing then said to the clan leader, "Third Grandfather, shouldn't I get an explanation for this?"

The clan leader replied, "Qing, let go of your uncle, and I will give you justice."

"Third Grandfather, I've always listened to you, but this time, please help me resolve this first."

_____

Footnotes:

[1] It implies that she's considering whether someone might have taken action against Wang Qiang for the good of the community.