CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: WHAT DO YOU WANT?

"Help? What help! Do you think that wretched woman hasn’t humiliated me enough? Get lost!"

Aunt Liu’s husband, Liu Dazhu, has been feeling aggrieved these past few days. His wife was exposed for having a relationship with another man, worse yet, someone saw it!

Being seen was bad enough, but for it to be publicly talked about, and then for her to rush up and hit someone... that’s basically admitting it!

How could he have married such a foolish woman!

Send her to the government, just do away with her, then he can marry someone else!

As Liu Dazhu angrily spoke, his son beside him burst into tears: "I want my mum, I want my mum, I can’t lose my mum, waa waa waa..."

"Old Liu, even if your wife is in the wrong, she is still the mother of your child. You can’t let Pang Hu grow up without a mother, can you? A child without a mother is pitiful, and if you marry again, it will just be a stepmother raising him, oh, poor thing!"

An elderly woman nearby, seeing the crying Pang Hu, felt compassion and kindly reminded him.

Liu Dazhu felt somewhat uncomfortable at heart; no matter what, she gave him a son and a daughter, so he couldn’t be too heartless.

Moreover, he clarified the matter, his wife was trying to earn money, and those ten taels of silver were still in her small storeroom, intended for Pang Hu’s future marriage.

Ultimately, it was all for the family. Thinking this, Liu Dazhu’s heart softened, and he said in a milder tone, "It’s too late today, tomorrow morning we’ll ask the Li family together."

Liu Dazhu is the eldest brother, with five younger brothers. The Liu Family had tough times in the early days, needing someone to look after the brothers, so Liu Dazhu worked outside for twenty years. After his brothers married and settled down, he returned home to start a family.

It can be said he did his duty as an elder brother. His five younger brothers having a wife and a meal, all thanks to this elder brother, ensures that if he needs anything, the younger brothers will step up to help.

He planned to be unreasonable, bringing his own brothers to argue with the Li family!

...

"Third Aunt, do you think the Liu Family might come to stir things up?"

Long Yue and the others returned home with Aunt Liu tied up like a dumpling; it was nearly the Chou hour, yet everyone was still anxious, Mrs. Li Zhou especially anxious and scared.

"The Liu Family has six brothers, with Liu Dazhu being the eldest. Those brothers remember the care of the elder brother, and if he calls, our days won’t be peaceful..."

"Mom, what are you afraid of?" Long Yue took a sip of tea and said with a calm smile, "Even if the Liu Family has more people, they still need to be reasonable, right? That woman almost burned our farmland. If we don’t fuss, people will think our Li family is easy to bully, and life would be bad then too?"

Living days being stepped on today and tomorrow, she’d had enough. No one would make her live so miserably again!

"That’s true, but..."

"Mom, brother, sister-in-law, stop worrying. It’s still early, go back to sleep; I’ll handle it tomorrow."

Long Yue felt a bit sleepy. She didn’t want to discuss such pointless matters with them, yawned, got up, and went inside to rest.

Though she said rest, the room’s light turned on.

"Mom, let’s trust Third Sister-in-law; she’s impressive!"

A Qiu’s big eyes turned round, watching the lit room, his little face full of determination. Others might not trust his third sister-in-law, but he did!

...

"Bang bang bang! Has the Li family woken up?"

"Bang bang bang!"

Long Yue was startled awake by a series of loud knocks. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she was grumpy about getting up. She looked out the window and saw it was still somewhat dark, which made her annoyed.

The Liu Family came really early!

"Coming, coming!"

Zhang Meihua, known for having more nerve among the Li family, ran out to open the door as everyone else was too afraid to show themselves. When she opened the door, she was dumbfounded.

"Er, you, you all..."

Zhang Meihua felt her legs trembling, even struggling to speak. She fought the urge to cry and asked with a forced smile, "Brother Liu, is there something you need?"

"Sister from the Li family, we don’t have any trouble, just here to take my wife back."

Though Liu Dazhu brought a few brothers for support, he acknowledged his lack of standing and didn’t want to cause trouble, speaking without escalation.

But to Zhang Meihua, it seemed differently; coming with so many people, they were here to forcibly take her!

"Third sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, the Liu family is here, quick awaken!"

Long Yue didn’t even need Zhang Meihua to call; she had already heard the commotion outside and came out, not bothering with grooming.

"Oh my, third sister-in-law, you see, the Liu family’s here, and so many..."

Zhang Meihua pointed to the crowd of strong men standing outside the door, her voice trembling.

Long Yue calmly glanced over; the Liu family’s six brothers all present, and beyond that, two elder figures—likely their uncles, here for authority presumably.

Under ordinary circumstances, most would be scared and trembling, but Long Yue was unafraid. With a warm smile, she said, "Are you the Liu brothers? Coming so early, there must be something. Please come in, let’s sit and discuss."

Liu Dazhu felt something off; facing so many brothers, shouldn’t they quickly release his wife? But inviting them inside to sit—what’s going on here?

He glanced for help toward the elder beside him.

This was his Third Uncle, who learned some reading early on, had knowledge and was the family’s strategist, often helping with advice, highly respected within the family.

He furrowed his brow slightly, spoke slowly, "We’re here to discuss things, which cannot be solved just with a cup of tea."

"Of course, as I said, let’s talk! Everyone, please?"

The Liu members looked at Long Yue’s seemingly innocent smile, then at the darkened interior of the Li family home, feeling a bad premonition.

But with so many people, admitting fear to the Li family and not daring to enter would be shameful, wouldn’t it? Thus, Third Uncle bravely led Liu Dazhu and his brothers inside.

The Liu family members took up most space on one side, leaving the small Li house occupied.

The Li family watched the solid stature of Liu family members with bated breath while Long Yue still smiled as calmly as before. She gestured for them to sit and gently took the main seat, smiling, "Did you come to take Aunt Liu away?"

"Yes!" said Third Uncle.

"Alright then!" Long Yue said, "We don’t want to be excessively harsh, but Aunt Liu almost burned our fields. Taking her away without considering this wouldn’t seem reasonable, would it?"

"Then what do you want?" Third Uncle asked coldly.

"Simple, compensate us for our losses. If the compensation is satisfactory, we’ll release her, if not... we’ll have to let the law handle it!"