CHAPTER 29: 29: ONE YEAR AGO (PART 2)_1

A year ago...

One day, when the hideous brute went on a violent rampage, the six brothers rushed in to confront her, but their resistance failed, and they ended up battered and bruised.

Big Brother Liang Zhichen, after deep contemplation, said, "From the minor we deduce the major, from the subtle we perceive the apparent. Her actions over these days sufficiently reveal her nature — cruel, sadistic, and immensely strong. Even if we brothers join forces, we are still no match for her. Given the circumstances, we must resort to more circumspect strategies. If she strikes at one of us again, the others must feign ignorance, keep away, avoid her, and never provoke a conflict."

Second Brother Liang Shuyu was sickly, beginning with a fit of violent coughing, "It’s all my fault; I have brought trouble upon our family."

Third Brother Liang Shujun was born with a naturally handsome and dashing appearance, always carrying an air of a rogue, but now he seemed like a frostbitten eggplant, wilted throughout. "It’s me, not Second Brother’s fault, all the mistakes are mine, for I am useless."

Big Brother furrowed his brow, "This is the Liang family’s fate, no one else is to blame, nor is there any need to rush to take this responsibility."

Fourth Brother Liang Haoming, as ever, was reserved and sparing with words, but his expression was filled with despair, his head hung low in listlessness.

Fifth Brother Liang Yuening had the most fiery temper and abruptly cursed, "Dong Dabao is a natural-born calamity. Ever since she came into our household, she has caused nothing but chaos. She butchered Fourth Brother’s dog for meat, snapped Yixuan’s kneecap, and even caused Big Brother to lose the use of his right hand. I truly want to kill her."

"Enough, calm down."

After Big Brother intervened, he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "This is only the beginning; there are still many days ahead. Since she has entered our household as a marital partner and with the marriage contract binding her, unless she marries one of us, she will... have to hang in this limbo for life."

Big Brother’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, "If she dies, and if she dies at our hands, according to the current law, for killing a Marriage Contractor, if one commits the act, all brothers shall be implicated. And if she dies accidentally, according to custom, the Government Office and the Department of Surveillance will investigate us brothers first for any possibility of foul play. We can neither drive her away nor kill her, nor can we scheme against her. And yet, she is so ruthless and violent. Having seen through her brutality, in the coming days, we must be ready to sacrifice the individual to preserve the whole."

In the time that followed, according to Big Brother’s strategy, the six brothers, save for the ailing Second Brother Liang Shuyu, took turns distracting that ugly thing, with one acting as the human punching bag until he was injured, then another taking his place.

The brothers rotated, like the tough Fifth Brother Liang Yuening taking more hits, and the strong Fourth Brother Liang Haoming managing a few more rounds.

Even so, their bodies bore the marks of fresh wounds before the old ones had healed...

And just like that, more than a year passed.

...

Time returns to the present.

Shujun looked at the midday sun, his face tinged with worry.

Yue Ning suddenly pulled Third Brother aside, "Why did you drag me out here? Why didn’t you bring Yixuan out too?"

It’s not that Third Brother didn’t know, with that ugly thing’s temperament, leaving Yixuan inside would surely mean he’d be bullied.

Shujun glanced at him, "Can’t you be a little smarter?"

"Huh?"

"I could tell at a glance that Yixuan must have done something wrong."

Yue Ning’s eyes flickered, suddenly recalling the youngest brother choking that person.

Pausing, Shujun asked, "You know?"

Yue Ning pursed his lips, then hesitantly shared what he knew with Third Brother, "He choked Dong Dabao’s neck, but surely it’s not Yixuan’s fault. Yixuan is the most docile in our family; it must have been Dong Dabao who drove him to it."

Yue Ning may have been simple-minded, but Shujun was filled with suspicion.