Chapter 80: The Arm Cannot Twist the Thigh

Jia Guimin sneered in confrontation: "This is our family business, Li Jiutang. You're overstepping your bounds."

"I don't care to meddle in other people's business, but I'm meddling in this Luo family affair," Li Jiutang said, standing with his hands behind his back, expressionless. "I'll say this today: if you continue to unreasonably make Luo Yuezhen's life miserable, I'll make your family's life miserable."

"You useless old woman, you really are asking for trouble, causing a scene on New Year's!"

Luo Yuezhen's second uncle, Luo Zhonglin, cursed as he walked into the yard and kicked Jia Guimin: "You're a disgrace, get home!"

Jia Guimin was stunned; was he rebelling? Then she saw the old man winking at her, and the words she was about to spit out were swallowed back.

Luo Zhonglin said with a fawning smile: "Village Chief, the old woman doesn't know any better. Please forgive her; I'll take her home now."

Jia Guimin was dragged away by Luo Zhonglin, and Luo Yuezhen's old aunt followed along sheepishly.

"Let go of me," Jia Guimin said unhappily, shaking off Luo Zhonglin's grip on her arm. "Old man, if you don't give me an explanation, I'm not done with you."

Luo Zhonglin snorted coldly: "You really are like a rat acting as a companion to a cat—you want money but don't want your life. Li Jiutang didn't care before, so you could do whatever you wanted. Now that he wants to care, have you thought about the consequences if you keep bothering Luo Yuezhen?"

"What consequences?" Jia Guimin's face was full of fat and looked quite fierce. "Does Li Jiutang control the heavens and the earth, or does he control people's bowel movements? That house was left by the old man. Luo Yuezhen is a married-off daughter, water splashed out; I must get that house back. Otherwise, where will the youngest son live when he gets married?"

Luo Zhonglin said: "The homestead has already been approved; isn't that for building a house for the youngest son?"

Jia Guimin glared: "Why build a house when there's a ready-made one? Do you not need money to build a house?"

"He is the village chief. In the future, if the brigade has any good opportunities, as long as he says one word, you won't get anything. Most importantly, the land contract will expire in a few years. We don't know what the policies will be like in the future. Can you get any good by going against Li Jiutang?"

Luo Zhonglin said helplessly: "The arm cannot twist the thigh. You'd better just settle down."

Jia Guimin stopped talking, but her face looked even worse than before, clearly still unwilling.

Zhou Andong looked at the dispersing villagers and couldn't help but sigh. The Chinese people have endured too much hardship, which has directly led the bottom-tier population to hover between two extremes.

On one side, wolf-like; on the other, sheep-like. In front of the strong, they are more obedient than sheep. In front of the weak, they are more vicious than wolves. What is pathetic is that they are more keen on venting their envy, jealousy, and hatred of the upper class onto weaker groups through violence.

"Sister Yuezhen, are you alright?"

Luo Yuezhen wiped the blood from her face and shook her head: "I'm fine!"

Zhou Andong nodded and placed the meat he was carrying on the beverage case Zhou Anbei was holding: "Xiao Bei, take these things inside."

"What are you doing?" Luo Yuezhen stopped Zhou Anbei. "Dongzi, you've helped me enough. Sister can't take any more."

Zhou Andong said with a smile: "These were all gifts from others. We have plenty at home. Besides, these are for the children, so just accept them."

Luo Yuezhen still wanted to say something, but heard Li Jiutang say: "Since Dongzi sent them to you, just accept them."

"Dongzi..." Luo Yuezhen hadn't shed a single tear when she was beaten or scolded, but now she was crying uncontrollably, unable to speak.

Li Jiutang said: "It's New Year's, stop crying. It's unlucky. Cook something good later and have a proper New Year."

Luo Yuezhen bowed to Li Jiutang: "Thank you, Village Chief."

Li Jiutang felt his face heat up: "Go back inside quickly. It's so cold out here, don't let the children freeze."

"Ninth Uncle!"

Zhou Andong wanted to say something, but was waved off by Li Jiutang: "I know what you want to say. Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare to trouble Yuezhen and her children again."

Zhou Andong nodded. He was also giving Tanghezi a chance to befriend Liu Yahang; although it was a bit late, at least it couldn't be a complete falling out like in his previous life.

Zhou Andong squatted down and rubbed the heads of the two children. The boy was already eleven, named Liu Yu. The girl was nine, named Liu Rui.

"Remember, if anyone bullies Mom again, go find the village chief."

Liu Yu nodded heavily: "I will never let anyone bully Mom again."

"Good boy!" Zhou Andong patted the boy on the shoulder, stood up, and said, "Sister Yuezhen, go inside. We're leaving."

Until Zhou Andong, Zhou Anbei, and Li Jiutang were out of sight, Luo Yuezhen took the children inside. Looking at the two cases of beverages and the meat, tears fell again.

"Liu Yu, Liu Rui, remember, when you grow up, you must repay Uncle Dongzi well."

Zhou Andong hadn't walked far when he saw a tall, sturdy, fat man walking toward him with his head down. He grinned.

"Old Gao!"

Gao Zhen heard someone call him, looked up, saw it was Zhou Andong, laughed loudly, ran over, picked Zhou Andong up, and spun him around several times.

"Brother Dong, I was just about to go find you."

"You silly oaf, put me down quickly." Zhou Andong was almost suffocated by Gao Zhen's thick arms.

"Oh!" Gao Zhen laughed foolishly and hurriedly put Zhou Andong down.

Zhou Andong shook his head helplessly at Gao Zhen. He didn't have many friends, but this guy was one of them, and the most loyal one, even willing to risk his life.

"When did you get back?"

"Last night!" Gao Zhen pulled a pack of 555 cigarettes from his pocket: "Brother Dong, try this cigarette, it's definitely strong enough."

Zhou Andong took the cigarette, and Gao Zhen took out a lighter and lit it for him: "Not bad, smoking 555s now. Looks like you've made quite a bit of money this year."

"It's alright. Including overtime, I can make up to 600 or 700 a month, and at least 300 in a slow month." Gao Zhen's eyes lit up: "Brother, quit that winery job. Come south with me. There are factories everywhere, hiring everywhere. You're educated, a college student; you could be a manager as soon as you get there, easily making 600 or 700 a month. And the female workers, they wear so little, in the summer, their long legs are all white and shiny."

"By the way!" Gao Zhen slapped his thigh: "Guess who I ran into? Zhang Sihe. That bastard is doing great now, found a girlfriend who's the daughter of a shoe factory owner, managing hundreds of people, driving a BMW to work every day."

"Beep beep beep..."

Suddenly, a car horn sounded at the alley entrance. The three turned to look and saw a BMW turn into the alley, driving slowly. Looking closely, it had a Guangdong license plate.

"Fuck!" Gao Zhen cursed: "He really is a jinx. He didn't come back for the New Year; he came back to show off."