Chapter 49: Clash

The Ma Wu brothers have been arrested!

This news swept through the entire commune in no time. When Tang Banxia arrived at the infirmary, Hu Chunhua and Hu Xiayu were already discussing it.

“I heard from people in Ma Family Village that when they took them away, the public security comrades even brought this.” Hu Xiayu gestured with her hand. “It was terrifying.”

“Even Ma Wu’s wife, who’s usually so fierce, didn’t dare to make a fuss. She obediently followed the public security comrades.”

Hu Chunhua listened, startled. “I heard Ma Wu had connections at the town’s public security bureau. How come he got arrested out of the blue?”

Ma Wu was the tumor of their commune, gathering people to gamble, ruining countless families.

He’d been untouchable because of his strong connections, so it was unexpected that he’d finally meet his downfall so suddenly.

Hu Xiayu cupped her mouth, leaning forward with an air of secrecy. “This time, it’s the county public security bureau.”

“Really?” Hu Chunhua was astonished. “The county?”

Hu Xiayu’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, the county.”

“So this time, Ma Wu is finished, isn’t he?” Hu Chunhua muttered.

Tang Banxia listened outside for a while before pushing the door open.

The two quickly stopped gossiping and stood up. “Comrade Tang.”

“What were you talking about? You seemed so caught up.” Tang Banxia stretched her hands toward the fire basin to warm them before sitting down.

Once the topic was mentioned, the two became lively, chattering eagerly to share the gossip with Tang Banxia. At the end, Hu Chunhua added, “This is wonderful. We won’t have to live in fear anymore.”

Only heaven knows how terrified she was of the Ma Wu brothers, always worried that one of her brothers might succumb to gambling and end up using her to pay off debts.

Now it was over. With the Ma Wu brothers arrested, she could finally breathe easy.

Tang Banxia agreed, “People like them deserve to die.”

Hu Xiayu leaned in. “Still, I wonder how the county found out about the Ma Wu brothers. They swept them up in one go—the county public security bureau, after all.”

“That’s hardly a secret. It’s normal for the county to know,” Tang Banxia replied calmly. “Maybe some official found out during a rural inspection.”

“That makes sense.”

Hu Xiayu and Hu Chunhua both nodded in agreement.

They had never considered that the Ma Wu brothers might have been reported by someone. The reason was simple: though Ma Wu and his brother were troublemakers, they preyed only on ordinary people. Anyone with connections or influence was left alone.

Ordinary folks, with limited awareness, could only swallow their losses in silence and never thought of reporting them. That was why the Ma Wu brothers had run rampant for so long.

When the gossip session ended, Tang Banxia quizzed the two on their memorization of the acupoint chart.

“Brother Dashan, please save my Shenggen!”

Tang Banxia: ???

Without hesitation, the three crowded around the window to peer next door.

Widow Hu stormed into the brigade headquarters like a gust of wind. “Shenggen is Datu’s only child. If anything happens to him, I can’t go on living!”

Hu Dashan had just been scolded harshly by the commune leadership. He hadn’t even parked his bicycle when Widow Hu cornered him.

His face was dark with anger. “If you can’t go on, then die!”

Widow Hu’s eyes brimmed with tears. “What?” she looked up in confusion.

“If you can’t live, then die.” Hu Dashan repeated. “Without you two, your daughter Zhaodi and the others can finally have a decent life instead of being treated like goods, sold off to pay debts by you and your son!”

His fury mounting, Hu Dashan kicked the wall beside him and pointed at Widow Hu. “All these years, the village has looked after you and your children, always giving you priority when good things came up.”

“Who would have thought you’d raise a beast? Zhaodi is your own daughter, yet for your cursed son, you push her into the fire pit!”

Widow Hu seemed to realize something and shrank back. “Brother Dashan, I didn’t want to, but they said if I didn’t pay up, they’d take Shenggen’s life. Shenggen is the only son I have with Datu—I’m still hoping for grandchildren.”

“And besides, they said Zhaodi would work outside and make big money. I was just finding her a way out.”

As she spoke, Widow Hu grew more confident. “It’s for her own good. She’s just a money-loser, ugly too. Now she has the chance to earn big money outside, a blessing most people could only wish for.”

Their quarrel drew villagers over.

Widow Hu’s two daughters were among them. Hearing their mother’s words, hatred flashed in their numb eyes.

Aunt Hu, the brigade leader’s wife, knew more than most. “Shame on you, you heartless wretch!”

“Zhaodi and her sisters were doomed to a miserable fate, being born to you!”

The crowd outside the brigade headquarters pointed fingers at Widow Hu.

Everyone had seen what kind of life Zhaodi and her sisters endured. Even now, in the dead of winter, Widow Hu wore a thick cotton coat, while her two daughters were dressed in thin garments. Their exposed ankles were purple from the cold, their hands scarred with chilblains—a clear sign of what life was like for those girls.

Widow Hu remained unfazed by the condemnation. Daughters were money-losers meant to be married off; who were these people to judge her?

But, “Brother Dashan, I was misled. They said Zhaodi would have a good life, so I agreed. It had nothing to do with Shenggen.”

She sat down, clinging to Hu Dashan’s leg, sobbing. “Brother Dashan, you promised Datu you’d look after Shenggen. You can’t abandon him. Shenggen has called you uncle all these years—you have to save him. He hasn’t married yet!”

Hu Dashan tried several times to shake her off, but couldn’t. His face grew even darker.

Aunt Hu saw it was her cue to intervene.

“Let go of my husband!”

With a loud shout, she rushed forward, yanking at Widow Hu’s hair. “Shameless hussy, what are you trying to pull?”

In the neighboring infirmary, Hu Chunhua saw her mother join the fray and grew eager to join in.

“Chunhua, do you remember the acupoint chart you memorized?” Tang Banxia asked gently.

Hu Chunhua was confused.

Tang Banxia smiled softly, “Go on, it’s time to test your learning.”

Suddenly inspired, Hu Chunhua let out a cry and joined the battle. She remembered Tang Banxia’s teaching well—when fighting, aim for the acupoints.

Mother and daughter easily overpowered Widow Hu, soon beating her until she cried for mercy.

Once his anger was sated, Hu Dashan finally called for someone to break them up.

Sister-in-law Sun and Aunt Hu joined the effort without hesitation.

Tang Banxia watched from next door.

Indeed, Widow Hu was thoroughly disliked!

Even the act of breaking up the fight seemed exaggerated, as if afraid others wouldn’t notice.

When they finally parted, Widow Hu’s mean face was streaked with blood.

That was Aunt Hu’s handiwork.

Her hair was torn out, with blood-stained locks scattered on the ground.

That came from Sister-in-law Sun and Aunt Hu pulling during the scuffle.

Widow Hu was held aside, cursing and twisting her body.

These damn people—how could they be so ruthless?

“Brother Dashan, you have to stand up for me! Your wife beat me—this can’t be left as it is. If you don’t help me, I’ll report you to the commune!”

“I’ll say you abuse your power and favor your family!”

Widow Hu shouted loudly, “If you save Shenggen for me, I might reconsider not reporting you.”

She glared viciously at Aunt Hu and her daughter, her triangular eyes filled with malice.

Hu Dashan’s face was expressionless. “Go ahead, I’ll write you a letter of introduction.”

He headed inside, returning shortly with the letter. “If you want to complain, you’ll need to find Secretary Yu at the commune. No one else can help.”

He folded the letter and stuffed it into Widow Hu’s pocket, thoughtfully asking, “Do you want the village’s donkey cart to take you there?”