The room fell into a long, uneasy silence.
For several moments, no one spoke.
The faint evening light flickered gently through window, casting wavering shadows across the rough earthen walls. Outside, the distant sounds of villagers returning from the fields drifted faintly through the evening air.
Inside the house, however, the atmosphere had grown heavy.
Neither Li Shuying nor Li Jianmin said a word.
Li Jianhua stood quietly beside the table, his brows slightly furrowed, patiently waiting for an explanation. Li Jianguo, on the other hand, could barely contain his curiosity.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he turned toward Li Shuying with an expression of pure astonishment.
"Little Sister…" he began cautiously, still trying to process what he had just heard from Li Jianmin.
"Is what Third Brother said true?"
His eyes widened as the words finally left his mouth.
"Did you really… beat Uncle Li Guofu?"
The question hung in the air like a stone dropped into still water.
Li Shuying let out a soft sigh.
She had already expected this reaction. But seeing the exaggerated disbelief on her brothers' faces still made her feel both amused and slightly uneasy.
After all, how could anyone easily believe that the timid, quiet girl they had known all their lives suddenly had the courage—and ability—to subdue the village bully?
It was simply too unbelievable.
Convincing Li Jianmin earlier had been relatively easy, given that he had witnessed the incident firsthand and was already shaken by the confrontation.
But now, facing her eldest and second brothers… things were a little more complicated.
Li Shuying lowered her gaze briefly before speaking.
"Second Brother," she said gently, "I know I shouldn't have raised my hand against Uncle Guofu. Hitting an elder is indeed improper."
Her tone was calm, but firm.
"But today… it was necessary to teach him a lesson."
All three brothers looked at her intently.
"He was determined to take Father's allowance passbook back," she continued. "Not only that, he even tried to snatch the supplies we bought."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"If I hadn't stopped him today, who knows what methods he might have used next time to force it out of our hands?"
Li Jianguo frowned deeply as he listened.
After a moment, he shook his head anxiously.
"But Little Sister, you know what kind of person he is," he said with concern. "Li Guofu is narrow-minded and vindictive. He won't simply swallow this humiliation."
He paced a step or two across the room, agitation clear on his face.
"Today he was alone, so you managed to control the situation. But what about tomorrow?"
His voice grew more serious.
"You still have to go to school. What if he brings those hooligans he associates with in the county? The people he mingles with are not decent folk."
He looked directly at her.
"How do you think you'll deal with them then?"
Li Shuying almost smiled.
If she wished, she could easily handle five such men at once. Years of brutal training in her previous life had taught her far more than simple self-defense.
But seeing the genuine worry on her second brother's face, she suppressed the thought.
Instead, she sighed lightly and spoke in a reassuring tone.
"Second Brother, you worry too much about those petty street hooligans."
She leaned casually against the table.
"The days when gangs could roam the streets freely are long gone. The country now has public security officers stationed there."
Her voice carried quiet confidence.
"If Li Guofu truly dares to cause trouble, I'll simply report the matter to the Public Security Bureau."
Li Jianmin, who had been silently worrying about the same issue, suddenly lit up.
His eyes brightened as if a lamp had been lit in his mind.
"That's right!"
He slapped his palm lightly against the table.
"How did I forget about the public security officers?"
Turning to Li Shuying, he spoke excitedly.
"Little Sister, you're absolutely right! If Uncle Guofu tries to seek revenge, we'll go directly to the public security."
His voice carried a hint of admiration.
"I've heard those officers are former battle heroes—soldiers who fought in the War of Resistance against the Japanese. They're not people that hooligans would dare provoke easily."
Li Shuying smiled faintly at his enthusiasm.
In truth, the system of public security officers had already been in place for nearly a decade. Yet in many rural villages and smaller counties, people still preferred settling disputes internally rather than approaching the authorities.
Even in cities, residents often went first to neighborhood committees before involving the Public Security Bureau.
So her brother's exitment was not entirely wrong.
"Yes, Third Brother," she said with a nod.
"And don't forget something important."
She paused slightly before adding,
"Our family is considered military dependents. If we file a complaint, the authorities will certainly take it seriously."
Hearing this, Li Jianguo finally exhaled in relief.
All he truly cared about was his little sister's safety.
If the Public Security Bureau could deter Li Guofu and his shady acquaintances, then perhaps the matter would not escalate further.
But his relief lasted only a moment.
Until Li Jianhua, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke.
"Do you really think things will end so simply?"
His calm voice instantly drew everyone's attention.
Li Jianhua's expression was thoughtful, his brows slightly knitted as he looked toward his siblings.
"The problem may not come from outside the village," he said slowly.
"It may come from main household ."
The room grew still again.
"If I'm not mistaken," he continued, "Li Guofu has likely already returned to the main household and told them everything."
His gaze shifted toward the supplies laid out on the table.
"And considering that he has already seen these items…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"It will not be easy to deal with the elders there."
The moment his words settled, the atmosphere inside the house changed.
Even Li Shuying felt her heart sink slightly.
In her earlier calculations, she had been focused entirely on Li Guofu himself.
But she had overlooked something important.
The people standing behind him.
Wang Chunhua.
And Zhao Hongmei.
Especially Wang Chunhua—who was both cunning and shrewd. And now that her mistakes favoured Li Guofu is involved, there was no way she would allow him to suffer humiliation without retaliation.
Realizing this, Li Shuying's expression slowly turned serious.
The real trouble…
Had likely only just begun.
The Li family's main household had already returned from the afternoon shift in the production fields.
Along the narrow dirt lanes, neighbours were washing their hands, tidying their courtyards, and chatting idly as they got ready to head toward communal canteen.
It was at that very moment—
A piercing wail suddenly shattered the calm.
"Aiyaaa! Look at my Xiao Guofu!"
The cry rang so loudly that even the chickens in nearby courtyards fluttered in alarm.
Several villagers immediately stopped in their tracks and turned their heads toward the Li family compound.
Inside the courtyard of the Li family's main house, Wang Chunhua had thrown herself onto the wooden threshold, beating her chest dramatically as if the sky itself had collapsed.
Her voice rose in shrill waves that could probably be heard halfway across the production brigade.
"Aiya! My poor son! My poor Guofu!"
She slapped her thigh loudly.
"That little vixen Li Shuying has gone mad! She nearly beat my son to death!"
Her cry echoed through the courtyard like a funeral lament.
"Just look at what kind of demon that girl has become! A young girl daring to raise her hand against her own uncle!"
The shrill wailing coming from the courtyard quickly drew the attention of everyone in the Li family's main house.
Doors creaked open, stools were pushed aside, and half-finished chores were abandoned as members of the household rushed out one after another.
"Mother, what happened?"
The first to arrive was Li Yulan. She hurried across the courtyard, her face filled with alarm. "What's wrong? What happened to Guofu? Who beat him?"
Behind her, the others followed in quick succession.
But before anyone could ask further questions, Wang Chunhua raised her voice again in dramatic outrage.
"That shameless little wretch, Li Shuying!" she shrieked, pointing a trembling finger toward the dirt road outside the courtyard gate as if the girl were standing there at that very moment.
"She dared to beat Guofu until he could barely stand!"
Her voice cracked with exaggerated grief.
"My poor son was beaten so badly he had to limp all the way home!"
For a moment, the courtyard fell silent.
"What?" someone blurted.
The entire family stared at one another in stunned disbelief.
Li Shuying?
It sounded utterly ridiculous.
Li Guosheng was the first to recover his voice.
"Mother… are you sure you didn't misunderstand something?" he said cautiously. "How could that little girl possibly beat Guofu? That doesn't make any sense."
Several others nodded in agreement, their expressions skeptical.
Seeing the doubt in their eyes, Wang Chunhua immediately shrieked as if someone had stepped on her tail.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" she snapped furiously.
"You think I've gone senile?"
"That little slut really did beat my Guofu!"
Her arm shot out as she pointed dramatically toward the corner of the courtyard.
"If you don't believe me, look at his face!"
All eyes immediately turned.
In the shadowed corner of the courtyard, Li Guofu sat on a low wooden stool.
His face was visibly swollen, one cheek already turning dark with bruising. His expression was gloomy and twisted with anger, making him look even more ferocious than usual.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Li Guofu suddenly exploded.
"Mother! Can you stop screaming already?" he barked irritably.
His face darkened as he glared at her.
"Do you want the entire village to know that that damned girl beat me?"
At once, Wang Chunhua's wailing stopped.
Her mouth snapped shut, though her expression still looked aggrieved.
However, her sharp eyes quickly shifted across the courtyard until they landed on her husband standing silently.
"Old man!" she cried, her voice filled with indignation.
"Why are you standing there like a wooden statue?"
She stomped her foot angrily.
"Your own son has been beaten into this state and you just stand there doing nothing? Look at his bruised face! Look at his limping leg!"
Her voice rose sharply.
"Don't you feel even a shred of sympathy for your own son?"
Li Changfu, who had been standing stiffly in the corner, finally snapped out of his thoughts.
How could he not feel sorry?
Li Guofu was his youngest son—and the one he had always doted on the most.
Yet the reason for his silence was something else entirely.
His mind was still reeling from the same thought.
Li Shuying.
That timid girl who had always kept her head down—who had lived quietly in the shadow of the family—had actually beaten Li Guofu into such a miserable state.
It was difficult to believe.
After all, Li Changfu knew his son's character better than anyone.
Li Guofu had long been known in the village as a petty tyrant. He bullied people, snatched things, and often used force when he didn't get his way.
Many villagers secretly hated him.
Many had even wanted revenge.
But none dared act.
The reason was simple.
Li Guofu had connections with several hooligans in the county town.
Those were desperate men who would beat people for money or food without hesitation.
In truth, Li Changfu had even felt a certain twisted pride in this.
In harsh times like these, having a son feared by others was not necessarily a bad thing.
But now…
To learn that Li Shuying had beaten him like this—
It was shocking.
And strangely unsettling.
Especially after remembering what had happened yesterday regarding the allowance passbook.
The change in that girl had been far too drastic.
For a brief moment, Li Changfu even felt a faint chill run down his spine.
But when he saw Wang Chunhua continuing to make a scene, his patience finally snapped.
"Enough!" he barked sternly.
His glare landed squarely on his wife.
"Stop shouting so loudly!"
His voice carried sharp irritation.
"Didn't we make enough fools of ourselves yesterday?"
He gestured toward the courtyard gate where several curious villagers were already lingering outside.
"What? Do you want the whole brigade laughing at our family again?"
Wang Chunhua immediately stopped her wailing.
But that didn't stop her from grumbling bitterly.
"So what if I shout?" she muttered resentfully. "My son has been beaten into this condition by that little wretch. Can't a mother feel angry?"
Li Guosheng stepped forward, trying to mediate.
"Mother, we understand you're upset," he said patiently.
"But before we decide what to do, shouldn't we hear Guofu explain everything clearly first?"
He gestured toward his younger brother.
"How can we demand justice if we don't even know what actually happened?"
Li Changfu nodded slowly.
Then he turned toward Li Guofu.
His voice lowered, but the authority in it was unmistakable.
"Guofu," he said.
"Tell us everything that happened today."
Li Guofu sat stiffly on the low wooden stool, his swollen face burning with humiliation.
Originally, his plan had been simple.
He would return home, complain to his mother about Li Shuying's insolence, and let her storm over to Chen Meilan's house to cause a scene. With enough shouting and threats, the passbook and supplies would naturally be forced back into their hands.
But he had not expected his mother to turn the matter into such a dramatic spectacle.
Now the entire family had gathered. Under so many eyes, his miserable condition felt even more humiliating.
Worst of all, the younger members of the Li family were staring openly at his swollen face and bruised leg.
The humiliation made his teeth grind audibly.
Still, he forced himself to remain patient.
Clenching his jaw, he began recounting what had happened that afternoon.
The moment he finished speaking, someone exploded.
"What?!"
Li Yulan's sharp voice pierced through the courtyard.
As the only daughter of the old couple—and the most pampered one—she had never been known for patience, especially when it came to matters concerning her own benefits.
Her face flushed with anger.
"That little bitch actually dared to spend all money?!"
Her voice rose even higher.
She immediately turned to Wang Chunhua.
"Mother, didn't you say that passbook wouldn't stay in Chen Meilan's hands for long?" she demanded angrily. "Then why are they the ones spending the money now?"
Her eyes flashed with resentment.
"Isn't that money supposed to belong to our household?"
Nearby, Sun Guifeng—who had initially been secretly amused by Li Guofu's miserable appearance—also lost her composure when she heard this.
Her face darkened as well.
"She dares to spend the money on grain but doesn't even bring anything back for filial support?" she scoffed bitterly.
She turned toward Wang Chunhua.
"Mother, Chen Meilan and that daughter of hers have really grown wings."
Her tone was laced with sarcasm.
"In the past, when you held Guoqiang's allowance passbook, they didn't dare breathe too loudly in front of you. But now that they've taken it back…"
She snorted coldly.
"…they've clearly stopped putting you and Father in their eyes."
Hearing this, Wang Chunhua's hands clenched tightly.
Her wrinkled face twisted with anger as she stared toward the courtyard gate, as though she could already see Chen Meilan standing there.
In truth, she had still been calculating how to reclaim the passbook and the money.
But she had never imagined that Chen Meilan would dare to spend so much of it in one go.
The thought made Wang Chunhua's heart ache as if someone were slicing pieces from it.
Before she could erupt again, Li Changfu's stern voice suddenly cut through the courtyard.
"What do you mean 'getting the passbook back'?"
His tone carried unmistakable authority.
Everyone fell silent.
"Do you think it's that easy?" he continued sharply.
His gaze swept at Sun Guifeng.
"If you have some clever plan, then say it now."
He snorted coldly.
"Didn't you see how strongly Brigade Leader Liu supported that little girl yesterday?"
His voice lowered, but the warning within it was clear.
"With the autumn harvest approaching and winter right behind it, offending the brigade leadership is like shooting ourselves in the foot."
His words immediately cooled the heated atmosphere.
In the northeast, winters were long and merciless.
For nearly six months, the land remained frozen solid.
During that time, the production team essentially entered a period of rest. Work points became scarce, and the distribution of food through the communal canteen depended heavily on the goodwill of the commune leadership.
Even the surrounding mountains froze over, making hunting or foraging nearly impossible.
In other words—
Food during winter was almost entirely controlled by the commune cadres, the village secretary, and the brigade leaders.
Offending them at such a time would be sheer stupidity.
After Li Changfu spoke, the courtyard fell quiet.
Even Wang Chunhua's anger cooled slightly as the implications of his words sank in.
However, Li Guofu was far from satisfied.
Earlier, when his mother had been raging furiously, he had felt a flicker of hope. Surely she would avenge him after seeing him beaten into such a miserable state.
But his father's intervention had poured a bucket of cold water over that hope.
No.
This could not end like this.
He had to get the money back.
Otherwise, what would happen to his standing among the hooligans in the county town?
Those greedy parasites only kept him around because he had money.
If they learned he had nothing anymore —
They would cast him aside without hesitation.
He absolutely could not allow that to happen.
A calculating glint flickered in his eyes.
After a brief pause, he suddenly spoke again in a seemingly indifferent tone.
"You're right, Father."
His voice carried a faint trace of mockery.
"Perhaps we should just forget about the passbook altogether and let Li Shuying's family keep it."
Several heads turned toward him in surprise.
Li Guofu leaned back slightly and let out a cold chuckle.
"Unlike Mother, at least they seem to know how to enjoy life."
He spoke slowly, deliberately emphasizing each item.
"After all, it's only the first day since they got the passbook…"
"…and they've already bought coarse grain, salt, cooking oil, white flour, spices, radishes…"
He paused just long enough for the words to sink in.
"And even pork."
The courtyard fell silent again.
Li Guofu's lips curled faintly.
"I suppose they must be cooking something quite delicious tonight," he added lightly.
His gaze flickered with malice.
"Perhaps they're celebrating our family's misfortune."