Chapter 40: The Fight Breaks Out
“That’s right, that’s right! You people named Hua are just too much. My mother is at home waiting for the silver. How long are you going to keep dragging this out? Are you planning to delay it until we’re all dead?”
“Oh heavens, what are we supposed to do? What should we do now?” A woman fretted, then turned her complaints toward her husband. “It’s all your fault, all because of you and your rotten luck! If it weren’t for you, our ten acres of rented land wouldn’t still be empty. The seeds should have gone into the ground long ago, but you ruined everything. What are we going to do from now on?”
She wiped her tears as she spoke, looking truly pitiful, while her honest, taciturn husband remained silent and downcast.
The woman, seeing he wouldn’t respond, struck and scolded him, “It’s all your fault! Always dreaming of easy money! We’ll soon have to pay the land rent—how are you going to manage that? The children need food—what will you do then?”
One shouted, the other stayed silent. Because Hua Qinci had promised Liu Bingbing something, she felt pleased to see the commotion, but to enter the Qin household, she still had to pretend to intervene.
“Auntie, please don’t cry. My cousin-in-law isn’t that kind of person—even if she did deceive you…” Liu Bingbing sensed she’d said the wrong thing, paused, and glanced at Hua Qinci’s expression before hastily adding, “I mean, even if my cousin-in-law fails, you still have me! Liu Bingbing and my cousin-in-law are family. Don’t worry, the silver you lent will be returned to you, not a single tael missing. For now, let’s see what my cousin-in-law has to say—she’s still here, she hasn’t run off.”
Liu Bingbing tried to reassure them, though her words carried a clear implication—any fool could hear it: she was telling them that the person who took their money was right there, so go ask her.
“Folks, I have a precious jade. Since it’s a stroke of luck from heaven, I want to share some with everyone, but…”
“Shut up!” someone jeered, and Hua Qinci, agitated, rushed forward. She couldn’t stand hearing those familiar words—it was obvious this was provoking the villagers. They were already on edge, and after such a long delay, they were like bent branches ready to snap; if the pressure wasn’t right, the backlash could be dangerous, and if one broke, it could spell disaster.
“What now? What now? Husband, what do we do?”
“Yes, my family can barely put food on the table. The children are waiting for meals, waiting for clothes. If we can’t pay the land rent and the landlord reclaims the fields, we really can’t survive. Qin family’s daughter-in-law, you’ve brought ruin to us all.”
“Such harm! Death would be better.”
“Qin family’s daughter-in-law, say something! Are you giving us the silver or not? Or how and when will you give it?”
The crowd was in chaos; the situation had grown tense. Hua Qinci was losing control, unsure what to say to comfort them. At this moment, nothing but silver could ease their anxiety.
She cast a furtive glance outside, wondering whether the big fish would truly not come. If not, what should she do next?
Hua Qinci fell silent. Everyone pressed her for an answer, the commotion intensifying. Her breathing grew heavier, her heart raced, her head buzzed, and she didn’t even know where to place her hands.
In a daze, she suddenly heard a sharp scream pierce through her mind. Startled back to reality, she quickly looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Fatty Wei San’er curled on the ground, clutching his large head and ears, motionless for a long time.
“Wei San’er.” Crimson blood seeped from between his fingers, spreading ever wider.