Seeing Lin Zhen approaching with his imposing presence, the burly man closed his eyes and let out a panicked scream, wildly flailing his knife in the air.
Lin Zhen swiftly dodged to the side, bent his body, and drove his elbow into the man’s ribcage.
Crack!
“Argh!!”
The leader yelped in pain, nearly dropping the knife in his hand.
Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Zhen disarmed him, twisted his arms behind his back, and secured them with rope in just a few quick moves.
Meanwhile, Song Wei, who had already pummeled Lin Dasheng, sent a flying kick toward another man who lunged at her. She followed up with a decisive blow to an attacker sneaking up on Lin Zhen from behind, aiming to strike with a knife.
It didn’t take long for the pair to handle all six assailants.
By the time the brigade leader arrived with the able-bodied young men of the village, armed and ready, they found Lin Zhen tying up the culprits one by one.
Song Wei? She was casually strolling around the yard, kicking anyone who crossed her path.
Compared to Lin Zhen’s precise efficiency, the battered men on the ground feared Song Wei even more.
This woman was ruthless. Her seemingly effortless kicks sent grown men rolling several meters, writhing in pain.
Lin Dasheng, who had been stuffed into a sack, received particular attention from her.
“Stop! Stop! I’m Lin Dasheng! I’m Lin Dasheng!” he shouted desperately.
Song Wei pretended to be deaf.
“What did you say? I didn’t hear you. Did any of you hear him?”
Under Song Wei’s threatening glare, the others frantically shook their heads.
Then Lin Dasheng got another solid kick.
The gang leader, regaining some composure, groaned, “Alright, alright! We lost fair and square. According to the rules of the street, we’ll acknowledge you as the boss. Can you let us go now? You haven’t really lost anything, right?”
Song Wei smacked him on the head.
“What ‘rules of the street’? Who do you think you’re insulting? Him…” she gestured toward Lin Zhen, “is a retired soldier.”
The leader froze for a moment, then glared at Song Wei.
“Don’t get too cocky, lady! Don’t hit a man on the head! That’s crossing the line! And let me tell you, I’ve got plenty of brothers out there. If you don’t let us go, you’re in for it when they show up!”
“Oh, really?” Song Wei said with a shrug. “Let them come. I haven’t had enough fun yet.”
The six men:
What is this woman, a demon?
“Hey, man,” the leader turned to Lin Zhen, “I heard this crazy woman is your fiancée. Let me give you some advice- don’t marry her! This woman will be the end of you. I bet you can’t even beat her in a fight. What were you thinking, choosing someone like her?”
Lin Zhen frowned. “. Shut up.”
Even as a prisoner, this guy couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
Song Wei delivered another swift kick.
“Still have time to worry about other people’s marriages? Do you even have a wife?”
The leader groaned, “I may not have a wife right now, but I-“
“You don’t have money, a home, or food. Starting today, you might not even have freedom. What are you, really?”
The leader:….
“How can you say that? I-I do have money! I-” His voice cracked, and he began to wail.
“My mom’s gone! I have no home! I’ve lost everything! No woman wants to marry me! What kind of life is this?”
Song Wei’s lips twitched. She had only said a few words, and yet she had hit a nerve.
And look at this guy-this massive, muscular brute crying like a baby? Wasn’t he the same person who had been brandishing a knife earlier?
Even Lin Zhen found the sight unbearable.
The brigade leader arrived, bewildered by the scene in the yard.
“What’s going on here? Is it… already over?”
The brigade leader stared incredulously at the subdued gang and turned to Lin Zhen and Song Wei.
“What were you two thinking? Didn’t I tell you to wait for backup before taking action?”
Song Wei scratched her nose sheepishly, trying to avoid the accusing glares of the brigade leader and Aunt Xinghua.
“There are still two deer in the yard,” she mumbled.
Aunt Xinghua snorted. “The deer are less important than people!”
With everyone tied up and the gang leader sobbing loudly, the brigade leader turned to him.
“Why are you crying so miserably? Where does it hurt?”
Song Wei shook her head. The gang leader spoke up through his sobs.
“Big brother, my ribs hurt. That guy’s moves were brutal! I think one of my ribs is broken! And now my mom’s gone, I’ve got no home, I’ve lost all my money, and no woman will marry me.
Why is my life such a mess?”
The brigade leader: …
“No matter how bad your life is, you can’t go around stealing from others.”
“You’re Dahuizi from the Fukan Brigade, aren’t you? You’re clearly strong enough to do proper labor and earn work points to support yourself. Why are you wasting your time doing this?”
Dahuizi sniffled. “Earning work points doesn’t cut it. I’ve got too many brothers to feed. And without respect, what’s the point?”
Everyone: … What kind of twisted logic is this?
The brigade leader’s instinct to lecture kicked in.
“Look at them-all grown men with hands and feet. Do any of them need you to support them? Are you their father? And respect? You think stealing and robbing earns you respect? You’ve
already lost your dignity. Get your act together!”
This wasn’t going to end lightly, especially since the brigade leader’s youngest son had already reported the matter to the Public Security Bureau.
Turning to Lin Dasheng, the brigade leader snapped, “You’re unbelievable! Teaming up with outsiders to harm your own people?”
Lin Dasheng, battered and bruised, clung to the brigade leader’s leg, crying pitifully.
“Brigade leader, I was wrong! Please, we’re from the same village. Spare me this time! I swear I’ll never do it again!”
The brigade leader sneered. “Tell it to the police when they get here.”
Lin Dasheng had always been a troublemaker-gambling, stealing, and dragging others down with him. Now that he’d been caught red-handed, there was no way he’d get off easily.
Before the police arrived, Lin Dasheng’s parents showed up.
The elderly couple immediately dropped to their knees before the brigade leader.
“Brigade leader, please don’t report him! We only have one son. Without him, how will we survive?”
Song Wei folded her arms. “You still have a grandson, don’t you? Isn’t he your family too?”
The sobbing parents: …
Song Wei continued in a falsely soothing tone, “Don’t feel too sad.
Honestly, with such a troublesome son, it’s like a past-life enemy came to settle scores with you. Now that he’s caught, you won’t have to worry about losing face anymore. When you pass on, you can face your ancestors with pride.”
The old couple’s expressions twisted visibly.
“You-“
Song Wei cut them off.
“But your grandson needs better guidance. I heard he disrespects elders and even gambles at his age. If he grows up to be another Lin Dasheng, won’t your ancestors beat you up in the afterlife for failing to raise two generations properly?”
Lin Dasheng’s father trembled with rage. “Shut up! Our family’s business is none of your concern!”
Lin Zhen stepped beside Song Wei.
“She’s my fiancée. Your son brought people to steal from me, so she has every right to speak.”
Lin Dasheng’s father sputtered angrily, “Fine, Lin Zhen! You’re unbelievable! Siding with outsiders against your own people!”
Lin Zhen and Song Wei exchanged matching disdainful looks.
“Who the hell are you?” they said in unison.
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