"Mom, do you think the people from Second Fool's Home can find Luo Shu and the others?" Luo Erya put down the chicken feed jar and looked at Wang Liying. She really hoped that the people could bring back Luo Shu and the others. Even if Luo Shu ended up married to the Second Fool, at least Luo Shan and Luo Zheng would be back. With them around, she wouldn't have to do any chores. Cooking and washing clothes in the past two days had made her hands rough.
"I heard that the whole Second Fool's Home, more than a dozen people, went out early in the morning today. It seems they're planning to search the entire town thoroughly. There's no way for Luo Shu and the others to escape." Before Wang Liying could respond, Luo Daya chimed in gleefully.
Wang Liying turned over the red peppers that had been drying all morning. Today happened to be her rest day, so she didn't go to the brigade, "We'll know once the people from Second Fool's Home return." As long as they could capture Luo Shu, she'd have another hundred yuan coming in.
Hearing the gate open, Wang Liying and her daughters looked up in surprise to see Luo Jiansen returning home. He usually didn't come back from the West Village's wood factory until dinner time.
Collecting herself, Wang Liying hurried up to him, reaching for the groceries he bought, "Jiansen, why are you home so early today?"
"I took a leave." Luo Jiansen replied, his face clouded with frustration. Yesterday, Wang Liying had told him that some money was missing, likely stolen by Luo Shu and the others.
He hadn't slept well all night and felt off at work, nearly getting his hand caught in Fang Datong's saw. So, he asked the team leader for a leave to go look for Luo Shu and the others. Those three bastards had really pushed his buttons by stealing from home. He was furious!
Wang Liying handed the groceries to Luo Daya, telling her and her sister to start cooking. She then pulled Luo Jiansen aside to sit on a bench, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" They had been married for almost five years. Life wasn't perfect, but it was far better than before, and Luo Jiansen had always treated her and her daughters kindly.
Luo Jiansen's face darkened, gritting his teeth in anger, "It's those three ungrateful brats. After dinner, we'll go into town, and I'm going to turn the whole place upside down until I find them."
Wang Liying's eyes darted as she patted Luo Jiansen's back, "Jiansen, don't get angry. I've already sent people to look for them. We should hear something soon."
Luo Jiansen was taken aback, asking, "Who did you send? Why didn't you tell me?"
"The Wang Family from Willow Village. They've been looking for a wife for their son. When they sent a matchmaker to talk to me, I agreed to marry Luo Shu to their son and took a hundred yuan deposit. Jiansen, you're not mad at me, right? I did it for Luo Shu's own good. The Wang Family's son is their only child, and their daughters are already married off. When Luo Shu marries him, the Wang Family's assets will all be hers." Knowing Luo Shu's timid nature, once the Wangs' elders passed away, their property would ultimately belong to the Luo Family.
"How could I be mad at you? I know you're doing it for the kids. Those three just don't appreciate it." Luo Jiansen sighed, looking at Wang Liying guiltily.
Wang Liying smiled and shook her head, "As long as you understand, the kids will understand my intentions one day."
Just then, they heard chaotic footsteps outside.
The gate was then kicked open.
Luo Jiansen and Wang Liying were startled, looking up to see Shi Lanjiao and her husband entering aggressively with a group of relatives.
Wang Liying was stunned but quickly greeted them with a smile, "Sister-in-law Wang, did you find Luo Shu? Why do you look so upset? Didn't you find her?"
"Wang Liying, tell me how you hurt your hand?" Shi Lanjiao asked angrily, pointing at Wang Liying with one hand on her hip.
"I injured it in a fall. Why? What happened?" Wang Liying suddenly had a bad feeling.
"A fall? Pah! Your hand was clearly injured by Luo Shu, and you didn't tell me. You used my family as pawns, didn't you? Today, you have to compensate us a thousand yuan for medical expenses. Otherwise, we'll beat your entire family down. And since you took our bride price, you have to marry one of your daughters to Er Bao." Shi Lanjiao's fury grew as she thought about being used by Wang Liying.
"Sister-in-law Wang, let's talk this over. What exactly happened?" Wang Liying glanced at the bruised faces of the men behind Shi Lanjiao. Could they have been beaten by Luo Shu?
Shi Lanjiao spat, "Talk it over? What's there to talk about? You knew Luo Shu was trouble and tricked us into finding her. Look at my brothers, all beaten by Luo Shu."
"They were really beaten by Luo Shu?" Luo Jiansen asked in disbelief. When did Luo Shu get so strong?
Seeing his injured arm and Wang Liying's bandaged hand, Luo Jiansen's doubts vanished. He frowned at the injured Wang Family members. What should they do now?
"What? You think I'm falsely accusing her? Luo Jiansen, I'm telling you, you better pay up today, or we're not done here." Shi Lanjiao threatened coldly. They couldn't do anything to Luo Shu, but they didn't fear Luo Jiansen and his family.
"Sister-in-law Wang, I apologize. I really didn't know Luo Shu could do this. Please, let this go." Wang Liying clutched Shi Lanjiao's sleeve, begging.
Shi Lanjiao shook her off forcefully, shouting, "Wang Liying, are you thicker-skinned than your backside? Let it go? Then we've been beaten for nothing? I'm telling you, if you don't pay a thousand yuan today, we're not done."
"I don't have money." Wang Liying stubbornly replied. Paying up was like killing her; she wouldn't do it and didn't have that much money anyway.
"No money? Then we'll take your stuff." Shi Lanjiao had thought it through.
Wang Liying collapsed dramatically, patting her legs and wailing, "You're forcing me to death! Fine, I'll just kill myself." She got up and rushed towards Shi Lanjiao's group.
The Wang Family members quickly grabbed Wang Liying, pushing her towards Luo Jiansen.