Chapter 53: Chapter 44: Just Deserts
"That’s right, Dad! So many people are saying it: she’s not our kid, just some little beggar we picked up off the street. Just ignore her!"
Mo Xiaofeng sidled closer too, as if afraid Xiao Man would steal her father away, and gave her a hard shove.
Mo Guoqiang stopped in his tracks. He turned and glared at Mo Xiaosu, then snapped at Mo Xiaofeng, "What nonsense are you spouting? Other people spread baseless rumors, and you believe them? Don’t you dare go around repeating that gossip ever again. Xiao Man is your mother’s and my daughter. She’s the oldest sister in this family, understand?"
"You damn kids! Repeating other people’s nonsense, trying to ruin the bond between me and Xiao Man! See if I don’t whip you to death!"
A roar came from inside the house. Liu Fengying stormed out, her face grim, her eyes wide and furious, looking like a storm of pure rage. Xiao Man looked at her and her body instinctively stiffened. Her mind exploded like water hitting a pan of hot oil—in Liu Fengying’s right hand was the familiar fire poker, made of thick, coiled iron wire!
She must have been tending the fire. The end of the rust-blackened poker was faintly glowing red; it had probably been sitting in the hot coals and ash for a long time.
Xiao Man clenched her jaw, sweat beading on her forehead. Every cell in her body was on high alert as she entered a state of extreme readiness. ’In my past life, it was Mo Xiaoqiang who viciously struck my forehead with this red-hot poker! This life, it’s Liu Fengying! Are this vicious mother and son my eternal enemies? Are they destined to destroy me in both lives?’
Mo Guoqiang was clearly oblivious to Liu Fengying’s intentions. He called out to her as if seeking credit, "Feng Ying, look, I brought—"
Before he could finish, Liu Fengying swung the poker fiercely at Xiao Man, cursing, "I’ll kill you! You little wretches, spreading rumors!"
In a flash, Xiao Man ducked down, seized the opportunity to bite down hard on the back of the hand Mo Guoqiang was using to grip her. Mo Guoqiang cried out in pain and instinctively let go. Xiao Man immediately shoved both hands against the back of his knees. She wasn’t strong, but she had the element of surprise. Mo Guoqiang stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. Seizing the moment, Xiao Man twisted around and bolted for the courtyard gate!
Behind her, a bloodcurdling scream rang out, so awful it sounded like someone was being murdered.
Xiao Man didn’t dare look back. She ran with all her might. Just as she burst out of the Mo Family Courtyard, she ran into Mo Shuixia, her three younger siblings, and two grandmothers—one was Mo Shuixia’s grandma, and the other was Grandma Han.
They had heard Xiao Man’s shouts for help and had come over.
Mo Shuixia quickly grabbed Xiao Man and asked, "What’s wrong? What happened? Are they hitting you again?"
Gasping for breath, Xiao Man swallowed hard and nodded. "I... I was coming to find you. On the way, Mo... Guoqiang grabbed me. He dragged... dragged me inside, and Liu Fengying... she came at me with a red-hot fire poker... Luckily, I got away!"
Mo Shuixia’s eight-year-old and six-year-old sisters stared with wide, frightened eyes. Her ten-year-old brother clicked his tongue. "With a red-hot poker? That’s just vicious!"
Mo Shuixia was both shocked and furious. "Those monsters! I’ll go with you to the production brigade to report them to the secretary!"
"Liu Fengying... she’s truly too heartless!" Grandma Han wasn’t in good health; she was hunched over, leaning on a bamboo walking stick, so angry her white hair was shaking.
Mo Shuixia’s grandma stopped her. "Your Uncle Guo Qiang probably doesn’t approve of what your Aunt Fengying did. If you report this to the brigade, he’ll lose face too. Thankfully, Xiao Man ran fast and didn’t get hit, so let’s just let it go! Your Grandma Han and I will go in and give them a good scolding, teach them not to do this again!"
Xiao Man was speechless.
’A next time? I’m never setting foot in that courtyard again until I’m strong enough to protect myself!’
Granny Shuixia and Grandma Han led the other children into the courtyard. Xiao Man refused to go, so Mo Shuixia stayed with her at the gate, listening.
But the screams and commotion from the courtyard grew louder and more frantic. Mixed in were Liu Fengying’s own cries and Mo Xiaosu’s exaggerated, shrill voice. "Oh my god! Oh my god! Something terrible has happened!"
Mo Shuixia’s curiosity got the better of her. Seeing a crowd of old people and children gathering, blocking the gate and peering inside, she said to Xiao Man, "With so many people here, it should be fine. You wait here, I’m just going to take a quick look?"
Xiao Man nodded. Mo Shuixia immediately ran inside, and a number of other old people and children followed her.
Though she said she’d only take a quick look, Mo Shuixia disappeared into the crowd and didn’t come back out.
But Xiao Man heard bits and pieces of news from the children who ran in and out: someone was hurt, hurt very badly. Their face was covered in blood, they couldn’t open their eyes, and they might be blind!
She thought back to a moment ago: Mo Guoqiang dragging her to the doorway, Mo Xiaosu and Mo Xiaofeng following close behind, taunting her. Then Liu Fengying had come out with the poker, swinging it while she cursed...
A chill went down Xiao Man’s spine. ’When I ducked, the person standing right behind me was Mo Xiaofeng!’
Liu Fengying had hit Mo Xiaofeng by mistake!
’How bad was the injury?’ Xiao Man still clearly remembered the four intersecting black marks on her own forehead from her past life, branded there by the red-hot iron poker.
The pain was unimaginable.
’They wanted to harm someone again in this life. They deserve to reap what they sow. It’s like lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot, isn’t it?’
Xiao Man was thankful she had been vigilant enough; otherwise, she would have been the one to suffer. The force of Liu Fengying’s swing had been so great she could hear the poker whistling through the air. At that moment, she had focused all her spiritual power on dodging and escaping, paying no attention to what happened afterward.
Thinking about it, she realized her successful escape was thanks to Liu Fengying accidentally hitting Mo Xiaofeng. Everyone must have seen the poker strike Mo Xiaofeng, the flesh smoking on impact, and been too stunned to pay her any mind.
Otherwise, given Mo Xiaoqiang’s tyrannical personality, he never would have let Xiao Man escape the courtyard.
In the courtyard, Mo Xiaosu shrieked again, "It’s bleeding again, it’s bleeding again! Her right eye! So much blood! Oh my god, this is terrifying!"
Granny Shuixia shouted, "Guo Qiang, what are you squatting there for? Feng Ying, this is no time for crying! The child’s fainted! Hurry up and get her to the brigade clinic! Hurry!"
The other old people all chimed in, urging Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying to take the child to the brigade headquarters for emergency treatment.
Mo Shuixia came out just then. She grabbed Xiao Man and ran toward her house, not stopping until they were inside her courtyard. She bent over, panting heavily, and said:
"Mo Xiaofeng... this time she’s done for..."
Xiao Man froze. "Dead?"
Mo Shuixia waved her hand dismissively, pulled Xiao Man over to sit on a pestle block, and after catching her breath a little, continued, "Not stone-dead, of course, but close enough. A red-hot poker to the eye... think about it, what’s the difference?"
Xiao Man pressed her lips together. Mo Shuixia comforted her, "Who cares about her? It’s not your fault!"
Xiao Man said, "You’re right, it can’t be my fault! Mo Guoqiang was holding me tight, and Liu Fengying came at me with that poker. I ducked down quickly, and she hit Mo Xiaofeng, who was right behind me! I had to bite Mo Guoqiang hard to get away! If I hadn’t been quick-witted enough, that blow would have landed on me. I’d be the one who’s seriously injured, half-dead right now!"
Mo Shuixia nodded sympathetically and patted her chest. "I know. We all heard you screaming for help! If any of the villagers say anything later, me and my siblings will all be your witnesses!"
