Nineteen, Disturbance (second watch)

"Mom, do you think Second Fool's Home can find Luo Shu and the others?" Luo Erya put down the jar she was using to feed the chickens and looked at Wang Liying. She was now hoping that Second Fool's Home could bring Luo Shu and the others back. Even if Luo Shu would be married to Second Fool, at least Luo Shan and Luo Zheng would be there. If they returned, she wouldn't have to do the chores anymore. These past few days, cooking and washing clothes had roughened her hands.

"I heard that early this morning, more than a dozen people from Second Fool's Home set out. Looks like they want to thoroughly search the entire town. Luo Shu and the others definitely won't be able to get away," Wang Liying hadn't even spoken when Luo Daya, gloating over someone else's misfortune, chimed in.

Wang Liying turned over the red peppers that had been drying all morning. Today was her day off, so she hadn't gone to the big team's place. "When the people from Second Fool's Home come back, we'll know." As long as Second Fool's Home caught Luo Shu, she would have another hundred yuan coming in.

When they heard the courtyard door being pushed open, Wang Liying and her daughters looked up and were surprised to see Luo Jiansen returning home. Luo Jiansen worked at Wood Factory in West Village and usually didn't come back until dinner time.

Coming to her senses, Wang Liying hurriedly went to meet him and took the groceries Luo Jiansen had bought. "Jiansen, how come you're off work so early today?"

"I asked for leave," replied Luo Jiansen, his face looking rather ugly. He had come home from work yesterday to hear from Wang Liying that money was missing from the house, probably stolen by Luo Shu and the others.

He hadn't slept well last night and was completely out of sorts at work today. He nearly got his hand sawed by Fang Datong's saw. So he asked his foreman for leave, planning to go to the town again in the afternoon to look for Luo Shu and the others. Those three beasts had really learned some skills, even stealing money from their own home. It made him furious!

Wang Liying handed the groceries to Luo Daya, telling the two sisters to cook, while she pulled Luo Jiansen aside to sit down on a bench, "What's the matter? Are you not feeling well?" She had been married to Luo Jiansen for almost five years now. Although it could not be said to be too good, she no longer had to suffer and be looked down upon as she did in the past. Moreover, Luo Jiansen had always been nice to her and her daughters.

Luo Jiansen's face darkened. Grinding his teeth with hatred, he said, "It's all because of those three beasts making me angry. After we eat, let's go to the town again. Today, even if I have to turn the whole town upside down, I will find those three beasts."

Wang Liying's eyes shifted, and she patted Luo Jiansen's back, "Jiansen, don't be angry. I've already sent someone to find them. I believe we'll hear news very soon."

Luo Jiansen was stunned and asked, "Who did you send? Why haven't I heard you mention it?"

"It's the Wang Family from Willow Village. They want to find a bride for their son, right? The day they sent a matchmaker to talk to me, I agreed to marry Luo Shu off to them and even received a hundred yuan as a deposit. Jiansen, you're not upset with me, are you? Actually, I am also thinking of Luo Shu's well-being. The Wang Family's eldest son is their only child, and the daughters are all married off. In the future, when Luo Shu becomes part of the Wang Family, won't their property all be Luo Shu's?" With Luo Shu's timid nature, once the old couple of the Wang Family pass away, wouldn't all their property go to the Luo Family?

"How could I be upset with you? I know you're also thinking of the children's best interests. It's just those three ungrateful beasts that are too ignorant," Luo Jiansen sighed, looking at Wang Liying with a guilty face.

Wang Liying smiled and shook her head, "As long as you know I mean well, I'm sure the children will understand my good intentions one day."

As they were talking, a noisy rush of footsteps could be heard from outside the door.

Then, the courtyard door was kicked open.

Luo Jiansen and Wang Liying were startled and looked up, only to see Shi Lanjiao and her husband, accompanied by a group of relatives, striding in with an aggressive air.

Wang Liying, taken aback, hurriedly greeted them with a smile, "Sister-in-law Wang, have you found Luo Shu?" Why do you look so upset? Could it be that you didn't find him?"

"Wang Liying, you tell me, how did you injure your hand?" Shi Lanjiao, hands on her hips and one finger pointing at Wang Liying, demanded furiously.

"I fell and hurt it, what's the matter? What happened?" A bad feeling suddenly surged in Wang Liying's heart.

"Fell? Pah! Wang Liying, your hand was clearly hurt by Luo Shu, and you didn't even tell me. Are you fucking using my Wang Family as pawns? I'm telling you, today you must compensate us with one thousand yuan for medical expenses, or else we'll send your whole family to the hospital. And since you took our betrothal gift, you are obliged to marry a daughter to our Er Bao." The more Shi Lanjiao thought about being used by Wang Liying, the angrier she got, unable to keep the fury inside.

"Sister-in-law Wang, let's talk this over, what exactly happened?" Wang Liying glanced at the people behind Shi Lanjiao and noticed a few of them had bruises on their faces. Could it be Luo Shu beat them up?

Shi Lanjiao spat, "Talk it over, how can we talk it over? You knew full well that Luo Shu is not someone to be trifled with, and yet you still deceived us into finding Luo Shu. Look how my brothers were beaten by Luo Shu."

"They were really beaten by Luo Shu?" Luo Jiansen couldn't quite believe it. Since when had Luo Shu become so formidable?

Looking at his own injured arm and then at Wang Liying's slung arm, any doubt Luo Jiansen had vanished instantly. He looked at the injured from the Wang Family, his brow furrowing. What to do now?

"What? Am I wronging Luo Shu? Luo Jiansen, I'm telling you, you have to pay the medical expenses today, or else you're not done with us," Shi Lanjiao threatened with a cold face. They might not be able to do anything to Luo Shu, but Luo Jiansen and the others, they were not afraid of.

"Sister-in-law Wang, my apologies, I truly didn't know Luo Shu would be like this now, please, can we just let this go?" Wang Liying pleaded in a low voice, tugging at Shi Lanjiao's sleeve.

Shi Lanjiao shook off Wang Liying forcefully and cursed loudly, "Wang Liying, is your face bigger than your ass? Just let it go, and we're supposed to just take the beating? I'm telling you, if you don't come up with one thousand yuan today, we're not finished with you."

"I don't have the money," Wang Liying declared stubbornly. It was as good as killing her to make her pay. She wouldn't part with her money, and she didn't have that much anyway.

"No money? Then we'll take your things," Shi Lanjiao had already thought of what to do.

Wang Liying collapsed onto the ground, slapping her thighs and bellowing, "You're trying to drive me to death! Fine! If that's how it is, then I'm not going to live. I'll just bash my head and end it all." With that, she got up and lunged at Shi Lanjiao and her group.

The Wang Family members quickly grabbed Wang Liying and pushed her toward Luo Jiansen.