Looking at Zhang Xiaokang's demeanor, Yun Que'er couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
She never expected Zhang Xiaokang to be such a shrewd fellow who knew how to adapt.
He knew that the Party secretary was not as easy - going as the old village head, so he started to fabricate stories.
Moreover, he was patient. For the sake of greater benefits in the future, he didn't even mind being thrown to the ground by Yun Fujin.
"Alright then." Yun Fujin lowered his head and smiled. "As you said, maybe I was just too hasty. May I ask, what on earth did the mother and daughter do to make you so agitated?"
"This is a family matter. It's not nice to talk about it in front of outsiders." Zhang Xiaokang evaded vaguely.
"However, regardless of whether it's a family matter or not, when it comes to physical violence, the situation is surely serious. Why don't you just tell us what exactly happened? We can then judge fairly for you." Yun Que'er continued.
Zhang Xiaokang squinted his eyes. He never expected these two to be so oblivious. They were truly annoying!
But Zhang Xiaokang couldn't act rashly. Otherwise, he would be in for a hard time with the Party secretary.
"Hey, it's not really a big deal anyway." Zhang Xiaokang forced a smile. "But since you asked, I'll be straightforward. When my elder brother married my sister - in - law back then, my mother subsidized them a great deal. My elder brother also promised to pay the money back, but it's been years. Isn't that just too much? So we came here on behalf of my mother. We can't let my mother be without money for her old age, right?"
"Yes!" Wang Xiufang chimed in. "Back then, because my elder brother - in - law had a grand wedding, when we got married, we only had a tile - roofed house to live in. We didn't even complain about that. But that money was my mother - in - law's life savings!"
Hearing their self - justified words, if one didn't know their previous actions, they might really believe them.
"No! Brother Yun! It's not like that!"
Zhang Yingying cried and rushed forward, grabbing Yun Fujin's sleeve and looking at him pitifully.
Granny Zhang instinctively grabbed Zhang Yingying and shook her head gently.
Zhang Yingying understood Granny Zhang's intention. After all, family scandals should not be made public.
Even though Uncle Zhang had passed away, they still carried the Zhang family name.
But Zhang Yingying really couldn't bear it any longer.
She was stunned for two seconds, then gritted her teeth and pushed Granny Zhang's hand away.
"Mother, I've always listened to you, but I can't listen to you on this matter! You always tell me to be patient, but until when should I be patient?!"
Zhang Yingying knelt down in front of Yun Fujin with a thud.
"Brother Yun, please seek justice for me!"
Yun Fujin quickly helped Zhang Yingying up. "Speak calmly. Don't kneel!"
"Yes, Sister Yingying. You can tell us all your grievances. Besides, it's not you who should be kneeling."
As Yun Que'er said, she glared at Zhang Xiaokang and his wife.
Zhang Xiaokang instantly felt like he was facing a great enemy, and his mind tensed up like a taut string.
"Zhang Yingying!" Zhang Xiaokang scolded and stared threateningly at Zhang Yingying. "Don't talk nonsense in front of outsiders!"
Zhang Yingying was still a bit afraid of this overbearing uncle. She couldn't help but shrink back.
"We can't just listen to your one - sided story, can we?" Yun Que'er retorted. "Even a criminal has the right to defend themselves!"
Zhang Xiaokang was really fed up with this girl.
There were plenty of kids in Yuhe Village who were seven or eight years old. Why was she the one with so much to say!
"Are you trying to show off?" Zhang Xiaokang stepped forward and tried to push Yun Que'er aside.
Yun Fujin blocked in front of Yun Que'er. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Fine! I was wondering why it took so long for you to come back. It turns out my sister is being bullied here!"
A furious voice came from the courtyard gate.
Looking up, it was Yun Jianzhou carrying a hoe, standing at the gate. Behind him was Yun Yi with a gloomy face.
They must have been listening for a while. Seeing that the situation was not right, they came in.
"Don't touch my sister!"
Yun Jianzhou swung the hoe and rushed forward, holding it in front of him. Yun Yi also firmly protected Yun Que'er and glared at Zhang Xiaokang.
"Where did this scumbag come from? A grown - up bullying a child. Aren't you ashamed!"
Seeing that these kids were one braver than the other, Zhang Xiaokang couldn't help but take two steps back.
After all, the timid are afraid of the bold, and the bold are afraid of the reckless.
"Are you guys going to keep this up?" Zhang Xiaokang could only mutter.
The Yun family didn't care about him. They didn't want to argue with him either. They simply asked Zhang Yingying.
"You said it's not like this. Then what exactly happened?"
Zhang Yingying's eyes were filled with tears. "We've never owed them any money. On the contrary, right after my father passed away, they came here under the pretext of collecting debts and looted our house!"
"You said you didn't owe any money, and that's it?" Zhang Xiaokang stepped forward. "I originally thought your family was reasonable, but I didn't expect you to be so confused! Besides, that was the debt your parents owed when they got married. You weren't even born then!"
"I think it's you who is confused, right?" Yun Que'er scolded angrily. "Fine, since you said there was a debt, where's the IOU?"
This question left Zhang Xiaokang speechless.
IOU? Of course there wasn't one.
So, when unreasonable people meet reasonable ones, they usually fall apart within three and a half sentences.
"The money he borrowed from my mother was between mother and son. Why do we need to be so formal? Don't you understand that writing an IOU would hurt feelings?"
"If it was a debt to the old lady, then why didn't she come herself?" Yun Que'er retorted.
"My mother is old and can't move. It's only right for me, her son, to come on her behalf, isn't it?"
"Bullshit!" Zhang Yingying, who was usually gentle and timid, finally couldn't help but curse after hearing such shameless remarks.
When a person reaches the end of their rope, they either gain courage or have no way out. At this moment, she was no longer afraid or timid. All that was left was hatred and anger, and she wanted to reason with Zhang Xiaokang clearly.
Zhang Yingying rushed forward and grabbed Zhang Xiaokang's collar.
"A few days ago, my mother was trying to arrange a marriage for me. Grandma came to persuade me when she heard the news. She was running around like a young person even though she's in her seventies or eighties. And now she can't move all of a sudden? Who are you kidding!"
Zhang Xiaokang was startled by Zhang Yingying, who suddenly grabbed him. He quickly waved her hand away.
"Don't grab me!"
Zhang Yingying almost fell, but fortunately, Yun Fujin caught her.
"Everyone saw that! He's going to beat someone because he couldn't get the money!"
At this moment, with so many people and such a commotion, the neighbors couldn't help but come over to take a look.
Just then, Yun Que'er saw them out of the corner of her eye and immediately shouted.
The people outside were watching the excitement. From their perspective, it did seem like Zhang Xiaokang had made a move, so they all rushed in.
"I was wondering who it was. It's you two again! You're always causing trouble in this family. Aren't you sick of it?"
"Oh, you can never be sick of collecting money."
Did these people really come to speak up for the Zhang mother and daughter?
Not necessarily, but it was good to have more people.
Yun Que'er immediately grabbed Zhang Yingying's hand. "Sister, tell us all your grievances quickly."
Then she whispered, "While there are so many people here."
Zhang Yingying wiped away her tears. "It's not about any debt. They just want my father's rosewood box!"