Yang Yue, Cao Wang, Wang Degui, and the others were all stunned into frozen silence.
Had they heard correctly?
Jin Xiangming—the son of Wushui County’s untouchable "Master Jin"—was calling Liu Yutong "Aunt"?
What kind of relationship did they have?
"Aunt?!"
Yang Yue’s jaw dropped so wide she forgot about the pain in her swollen face, leaving only shock in its place.
She had dealt with the Jin family for years, yet she had never heard of any connection between them and the Lius.
And why had Liu Yutong pretended earlier not to know Master Jin?
Was she deliberately messing with her?
Cao Wang’s arrogant expression instantly stiffened, his mind screaming one thought: We’re done for! This time, we’ve kicked an iron plate—one that’s red-hot!
Wang Degui remained somewhat composed—after all, this was technically his turf.
Still, he couldn’t quite accept this outcome.
The verbal agreement he had reached with Jin Xiangming was now completely ruined, and his son wouldn’t be getting out of trouble anytime soon.
Just as they all stood petrified, their brains short-circuiting, Jin Xiangming’s next move shattered their understanding of the world once again.
Still kneeling smoothly, Jin Xiangming tilted his head up, wearing a smile even more ingratiating than if he were greeting his own ancestors.
"Aunt, you’re sitting here sunbathing? Is this chair too hard? Should I have someone borrow—uh, I mean, bring—a sofa from Old Wang’s place for you?"
Then, he turned and barked at his equally dumbfounded lackeys: "What the hell are you all standing around for? Blind or what?! This is my aunt—my real aunt! Hurry up and greet her!"
Though their brains hadn’t caught up yet, the lackeys immediately bowed in unison and respectfully called out:
"Aunt, happy New Year!"
Only then did Jin Xiangming nod in satisfaction before turning back to Liu Yutong, laying it on thick like a dutiful nephew trying to win over a beloved elder.
"Aunt, I came in a rush for the New Year and forgot to bring gifts. Just wait—I’ll have someone go buy whatever you want! Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? Lobster? Abalone? Name it, and I’ll get it for you!"
"Oh! Right, right!"
As if suddenly remembering, Jin Xiangming hurriedly pulled out a thick red envelope from his pocket—the one Wang Degui had given him earlier as a New Year’s token.
Now, it had found its perfect use.
With both hands, he presented it to Liu Yutong.
"Aunt, New Year’s blessings! This is just a small token from your nephew—please don’t think it’s too little! I wish you wealth and prosperity in the new year! May everything go your way—even more than for my dad!"
Liu Yutong was utterly speechless at Jin Xiangming’s performance.
"Alright, get up. No need to kneel—the ground’s cold."
"Thank you, Aunt!" Jin Xiangming cheerfully scrambled to his feet.
Then, he turned to Cao Wang: "Cao Wang, was it? You had the balls to drag me into messing with my aunt? You’ve got some nerve!"
Cao Wang dropped to his knees with a thud, faster and more perfectly than when he had kowtowed to Liu Yutong earlier.
"Jin—Jin Shao, it’s a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding! If I’d known she was your aunt, I wouldn’t have dared disrespect her even if I had the guts of a bear and a leopard! It—it was Wang Degui! He’s the one who egged me on—"
"Cut the bullshit!"
Jin Xiangming lashed out with a brutal kick to Cao Wang’s shoulder, sending him sprawling. "You think shifting blame will save you?!"
Next, his glare landed on Wang Degui: "Director Wang, you old bastard, you’ve got some nerve, bullying my aunt! Consider our cooperation over! And don’t even dream of my dad lifting a finger for your son’s mess!"
Finally, he turned back to Liu Yutong, deferential once more: "Aunt, how should we deal with these two blind idiots? Break their legs and toss them in the river for the fish? Your nephew will follow your orders!"
Liu Yutong finally rose leisurely, dusting off her clothes.
"I need to go help Grandma in the kitchen. I didn’t see anything."
With that, she walked away.
The moment Liu Yutong turned her back, Jin Xiangming’s smile vanished, replaced by cold ruthlessness.
Soon after, faint, intermittent screams drifted from a grassy clearing dozens of meters outside the courtyard—Cao Wang and his men.
When it was Wang Degui’s turn, the village director was sweating bullets.
"Jin Shao, this is all a mistake—let me explain—"
Jin Xiangming cut him off. "Explain what? You dared target my aunt, and now you want to talk? Beat the shit out of this old bastard!"
Wang Degui thrust out a hand. "Wait! Jin Shao, are you sure you want to do this? Have you forgotten something?"
Jin Xiangming narrowed his eyes. "What are you getting at?"
Wang Degui: "I don’t know what your deal is with that Liu girl or why you’re helping her, but this is Duan Village—my territory! You can rough up Cao Wang all you want, but if you lay a hand on me, don’t expect to walk out of here alive!"
Wang Degui was done holding back.
Since he was already in deep, he might as well burn the bridge completely.
Though his reputation in the village wasn’t great, a few outsiders trying to teach him a lesson? Not happening.
With one phone call, a flood of Wang clansmen—cousins, nephews, and distant relatives—poured in, outnumbering Jin Xiangming’s men in an instant.
They swiftly split into two groups, blocking both village exits.
If Wang Degui had tried to rally his family against the Lius or other villagers, they might not have helped.
Their clan loyalty wasn’t as strong as in the south, and the Lius and other families were fellow villagers—people they saw daily. With Grandfather Liu’s standing, they wouldn’t casually side with the director.
But outsiders trying to rough up one of their own—especially the village head? That was different.
And with it being New Year, nearly all the Wang men were home. A single shout had brought them running.
Right now, Wang Degui held all the power.
As the Wang clansmen closed in, Jin Xiangming’s ruthlessness faltered. His lackeys tensed.
Watching their expressions shift, Wang Degui smirked.
"Jin Xiangming, see now? This is Duan Village—where I call the shots. You think your handful of thugs can touch me? Dream on!"
Jin Xiangming: "Wang Degui, have you given up on your son? Think carefully about the consequences of crossing me!"
Wang Degui: "I invited you here today to work together—and I showed my sincerity. But you had to side with that Liu girl. What kind of ‘aunt’ is she to you? Why grovel like this?!"
"Since you're refusing to save face, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Give these blind outsiders a proper welcome! Let them learn that Duan Village isn't a place where outsiders can act recklessly!"
