Liu Chunlan immediately called Wang Hao.
But the ringtone came from the doorway.
Liu Chunlan opened the door.
"Son, she's crazy. That Lin Wanyi has completely lost her mind."
"What is it now?"
Wang Hao sounded a bit impatient. Liu Chunlan continued,
"Lin Wanyi went to your uncle's house."
"What?"
Wang Hao thought he had heard wrong. "Why would she run off to Uncle's house?"
"How should I know?"
Liu Chunlan said in a huff,
"Let's go, let's go. Hurry up and drive back to see. Who knows what kind of stunt she's trying to pull."
She pulled Liu Xiulan along and got into the car.
From the balcony, Wang Meijuan watched them leave, then twirled around the house.
"Hahaha, go, all of you go! This is my house now.
"No one is going to fight me for it.
"Son, this big house is yours now, all yours."
She frantically took selfies all over the house and posted them on her WeChat Moments with the caption:
[My big house in the city.]
Li Jun, who was drinking back in the village, rolled his eyes and sent Wang Meijuan a message:
"Idiot!"
Wang Hao drove very fast, his heart filled with indescribable emotions.
He was happy that Lin Wanyi hadn't left; she really hadn't left.
But he was puzzled as to why she would go to Liu Dabing's house.
What was she doing there?
At this thought, he immediately called Liu Dabing.
"Uncle, give the phone to Wanyi. I want to ask her what she's doing."
Liu Dabing handed the phone over, but Lin Wanyi simply refused to take it.
"You won't even answer your own husband's call?"
Lin Wanyi still wouldn't take it, so Liu Dabing had to put it on speaker.
"Wang Hao, hurry up and take this wretched woman away. Otherwise, don't blame me if she goes missing later.
"You know I have my ways."
Lin Wanyi shuddered.
Wang Hao immediately said, "Uncle, don't be angry. We'll be right there."
Liu Dabing hung up the phone and stared Lin Wanyi up and down with malicious intent.
"You delivered yourself to my door today, Lin Wanyi. If you don't get lost right now, don't blame me for not being polite.
"Damn it, I was planning to have my way with you before the New Year. If Wang Hao hadn't stopped me, I..."
He didn't finish his sentence. Lin Wanyi glared at him and looked out the door.
"Liu Dabing, did you think I'd come alone? Do you think I don't know what a scumbag you are?
"I'm only asking you this: where is Zhao Pei?"
"What do you care where she is?"
Liu Dabing glanced outside the door. "She's my wife. Why are you looking for her?"
Lin Jiajun, who had just walked through the door, heard this remark.
"What do you mean, your wife? If she's your wife, why did she run away in the freezing snow right after the New Year? Why did she even jump into a river to hide from you?
"Liu Dabing, be smart and hand her over."
Liu Dabing looked at the Lin siblings like they were lunatics.
"Is there something seriously wrong with you two? Running into my house out of nowhere demanding to see my wife.
"Oh, I get it."
He looked as if he had suddenly realized something.
"You guys have gone off the deep end ever since you took away the one from Old Man Chen's house.
"Damn it, now you're trying to boss me around.
"I'm not Old Man Chen for you to manipulate as you please."
Lin Wanyi stared at him intently. "Do you dare say Zhao Pei wasn't abducted?
"Do you dare say you married her legally and properly?
"Liu Dabing, do you dare say it?"
Liu Dabing felt guilty, but he still puffed out his chest.
"So what? She stayed here willingly.
"She didn't call the police or make a fuss. It's been over ten years. What the hell does it have to do with you?
"Let me tell you, Lin Wanyi, mind your own business.
"Get the hell out of here!"
Lin Wanyi didn't take a single step back. She continued to glare at him.
"If you're not afraid, then call her out to confront us.
"Do you dare let her out? Do you?
"If I hear her say to my face that she's willing, I'll leave immediately."
Liu Dabing stopped talking, but he turned and called for his son, Liu Che.
Lin Wanyi wasn't familiar with him and hadn't seen him around much.
Liu Che looked just as fierce and menacing as Liu Dabing. He pointed at Lin Wanyi.
"Get out, you hear me? That wretched woman still has to watch my kids. If she leaves, who's going to cook and wash our clothes?"
Lin Wanyi still didn't retreat a single step.
"She was abducted and sold to your father. Why should she cook and wash clothes for you?
"Liu Che, you're a young man. Liu Dabing is ignorant, but are you ignorant too?
"Or do you want to go to jail with him?"
Liu Che wanted to say something else, but his wife kept pulling his hand.
"Let's go. This has nothing to do with you. It's the old man's business, don't get involved."
Liu Che was pulled away by his wife, and Liu Dabing cursed in anger.
"Liu Che, I'm your father! You're just going to leave me here?"
He was mad with rage, but Lin Wanyi had found her direction.
Because when Liu Che's wife left, she gave Lin Wanyi a meaningful look.
Lin Wanyi immediately walked toward the back of the house.
Lin Jiajun followed behind her.
Behind Liu Dabing's house were chicken coops, dog kennels, and an abandoned pigpen.
As soon as they pushed open the back door, Liu Dabing nervously tried to stop them.
"Lin Wanyi, are you truly insane?
"Who do you think you are, daring to rummage through my house?"
Lin Jiajun kicked him aside. "Get out of the way, or I'll knock out another one of your teeth."
Liu Dabing stumbled back several steps, but Lin Wanyi had already heard a faint cry for help.
"Save me... please save me."
It was Zhao Pei.
Lin Wanyi strode forward. The moment she saw Zhao Pei, large tears began to stream down her face.
She wasn't wearing a single piece of clothing, not even underwear.
She was covered only by a few stalks of straw.
And it was such a freezing cold day.
She was curled up into a tight ball, struggling to open her eyes even a crack.
"Wan... Wanyi, I..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she immediately passed out.
Lin Wanyi turned around, rushed into the room, grabbed a quilt, and wrapped it around Zhao Pei.
Liu Dabing yelled in exasperation,
"Lin Wanyi, you're not allowed to touch her! I said you can't touch her!"
But Lin Jiajun had already scooped up Zhao Pei along with the quilt.
Liu Dabing tried to stop him, but Liu Renzhi, who had just gotten out of the car, smashed a fist into him.
He told Lin Jiajun, "You drive her to the hospital first. I'll stay here and handle everything else."
Lin Jiajun nodded. Liu Dabing chased after them again.
"Let her go! Let her go right now! She is my wife, and even if she dies, she has to die in my house!"
This time, Liu Renzhi pulled a small knife straight out of his pocket.
He pressed it against Liu Dabing's neck.
"Do you still want to live?"
Liu Dabing frantically begged for mercy.
"Yes, yes! Let me go, please let me go.
"That wretched woman is dying anyway. She's useless now. If you want her, you can have her. I was getting ready to find a young and pretty one anyway.
"Let me go! Hurry up and let me go!"
Liu Renzhi didn't let go; in fact, he pressed the blade even closer.
"Tell me who else in this village, and the neighboring villages, was bought.
"Tell me, and I'll let you go."
Liu Dabing turned pale with fright.
"I don't know! How would I know something like that?
"I already let you take that wretched woman away! What more do you want?"
Liu Renzhi applied just a little bit of pressure, and blood began to trickle down Liu Dabing's neck.
Terrified, he nearly fainted.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
