Aunt Li’s words were like a needle piercing through Grandmother Liu. The latter was about to fire back when the village chief spoke.
“Liu Yeshi, do tell. Why did you do it?” He asked Liu Duo.
Liu Duo sat aside and shot a look at Grandmother Liu and Liu Quanyan, who were both consumed with rage, “Some people kept bothering me for money, and when they couldn’t get what they wanted, they beat and scolded my brother. All I did was give them a lesson and a warning. What do you think, Chief?”
The chief did not immediately take a side. Instead, he faced Grandmother Liu, “If she doesn’t want to lend to you, then you have to think of other solutions. Scolding others and beating them up is not right to begin with.” Grandmother Liu wanted to counter that, but then the chief added, “But your Grandmother Liu and Liu Quanyan are your elders. Severing ties doesn’t dismiss the fact that you’re connected by blood. It’s not right for you to injure them like that.”
“That’s right. What the chief said!” Grandmother Liu listened to the end and nodded in agreement. She felt she had the right to medical compensation!
Ye Ling and the gang didn’t know what to say about that. They could not refute the fact that Liu Duo was related to them by blood.
Liu Duo smiled anyway while not rejecting the idea, “The chief is right. We have severed ties, but we share the same ancestry…”
“Good then, pay up! We need to see the doctor for our troubles! One hundred taels first, and we’ll come back when it’s not enough!” Grandmother Liu blurted. She wanted to get the money and leave!
One hundred taels? The village chief furrowed his brows. That was a large sum to ask for! Medical compensation would only take about one tael of silver.
Liu Ran got mad, “Are you robbing us? Don’t even think about a hundred taels!”
He thought Liu Duo had meant she agreed to compromise and pay up, but one hundred taels was crossing the line!
Ye Ling’s thoughts were the same as Liu Ran’s. One hundred taels was ridiculous! “We won’t give you a hundred taels. One is more than enough!”
“One? Are you treating us like beggars? One hundred taels – no discussion!” Grandmother Liu said aggressively, in a loud voice.
Liu Duo plugged her ears, and before the village chief could speak she fired first, “Old hag, go earn your own money! You open your mouth and demand a hundred taels as though it were a sheet of paper!”
“And, stop coming here and causing chaos! For god’s sake I’m not giving a single wen to you! Yes, we severed ties but we’re still related by blood. So what? Even if you try to take advantage like this, I’m not falling for it. So why don’t you all just scram?!”
The village chief, Aunt Li and Little Lian saw her in action for the first time. They all stared at her in disbelief.
They had heard of Liu Duo’s assertive personality, but witnessing the whole debacle was entirely different. They found it hard to accept that someone with such a sweet demeanour could have a dark side like this.
Liu Ran looked on with unconcealed admiration. He thought his sister was the coolest!
“You…” Grandmother Liu pointed at her, speechless.
She dared to demand they scram? In front of the village chief?
Liu Duo rose, and slapped away the finger the old woman was holding up, “Old hag, I despise anyone who points at me like that! Beat it, why don’t you? You two, no, everyone in the Liu family, all make me sick!”
The village chief coughed for attention when he felt Liu Duo had crossed the line. He was about to speak, again, when Liu Duo chimed in, “Chief, I hope you get things straight. Everything happens for a reason. If they hadn’t been causing trouble in the first place, would I have needed to defend myself? Who borrows money and demands that we do as we are told?”
“I respect that you’re the chief, and so I’ll say no more. Next time you’re the judge of things, I hope you can distinguish the cause and effect!”