Seeing Li Youfeng so pale and bloodless that she couldn't even walk and had to sit in a wheelchair, Widow Huang was fully convinced by what Old Mrs. Lin had said. Her disgust for Li Youqing deepened even further.
Hardly anyone in this day and age could be so cruel to their own younger sister.
And to think he was a team leader! Ugh! He was utterly unfit to be in a position of influence. Next time there was a meeting, she was determined to report his behavior to the factory director.
Unaware that he was about to be sabotaged, Li Youqing wore a long face and spoke to his sister without a shred of courtesy: "If you're in the hospital, stay there. Why are you running around like a headless chicken? I told you I’d pay you compensation, so I’ll pay you. Can't we siblings even have that much trust between us?
Do you have any idea what you're doing, causing such a scene at the machinery plant? Are you trying to kill me? Have you even considered my position? I’m about to retire—do you have to come here and stir up trouble at a time like this?
I don't have a heartless sister like you."
Li Youfeng gave a cold, mocking smile. The moment she decided to enter the gates of the machinery plant, she had already decided to discard this older brother. Therefore, his threats meant absolutely nothing to her.
"Brother! From the moment I suffered the miscarriage until now, you haven't offered a single word of concern, and yet you’re here threatening me. Do you really think I still care about maintaining our bond as siblings?
I would rather drag my sick body here and tear a chunk of flesh off you than ever return to that home.
Even if I have no son to look after me in my old age, I accept it. I will never set foot in that house again. After today, our ties as siblings are completely severed."
Li Youqing’s face was twisted with malice. Gritting his teeth, he hissed, "Fine! That’s just fine! So you want to drag us both down into the abyss! Excellent! Tell me, what do you want?"
His sister must have come here to make a scene and extort a large sum of money. Since the facade had already been torn away, there was no point in delaying. He wanted to know what leverage she thought she had.
Li Youfeng smiled faintly. "Brother, at a time like this, you’re still trying to play games with me! Are you so sure I don't have the proof to force your hand?
Granted, if it were just about my miscarriage, it might not be enough to truly ruin you. But what if it were about Huang Yong?"
The name "Huang Yong" hit Li Youqing like a landmine. His mind went blank, and he slumped off his chair, collapsing onto the floor.
Li Youfeng maliciously took a step forward, whispering like a curse into Li Youqing's ear. "Do you want me to help you recall the younger son of Widow Huang from the front street? I didn't know until I looked into it, but what I found was truly eye-opening.
Big Brother, how could you not tell us relatives that you had such a handsome son? Now that the second child is gone, this illegitimate son of yours should be brought out into the light, shouldn't he? Otherwise, who’s going to provide for your old age?
And I'm sure your wife and eldest nephew don't know about the existence of this son and younger brother yet.
We should find an opportunity to introduce them, don't you think? Big Brother! Dequan is still over at Huang Yong's place right now, isn't he? Shall we go over there in a while? After all, I am the child's aunt, aren't I?"
A devil! She was absolutely a devil!
How could she know?!
At this moment, Li Youfeng looked like a demon crawled up from hell, sent specifically to consume him.
"No! No! You can't! You can't! Don't go! Don't go! Little sister, whatever you want, I’ll agree to it! I promise! Please, don't go! Don't go!"
In that instant, he felt the suffocating, helpless sensation of having his throat gripped by someone else. He couldn't do a thing; he had no choice but to agree—to agree unconditionally.
He didn't dare let this go public! He feared the family would fall apart, that his son would disown him and refuse to support him in his old age. He was terrified that Huang Yong would become a pariah and that Widow Huang would be branded a homewrecker.
He was scared to the point of collapse, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
"Brother! Now you know what it’s like to be afraid!" Li Youfeng said. "Do you have any idea how desperate I felt lying in that hospital bed, knowing I had no hope for the rest of my life?
You don't! In that moment, I wanted to kill you all! Kill everyone! But I held back. I felt that would be letting you off too easily. I want to live a long life and watch as each and every one of you gets what you deserve.
Hahaha!"
After she finished laughing, she pulled a sheet of paper from the side, scribbled on it rapidly, and handed it to Li Youqing.
"Brother! Sign it! I’m not asking for much: a full-time position at the textile mill and six thousand yuan. Consider it a buyout for this secret. From this point on, we owe each other nothing."
Li Youqing regained his senses, filled with immense terror. He looked at Li Youfeng as if she were a monster.
The job and the money had only come into his possession yesterday. Yesterday, Youfeng was still in the hospital. Where could she have possibly gotten the information?
"You! You! Are you human or a ghost?"
"Brother, don't be ridiculous!" Li Youfeng retorted. "When you were little, you stole Mom's money to buy candy and framed our second brother, nearly getting him beaten to death by Mom. Do you remember that? Do you still think I'm a ghost?"
He had kept that incident so quiet that absolutely no one should have known. It was only later that his younger sister had discovered the candy wrapper he’d failed to throw away, which led her to guess he had taken the money.
It was his own carelessness; he’d thought the wrapper looked pretty and wanted to save it for Huang Tao (Widow Huang, who had married to the front street) to cheer her up.
"I can sign, but tell me who told you!" Li Youqing demanded.
With his secret held in her hands, he had no choice but to pay up. However, he was determined to find the traitor who had betrayed him and tear them to pieces.
"That's your business! But I make no guarantees regarding Dequan." She made a move to leave.
"I'll sign! I'll sign! I'll sign! See, I'm signing, aren't I? I never said I wouldn't. Little sister, you're just being too impulsive."
He wiped his face, pulled a pen from his breast pocket, and signed his name.
Seeing the inkpad on the corner of the desk, Li Youfeng gestured for her brother to press his thumbprint.
"Brother, there’s an inkpad right there. Press it too, so you don't go back on your word later."
Li Youqing complied in silence.
"Here! Now you can rest easy, can't you?" As he spoke, his heart gave a sharp twitch. The pain was unbearable.
The money and the job he had just obtained were snatched away before they were even warm in his hands. It felt like his heart was being sliced open.
Li Youfeng examined the paper meticulously. Once she confirmed everything was in order, she finally showed a smile and said to her brother, "Brother, I’m not one to take an advantage and then act ungrateful. Since you weren't righteous, I won't be wicked.
In a moment, I will tell them that you’ve agreed to find me one more job opening. Let's call this matter even."
She turned toward the doorway and said, "Director! Dad! Mom! Please, come in! I have an announcement to make."
When the director entered, she looked at the two of them, noticing a shift in their expressions. Although she felt a bit suspicious, the fact that they weren't arguing pleased her.
Once everyone was seated, Li Youfeng spoke slowly: "Director, besides the thousand yuan, my brother has just promised to find me another job opportunity. He’s already found a lead. He was originally going to save it for his eldest daughter-in-law, but since I’ve had such a string of bad luck, he’s decided to give it to me first. Now I’ll have some hope for the rest of my life."
The director nodded, signaling her approval. "Good! That's wonderful!"
Old Mrs. Lin and Old Man Lin were not in agreement, but they knew their daughter-in-law must have a follow-up plan and that they had likely come to an understanding in private. They weren't about to hold her back at this moment.
Immediately following this, Li Youfeng leisurely dropped another bombshell.