Chapter 23
A week later, Fengshun Residential Area!
After Yang Huijuan and Qin Xiaomeng left the Qin family, they picked up Yaoyao from her room at the Lanshan Hotel and temporarily moved her into Qin Xiaorou's former home.
"Xiaomeng, the Qin family didn't say they were taking our house back... Why... why did we have to move here?"
"Mom, it's not about the bread, it's about the principle. Did you want to wait for the Qin family to drive us out?" Qin Xiaomeng had a stubborn temper. Refusing to stay in the Qin family's house a moment longer, she simply brought her mother and Yaoyao to live in her late sister's apartment.
"But... the environment is terrible. It doesn't matter for the two of us adults, but we can't make Yaoyao suffer."
Yang Huijuan wore a dejected expression. Fengshun Residential Area was located in a remote, neglected corner, dilapidated and in complete disrepair. Garbage was scattered everywhere, giving off a sickening stench.
How could a child grow up properly in such an environment?
What pained Yang Huijuan the most was that after Qin Xiaorou was driven out of the Qin family, she had actually been forced to live in this kind of place all along—yet she, as a mother, hadn't been able to help her at all.
"Mom, we're only staying here temporarily. Didn't my brother-in-law choose to retire and stay by Yaoyao's side?"
"Tomorrow, my brother-in-law and I are going out to look for jobs. Both of us will work to earn money. Soon we'll be able to move out, rent a place first, and then slowly save up to buy a nice home!"
Qin Xiaomeng wore a smile on her face. Having broken ties with the Qin family, she was full of yearning for her future life!
Most importantly, Chu Tianhe had stayed!
Being able to live together with Chu Tianhe made Qin Xiaomeng exceptionally happy!
"Ah, life is so hard on little Yaoyao." Looking at Yaoyao, whose body was frail and underweight due to malnutrition, Yang Huijuan felt a knot in her stomach, her eye rims turning slightly red. They say grandparents love their grandchildren most, and Yaoyao was her own flesh and blood—how could Yang Huijuan not feel heartbroken?
"Doesn't Yaoyao want a lollipop? Come on, Grandma will take you to buy one."
"Really?" Yaoyao was squatting on the ground, flipping through a yellowed picture book. A sudden beam of light flashed in her eyes as she said, "Thank you, Grandma! You're the best!"
A lollipop might be something easily within reach for other children, but for Yaoyao, it was an extravagant dream!
She and her mother depended entirely on each other, and sometimes they didn't even have enough to eat, let alone lollipops. Only on her birthday would Qin Xiaorou buy her one. She would savor it for a very long time, and even after finishing the candy, she couldn't bear to throw the stick away, carefully collecting it to keep.
"Let's go, Grandma will take you!" Yang Huijuan picked up Yaoyao, and the two of them stepped out the door. Qin Xiaomeng stayed behind to prepare dinner, figuring it was almost time for Chu Tianhe to return.
"Well, well! Isn't this the little bastard from the Qin family?" Just outside the residential area, at the second block around the corner, stood a small convenience store. When the owner saw Yang Huijuan carrying Yaoyao over, his face filled with an expression of utter contempt!
The people around here looked down on the residents of Fengshun Residential Area because their reputation for low character was well-deserved. In this store owner's eyes, everyone from Fengshun was a thief; if you turned your back for even a second, they would steal something!
Incidents like that happened from time to time, so he didn't hold an ounce of goodwill toward the people of Fengshun.
"Who did you call a little bastard?!"
Hearing this, Yang Huijuan flared up instantly. She had simply come out to buy a lollipop, and to be cursed as a bastard the moment she arrived—who could stomach that?
"Who else could I mean? The little brat you're carrying, of course!"
"Her mother is so pretty, she must have hooked up with too many men. Who knows which wild man fathered this little bastard!"
"I bet some guy had his fun, pulled up his pants, and refused to acknowledge her!"
"A little bastard with a mother, but no father to raise her!"
The store owner curled his lip and swept an impatient glance over the two of them. In the past, Qin Xiaorou used to come here to buy groceries. Qin Xiaorou was beautiful, and plenty of men drooled over her; this store owner was naturally no exception. Occasionally, he would toss Qin Xiaorou some leftover vegetables just for an excuse to steal a few glances at her!
Once, taking advantage of a moment when Qin Xiaorou wasn't paying attention, he reached out and flicked the hem of her skirt. To this day, he couldn't forget the scenery beneath Qin Xiaorou's skirt—those slender legs smooth as jade, and the little pink underwear. That image was enough to make a man reminisce for a lifetime!
Chapter 24
It was just a pity that Qin Xiaorou had such a fierce temper. She whipped around and delivered a backhanded slap that almost knocked the wind right out of him. From that day on, he never saw Qin Xiaorou come by again.
"An old shameless woman carrying a little bastard! Keep your hands to yourselves! I've got surveillance cameras installed here—if you dare try to steal anything, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Who the hell are you cursing?!"
Old shameless woman? Little bastard?!
Yang Huijuan's anger boiled over instantly. All these years living with the Qin family, even the members of the Qin clan had never spoken to her with such insults. Besides, Yang Huijuan was a woman of dignity who cared deeply about her reputation; how could she possibly endure such filth?
"Today, you'd better make yourself clear! How am I shameless, and how is my granddaughter a bastard?!"
Unable to swallow her rage, Yang Huijuan put Yaoyao down, stepped forward, and grabbed the store owner by the collar!
She was going to have it out with this store owner properly—she would not let anyone hurl such insults without consequence!
"Let go of me right now!" Seized by the collar, the store owner's expression shifted instantly. He said in a deep voice, "Take your filthy hands off me, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
As he spoke, the store owner casually snatched up a glass beer bottle from the counter, making a motion as if to smash it right over Yang Huijuan's head.
"Grandma, stop fighting! Yaoyao doesn't want a lollipop anymore! It's all Yaoyao's fault, Yaoyao is a little bastard... Grandma, please stop fighting!"
Seeing that the store owner was about to resort to violence and that her grandmother was going to get hurt, Yaoyao cried out in a hurry. Perhaps long accustomed to enduring such malicious abuse, the young girl possessed a heartbreaking maturity beyond her years!
"Did you hear that?"
"Even your little granddaughter admits she's a bastard!" Seeing this, the store owner's temper flared up even more. He sneered, "With a mother as pretty as yours, she must be a slut who's been slept with by countless men. Of course an old hag like you isn't any better—you're just an old shameless bitch!"
"Let go of me right this second!"
"If you don't let go, I'll crack your skull open!"
Cursing loudly, the store owner raised the beer bottle high, attempting to intimidate Yang Huijuan.
By now, a crowd of curious onlookers had gathered around, pointing and whispering at Yang Huijuan and Yaoyao. They said all sorts of things, none of them kind—they held no fondness whatsoever for anyone living in Fengshun Residential Area!
"I won't let go! Until you make things clear today, I am not letting go!"
Seeing this, far from releasing her grip, Yang Huijuan grabbed on even tighter. A person lives for their pride, just as a tree lives for its bark; she could not let this man slander her family like this!
"Fine! You old shameless witch, you won't let go, is that it?"
Enraged, the store owner raised the beer bottle and smashed it straight down onto Yang Huijuan's head with a loud *crash*!
In an instant, the beer bottle shattered. Yang Huijuan's head split open, blood gushing down. Overcome by a wave of dizziness, she collapsed directly onto the ground.
"Old hag, you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeiture! You forced me to hit you!" Seeing her fall, the store owner adjusted his collar, then delivered a vicious kick straight to Yang Huijuan's face, sending a torrent of blood streaming from her nose!
"Everyone saw it! This old woman and her granddaughter tried to seduce me, dragging me inside to chat. I only struck back because I had no choice!"
"No... it wasn't like that!" Struggling to sit up, Yang Huijuan opened her mouth to speak, but the owner had already raised his foot and kicked again!
"Don't hit my grandma! You're a bad man!" Seeing this, Yaoyao rushed forward to shield her grandmother's body. The store owner's kick landed squarely on Yaoyao, sending her flying several meters away!
"Yaoyao!!"
At that exact moment, Chu Tianhe happened to be returning home. Just as he witnessed this scene, he rushed forward in a single bound and scooped Yaoyao into his arms!
"Daddy... *sob*... bad men... bad men hit me, and they hit Grandma too."
Chapter 25
Seeing the footprint left on Yaoyao's clothes, Chu Tianhe's fury ignited into a raging inferno!!
The people he cared about most in this world were Yaoyao and Qin Xiaomeng. Yet now, Yaoyao had been kicked flying several meters away, and the footprint on her body made Chu Tianhe's eyes split with rage. Meanwhile, Yang Huijuan was sitting on the ground clutching her head, waves of dizziness washing over her and making it impossible for her to stand.
"Auntie, are you alright?"
Clutching Yaoyao tightly, Chu Tianhe forced down the towering fury in his heart and took two steps over to Yang Huijuan to check on her condition.
"Is Yaoyao okay?" Yang Huijuan first turned her gaze toward Yaoyao. Seeing that the little girl was unhurt, she finally let out a sigh of relief and gasped, "I... I just feel a bit dizzy. That store owner's words were too infuriating—he actually cursed me as an old shameless woman, and he called Yaoyao a bastard!"
Clutching her head, Yang Huijuan turned her glare toward the little store owner, her eyes filled with resentment!
"So you're the wild man!"
At that moment, the store owner shifted his gaze to Chu Tianhe. After looking him up and down, his eyes filled with absolute contempt, making it clear he looked down on Chu Tianhe completely!
"With such a pretty wife, you still make her live in the worst residential area in all of Jiangzhou City. You really are a piece of trash. Judging by the looks of you, you're either a drunkard or a gambler—the absolute peak of garbage!"
"You're! Court! Death!!"Their daughter had been kicked several meters away, and Yang Huijuan was sitting on the ground with a bleeding head. The rage in Chu Tianhe's heart was already beyond control. He placed Yaoyao down beside Yang Huijuan, took a step forward, and walked toward the small shopkeeper. His face was gloomy, and the soaring killing intent caused the surrounding temperature to drop sharply!
"What? You still want to throw punches, damn it?"
"Come on, come ahead and try. If you dare to touch a single hair of mine, I'll sue you into the grave today!"
Seeing Chu Tianhe approaching aggressively, the shopkeeper was not intimidated at all. He stepped directly forward, pointed at his own head, and shouted defiantly at Chu Tianhe. In Jiangzhou City, everyone knew that Fengshun Residential Area was the worst neighborhood; anyone with even a sliver of capability would never live here. Therefore, he was certain that Chu Tianhe wouldn't dare to strike him!
Even if he did strike, he wasn't afraid. After lying in the hospital for a bit, shaking him down for eight or ten thousand yuan would be an absolute breeze!
"Bang!"
The very next second, the shopkeeper was dumbfounded!
Chu Tianhe raised his hand and delivered a fierce punch straight to his face. Blood splattered instantly; the man's nasal bone was shattered, and his body flew backward over a dozen meters before crashing violently into a utility pole, sending nearly all his front teeth flying out of his mouth!
"Holy shit, you... just you wait, damn it. I'm calling the police right now, you little..."
The shopkeeper was dazed by the punch. He hadn't expected Chu Tianhe to strike with such heavy force—this punch definitely wasn't something that could be settled for eight or ten thousand yuan!
He had to call the police. Not only would he make Chu Tianhe pay compensation, but he'd also make him go to prison!
The shopkeeper hurriedly pulled out his cell phone, preparing to dial the emergency number. However, Chu Tianhe didn't give him the chance at all. He stepped forward in a flash and delivered another ferocious kick straight to the man's chest!
"Pfft..."
In an instant, the man's chest caved in, and a mouthful of blood spewed out, staining the cuffs of Chu Tianhe's trousers!
"Tianhe, stop hitting him! If you hit him any more, you'll kill him!" Seeing this, Yang Huijuan hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. The force of Chu Tianhe's kick was no joke, and it scared Yang Huijuan into a sudden change of expression.
"Murder!"
"Murder... someone's been murdered!"
"Quick... call the police quickly!"
"People from Fengshun Residential Area are committing murder!"
Originally, the crowd held no favorable impression of the residents of Fengshun Residential Area. Now, seeing Chu Tianhe commit violence in broad daylight, they shrieked in even greater shock. Some people had already taken out their phones to call the police, while others were recording videos to use as evidence!
"Tianhe, you..."
"Auntie, it's fine." Chu Tianhe turned back to look at Yang Huijuan, a gentle smile blooming on his face as he said, "From now on, as long as I am here, no one will ever bully our family again. Take Yaoyao back first, and let Xiaomeng accompany you to the hospital to get checked out. I'll handle things here."
"You..." Yang Huijuan looked at Chu Tianhe, then glanced at the small shopkeeper who had already stopped breathing, and said, "You've already been discharged from the military, and Xiaomeng and I have cut ties with the Qin family. Right now, we're just ordinary common folk. You mustn't go throwing punches anymore. If you really cause someone's death, it won't end well."
Although Yang Huijuan had witnessed Chu Tianhe resort to violence back at the Qin family estate, those targets had been utterly heinous individuals—many of them fugitives carrying murder charges on their backs. Moreover, in Yang Huijuan's eyes at that time, Chu Tianhe was still a Divine Martial Guard, so punishing the wicked was only natural.
But now Chu Tianhe had told Yang Huijuan and Qin Xiaomeng that he had left the military and returned to normal life. If he continued to be so violent, it simply wouldn't do!
"I know, Auntie. Take Yaoyao and go back first."
Just as Chu Tianhe wanted to send Yang Huijuan and Yaoyao away, the sound of police sirens echoed from behind. The Public Security Bureau vehicles had arrived, and four or five officers in uniform stepped out, their gun barrels instantly pointing at Chu Tianhe!
"Halt!"
The stern shout made Chu Tianhe stop in his tracks.
"I wasn't planning on leaving!" Chu Tianhe turned around and looked at the officers. With a single glance, his brow furrowed instantly!
Among these officers, there was actually a familiar face—a man wearing the uniform of the Public Security Bureau with a fierce expression on his face: Chen Ming!
This person had previously been one of Qin Xiaorou's suitors, but Qin Xiaorou's heart had long belonged to another, and she had never paid any attention to Chen Ming's pursuits. Because of this, Chen Ming had harbored a grudge and had tripped Chu Tianhe up more than once!
"Chu Tianhe?! I really didn't expect to run into you here!"
"Committing violence in broad daylight, you've got a lot of nerve!"
"Today, you've finally fallen into my hands, haven't you?!"
As their eyes met, a flash of viciousness instantly crossed Chen Ming's eyes, his face twisted with malice!
"Fallen into your hands, and so what?" Chu Tianhe glanced indifferently at Chen Ming, his eyes filled with utter disdain. Six years ago, he hadn't taken Chen Ming seriously, and six years later, he still wouldn't regard a clown like Chen Ming with any gravity!
"So what?" Chen Ming snapped harshly, "Hmph! Once we get to the Public Security Bureau, I'll let you know just what can happen!"
"Men, slap the cuffs on him and drag him back to the Public Security Bureau. I'm going to give him a proper welcome!"
At Chen Ming's stern command, two of his subordinate officers hurriedly stepped forward, pulling out handcuffs to slap them onto Chu Tianhe!
The Public Security Bureau was Chen Ming's turf. Once Chu Tianhe was brought there, Chen Ming could do whatever he pleased. Old scores and new debts would be settled together, and a bout of brutal interrogation was definitely unavoidable!
"Hehe, you punk, you've got plenty of guts. Committing violence in broad daylight—now that you've fallen into Captain Chen's hands, you're going to shed a layer of skin!"
As they spoke, the two officers moved to put the handcuffs on Chu Tianhe. But right at that moment, the two of them abruptly noticed that underneath Chu Tianhe's sleeve was a titanium alloy ancient martial arts restriction cuff!
"This... Captain... Captain Chen, this... this guy... this guy is wearing an ancient martial arts restrictor on his hand, and... and it's the highest-grade kind!"
The two officers were instantly struck with terror!
Never in their wildest dreams had they expected that Chu Tianhe would actually be an ancient martial artist!
In the Great Xia Country, regular officers only handled ordinary cases; they did not practice ancient martial arts and lacked the capability to arrest ancient martial artists. Cases involving ancient martial artists were generally reported to the War Department Yamen so they could dispatch the Divine Martial Guards to handle them!
"So what if he's an ancient martial artist? Can an ancient martial artist commit violence and murder in plain view of the public? Don't just stand there dazed, slap the cuffs on him first!" Hearing that Chu Tianhe was wearing an ancient martial arts restriction cuff, Chen Ming was momentarily startled, but then he shouted harshly, "I don't care who he is; if he breaks the law on my turf, it falls under my jurisdiction!"
"Take him back for interrogation first, and then hand him over to the War Department Yamen!"
How could Chen Ming let such a heaven-sent opportunity slip by? No matter what, he had to drag Chu Tianhe back to the Public Security Bureau first and give him a thorough greeting. If he didn't break a few of his ribs, he certainly wouldn't let the matter rest!
Seeing Chen Ming maintain such a hardline attitude, the two officers immediately wore troubled expressions and stammered, "Captain... Captain Chen... wouldn't... wouldn't this violate regulations?"
"I am the regulations!" Chen Ming instantly flared up in anger, shouting at the two of them, "What happens if the people from the War Department Yamen show up and the suspect escapes?"
"How are we supposed to answer for that then?"
"He's wearing an ancient martial arts restriction cuff, what the hell are you afraid of? If he dares to resist, I'll blow his brains out with a single shot!"
As he spoke, Chen Ming drew his handgun, cocked the hammer, and aimed the barrel straight at Chu Tianhe's head!
"I'm practically begging him to resist. Go on, try resisting and see what happens!"
Brandishing his gun, Chen Ming's attitude was arrogant to the extreme. Seeing this, Chu Tianhe furrowed his brows. He disdained to pay any attention to trash like Chen Ming, but when he caught sight of the terrified expressions on Yaoyao and Yang Huijuan's faces, Chu Tianhe ultimately held back. He didn't want to subject Yaoyao and Yang Huijuan to any more fright.
"Fine. Weren't you planning to drag me, Chu, back to the Public Security Bureau?"
"Chu will go with you!"
"Only, once Chu is there, don't you go regretting it!"
With those words, Chu Tianhe extended his wrists, offering no resistance and allowing the two officers to snap the handcuffs onto him.
"Daddy... Daddy, don't go. Don't leave Yaoyao behind." Seeing this, Yaoyao burst into tears instantly, hugging Chu Tianhe's legs for dear life to keep him from leaving.
Yang Huijuan also wore a helpless expression, looking at Chu Tianhe despondently as her voice choked with emotion. "Tianhe, how... how could you be so reckless? You've only just returned, and if something like murder really comes of this, what are you going to make Yaoyao do in the future?"
"Yaoyao, be a good girl and go home with Grandma first. Daddy is just going over to have a cup of tea and will be right back." Chu Tianhe squatted down, gently stroking Yaoyao's little head, his face full of a gentle, comforting smile.
"Rest assured, Auntie, that man won't die. I know my own limits when striking." Chu Tianhe gave a faint smile to reassure Yang Huijuan, "I'll go over, explain things to the people at the Public Security Bureau, and it'll all be fine."
"Explain things and it'll all be fine?" Before Yang Huijuan could reply, Chen Ming let out a cold snort instead, speaking in a sarcastic, mocking tone, "Chu Tianhe, do you really think this Public Security Bureau is run by your family?"
"Brawling in the streets leading to a fatality—this time, I'm going to make sure you rot in prison until the day you die!" A flash of viciousness crossed Chen Ming's eyes, his words venomous to the extreme!
"Captain Chen, that... that man isn't dead yet. Even though his ribs are all broken, he's still breathing. If we rush him to the hospital for emergency care, he probably won't die."
Hearing Chen Ming's words, the two officers behind him hurriedly whispered a reminder.
"I said he's dead, so he's dead. Don't you understand?" Chen Ming instantly spun around, his eyes wide with fury!
"Understood, understood!"