Although Zhang Chong spoke viciously, he did not intend to take any lives. Therefore, the lackeys behind him rushed forward in a swarm, trying to drag Liang Song and his family away so as not to delay the demolition.
Grandma Liang, who doted on Liang Song the most, immediately shielded her grandson as soon as she saw the thugs approaching. "Song, run! These people are beasts; they have no hearts."
Mother Liang also kept pushing him. "Son, run!"
Zhang Chong sneered. "What’s with this sentimental family drama? I hate weeping and wailing the most."
Liang Song did not dare to struggle against his mother and grandmother for fear of hurting them, and for a moment, he found his movements restricted. Meanwhile, Zhang Chong’s lackeys stormed into the house as if to demonstrate their power. They knocked a black-and-white framed photograph to the floor. The crisp sound of breaking glass seemed to mingle with the sound of Grandma Liang and Mother Liang’s hearts shattering.
"You pack of animals, what are you doing!"
"Stop it!"
Grandma Liang pushed one of them away and clutched the broken frame, crying wretchedly. "My son! You gave your life for your country, and even after death, you cannot find peace because of these beasts! It’s my fault—I’m useless, I couldn't protect you!"
The thugs did not stop at her cries; instead, they became more brazen. "Old hag, don't block the way!"
An ignorant hoodlum moved to kick Grandma Liang aside, but Liang Song was quick-witted and kicked him away first. The thug was stunned, and when he finally reacted, he marched toward Liang Song, cursing. "Oh, look at you, a soldier thinks he’s something special, huh? Just because you’re in the army, you think you can bully people?"
Liang Song ignored him, focused instead on his mother, who had been pushed to the ground and was being roughly handled by the gang.
"You don't want us to demolish this? We’re going to do it anyway! And we’re going to make you watch it happen! Hahahaha!" The thugs clamored arrogantly, their excitement only fueled by Mother Liang’s heartbreaking screams.
"You animals! Stop it!" Liang Song fixed his gaze on them, then dashed over, throwing a punch and a palm strike to pull his mother to his side.
Once freed, Mother Liang didn't check on herself but looked up with tear-filled eyes, crying out in a hoarse voice, "Stop! Don't tear that down!"
The thugs were busy tearing down the plaque commemorating a First-Class Merit that hung on the house. Mother Liang had tried repeatedly to stop their evil act, but she was too frail and was pushed aside time and again. Liang Song rushed over to intervene, but there were too many of them. He was blocked, and several men seized the opportunity to kick him. His crisp military uniform was covered in footprints.
Seeing this, Grandma Liang and Mother Liang also rushed forward to help, which only left Liang Song unable to handle the situation—he had to watch over his mother and grandmother while trying to break through the encirclement. It was all in vain.
The First-Class Merit plaque was torn down. With a thunderous crash, it struck the threshold and was instantly ruined. Mother Liang wailed in agony—it was the glory her husband had traded his life for!
Mother Liang tried to crawl over, and Grandma Liang followed suit. "No!" "Don't touch it!"
Zhang Chong watched their helpless, crying forms, stepped forward with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and planted his foot on the plaque. "Don't what?"
"Don't touch that plaque!" Grandma Liang gasped, her voice breaking as she clutched her son’s memorial portrait.
Zhang Chong clicked his tongue, putting on a show of mock regret. "Does it hurt? Why didn't you listen in the first place? We asked you to leave nicely, but you refused. Look where you've ended up now, tsk, tsk."
Mother Liang, filled with hatred and frustration, could only grit her teeth. Zhang Chong looked at her, shaking his head in triumph. "Are you wishing you could kill me? Too bad, you can't!"
With that, he stomped hard on the plaque. It cracked under the force.
Liang Song could no longer hold back. He balled his fists, ready to teach this piece of human trash a lesson, but as he moved to charge, his grandmother and mother grabbed him. "Don't!" "They are beasts—they have no humanity left!"
Liang Song’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the plaque lying in pieces under Zhang Chong’s feet. He gritted his teeth and said, "You will face retribution for this!"
Zhang Chong gave a cold laugh, not even bothering to acknowledge him. "Do it!"
Mother Liang and Grandma Liang were filled with despair; they knew they were no match for these local bullies. Liang Song was the family's last surviving descendant; they couldn't let anything happen to him.
The excavator’s mechanical arm rose high into the air and then came crashing down. Liang Song could no longer endure it. He broke free from his mother and grandmother and lunged at the excavator, quickly kicking the operator out of the seat.
Seeing this, Zhang Chong and his men grabbed their tools and swarmed Liang Song. Just as a full-scale brawl was about to erupt, Old Bai, the village chief, arrived late to the scene. Seeing what was happening, he gave a start.
"Wait, wait!" Old Bai first called for Zhang Chong to stop, then hurried to the side of Liu Qiang, the township head, and Sun Da, the county magistrate, bowing and scraping as he greeted them. "Good day, leaders."
Liu Qiang and Sun Da didn't even lift their eyes, treating him like a ghost. Old Bai, looking at the farce unfolding at Liang Song’s home, had to steel himself and continue. "Leaders, isn't this going a bit too far?"
Liu Qiang glared at him. "Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?"
Old Bai shook his head like a rattle. "No, no, I wouldn't dare."
"Then stop the nonsense!"
Old Bai wrung his hands, torn between fearing the leaders and fearing an even greater catastrophe. But he couldn't just stand by and watch a tragedy happen, so he hovered around Sun Da and Liu Qiang. Sun Da, annoyed by his constant pacing, finally gave him a kick. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Old Bai took the opportunity to say, "Liang Song’s father, Liang Sanxi, earned merits on the battlefield. He was a Company Commander. If things get too out of hand, what if..."
Liu Qiang thought of the uncle Liang Song had mentioned earlier and asked cautiously, "Are there any other men in their family?"
Old Bai thought for a moment and shook his head. "None. This Liang Song is the only one left in the Liang family. But..."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qiang’s heart settled. "What's the big deal! It doesn't matter what merits his father earned back then; he’s a dead man now. What is there to worry about?"
Sun Da, still smarting from the kick Liang Song had given him earlier, added even more arrogantly, "Besides, he was just a mere Company Commander! On our turf, even a regimental commander would have to bow his head to me!"
He stood up, acting like a little emperor, and ordered, "Tear it all down! I don't want a single thing left in one piece!"