Chapter 45

As the three brothers continued their argument outside the gate of Nan Dashu’s courtyard, a fierce confrontation erupted inside. In the past, Li Guihua had struck Nan Zhi without the girl ever harboring a single thought of retaliation. After all, the four siblings had to rely on Li Guihua to survive. But things were different now. Her brother had told her that today was their final stand—whether or not they could make a clean break from Nan Dashu and Li Guihua depended entirely on this day. Nan Zhi was done with being submissive. She let loose all the grievances she had pent up over the years in one explosive outburst. She slapped away the hand Li Guihua had raised to strike her, surged to her feet, and, gathering every ounce of strength in her body, lunged at Li Guihua’s face, which was already swollen like a pig’s head. Although Nan Zhi toiled daily, she had almost no fingernails to speak of; nonetheless, her swipe left three bleeding gashes across Li Guihua’s face.