Sang Zhi tied up her hair with elegance.
"Why couldn't it be me?"
"Do you think that because my aunt and second uncle’s scheme succeeded, I should be behind bars?"
"Think again. What does it mean that I’m standing here right now?"
The mother and daughter huddled together, afraid to contemplate that terrifying outcome. It was the sound of Sang Weiguo’s muffled groans that brought them back to their senses. Seeing her son beaten until he was scurrying for cover, the woman rushed to intervene. Liu Meili, emboldened by maternal instinct, lost her fear of being struck and demanded loudly, "The grievances of adults have nothing to do with children! You’re his sister, how could you be so vicious?"
Sang Zhi found her voice grating. She swung the fire poker directly at her. "Nothing to do with him? Doesn't he call you Mom and Dad? Isn't he your child? Didn't I tell you before to behave yourself and stop stirring up trouble? Who’s to blame if you don't listen? From now on, whenever you stir up trouble, I will beat him. Once isn't enough? Then twice. Twice isn't enough? Then three times. Unless you run away, I will beat him until he can’t take it anymore!"
Chapter 29