C17 Fraudulent!

Wang Caifeng knew she was no match for Tang Jin, but the previous incident had left her with a festering resentment. Unable to take it out on him, she redirected her fury towards Xia Churan, glaring at her with venomous eyes.

"You and your family," she seethed, "I helped you out during your time of need, and this is how you repay me? By turning my son into this? You owe me for my son's suffering!"

With that, Wang Caifeng swung her hand at Xia Churan's face. Xia Churan, having never encountered such aggression, froze in shock.

Tang Jin, however, was not about to indulge Wang Caifeng's behavior. He swiftly caught her wrist, and she felt as if it were clamped in iron. Releasing her, he pushed her away.

Wang Caifeng tumbled to the ground and burst into tears. "Oh, this is too much! Bullying me after what you did to my son! Now you're picking on an old woman like me? I won't stand for this—I'll fight you with everything I've got!"

The villagers who had followed her found the spectacle somewhat amusing, yet none dared to confront the irate woman.

Undeterred, Wang Caifeng got back on her feet and lunged at Tang Jin, shouting, "I'm not afraid to take you on!"

But Tang Jin, with his martial arts training, was quick and agile. He sidestepped, and Wang Caifeng missed her target, stumbling and falling face-first into the dirt, losing two of her front teeth in the process.

Tang Jin's face darkened with displeasure. "Have you finished your spectacle? You don't even know the facts and here you are, causing a scene. Remember, it's your family's reputation and Yongzi's that you're dragging through the mud!"

At Tang Jin's rebuke, Wang Caifeng's wails ceased abruptly.

Soon after, Yongzi came to. Seeing her son regain consciousness, Wang Caifeng hurried to his bedside, anxiously asking, "Yongzi, are you okay?"

Yongzi shook his head, disoriented. "Where am I? How did I end up here?"

"Jin carried you here without stopping for a break!" Second Stick murmured softly.

Yongzi lifted his head and glanced at Tang Jin, responding with a simple "oh."

Tang Fugui and Wang Caifeng both breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Yongzi unharmed.

Tang Jin approached Yongzi. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

Yongzi's eyes darted around as he hatched a plan, feigning discomfort with a couple of groans. "Oh, my head is killing me, my whole body aches!"

The doctors and nurses couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of this eccentric family.

Tang Jin, of course, realized Yongzi was faking, but he was powerless to call him out on it at the moment.

Wang Caifeng turned to Tang Jin with a stern look. "Look at what you've done to my son. If anything happens to him, you'll have me to answer to!"

Tang Jin was slightly irritated. "So it hurts? No problem. Stay here as long as you like; I'm not worried! You can leave the hospital once you're fully recovered."

He then took Xia Churan by the hand and headed outside.

Worry creased Xia Churan's face. "Staying here is expensive! I've heard it's more than a kilo of pork per day! And with medication and IV fluids, it could easily cost three to four yuan daily!"

Tang Jin just smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. Your husband has plenty of money. Let them stay; we're about to harvest the wheat soon anyway. They can drag this out as long as they want."

After the villagers saw that Yongzi was alright, they dispersed.

Once they were gone, Wang Caifeng smirked to herself. "Hahaha, perfect. That kid needs to learn his lesson. We'll stay here for ten days, maybe half a month. The medical bills will surely add up to thirty or forty yuan!"

Wang Caifeng spoke with a vengeful tone.

Tang Fugui remained silent, reflecting on the situation. "We're all from the same village, and we're family. It's not right to go too far. Besides, even if they sold their house, it's doubtful they could scrape together that much money."

Yongzi merely snorted in response.

"Humph, if only he had known this day would come, why act so rashly in the first place? He should have realized that actions come with consequences!"

Wang Caifeng emphatically agreed.

"Exactly, he must be made to pay the price!"

Tang Fugui stood up decisively.

"The wheat has ripened; I reckon it'll be ready to harvest in two or three days. Do you expect your father to handle our five acres of wheat alone while you just lie there?"

The thought of harvesting wheat made Yongzi even less inclined to rise.

"Dad, I am the Village Secretary, a man of standing. How could I stoop to labor in the fields? City folks don't harvest wheat!"

Tang Fugui was visibly upset.

"Tang Yong, Tang Yong! Then you just stay put!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

Wang Caifeng let out a scornful laugh.

"Never mind him. He can harvest his own wheat! We'll stay put right here! As for the medical bills, I'll go to his house every day to collect. If he refuses to pay, I'll camp out at his place until he does!"

Yongzi nodded in agreement.

...

Upon returning to the village,

Tang Jin first dropped Xia Churan off at her home, then grabbed an apple and headed to Ergou's house to fetch Little Milk Bun.

Arriving at Ergou's house,

Ergou rose to greet Tang Jin.

"Jin, you've finally arrived. What's the situation? Has that guy come to yet?"

"He's awake, but it's brought some complications!"

"What happened?"

Tang Jin relayed the entire situation to Ergou.

Ergou, fuming, stood up abruptly.

"That scoundrel! When he passed out, you didn't hesitate to carry him to the hospital, and now that he's come to, he has the nerve to accuse you! He's unfit to be the Village Secretary!"

Tang Jin could only scoff.

"He's not worried, so neither are we. The wheat harvest is in two days. His family's five acres of wheat depend on his father to harvest alone—it'll take forever. If he has any decency, he'll come and help his father with the harvest!"

Ergou let out a cold chuckle.

"A conscience? If he had one, he wouldn't be capable of such actions!"

Tang Jin shot Ergou a stern look. "Keep it down, will you? Don't wake Yuh Hua. The kid's still young, and it's already tough for Yuh Hua to get any rest!"

After a bit more conversation, Tang Jin picked up Little Milk Bun and headed home.

The noise had stirred Yuh Hua from her sleep.