C23 He Poisoned Him

If Soong Li were the only one with an issue, she wouldn't have been suspicious. But seeing her brother and husband slumped over the table, she sensed trouble.

She turned to Wong Xinzhong with a feeble voice, "Did you poison them?"

"Hehe..."

Wong Xinzhong's laugh was icy as he replied, "Haven't you heard of me? In this town, everyone respectfully calls me Master Zhong. Even in the city, many know me as Brother Zhong. And you think I'd foot the bill for medical fees? Pure fantasy."

"Soong Li, you believe teaching Elder Qi's grandson will ingratiate you with the Qi family? Think again."

"What are you planning to do? Stop this madness," Ou Liangjian said, his face pale and his voice barely a whisper.

"What am I going to do?"

"Hehe..."

Wong Xinzhong's laugh was unrestrained. He boasted, "You've been struck by my Muscle Weakening Powder. It'll leave you feeble, at my mercy."

"Just yesterday, I used it to get my way with several young women."

"Soong Li, you're quite attractive. We'll enjoy ourselves shortly, and I'll make sure to capture every moment."

"After this, I doubt you'll ask me to pay for any medical expenses, don't you agree?"

Wong Xinzhong's remarks drained the color from Soong Li and Ou Liangjian's faces even further.

They felt the looming threat.

If this really happened...

How could they ever demand compensation?

They might well spend their lives overshadowed by the Wong family. Ou Liangjian was seething with rage.

Summoning all his strength, he bellowed, "Wong, if you lay a finger on my wife, I swear it'll be the end of you."

"Hehe..." Wong Xinzhong sneered, "Scared? I have connections in high and low places."

"You'll be forced to watch. And you'll be haunted by nightmares forever."

"If you dare to confront me again, I'll be ready to teach you a lesson."

Just then, an elderly voice echoed in the room, "Wong Xinzhong, you certainly have some nerve."

Though only four were present, a fifth voice had joined the conversation.

The voice was instantly recognizable to everyone—it belonged to Elder Qi.

Wong Xinzhong's face went pale. How could such an event unfold in the light of day?

Elder Qi's mastery of the Apricot Forest Technique was legendary.

Soong Fei, feigning the effects of poison, glanced at Wong Xinzhong, whose face had turned a ghastly shade, and instructed, "The phone in the right pocket of my clothes is still connected. Take a look."

A flash of realization crossed Wong Xinzhong's ashen face as he retrieved Soong Fei's phone.

Soong Fei's phone was on a call, speaker mode engaged.

And the voice on the line? None other than Elder Qi!

Wong Xinzhong was flabbergasted.

"Elder Qi... Misunderstanding... It's all a misunderstanding," he stammered.

Before he could say another word, the private room's door swung open, and Elder Qi, accompanied by the hospital's security, stepped inside.

Wong Xinzhong's mind went blank at the sight of Elder Qi.

"I was wrong, truly wrong. Elder Qi, please give me another chance," he pleaded, kneeling on the ground, begging incessantly.

With a dismissive gesture from Elder Qi, two guards escorted Wong Xinzhong away. Shortly after, Elder Qi had someone deliver three antidotes.

Having taken the antidotes, Soong Li and Ou Liangjian couldn't thank Elder Qi enough.

Elder Qi offered a smile and said, "Wong Xinzhong deserved punishment long ago. Rest up for now; you'll be back on your feet shortly. I'll leave you be."

Once Elder Qi had departed, Soong Li turned to Soong Fei and asked, "Did you anticipate Wong Xinzhong harboring malicious intent?"

Soong Fei nodded and explained, "Wong Xinzhong preys on us, the ordinary folk. That's why he shirked responsibility when Dad got hurt, leading us to handle things privately."

"He must have had ulterior motives for the invitation."

Ou Liangjian, deep in thought, nodded in agreement and remarked, "You're sharp, little brother."

With a composed smile, Soong Fei responded, "Brother-in-law, you looked incredibly brave when you said you'd lay down your life for my sister."

"You'll understand when it's your turn to get married."

"That despicable Wong Xinzhong deserves to be castrated."

Soong Fei nodded in approval and mused, "Not a bad idea. Who knows? It might just come to pass someday."

"Don't joke around," Ou Liangjian said, his face turning serious. "Honey, I've been thinking."

As both of them fixed their gaze on him, he went on, "I don't want to teach anymore. I'm considering a career in civil service."

"Without someone to stand up for us, we're easy targets. If I become a civil servant, bullies like Wong Xinzhong won't dare to mess with us."

"The higher I climb, the fewer people will dare to push us around."

Soong Li's face showed her shock. "You never wanted to be part of the bureaucracy before."

"People change," Ou Liangjian said with a wry smile.

"It's not just about not having connections. I'm tired of being pushed around, and I can't stand to see you and the family suffer."

"We'll see. Pursuing a career in civil service doesn't conflict with being a scholar, after all."

Soong Fei felt a surge of warmth at his brother-in-law's words. Maybe it was the beating he took today, or the near-miss his sister had with humiliation, that sparked the change in Ou Liangjian.

Looking at his brother-in-law, Soong Fei said, "With me around, no one will be able to bully us. You should do whatever job makes you happy!"

Soong Li smiled, relieved. "I admire your aspirations, but I don't want any of you to face hardships."

Ou Liangjian didn't say more, but he was resolute. He was going to become a civil servant.

He had been worried about Soong Li being bullied.

He would never let such a thing happen again.

Soong Fei remained silent. With the system now, nobody could bully his family.

"It's hopeless!"

In the streets of Qi Family Town, Lyi Yu crushed his cigarette butt with force.

His eyes blazed with fury.

Plagued by a persistent illness, he had sought out the best in the Apricot Forest Technique. Elder Qi had just told him there was no cure.

Elder Qi had diagnosed him, but offered no treatment.

Elder Qi was known for his honesty; he never sugarcoated the truth. If an ailment was beyond help, he said so plainly.

Lyi Yu's fury was stoked to new heights. A man of wealth and influence, he was accustomed to handling a myriad of matters daily.

Yet, with an attractive woman by his side, all he could do was look on.

As he caressed his bandaged, severed finger, the rage in his eyes intensified. "If you can't even treat me properly, why should I give you any respect?" he spat out.

His friends often teased him, sneering that he could only converse with beautiful women through gestures.

With a finger now missing, the ridicule would only get worse, and he couldn't swallow his fury.

"Blue Osmanthus Real Estate... Ha! I thought you'd handle this yourself, but you turned out to be a wimp, actually calling the cops."

Recalling Soong Fei's words, Lyi Yu's gaze was fiery with indignation.

"Soong Fei, who do you think you are? I'll show you what I'm capable of."

Without hesitation, he whipped out his phone and dialed.