A carriage rolled into the entrance of the village, packed to the brim with barely enough room to sit. On it, a girl and ten strapping lads! This sight left onlookers agape with astonishment.
"Madam, how do I get to Wang Ergou’s house?"
"Go straight down this road, make a left, and it’s the last house on the end," the woman replied hurriedly, frightened by the sight of all the burly men.
Xiaoxiao quickly got back into the carriage to leave, as rescuing someone was urgent.
She left behind a crowd abuzz with discussion.
"They are heading to Wang Ergou’s house?"
"Since when did they have such relatives?"
"They don’t look like relatives, more like they’re here to settle scores!"
"Look at that bunch, each one tall and powerfully built!"
"Let’s go, let’s go, let’s hurry over and watch!"
The carriage hadn’t reached Wang Ergou’s house when they saw from afar people fighting!
Xiaoxiao looked over and what did she see? Good heavens, it was her husband on the cheap! She had never expected that Yang Ming, the scholar, could be so violent, an aspect of him worthy of a second look.
Damn, it was three against one, and Yang Ming was at a disadvantage. The in-laws were at the side, pulling at the fighters and crying. Oh, Xiaoxiao’s temper flared.
"Brothers, go get them."
Upon hearing Xiaoxiao’s command, the strongmen leaped out of the carriage and rushed towards the three aggressors.
As Yang Ming fought, he suddenly noticed a group coming to his aid, and before he knew it, he was being pulled away from the fray. As he wondered what was happening, he caught sight of his wife’s face. What was she doing here?
"Leave them to handle this, we need to go!"
Without giving Yang Ming time to think, Xiaoxiao dragged him inside, with the in-laws following closely behind.
Behind them, a massive brawl unfolded, shocking the onlookers who had come for the spectacle.
"Quick, go and fetch the Village Chief."
A voice called out from within the crowd.
Xiaoxiao didn’t care who was coming. On their way there, she had already instructed the men to subdue their opponents, no need to maim or kill.
Xiaoxiao pondered; Yang Ming and the others had arrived earlier than her and hadn’t entered yet because they were denied entry. Yang Ming’s argument had turned to a fight, and it was fortunate that she had brought reinforcements.
Finally, they entered the house.
An old man, seeing the newcomers, immediately began to scold and shout, "Get out now!"
Xiaoxiao didn’t care who this man was; the only thing on her mind was to quickly find Yang Qiu.
Giving birth was no joke; she had said that giving birth at fifteen could be fatal, and now it was really happening - a difficult labor!
"Speak! Where is Yang Qiu?"
Yang Ming grabbed the old man’s collar like an enraged lion, his thoughts consumed by the worry that his sister might not make it.
It was the first time Xiaoxiao had seen such an expression on Yang Ming, his normally unchanging face now showing one of both worry and anger for his sister.
"They’re beating up someone, beating up someone, somebody help!"
"Someone is breaking in and going after my old man’s life!"
As he said this, he sat on the ground wailing, playing the victim.
He was determined to bring all three of his sons inside.
By this time, the fight outside had ended, and ten stalwart men brought the old man’s three sons inside, walking them in while warning,
"Nobody move, behave!"
The old man on the ground was dumbfounded by the scene before him.
Xiaoxiao surveyed the situation inside the house; something was definitely amiss. There was no sight of women, which was strange! With a pregnant woman in the house, there should be midwives and ladies bustling about. Xiaoxiao had a sinking feeling that something was wrong.