Therefore, back when Xu Qigang left, the whole village sent him off with much fanfare.
Little Beelzebub wasn't as harsh as his old man, but he was a lot colder! He could even silence his old man with just his eyes.
Later events proved the villagers correct in their assessment. According to the official bureau, little Beelzebub delivered a crushing defeat to the enemy on the battlefield in Nanjiang. From then on, anyone who heard his name quaked with fear.
He eventually retired due to an injury, but he didn't allow himself to sit idle after that. Instead, he got together with a group of retired teammates, and together they formed an emergency rescue team. It was the first official emergency rescue team in the nation!
"Third, don't you worry," Xu Xianxiong said. "The fault in this matter lies wholly with my family. When the rascal returns home, I'll be sure to give him a good beating."
Sheng Third got up and poured Xu Xianxiong a bowl of water before saying, "They're simply not fated to be together. As parents, we can't force them to marry."
"I truly think your daughter is amazing. If she were married into my family, I would never allow her to work in the fields."
"Heh heh heh…" Sheng Third blushed furiously. He knew his daughter hadn't the slightest idea how to work in the fields in the first place. "Let's just let this matter go. And you don't have to feel sorry for us, either."
"Exactly!" Sheng An had just emerged from her room when she heard the exchange. "In any case, my sister's used to having her betrothal withdrawn," she quipped.
"How on earth could you say that? That's your older sister! How can you talk about her like that?" Although it was the truth, it was nevertheless inappropriate to say it in front of an outsider. Sheng Third's expression turned sour.
Sheng An was already aggrieved from her mother forcing her to marry the second fool. This, coupled with the fact that she had been relegated to the shadows thanks to Sheng Ning's return, had made Sheng An especially prickly.
Now, hearing her father scold her, tears uncontrollably streamed down her face, but she refused to back down. "I only said the truth! Just ask around! No one in the village dares to marry her! Who knows? The man might very well get cuckolded before he even marries her!"
Sheng Third waved his tobacco pipe in the air and bellowed at Sheng An. "You… have gone overboard!" Xu Xianxiong quickly rushed forward to block him.
Inside the kitchen, Sheng Ning and Shen Luhua heard the commotion and quickly rushed into the room. Their eyes widened in shock when they witnessed the scene.
Sheng An was unexpectedly hit twice across her body. After everything that happened today, the blows were especially painful, and her face turned frighteningly white.
Sheng Ning was horrified when she saw Sheng An in such a state, and she dashed forward to shield her. "Father! Why are you hitting her? Why can't you just talk it out?"
"I don't need your fake kindness!" Sheng An flung Sheng Ning off and glared at her furiously. "If it weren't for you…"
"An'an!" Shen Luhua suddenly screamed, and everyone froze in place. The words Sheng An was about to utter died in her throat when she saw the look in Shen Luhua's eyes, and she angrily ran out of the house.
"An'an, it's time for lunch! Where are you running off to?" Sheng Ning wanted to chase after her, but Shen Luhua held her back.
"Leave it. Give her some time to calm down. Once she's calmed down, she'll be fine."
"What an unfilial daughter!" Sheng Third huffed angrily. "She's so young, and she's already so disrespectful!" Over the years, Sheng Third's health had deteriorated. A few years ago, an illness had taken a toll on his health, and an injury to his leg had resulted in him having to walk with a limp. During winter, he was frequently in so much pain that he wasn't even able to get out of bed most days.
And, currently, his anger was taking a toll on him. Shen Luhua was afraid that something bad would happen to him, and she quickly rushed forward to hold him up.