Both of them couldn't outmaneuver Song Yitang, and Zhou Chunlan directly went to get scissors.
"If you get hurt, don't blame me."
Before she could cut, the door was knocked on.
Startled, Zhou Chunlan's hand trembled, accidentally jabbing it into Liang Xiulian's hand.
Liang Xiulian, in pain, cursed under her breath and urged Zhou Chunlan to hurry up and open the door.
Thinking it might be those two coming back to ask her for money.
Zhou Chunlan, without any vigilance, opened the door.
Outside, Li Qianjin and Zhao Shouzhong were pinning down the two men from earlier, and it was Uncle Li from the ox-cart who had knocked.
Upon seeing the door open, Zhao Shouzhong and Li Qianjin seized the opportunity to barge in.
"Hey, who are you, breaking in like this!" Zhou Chunlan anxiously followed the two men.
"It really is you!"
Li Qianjin kicked Liang Xiulian aside and hurriedly went to untie Song Yitang.
"Ow! You..."
When Liang Xiulian saw Li Qianjin clearly, she instantly lost her nerve.
"Secretary Zhao, call the police, I want to report her for trafficking and kidnapping!"
Song Yitang, her mouth no longer gagged with cloth, immediately shouted out loudly.
Hearing Song Yitang mention the secretary, Zhou Chunlan and Liang Xiulian were so scared they barely dared to breathe.
But Liang Xiulian quickly regained composure.
"They're just two people, what are you afraid of!"
Liang Xiulian called the two men in from outside.
"This is Huilong Brigade, not a place where you can throw a tantrum."
Liang Xiulian was very confident, completely disregarding the law.
All she knew was the local power play.
Zhao Shouzhong and Li Qianjin fought with the two men, and once Song Yitang was untied, she went first to kick Zhou Chunlan.
Zhou Chunlan fell to the ground, groaning.
Even though Liang Xiulian was a head and a half taller than Song Yitang at one meter seventy and her strength was not small,
as soon as Song Yitang's bracelet shined, she was immobilized.
She could only be pummeled by Song Yitang who kept pushing her down to the ground, having bottled up her fury for a while.
She straddled Liang Xiulian, swinging left and right, slapping her face.
She continued until her hand ached and went numb, mechanically repeating the motion.
After Li Qianjin and Zhao Shouzhong subdued the men, seeing Liang Xiulian beaten to a pulp, they hurriedly went to pull Song Yitang away.
Fearing that this girl might beat someone to death.
Then Captain Zhang arrived, leading the major team, and the Yao Family's courtyard was filled with people.
Seeing this, Zhou Chunlan kept kneeling on the ground, banging her head and begging for mercy.
Song Yitang had vented her anger, non-stop shaking her numb hands, trying to ease the pain.
"About this matter, you see..." Zhao Shouzhong asked Song Yitang after understanding the whole situation.
After all, the woman opposite was her own aunt.
There were seven or eight people, but none from the Song's family.
Song Yitang felt utterly disheartened.
"Report to the police, let them handle it as they see fit!"
Song Yitang's attitude was very firm, and Zhao Shouzhong also supported, decisively calling the police.
Liang Xiulian, with her bruised face swollen like a pig's, knelt in front of Song Yitang, grasping her legs and begging bitterly.
"Don't do this, we're family after all, I'm your own aunt."
Song Yitang disdainfully pushed her away.
Late at night, the police arrived after being called and seeing the beaten state of several people, were instinctively ready to handcuff Song Yitang and Zhao Shouzhong.
"They're the ones responsible, why are you looking at us?" Zhao Shouzhong retorted irritably.
He too was injured, just not very badly.
The police officers were half-believing, half-doubting; they looked into the situation further. Originally, Liang Xiulian had tried to take advantage of the situation to evoke pity and twist the facts.
But with a kick from Song Yitang, she could only confess.
"Don't hit me, comrade!"
After confirming Zhao Shouzhong's identity, the police ignored the pitiful acts of Zhou Chunlan and Liang Xiulian and directly arrested the person involved.
Song Yitang and Li Qianjin briefly interrogated them, made records, and left with the person.
On the way back, Song Yitang shared the information she had gathered from the casual conversation among the three people with Zhao Shouzhong.
"Secretary Zhao, there might be some falsified data in Jixiang Village; you might want to investigate."
Liang Xiulian, believing that she had everything under control, had started to talk about delivering public grain and the brigade falsifying data during the earlier walk.
Thinking that Song Yitang would be joined with her in the matter, she didn't hesitate to openly discuss it with the three.
"What?"
Falsifying data was a serious crime; if the higher-ups found out, several officials in the village would be in trouble.
Song Yitang told Zhao Shouzhong everything she had heard.
Zhao Shouzhong was silent, just listening quietly.
This girl really surprised him, always able to help him out.
He had initially thought that saving her this time would repay her for a previous debt, but she had brought him another great piece of news.
This would be significantly beneficial for him when he returned to the capital.
Zhao Shouzhong found Song Yitang's accommodation too dangerous and arranged a safe place for her to stay overnight. She was to move her things the next day.
Song Yitang was very grateful and thought about how she must find a way to repay Li Qianjin and Zhao Shouzhong in the future.
Song Jianguo could not let go of his pride to join the others in seeking justice and tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
Inherited from Song Jianguo's pride gene, Song Chenghao sneaked out and carefully followed the group.
He silently returned home after ensuring Song Yitang was safe.
Liang Shaofen was very anxious, but Captain Zhang, disliking her slow pace, had her wait at Song Yitang's place.
She sat there all night, her gaze fixed in anticipation, waiting for Song Yitang to return.
Unwittingly, she fell asleep leaning against the door.
After the ordeal, Song Yitang had no desire to sleep.
As soon as morning arrived, she went to prepare her belongings to move.
As she approached her house, she saw someone sitting at her doorstep. When she got closer, she recognized the person.
She didn't wake Liang Shaofen verbally but her gentle footsteps betrayed her emotions.
Hearing the noise, Liang Shaofen woke up and, seeing Song Yitang return safely, burst into tears of joy.
"Tangtang, I'm so glad you're okay."
Song Yitang coldly did not respond.
"I'm alive. If there's nothing else, please go back first."
Although she wanted to confront Liang Shaofen, why hadn't she followed to find her? People who were not related to her would be furious and demand justice on her behalf.
And her biological parents not only agreed to this absurd marriage but also turned a blind eye to everything.
Wasn't she their biological daughter? Was it simply because she wasn't a son?
In this feudal era, she couldn't change the patriarchal mindset, but she refused to be a stepping stone for her brother like in her previous life!
"Mom never thought your aunt would be so audacious. Listen to my explanation..."
"You don't have to say anything; I have no relation with you anymore."
Song Yitang fought the urge to cry, hastened her actions, and sought to escape from her.
Liang Shaofen also knew Song Yitang didn't want to see her.
She touched her pocket and took out a piece of paper and placed it on the table, "This is your household registration page. With this, you won't have to worry about your father forcing you to quit school."
Song Yitang's grip on the basin tightened, her heart stirred.
"Mom knows you hate me; I know I'm a failure."
Tears running down her face, Liang Shaofen choked up, "Take care, I will come to see you often."
"Did you think about the consequences of stealing this?"
Song Yitang hadn't expected Liang Shaofen to steal the household registration book for her.
(The household registration books at that time were loose-leaf, so it was convenient to take out for use.)