NOVPUB
Chapter 545: 535
"No need, none of you have to apologize to me; I can’t accept it. Besides, the hurt I’ve suffered can’t be erased by your simple ’sorry’." Shen Yunfang didn’t want to hear any apologies, they weren’t sincere to her; she just wanted these people to be taught a lesson. Yet, she hadn’t decided what kind of a lesson they should learn.
"Look at this, just look, I told you she’s no good, and she expects me to apologize to her, pah, keep dreaming." Qiu Shuping felt humiliated by being rejected to her face, thus to salvage a scrap of dignity, she turned hostile on the spot.
Li Hongqi gave a cue to his mother-in-law, signaling her to control her own mother and stop her from speaking out of line. Then he turned back to Shen Yunfang, "Sister-in-law, our mother is already of old age, what more do you want? Yes, she hit you, but it’s done, and she has said she’d apologize. You’re still not satisfied? Do you want to hit back? If you really feel this imbalance in your heart, then slap me twice. I’ll take it on her behalf, would that satisfy you?"
Li Hongqi’s face was full of sorrow and indignation as though Shen Yunfang were being utterly unreasonable.
Shen Yunfang stared at Li Hongqi and then laughed, "I actually could accept that proposal—’the debts of the mother are the son’s,’ it’s only right and just." She indeed couldn’t bring herself to hit an elderly woman, but she thought smacking Li Hongqi, who always backstabbed her, might relieve some of her anger.
"How can that be, it wasn’t Hongqi who hit you, besides, you’ve already kicked him once, what more do you want?" Zheng Guilin ran over to stand in front of Li Hongqi, glaring fiercely at the unreasonable Shen Yunfang.
"Xiaolan, don’t be like this. Sister-in-law was right just now, ’the debts of the mother are the son’s,’ it’s only right and just. I can take a couple of hits for our mother, no problem. I think Sister-in-law wouldn’t be too harsh." Li Hongqi pulled Zheng Guilin behind him, but didn’t forget to remind Shen Yunfang to go easy on him, remembering the kick she gave him earlier, which truly had hurt so bad he couldn’t even speak for a moment, although it got better after the initial pain subsided.
"No need for you, I’m standing right here, go ahead and hit me if you dare." Qiu Shuping, unable to stand by and watch her youngest son be hit, started to act obstinate, pushing against Shen Yunfang with her head, with an attitude that seemed to challenge her to go on and hit her.
"Mother, stop making a scene," said Li Hongqi, although he covertly pushed Qiu Shuping towards Shen Yunfang. He obviously didn’t want to be hit, and he didn’t believe Shen Yunfang would dare to hit her mother-in-law.
Deep down, he hoped Shen Yunfang would slap his mother, no, just once would be enough. As long as Shen Yunfang hit his mother, they wouldn’t be so passive in this situation, and at the very least, Shen Yunfang would be in the wrong. Hitting a mother-in-law was universally considered unjustifiable.
Shen Yunfang truly couldn’t hit her, not because Qiu Shuping had the title of a mother-in-law, but because her own moral baseline forbade her from striking the elderly. Thus, she pivoted on her heel, bypassing Qiu Shuping who insisted on sticking to her, and seated herself back in her original spot, "Please call the police officer for me."
Those words were effective; Qiu Shuping immediately didn’t know what to do next.
"What’s wrong with you? I already let you hit back, why do you need to call the police?"
Shen Yunfang completely ignored her and looked directly at the head of security, instructing him to get someone to handle it.
The security chief had been watching from beginning to end, sensing that Shen was being somewhat overzealous, although he could understand why. In his eyes, these college students were always like that. He also noticed that the people opposite had no real sincerity. It seemed as if they just wanted the old lady to come out, cause a commotion, and then think the problem would be over—quite pitiable really.
"Sister-in-law, it’s just that our mother truly cares for me, that’s all. I do what I say, and since I’ve promised to apologize on our mother’s behalf, I won’t go back on my word. Let’s do this," Li Hongqi saw that his attempt to weasel out had failed and immediately changed his tune, putting on an air of righteousness.
Zheng’s mother pulled Qiu Shuping back, preventing her from causing further trouble. She felt it was better to resolve this matter quickly. Besides, a grown man like Li Hongqi being slapped by a woman wasn’t a big deal. Moreover, in the countryside, it wasn’t uncommon for a sister-in-law to hit a younger brother-in-law.
Yunfang sat on the chair, watching Li Hongqi with a cold eye, curious to see what kind of act he would put on.
"Sister-in-law, I offer you a sincere apology on behalf of our mother," Li Hongqi said as he bowed deeply to Yunfang, then stood up and continued, "It’s true that what our mother did today was unacceptable. We are all one family, and any disputes should remain within the Li family. They say that family shame should not be aired in public, and we could sit down calmly and clarify the issue without resorting to violence."
After listening to him, the corners of Yunfang’s mouth twitched. The man indeed had a way with words; everything he said was painting himself in the right, nudging her not to lay a hand on him.
"Sister-in-law, our mother was indeed impulsive today, but don’t be hard on her. She’s just a rural old lady who hasn’t seen much of the world, having spent her entire life in the village. She hasn’t seen things like your experiments, and even I only understood after watching for a while. Of course, I’m not saying this to excuse our mother—if she’s wrong, she’s wrong. As her son, I must take responsibility for her actions. Sister-in-law, we came today with good intentions to see how you were doing, and we didn’t expect this misunderstanding to occur. Regardless, it’s our mother’s fault, and you know what she’s like. I hope you can be magnanimous and not hold it against an old lady. I’ve offered my apology on her behalf," Li Hongqi finished and bowed deeply to Yunfang again, pausing for at least five seconds before straightening up, showing the sincerity in his apology.
The head of security, impressed by the young man’s admission of guilt and willingness to correct his wrongdoings, nodded in approval and his impression of the young man improved.
Yunfang watched him without saying a word. Li Hongqi, feeling somewhat constrained, glanced around at the people surrounding them and, with a look of determination, added, "I know it was our mother who was in the wrong today, causing you to be wronged, Sister-in-law. As I said earlier, if you’re still feeling upset inside, you can hit me a couple of times to vent your anger. My skin is thick; it won’t matter."
The head of security thought the matter was almost resolved at this point. After all, they were all family. Although Shen had been slighted, she would still have to interact with her husband’s family in the future. So it’s best to forgive and forget, for a peaceful coexistence. He was about to offer words of mediation, "Hmm, well done, that’s what being a man is all about. Owning up to your mistakes without fear, actively seeking to make amends—that’s the mark of a good comrade. You’re all family, and there’s no such thing as a perfectly smooth relationship. Now that everyone’s misunderstandings are cleared up, it’s all good. Shen, you see..."
Before the head of security could finish speaking, he saw the man in front of him fly past like an arrow released from a bow, followed by a loud thump, after which Shen calmly retracted her foot.
It took a while before the room filled with a cacophony of loud wails. Then the air was rent with cries and sobs anew.
"What... what did you do?" the head of security asked.
"Didn’t he say that if I was still feeling upset inside, I should give him a couple of licks? I really was feeling upset. But considering his filial piety, genuine or not, I decided not to give him two—just one would suffice," Yunfang stood up from the chair, breathing out. "There we go, the anger in my heart has been vented; let’s just leave it at that. Sorry for the trouble, and thank you. I’ll be going now."
