binnovel Chapter 223 How can one protect the nation if one cannot even protect one's own family?
Chapter 223 How can one protect the nation if one cannot even protect one's own family?
Lin Chang'er was startled and ran towards the oilcloth shed as fast as she could.
Seeing her like this, Zhou Hai, Zhang the butcher, and several other men who came to help carry the wild boar were afraid that something serious had happened, so they quickly followed.
Gu's mother and the others were closer together, waiting for Lin Chang'er to arrive.
The tent was already packed with people. Gu Xiaoman was held in her mother's arms, her little face covered in tears, her little fists clenched tightly, and her eyes red as she stared intently at Li Da.
Gu Ersao's face was full of panic. Gu Dasao stretched out her arms to protect her behind her. Yudian'er seemed to be frightened and cried loudly in Gu Ersao's arms.
Li Da clutched his arm, looking furious. "You ill-mannered brat, how dare you bite your uncle? You've gone too far!"
Gu Dalang and Gu Erlang stood in front of a group of women and confronted Li Da. "Xiaoman is usually very well-behaved. If it weren't for her brother-in-law doing something to anger her, Xiaoman wouldn't have fought with you."
Gu Erlang was filled with regret. He could understand his mother avoiding suspicion with his elder brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother's wife, but what was he trying to avoid?
He should have stayed with Third Sister, otherwise he wouldn't be so clueless about what just happened.
Li Er stood helplessly to the side.
It seems she doesn't know whether she should offer advice, or how to do so.
Mrs. Li muttered under her breath, "What are you doing! It was just a joke, why are you taking it so seriously? Children may not understand, but don't you adults understand?"
“I’m not kidding, he hit my mother and tried to throw my brother,” Gu Xiaoman retorted, like a fierce little lion.
Mother Li said, "You child, how can you talk nonsense? What kind of uncle doesn't love and beat his nephew?"
"He does have it." Gu Xiaoman gritted her teeth, convinced that Li Da was not the doting uncle who cared for his nephew.
The shed was bustling with people talking and chatting, and a crowd had gathered outside.
Lin Chang'er knew Xiaoman well; she was usually cheerful and loved to eat. She was lively, not stingy, and never made unreasonable demands.
She had just overheard the gist of what had happened from their conversation.
With so many people watching, even though they all claim to be on their side, they are family-oriented and have never been the type to bully others by taking advantage of their power.
Both sides have their own reasons, and this kind of arguing is not a solution. If the matter is not clarified, the Gu family mother and son might end up making outsiders think that the Gu family is using their numbers to force them to admit their mistakes.
Li Da, of course, denied it and waited for Gu Xiaoman, "You brat, don't think that just because you have more people you can shit and piss on my head. I'm your uncle, and you're already shouting about fighting and killing at such a young age. What will you be like in the future? I'm afraid your Gu family is going to raise a murderer!"
"We, the Gu family, will teach our own people how to behave. We don't need someone with the surname Li like you to interfere." Lin Chang'er was furious.
Since she came here, no one in the family has ever raised their voice to the children.
As soon as the Li family arrived, they pointed at their child's nose and started cursing!
He really doesn't even know to take a piss and look at himself in the mirror before going out, and he's talking about children.
"What's wrong with shouting and fighting at such a young age? If you have no guts when you grow up, will you grow up to be a coward, only kneeling down and begging for mercy or running away when others bully your parents?"
"Several hundred people from our village fought together in Haikou, and their hands are stained with blood."
"Even though the children have never killed pirates, they have all defended their homeland together. They are all good children who know how to care for their parents and relatives."
"Furthermore, Xiaoman didn't hit her second brother-in-law or your mother, but she hit you. Haven't you ever thought about why?"
Li Da was speechless; he knew how formidable this woman was.
I used to dream of marrying someone who would manage the household well, while I could go out and have a good time – it was practically my ideal life.
But looking at this woman now, he felt a surge of hatred.
This kind of woman should be locked up indoors and properly tamed...
"If you say that, aren't you going to turn all the children into savages?" Mother Li said disapprovingly.
Lin Chang'er chuckled softly, "According to you, the soldiers fighting the Northern Barbarians in the North and the border troops fighting the Southern Barbarians in the South are all savages?"
"If a young man has no courage, how will he grow into a strong and upright man? If he can't even protect his own family, how can he protect his country? If he doesn't even dare to fight for his parents, how will he fight for the people of the world in the future?"
"Well said!"
"Sister Lin is right. Those who don't dare to speak up when their parents are bullied are cowards."
“We don’t have such cowards in our Linshui Village.”
The men watching from outside echoed his sentiments, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. Li Da's heart trembled, and he cursed them as a bunch of good-for-nothings.
Li Qi fumed, "You're just making excuses. Of course you're all from the same village and you're all in cahoots. You actually think killing people is something rare. You're all devils."
Lin Chang'er said disdainfully, "Without us devils guarding this gate, who knows, the next village to be plundered might be your Li Family Village."
"Don't waste time talking about useless nonsense..."
She beckoned to Gu Xiaoman, "Xiaoman, come to Auntie and tell Auntie what just happened?"
Gu's mother rubbed Gu Xiaoman's head and gently pushed him toward Lin Chang'er, "Go and talk to your aunt properly."
Gu Xiaoman took a step and quickly darted to Lin Chang'er, hugging her leg. "Auntie."
Lin Chang'er squatted down and wiped his eyes with her hand. "Xiaoman, a real man doesn't shed tears."
"Since there are so many uncles and elders here, and the village head is here too, let's tell everyone what Xiaoman has been wronged about, and ask the village head to stand up for Xiaoman, okay?"
Zhou Hai quickly chimed in, "Xiaoman is the bravest. Tell Grandpa Village Head why Xiaoman is so angry, that she's even about to take action."
“Yes, Xiaoman, tell your uncle, and your uncle will also judge this for you.”
"Xiaoman, don't be afraid, your brothers are here!"
Li Da was dumbfounded. Had this woman from the Gu family gone mad?
It's a family matter, they should just handle it behind closed doors. What is she doing?
Exposing someone's shortcomings in public?
He dared to act so recklessly because he was convinced that the Gu family was now wealthy and concerned with their reputation and dignity, so even if they did something outrageous, they would never dare to tell anyone.
Especially with so many people around, the best course of action is to appease them first, and then use benefits to silence them later.
After all, the Li family is now penniless, with only a few plots of land and a few dilapidated houses left.
That damn face-saving is useless to them.
To everyone's surprise, they didn't follow the usual procedure at all. They actually wanted to talk things out in front of dozens of men in their village and asked them to judge the matter.
What's the point of reasoning? They're all in cahoots. If a fight breaks out, they'll all be the ones trying to stop it. Li Da was even more furious. He remembered that his third sister had clearly given birth to a boy, but Lin Chang'er had lied to them that he was a worthless child.
He immediately pointed at Lin Chang'er and said, "It's all because of you, woman, stirring up trouble. My third sister clearly gave birth to a boy, but you lied to us and said he was a worthless child. Otherwise, why would I be so angry with my third sister?"