Chapter 40: Zhang Wei Returns

"Ah!"

Ma Daqiang let out a shrill cry as he was sent flying by a kick. He rolled five or six meters, slamming into the courtyard wall before coming to a stop. He lay on the ground, groaning and unable to climb back up for a long time.

"Brother Daqiang, are you alright?" His drinking buddies scrambled over, hurriedly helping him up.

"Ouch, my back! It feels like it’s going to snap!" Ma Daqiang clutched his waist, hissing in pain.

"Dabao!" Seeing Chen Dabao arrive like a guardian deity, Chuntao’s eyes lit up. She rushed over, clutching his clothes tightly. Had he not arrived in time, she feared she would have been dragged away by Ma Daqiang.

"You little mongrel, how dare you hit me?" Seeing this, Ma Daqiang felt as if he had been cuckolded; he was so furious he could have vomited blood.

"Kid, where the hell did you pop out from? Let our sister-in-law go right now!"
"Yeah, let her go!"
"Damn it, you’ve got some nerve trying to take advantage of our sister-in-law. Are you tired of living?"

Ma Daqiang’s cronies looked menacing, pulling out weapons and surrounding Chen Dabao. Seeing the cold glint of the daggers, Chuntao turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.

"You little mongrel, you dare to lay a hand on me, Ma Daqiang? You should ask around and see who I am!" Ma Daqiang roared arrogantly, gritting his teeth. "Get on your knees and kowtow to apologize right now! If I’m in a good mood, I might just spare your pathetic life!"

Having spent years in Qing-shan Town and running a teahouse, Ma Daqiang knew plenty of local thugs. With a few phone calls, summoning a dozen men was no trouble at all. Ordinary people in town didn't dare to cross him.

"Dabao, run! Don't worry about me!" Chuntao bit her lip, her eyes filled with affection. Chen Dabao had only just recovered from his mental disability; she didn't want him to end up hurt or worse.

"Don't worry. These are just small-time thugs; I don't even consider them a threat," Chen Dabao said dismissively. These bullies, who only picked on the weak, probably wouldn't even have the guts to actually stab anyone.

"Damn, you look down on us? Brothers, get him!" Seeing a rural peasant belittling them, Ma Daqiang’s cronies were enraged. One of them lunged forward, blade aimed at Chen Dabao’s arm.

Chen Dabao’s gaze turned icy. He reached out, grabbed the man’s wrist, and twisted hard.

*Snap!*

A crisp sound of breaking bone echoed through the air. The man let out a howl as his wrist was snapped by Chen Dabao. Immediately, Chen Dabao raised his leg, delivering three swift kicks in succession, sending the remaining three thugs flying. They rolled on the ground like gourds, groaning and unable to get up.

In less than ten seconds, Ma Daqiang’s men were all sprawled on the ground.

"You—you bastard! How dare you touch my people?" Ma Daqiang shuddered, his voice trembling as he shouted, trying to maintain a facade of bravery.

*Slap!*

"And what if I do?" Chen Dabao asked coldly. He swung his hand, the slap causing Ma Daqiang to spin in place before crashing onto his backside. He sat there, dazed and unable to regain his senses for a long moment.

"Sister Chuntao, what is going on here? Who are these people?" Chen Dabao scanned the scene with a cold gaze.

"Chuntao, have you lost your mind? You dare call this kid to hit people?" Shen Jianshe, also startled, scrambled to help Ma Daqiang up and scolded her agitatedly. "If this ruins your brother’s wedding, I won't forgive you!"

"They are my parents. They want to sell me off to Ma Daqiang in a bride-swap deal," Chuntao said, biting her lip, her eyes filled with sorrow. Her parents had never cared for her. Before, they had sold her to Zhang Erhu for a dowry of over a hundred thousand. Now, to pay for her brother’s wedding, they were going to trade her again. She was nothing more than merchandise to them. How could such parents exist?

"You bastards, do you have any conscience left?" Chen Dabao angrily slapped Shen Jianshe across the face, sending him tumbling to the ground with his cheek swelling instantly.

"You little mongrel! You dare hit my husband? I’ll fight you to the death!" Seeing her man struck, Zhao Chunyan screamed and lunged at Chen Dabao with claws outstretched.

Chen Dabao didn't hold back, kicking her aside. Seeing her parents being beaten, a flicker of pity crossed Chuntao’s face, but she quickly hardened her heart. She had treated Shen Jianshe and Zhao Chunyan as parents, but had they ever treated her as a daughter? She had already been sold once; that 188,000 had long since repaid any debt of gratitude she owed them.

"Oh, Heavens! Open your eyes and look! My ungrateful daughter has hired someone to beat her own parents! Heavens, please deliver justice for us!" Realizing she was no match for Chen Dabao, Zhao Chunyan threw herself onto the ground and began to wail and throw a tantrum—the classic, tired routine of the local village women.

However, the villagers of Peach Blossom Village felt no sympathy for them; instead, they felt the couple deserved it. Selling their daughter once was bad enough, but trying to push her into the fire pit again was simply too much.

"Kid, you wait! I’m going to call people to deal with you!" Ma Daqiang clambered up, clutching his face and glaring at Chen Dabao with venomous eyes. He pulled out his phone, ready to call for backup. A single call would bring a dozen men to wreak havoc. He had to show this peasant who was in charge.

Just as Ma Daqiang was about to make the call, three Mercedes-Benz sedans drove into the village and pulled up nearby. Ma Daqiang’s expression changed instantly.

"Why is Boss Zhang here?" Ma Daqiang was a man who moved in the town's circles; he knew exactly what cars the local elites drove. By the license plate, he recognized this as the vehicle of Zhang Wei, one of the town’s big shots. Why would a man like him come to this godforsaken mountain village?

Though confused, Ma Daqiang couldn't bother with the phone call. He hurriedly brushed the dust off his clothes, straightened his attire, pulled a pack of high-end cigarettes from his pocket, and ran over with a fawning smile.

"Oh, Boss Zhang! What a surprise to see a person of your stature here! No wonder I heard a magpie chirping this morning—it was a sign I’d run into you!" Ma Daqiang rushed to open the car door, bowing and scraping like a lowly servant.

"Ma Daqiang?" Zhang Wei glanced at him, too bored to even acknowledge the petty thug. He strode toward Chen Dabao, extending his hand from a distance. Grabbing Chen Dabao’s hand, he said with genuine gratitude, "Miracle Doctor Chen, you left in such a hurry yesterday that I didn't get a chance to show my appreciation. I’ve taken the liberty of coming today, and I’ve brought you some gifts!"

"Men, bring the gifts inside for the Miracle Doctor!"