Chapter 13: I'm Coming for You!

Sun Daqiang didn’t pay any heed to the villagers’ words around him. Not only that, he arrogantly raised his chin and cast a provocative glance at the crowd. His expression was shameless to the point of pride.

Then, turning his head, he snapped irritably at Lin Yang, “Lin Yang, I’m giving you a huge opportunity here. Hand over that big snapping turtle and the flying dragon to me, and from now on, you can see my sister whenever you want. I promise I won’t stop you.”

Lin Yang stared at Sun Daqiang’s condescending, almost charitable look, and the anger inside him surged up like wildfire. Yet, his rationality held firm, constantly reminding himself deep down: if he really killed this bastard, it would be his parents who’d suffer the consequences.

He was the only child in the family; if he acted impulsively and got into trouble, his mother would surely cry every day and be inconsolable.

Seeing Lin Yang remain silent, Sun Daqiang assumed he was contemplating the “offer” and eagerly reached out to grab the flying dragon tied to the bicycle handle.

Just as his hand brushed the hemp rope binding the flying dragon, suddenly, a dark shadow swooped in swiftly.

Instinctively, he tried to dodge, but his reflexes were a split second too slow.

Smack!

A sharp, crisp slap echoed loudly in everyone’s ears.

Sun Daqiang was stunned by the slap, feeling a burning pain flood his face like a tide, nearly overwhelming him.

For a moment, he couldn’t even comprehend what had just happened.

The previously chattering villagers froze as if under a spell, staring dumbfounded at the almost surreal scene.

Especially Zhang Xiumei, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion. She was initially gloating, waiting to see Lin Yang make a fool of himself, convinced he was still the same good-for-nothing simpleton who would obediently hand over the goods.

Then she could spread the word throughout the village, mock Lin Yang thoroughly, and crush Zhao Guixiang’s arrogant spirit, venting her anger.

But who would have thought Lin Yang would strike first, mercilessly slapping Sun Daqiang across the face?

Everyone knew the unwritten rule—never strike someone’s face!

That slap was tantamount to sealing a deadly grudge.

Yet Lin Yang showed no intention of stopping.

Before Sun Daqiang could recover, Lin Yang, sitting on his bicycle, spun around and delivered a second vicious slap to the other side of Sun Daqiang’s face.

Smack!

The second slap rang out just as sharply, finally waking Sun Daqiang up.

The fiery pain on both cheeks, like countless sharp needles pricking his nerves, gradually stripped away his reason.

His previously normal expression twisted into one of rage.

“Lin Yang, how dare you hit me?!” Sun Daqiang bellowed hysterically, his voice hoarse with fury, his eyes bloodshot.

“I hit exactly you!” Lin Yang glared fiercely and then landed a powerful punch squarely on Sun Daqiang’s face.

The force was tremendous. Taken by surprise, Sun Daqiang staggered backward several steps before collapsing onto the ground.

At this point, he had completely lost his reason and ignored the pain, snatching up a stone from the ground and glaring at Lin Yang with murderous intent.

His mind held only one mad thought: to kill this little bastard!

But just as he raised his hand to hurl the stone at Lin Yang, Lin Yang was quick as a flash, drawing a sharp hunting knife from his waist.

The knife’s handle was twenty centimeters long, the blade fifty centimeters, honed to a gleaming cold edge that shimmered menacingly under the sun.

Lin Yang calmly pressed the tip of the blade against Sun Daqiang’s nose, his eyes frost-cold as he said icily:

“You block the road to rob me and even try to kill me, and if I chop you up, it’s your own fault. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and try!”

Sun Daqiang, frightened by the murderous glare, instinctively took a few steps back, awkwardly freezing mid-air with the stone still raised.

He couldn’t make sense of Lin Yang’s sudden change.

Just days ago, Lin Yang had been all smiles and sweet talk when he saw him, desperate to meet his sister again.

But now, Lin Yang seemed like a completely different person!

Yet when Sun Daqiang’s eyes landed on the flying dragon hanging from the bike handle, a wave of resentment surged anew.

Gritting his teeth, he forced a calm tone: “Lin Yang, don’t spout nonsense here! So many villagers are watching — when have I ever blocked the road or robbed anyone? Don’t try to frame me and spew lies!”

Lin Yang sneered, raising his voice in rebuttal:

“You suddenly jumped out and blocked my way, reaching for the flying dragon on my bike — isn’t that robbery?”

“And look at the stone in your hand, like you’re ready to smash my head open. That’s attempted murder, isn’t it?”

“The villagers all saw it clearly with their own eyes! Don’t think you can wriggle out of this!”

Lin Yang paused, scanning the villagers and speaking louder:

“Now that so many people are here, I want to make myself clear. From now on, the Sun family had better stop provoking me.”

“All the favors I gave you before, just consider them thrown away. Your sister should marry someone else. I don’t want your whole family sucking me dry like vampires my whole life!”

The moment Lin Yang spoke, it sealed the matter’s nature.

The villagers’ chatter instantly surged like a tidal wave.

“The Suns are just digging their own graves, they deserve it! They think their daughter’s some kind of rare treasure!”

“Who doesn’t know their family’s true nature around here? Finally someone like Lin Yang isn’t afraid of them, and yet they demand five hundred for the bride price and even want the entire three-turn one-sound ritual brought back home — that’s just too much!”

“That’s not even the worst! Think about what Sun Daqiang said earlier: a big snapping turtle over five jin and a flying dragon just to agree to let someone see his sister? That’s heartless!”

“Yeah! Anyone who marries into their family is doomed for eight generations. Forget about turning their luck around!”

...

Sun Daqiang listened to the villagers’ one-sided criticisms, his face flushing red and white repeatedly.

Humiliated and enraged, he threw the stone aside and shouted angrily, “Lin Yang, listen well! From today on, you’ll never see my sister again!”

“How dare you say such outrageous things? I’m going to tell my sister everything right now. You’re finished, completely finished! My sister will never forgive you!”

He had assumed Lin Yang was just angry temporarily, so he quickly pulled his sister back into the conversation.

By past experience, Lin Yang would immediately back down.

But Lin Yang scoffed disdainfully, mocking, “Everyone heard that, right? He said himself his sister will never forgive me.”

“I, Lin Yang, beg the Sun family here: don’t come looking for me anymore. With my small frame, I can’t take this kind of torment from your family.”

Sun Daqiang, seeing Lin Yang’s stubbornness, was furious beyond measure, practically boiling over.

He stamped his feet and cursed, “Damn you, Lin Yang! Just you wait! We’re done for good. As long as I live, you’ll never set foot in my family’s home again, and don’t even dream of marrying my sister.”

Though he was alone today and furious, he dared not act rashly anymore, afraid Lin Yang might pin the crimes of robbery and attempted murder on him.

Since 1983, the nationwide crackdown had entered its second intense phase.

Now was no time to get branded with such serious charges.

“Get lost!” Lin Yang said coldly, sheathing his hunting knife.

He then mounted his bike and quickly headed toward the county seat.

The villagers watched Lin Yang ride away, erupting into lively debate.

This was the biggest scandal of the day, overshadowing even the five-jin snapping turtle Lin Yang had caught.

“Why do you think Lin Yang suddenly woke up? Could it be because Sun Daqiang came to his house and smacked him with a shovel to wake him up?”

“He still has some fire in him! The Suns really pushed him too far. Lin Yang just met Sun Xiaorong once, and Sun Daqiang came with a shovel and hit him on the head.”

“Lin Yang was lucky not to have been killed. Sun Daqiang was really vicious. What would you do in Lin Yang’s place?”

“Hmph! If he dared hit me with a shovel, I’d kill him! Everyone fights for their dignity — it’s life for life.”

“That’s right! Lin Yang isn’t stupid. He only put up with it because he liked the Sun girl.”

“But after being hit so hard with a shovel and nearly dying, if he went back to being submissive, he might as well go find a tofu block to bash his head against!”

The villagers debated endlessly, voices rising and falling.

Lin Yang’s reputation began to turn around after this incident.

He didn’t just beat Sun Daqiang mercilessly; he’d drawn a hunting knife on him afterward.

This decisiveness and courage made him look like a real man in everyone’s eyes.

In this day and age, endless tolerance only earns contempt.

People like Sun Daqiang, who bully the weak and fear the strong, must be dealt with firmly.

The ancestors said centuries ago: villains fear power, not virtue.

Lin Yang didn’t dwell on the matter too much.

He knew it wasn’t yet time to fully deal with Sun Daqiang.

Since he was reborn, he vowed to ruin the Sun family’s reputation utterly and condemn them to eternal misery.

In his past life, they had destroyed his family.

This time, he would repay them a hundredfold.

At that moment, Lin Yang suddenly realized a problem: riding one bicycle, if he bought another, how would he ride it home?