Chapter 8: Xing Cuilan Is Beaten—Where Is Everyone?!

Ming Dai’s side quieted down for the time being after Wang Dahua was taken away.

Back at the Ming household, when Ming Changjiang learned that his wife had been carried to the hospital in broad daylight by an old bachelor, he felt utterly humiliated. As soon as he got home, he gave both his wife and daughter a beating.

Now, with a belt in hand, Ming Changjiang stared at Xing Cuilan, who was cowering on the ground, too afraid to move, and could only think of how dirty she seemed to him.

“These days, when you’ve been going to the compound, was it to meet your lover? Speak! When did you start hooking up with him?”

Xing Cuilan shrank further into her daughter's arms, desperately seeking shelter from her husband’s predatory glare. “I didn’t! Changjiang, I swear I didn’t. I was only there to look for Ming Dai, that wretched girl! She’s the one who made me fall, and she’s the one who called that old bachelor over to carry me!”

Ming Changjiang eyed her suspiciously, sensing something off, then turned his gaze to Ming Yanhong.

“Dad, it’s true. Every time Mom went, I was with her. It was all Ming Dai’s doing. She even tripped me up!”

Ming Changjiang sat down, loosening his grip on the belt. In truth, he knew Xing Cuilan didn’t have the nerve to cheat. But she had the bad luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and, having come home from the factory in a foul mood, he needed someone to take it out on. No one else to blame—her luck was just bad.

Lying in his bedroom, Ming Yaozu had been thoroughly engrossed in his comic book, but when he heard the commotion cease, he put the book aside and came out. Without sparing a glance at Xing Cuilan sprawled on the floor, he pulled a stool over and sat beside Ming Changjiang.

“Dad, give me twenty yuan. I want to take Huifen to the movies.”

Ming Changjiang frowned. “Why so much? Didn’t I just give you fifteen last week?”

Ming Yaozu took two cigarettes from his father’s case, lit them both with practiced ease, handed one over, and exhaled a smoke ring before replying.

“After the movie, you have to eat, right? You know Huifen—she won’t go anywhere that isn’t a state-run restaurant. There’s no shortage of people wanting to treat her. If I’m stingy, why would she want to go out with me?”

Ming Changjiang frowned again. Over the course of his son’s pursuit of this girl, nearly a hundred yuan had already passed from his hands.

“How are things going between you two?”

“Don’t worry, Dad. Who am I? It’s almost done. Whether it happens or not depends on how generous you are.”

Huifen was the daughter of Director Ma from the soy sauce factory. If they really became in-laws, his own promotion to Chief of Security would be all but assured.

“All right, wait here.” With that, he got up to fetch the money from the bedroom. Passing the mother and daughter huddled on the floor, he gave Xing Cuilan another vicious kick.

“Are you dead or what? You don’t even know to cook! I can’t even get a hot meal when I come home—what’s the point of keeping you two?”

Xing Cuilan scrambled up, staggering, with Ming Yanhong timidly helping her as they both hurried into the kitchen, trembling.

Meanwhile, Ming Yaozu didn’t spare them a glance. He sprawled on the sofa, picturing Ma Huifen’s coquettish and proud demeanor, imagining her, once conquered, becoming as docile as a kitten beneath him. The more he thought about it, the more satisfied he felt.

Ming Changjiang came out and handed the money to his son, exhorting, “Don’t spend too much. Settle things quickly.”

Ming Yaozu flicked the bills. “Just watch, Dad. I’ll bring your daughter-in-law home tomorrow! Mouse invited me to play cards tonight, so I won’t be sleeping at home.” With that, he pocketed the money and walked out the door.

Ming Changjiang didn’t try to stop him. He believed boys shouldn’t be kept at home like girls; they needed to go out and meet people.

Soon, dinner was ready and served. In an effort to please him, Xing Cuilan had even warmed some yellow wine.

Sipping the wine, Ming Changjiang’s mood improved considerably. He picked up a peanut and popped it into his mouth. “When will Ming Dai’s job be handed over to Yanhong?”

Xing Cuilan froze. She’d gone to handle it today, but fate had intervened, and nothing had been accomplished.

Seeing the mother and daughter too afraid to speak, Ming Changjiang sneered. “Useless. I’ll go myself tomorrow morning. Once it’s done, put her straight on the train—there’s still time.”

Ming Yanhong breathed a sigh of relief. With her father taking charge, the job matter should be settled.

That night, Xing Cuilan was sent by Ming Changjiang to sleep with her daughter. As they treated each other’s wounds, they lay in bed, cursing Ming Dai endlessly.

“Tomorrow, just wait and see if Dad doesn’t beat that little wretch to death. If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t have been so humiliated!” Xing Cuilan, growing angrier as she spoke, pinched Ming Yanhong’s arm hard. “You stupid girl, why didn’t you stop her? Just stood there and watched?”

Tears sprang to Ming Yanhong’s eyes from the pain, but with her father just next door, she dared not make a sound, only whimpered, “Mom, Mom, I didn’t mean to—I just froze.”

Xing Cuilan pinched her several more times before letting her go, only when she sobbed for mercy.

“Hmph, let’s see how long that little brat can act up. Tomorrow, after the job handover, we’ll shove her straight on the train to the countryside. That fool’s been clamoring for a new bride for ages!”

Ming Yanhong added, “Mom, didn’t Wang Dahua say she’d bought a lot of cotton? Make sure to get it tomorrow.”

“Right! That was all your uncle’s money—he had no sons, and after his death, it should go to Yaozu. No bastard child should get it.”

Ming Yanhong pouted. All her parents ever thought about was her brother getting married. They didn’t believe she was a grown woman too, soon to marry herself—yet she hadn’t seen a single piece of dowry!

But then she remembered her fiancé was the youngest son of the director of the meatpacking plant. If she married in, she’d never have to worry about meat for the rest of her life.

Beside her, Xing Cuilan was already snoring thunderously. Ming Yanhong, disgusted, dug a couple of tufts of cotton from the torn quilt, stuffed them in her ears, and drifted off, dreaming of the bright future awaiting her.

The next morning, Ming Changjiang rose early and kicked open his daughter’s bedroom door. “Still in bed, are you?!”

Mother and daughter scrambled up, dressed, and put on their shoes in under a minute, presenting themselves at the door.

Today, Ming Changjiang had chosen a belt that hurt the most, and, taking the two women with him, set off for Ming Dai’s house.

It was still dark outside, the road shrouded in gloom. Ming Yanhong and Xing Cuilan kept their heads down, trailing behind Ming Changjiang, their hearts quaking with fear and a strange excitement at the sound of his belt buckle clinking.

Finally, that little wretch was going to get a taste of the belt!

Arriving at the compound, they entered as soon as the gate opened and headed straight for Ming Dai’s quarters.

Xing Cuilan took out the key she’d hidden in her waistband, inserted it into the lock, and turned it gently—it opened.

Ming Changjiang, belt already unfastened and in hand, was ready.

Behind them, Ming Yanhong craned her neck, trembling with anticipation.

Xing Cuilan pulled out the key and shoved the door open.

With a bang, the door slammed against the wall, the sound echoing loudly in the empty room.

Mother and daughter stared, dumbfounded, at the bare, deserted space, utterly stunned.

When her father didn’t move for a long time, Ming Yanhong rushed forward, equally shocked by the emptiness.

“That little wretch!”

Xing Cuilan paced anxiously around the room, cursing in fury.

Ming Changjiang reacted instantly, striking out with a slap.

“Shut up!”