"Spare you? My father-in-law begged you like this back then, right? And you, did you spare him?"
"I... I just wanted to teach him a lesson. Who knew he was in such poor health? I swear I didnāt do it on purpose. Really. Let me go, please. If you let me go, Iāll definitely go to the old manās grave and kowtow to beg for forgiveness. Iāll do whatever you say in the future, I wonāt cause any more trouble. Iām begging you." Li Fugui, a man over fifty, was so terrified that he wet himself, his voice full of tears.
"Iām asking you, back then I sent a letter to my home. What did you do with it?"
"Letter? When?" Li Fugui hesitated for a moment and said.
Lin Guozhi could obviously see his hesitation and squinted, saying, "Are you sure? I donāt have time to waste words with you. Whether you say it or not, I can find out, but... if you find some attitude, and Iām in a good mood, maybe I can spare your life, otherwise..." As he said this, Lin Guozhi mercilessly cut off Li Fuguiās nose.
This brutal method was completely unlike the usually amiable person.
"Ah, my nose, my nose!"
"Are you gonna talk or not? Iām asking you this."
"Iāll talk, Iāll talk. There was indeed a letter from you back then. I was selfish then and wanted to use that letter to threaten Liang Hongmei. But who knew, before I could take any action, the letter disappeared. It was kept in my house then, I thought my wife took it, and I even beat her up for it. But she always denied it, so I eventually believed her. Really, I really lost it. It was clearly in my house, and I donāt even know how it disappeared, but I promise, my wife didnāt take it, she really didnāt."
"Threaten my wife? What are you planning to do to threaten my wife?" Lin Guozhiās face was unreadable, but the knife in his hand was glaringly visible in the dark.
"I... I," Li Fuguiās face was twisted in pain, stammering, he dared not speak out. He knew if he said it, Lin Guozhi definitely wouldnāt let him go.
"Not talking?"
"Iāll talk, Iāll talk! I just wanted to sleep with her." Before Lin Guozhi could speak, Li Fugui quickly explained, "I was blinded back then, I know itās wrong now, I dare not anymore, brother, boss, spare me, please. Itās been so many years, I didnāt get my way, right? You be generous and forgive me. I know I was wrong."
"Dare not? If I hadnāt come back, can you tell me thatās really what you think?" Lin Guozhi said, slashing his face again.
Li Fugui was so numb with pain that he knew the promised mercy to spare his life was all a lie, today, Lin Guozhi definitely came to kill him.
Li Fugui knew he was doomed at Lin Guozhiās hands today. He stopped begging for mercy, spat in a āfrapā on Lin Guozhi.
Lightning struck through the sky, and the rain poured heavier. Several mud streams flowed down the hill. The river at the edge of the village soon filled. It was enough to collapse a small cottage.
The heavens were kind, a heavy rain washed the mountains clean.
Lying on the bed, Liang Hongmei finally opened the mouth sheād kept shut for long, "Guozhi, did you just...?"
"Donāt ask, Nannan, donāt ask anything, nothing happened, understand?" Liang Hongmeiās words were interrupted by Lin Guozhi hugging her.
He knew he couldnāt hide it from them, but some things were better understood without it being said. He didnāt want his Nannan living with guilt for the rest of her life.
In the dark, Liang Hongmei nodded, buried her head in Lin Guozhiās arms, smelled the soap scent on him, sighed, and felt a lot more at ease.
Lin Guozhi patted her back, changed the topic, "With me, donāt worry. What do you need to prepare for tomorrow, Iāll have Ah Hui and the others go take a trip."
"Just buy a few sets of bowls and chopsticks. And oil too."
"Okay," Lin Guozhi kissed Liang Hongmeiās strands of hair, soothing her to sleep.