PWE – Chapter 18  The Man in the Military Coat

Hearing the man’s voice, Xiao Wange frowned slightly and looked toward the source.

A young man in a military coat was walking over, carrying a bulging bundle in his hand—it was clearly stuffed with goods. His complexion was dark, but his features were handsome, giving him a striking appearance.

Xiao Wange stared at him for a few moments before recognizing him as Xu Meifeng’s second son—Zhan Hongteng.

Zhan Hongteng often worked odd jobs away from home and only came back when he was free—or more accurately, when he had collected his wages. Judging by his appearance today, he had just been paid.

“Second Brother…” The man in the white shirt turned his head and called out to him cheerfully.

This man in the white shirt was none other than Xu Meifeng’s third son, Zhan Hongjun.

Zhan Hongjun was already twenty-one years old. At that age, he ought to be working, but instead, he was still in school.

His grades were poor, and after failing the college entrance exam twice, he still refused to work, insisting on lingering in school. Xu Meifeng doted on him most of all, so if he wanted to study, she indulged him. Not only that, she supplied him with good food and drink. The catch was, she didn’t pay for any of it—the second son did.

Most of the money Zhan Hongteng earned year-round went to supporting his younger brother, and the rest supported the rest of the family.

Everyone in Danshui Village knew Xu Meifeng’s family was being supported entirely by Zhan Hongteng. Without him, they would starve.

After glancing at Zhan Hongteng, Xiao Wange shifted her gaze to Zhan Hongjun.

In the middle of winter, he was only wearing a white shirt, clearly thinking he looked dashing enough to make girls swoon.

Little did he know his looks were plain, and the shirt did nothing for him. Worse, wearing so little in the freezing weather only made him look sick in the head.

Xiao Wange sneered under her breath, then unlocked her courtyard gate with her key, preparing to take her child inside.

But Zhan Hongjun stepped forward to block her: “Xiao Wange, your attitude just now was terrible. You owe me an apology!”

As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward the cloth bag in her hand. It was obvious he was eyeing its contents.

Inside were several good things: dishes she had packed from a restaurant in town and snacks given by the Shi family.

The aroma of food and treats seeped out of the bag.

Zhan Hongjun’s mouth watered heavily, and though he hadn’t been hungry before, his stomach suddenly growled.

He actually wanted to snatch the bag, but with his second brother present, he didn’t dare. Zhan Hongteng was upright and just—if he tried, he would surely get beaten.

“Apologize to you?” Xiao Wange laughed coldly.

Her gaze was full of disdain as she spat out, word by word: “What are you? Why should I apologize to you?”

“You…” Zhan Hongjun’s face darkened with fury, ready to lash out.

But before he could finish, Xiao Wange flicked a small stone with her toe, sending it flying straight into his knee: “Get lost!”

The stone hit with precision and force. Pain shot through his knee as though the bone had been sliced by a blade. He howled and collapsed with a thud, kneeling on the ground.

His injured knee struck the earth, intensifying the pain until his face turned deathly pale.

Xiao Wange’s gaze was icy: “You’d better behave yourself in front of me from now on. Otherwise, I might not be able to resist crippling your legs.”

Her eyes flicked to his legs as she spoke.

To Zhan Hongjun, her look was terrifying—like the cold stare of a venomous snake. His breath hitched, and his heart skipped a beat.

At that moment, Xu Meifeng rushed out of the neighboring yard, clearly drawn by her son’s cries.

Seeing her son kneeling in agony, her heart wrenched, and she hurried over: “Xiaojun, what happened? Did Xiao Wange bully you? Did that wretch hit you?”

She fussed over him, checking his injuries.

Just then, Zhan Hongteng arrived.

He looked at his younger brother, then at Xiao Wange. When his gaze fell on her, his eyes wavered slightly.

Turning back, he said to his mother: “Mom, take Xiaojun back quickly. Making a scene in front of someone else’s house looks bad. Let’s go home first.”

He reached out to help his brother up.

Xu Meifeng frowned, her eyes sharp as she slapped his hand away: “Who’s making a scene? It’s Xiao Wange who bullied your brother! It’s Xiao Wange causing trouble, yet you blame us? Why are you siding with outsiders?”

Zhan Hongteng withdrew his hand. Though her slap hadn’t hurt him, it made his chest tighten uncomfortably.

Zhan Hongjun seized the chance to cry out: “Second Brother, Xiao Wange hit me with a stone! My leg hurts so bad—I think it’s ruined!”

He hadn’t seen exactly how she struck, but he knew it was her doing. Before, he hadn’t believed his mother’s claims that she’d grown stronger. But now, he had to admit it.

Still, he thought, no matter how strong Xiao Wange was, she couldn’t beat his second brother. After all, hadn’t his second brother once defeated ten men in the county when they chased him down?

Clutching his brother’s sleeve, he pleaded: “Second Brother, teach her a lesson for me! Make her pay for hitting my leg!”

Little Jin Zhao hid behind his mother, his timid eyes darting between Xu Meifeng and Zhan Hongjun before settling on Zhan Hongteng: “Second Uncle, please don’t hit my mother. She didn’t mean to hurt Third Uncle. He was the one bullying us first—he wanted to take our food. My mother just…”

“You little bastard, who said you could speak?!” Xu Meifeng snapped, glaring at him.

Frightened, Jin Zhao shrank further behind his mother.

Xiao Wange gently patted his back to comfort him silently, then raised her gaze to Xu Meifeng, her eyes turning cold.

Her lips curved in a chilling smile: “Auntie, did you forget what happened that night? Since you’ve forgotten, perhaps I should come to your house tonight to help refresh your memory?”

Xu Meifeng’s face instantly soured.

That night’s beating at Xiao Wange’s hands had been her life’s greatest humiliation. The mere thought of it filled her with rage and hatred—enough to want Xiao Wange dead and devoured.

Her brows furrowed as she snapped to Zhan Hongteng: “Do you know? She broke into our home and beat our whole family—even your father and me! That wretch is heartless, showing no respect at all. Hongteng, you must teach her a lesson today. If not for us, then for your parents’ sake!”

She had already checked—the nearby fields and road were empty. No one would see if they beat Xiao Wange and robbed her. That bag of hers clearly held good things. It was obvious she lived well, buying loads of things in town. She must have stolen from them to afford it. Best to beat her and take both the goods and money back!

She finished speaking and waited for her second son to act. Like Zhan Hongjun, she believed her son was strong enough to subdue Xiao Wange.

Zhan Hongteng’s expression darkened slightly.

He looked at his mother, disapproving: “Mom, what’s the point of a grown man bullying a woman? If anyone saw, how could I hold my head up in the village? This must be some misunderstanding. Let’s go home first.”

He tried to pull her away.

Xu Meifeng’s eyes blazed. She shook him off angrily: “A misunderstanding? She beat your parents! Do you want her to kill us before you believe it?”

“Mom…”

“Are you even my son? If you are, then punish her for me! If not, get out of my sight!” she roared, eyes bulging with threat.

Zhan Hongteng clenched his fists, fatigue etched deep in his brow.

He was already worn out from work. He had hoped to rest at home, but before even reaching the door, trouble had found him.

For a moment, he stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

Xiao Wange lifted her gaze to him. He was a good man, she could tell—upright and untainted despite living in such a corrupt household.

As Xu Meifeng bared her teeth to lash out again, Xiao Wange suddenly smiled and asked: “Auntie, are you sure Zhan Hongteng is really your son?”

From his face and hers, she had noticed something. There was no mother-son bond between them—in fact, they looked more like enemies.

Not just enemies, but mortal enemies, bound by blood feud.

How had two destined enemies become mother and son? There was surely something strange behind it.

Her words made Xu Meifeng’s breath hitch, her heart pounding faster.

A flicker of panic crossed her eyes before she glared back: “What nonsense are you spouting? If Hongteng isn’t my son, is he yours? You’re just trying to drive a wedge between us! But no one would believe such a ridiculous claim.”

Xiao Wange’s smile was sharp: “Whether I’m talking nonsense, you know in your heart. I heard Hongteng supports your entire family. But tell me—if one day he stops being your son and becomes your enemy instead, what will your family do then?”

Every word she spoke struck Xu Meifeng’s heart like a hammer.