TSWPF -Chapter 196 Fury

Li Laifu had never imagined that his parents would end up taking his place in prison. He had thought that no matter what, it wouldn’t implicate them.

Precisely because he believed that, he had let his parents block the way for him so he could make a quick escape.

No matter how inhuman he might be, he would never deliberately harm his parents!

He clenched his fists hard and turned toward the yamen. Afraid of being recognized, he didn’t dare lift his head, hunching his back and shuffling along slowly like a beggar.

He had to find out what was going on at the yamen. Would they only detain his parents for a few days and then release them?

When he reached the yamen, he didn’t dare go too close. He lingered outside, sneaking glances toward the entrance.

Just then, two constables walked out of the yamen, chatting and laughing, several sheets of paper in their hands. Seeing them, Li Laifu retreated beside a stone lion, planning to come out only after they left.

One sharp-eyed constable spotted him and frowned. “What are you doing here? Is this a place for you to loiter around? Get lost!” A beggar sneaking around like this—who knew what he was up to?

Li Laifu stiffened. Keeping his head down, he softly said “Yes,” and didn’t dare stay any longer, hurrying away.

That constable paid him no more attention and said to the other, “Let’s go, let’s go. Hurry up and paste up these wanted notices. Once we’re done, we’ll go have a drink.”

“Hey, you know, this guy looks pretty honest, but how could he do something so ruthless? He ran off himself and let his parents go to jail. If I had a son like that, I’d be so angry I’d cough up blood.”

“You don’t even have a wife yet and you’re already thinking about having a son? Stop daydreaming. Finish the work first.”

“I’m just speaking from the heart. If it were you, would you push your parents out to save your own skin?” He certainly couldn’t do that. His parents gave birth to him and raised him—how could he do something so vile?

People like that deserved to be struck by lightning.

The other constable waved his hand vigorously. “Of course not. I’m not some heartless beast. How could I let my parents take my place in prison? Someone like that doesn’t deserve to be called human.”

Even if it meant death, he couldn’t let his parents die in his stead.

Thinking it through, that man was truly an unfilial child, vicious to the core.

Their voices faded into the distance. Li Laifu ground his teeth until they clicked. He… he wasn’t that heartless either. How could he willingly let his parents take his place in prison?

He had to think of a way—some way to rescue his parents safely.

But trading his own life for theirs? That was absolutely impossible.

As long as the green hills remained, there would be no fear of lacking firewood. This time, he would plan carefully.

Once he settled things on his end, he would definitely go back for Li Qingling. He would settle the score with her and let her know not to be smug—he would never let her off.

After making up his mind, Li Laifu left the yamen, still hunched over. He went to rent a small courtyard and settle down first, then plan his next steps.

If he didn’t teach her family a lesson, he wouldn’t be Li Laifu.

He rented a courtyard in a rather secluded area. He hadn’t had much silver to begin with, and now that he’d spent some of it, his heart ached.

All of this was because of Li Qingling. If it weren’t for that wretched girl, he wouldn’t have fallen to this state.

She’d better not push him too far. A cornered rabbit would bite—if she forced him to the brink, he didn’t know what kind of madness he might commit.

For several days in a row, Li Laifu sneaked to the yamen to ask around, to see whether Old Li and Madam Liu had been released.

But even today, there was still no news about them. Could it be that they would be locked up for life?

If that were really the case, what should he do?

Other than taking their place, what other options did he have?

Li Laifu squatted in a corner, painfully clutching his filthy, tangled hair. Aside from that one option, he truly couldn’t think of any other way.

Though he did feel sorry for his parents, he really couldn’t bring himself to replace them.

After squatting there for a long while, he took a deep breath, stood up, and staggered back toward the courtyard he was staying in.

He avoided crowded, lively areas and only took secluded paths. He had seen the wanted notices posted by the yamen—now he was like a rat crossing the street, unable to walk openly among people.

Sneaking back into the courtyard, Li Laifu wolfed down two buns and gulped a large ladle of cold water. Only after filling his stomach did he let out a soft sigh.

He had never imagined that he would end up like this—becoming a wanted criminal.

It was all Li Qingling’s fault. All because of that wretched girl.

He had to take revenge. He had to find a chance to get revenge on Li Qingling.

Li Laifu let out a painful roar, venting the fury in his heart. Only then did he stop.

He stood up from the chair, quickly stuffed the two cold buns into his clothes, grabbed a knife, opened the courtyard gate, and slipped out.

He was going to find Huang Meiniang and see if she had any way to help him.

He had been afraid the constables might go to Huang Meiniang to look for him, so he had hidden for several days and hadn’t dared to see her directly.

Now that several days had passed, the constables probably wouldn’t be looking there anymore. Taking advantage of this chance, he had to go see her.

When Li Laifu reached the area near Huang Meiniang’s home, he didn’t dare approach her directly. Afraid of being seen, he hid somewhere nearby, planning to call out to her once she appeared.

After waiting nearly an hour—almost eaten alive by mosquitoes—Li Laifu finally heard Huang Meiniang’s voice. His eyes lit up. He reached out and pushed aside the obstruction in front of him, staring intently, ready to call her over the moment she appeared.

But what he didn’t expect was that he wouldn’t just see Huang Meiniang—he would also see a man holding her and fondling her.

His anger exploded instantly. What kind of relationship did Huang Meiniang have with that man? How could she let another man hold her like that?

Shameless! Absolutely shameless!

He pulled the knife from his clothes, grinding his teeth as he stared at the pair of adulterers ahead. Just as he was about to rush out, Huang Meiniang spoke again.

“Hurry and go. Don’t let anyone see you.”

The man smacked a kiss on Huang Meiniang’s lips and laughed loudly. “What are you afraid of? Afraid that idiot Li Laifu might see? Didn’t he get caught?” With Li Laifu around before, he hadn’t dared come looking for Huang Meiniang, afraid of being seen. But now that that idiot Li Laifu had been caught, his chance had finally come.

The Huang Meiniang he’d coveted for so long was indeed… exquisite.

So uninhibited—it made him reluctant to leave.

Leaning against the man, Huang Meiniang poked his chest with her finger and said coquettishly, “He wasn’t caught. The ones arrested were his parents. No one knows where he ran off to.” Li Laifu wasn’t entirely stupid—how could he be foolish enough to do something like that? And even worse, get found out. Truly…

Luckily, she hadn’t married him yet. Otherwise, she’d be a living widow now.

Feeling fortunate, Huang Meiniang patted her chest again, genuinely relieved.

“That’s fine too. He wouldn’t dare come back anyway. If he does, I’ll report him and have the constables arrest him.” The man smiled sinisterly, pinching Huang Meiniang’s cheek. “Meiniang, why don’t I just stay? I really don’t want to leave.”

Huang Meiniang lifted her head and shot him a coy glare, then pushed him away lightly. “No. I’m an unmarried maiden—how could I let you stay? You’re nothing to me. If you stayed, how would I survive in the village?” If people saw them, she’d be drowned in gossip.

Besides, he wasn’t the only man she had. If they ran into each other, that would be troublesome.

Better to send him off quickly.

Hearing her say “unmarried maiden,” the man chuckled. His wandering hand groped her again. “What unmarried maiden are you, huh? If you were really pure, how would I not know? That idiot Li Laifu must’ve taken plenty of advantage of you. Still, you probably got quite a bit of money out of him, didn’t you?”

If Huang Meiniang really were a virgin, he’d find a way to marry her. But she wasn’t—so he could only toy with her.

Sneaking around like this was thrilling too.

Huang Meiniang shot him a glare and shoved him, telling him to hurry up and leave before anyone saw.

“Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going. I’ll come find you again tomorrow—wait for me!” The man smacked another loud kiss on her cheek, chuckled, and turned to leave.

Li Laifu’s eyes were bloodshot. Grinding his teeth, knife in hand, he roared and charged out. “You bastard, you think you can just leave? I’ll hack you to death!”

Never had he imagined that the Huang Meiniang he had treated with such devotion was not only fooling around with other men, but also swindling his money. If he hadn’t been hiding there, he would’ve been kept in the dark forever.

All her previous affection had been fake. Damn it—he wouldn’t let her off either.

Only by killing this pair of adulterers could he vent his hatred.

At the roar, Huang Meiniang and the man looked up and saw Li Laifu charging at them with a knife, fury blazing. In an instant, they were scared out of their wits.

The man was so frightened that he shrank behind Huang Meiniang. She cursed his cowardice inwardly, but with Li Laifu to deal with, she had no time to argue.

Huang Meiniang put on a worried expression and looked at Li Laifu. “Laifu, where have you been these past few days? I couldn’t find you no matter how hard I looked.”

If Li Laifu hadn’t heard what they said earlier, he might have been fooled again.

“Die, you filthy bitch!”

Li Laifu raised the knife and slashed straight at Huang Meiniang.