Chapter 13: An Eye for an Eye, Dragging Someone Down with You

The next day, Su Yu was still sleeping in when he heard a commotion outside. Groggy, he got up and stepped out, only to see his fourth brother, Su Jin, with a scratch on his forehead and his clothes torn to shreds.

“Fourth brother, what happened to you? Did you get into a fight?”

Su Jin was walking toward their eldest brother’s room, muttering as he went, “That damn Su Youqing— I showed him some mercy, and he still sent people to ambush me. Let’s see if I don’t chop him up.”

With that, the boy crawled under the eldest brother’s bed to retrieve the cleaver. Although Su Sheng hid it well, all the brothers knew exactly where their eldest brother kept his knife.

Su Yu immediately snapped awake and rushed into the eldest brother’s room, narrowly dodging the cleaver just as Su Jin pulled it out from under the bed.

“Third brother, what are you doing? Give it to me quickly!”

“Give it to you? Not a chance. Since when did you learn to use a knife? You’ve lost your mind!”

Su Jin was only fourteen but already stood 1.65 meters tall—a testament to their strong family genes. If he actually went around wielding a knife to attack people, trouble was inevitable.

“Tell me, what happened?”

In the Su household, the eldest brother Su Sheng was already twenty-three, quite a few years older than Su Jin. Because of this age gap, Su Jin preferred to confide in the third brother Su Yu when things happened. Su Yu usually helped settle disputes, since they were still kids. If Su Sheng himself got involved, the matter would escalate.

Their youngest sister, Su Jing, timidly peeked around the corner, but Su Yu ignored her, focusing on Su Jin.

“I went out to play today and was blocked by Su Youqing from our uncle’s family. He came with three classmates from the neighboring village and confronted me. They even started hitting me. I was no match for them alone, so I struggled for a while and then ran back.”

Su Youqing was the third son in their uncle’s household, the second child, and a year older than Su Jin.

“Why would he cause trouble for you if there’s no reason?” Su Yu asked.

Su Jin straightened his neck and said, “That damn Su Youqing badmouthed you, Third Brother. He said you’re ungrateful, that you don’t appreciate our family’s kindness when we introduced our cousin to you. He was deliberately looking for trouble, so I snapped back at him, and that’s when he attacked.”

No wonder even the usually mild-tempered Fourth Brother was ready to draw a knife—it was infuriating. Although the uncle’s youngest son was only fifteen, still a teenager, Su Sheng was already nineteen. If he intervened personally, it might cause gossip. But letting his fourth brother swallow the insult was impossible for him.

“Alright, go gather a few good boys from the village and bring them here. Invite as many as you can, especially the ones related to the village chief and other influential families. Bring their kids too. I’ll figure out a way to back you up.”

Su Yu whispered a long list of instructions in Su Jin’s ear, then left. He borrowed a bicycle from the village chief’s house and headed straight to the county town.

Not long after, Su Yu returned carrying a bag and handed it to Su Jin.

“Remember, you stole my stuff, got it?”

Su Jin chuckled and nodded repeatedly.

Su Yu slipped away again, and soon seven or eight boys, all around fourteen or fifteen, arrived at their home.

Su Jin opened the package to reveal candy, canned goods, and various pastries.

“Uncle Jin, can we really eat all this freely?”

The Su family had some standing in the village. Though Su Jin was only nineteen, he was called “Uncle Jin” by the village chief’s grandchildren, since the chief was nearly fifty years older. It made sense for the younger generation to address Su Jin respectfully.

“Enough talk, eat up. But let me make this clear: we share the good and the bad. Later, we’ll get revenge on Su Youqing. No backing down. If anyone messes around, hesitates, or chickens out, next time I won’t bring them along.”

At the mention of treats, the boys perked up. Fighting was no big deal; if they got beaten later, it was worth it. Rural kids were toughened by scuffles—they weren’t killing anyone, just fighting.

“Brother Jin, don’t worry. We’re all kin. Su Youqing brought outsiders to mess with you, that’s just wrong. We’ll help you deal with him.”

Some called him uncle, some brother. None were older than fifteen. Including Su Jin, there were nine of them. They gorged themselves and then grabbed wooden sticks hidden in their clothes before heading out.

Su Youqing’s three classmates were definitely still at their uncle’s house and wouldn’t leave early, so there was no doubt where to find them.

“Xiao Peng, you go call the others. You know what to say, right?”

The group had already planned this. Xiao Peng nodded and walked toward Su Youqing’s house.

Soon after, glass shattered loudly at the uncle’s house. Su Youqing was inside and immediately spotted Xiao Peng. He gave chase, followed by his classmates.

At the alley’s entrance, Xiao Peng suddenly stopped.

“Damn you, Xiao Peng! You smashed my window? Are you crazy? And now you stop running? What’s wrong?”

He grinned. “Why run? I didn’t break your window. Don’t slander me.”

Su Youqing’s face twisted in rage.

“Damn it, still denying it? Get him!”

Just then, four figures appeared ahead—Su Jin among them. He strode forward confidently with a smile.

“What’s the matter, Su Youqing? You’re used to bullying our villagers with outsiders, huh? Throwing punches at the drop of a hat? Who gave you the guts? Try touching him and see what happens.”

Behind Su Jin, four more blocked the alley’s exit. Each pulled out a short wooden stick, glaring fiercely. Su Youqing and his classmates were taken aback.

“So it’s you, Su Jin. What do you want?”

“What do I want? To teach you how to behave. Don’t keep bringing outsiders to bully your own people. That’s not right.”

With that, Su Jin lunged forward and struck Su Youqing on the head with a thick wooden stick, instantly drawing blood. The others surged forward, but none aimed for the head—only the body.

A brutal beating ensued.

“What are you doing? Stop it right now!”

Someone passing by the alley saw the scene and shouted.

“Retreat.”

At Su Jin’s command, everyone scattered.

Su Youqing was left battered, bruised, and in pain. Soon after, someone informed Su Fugui—their uncle and Su Yu’s uncle.

Su Youqing was taken to Li Youcai’s house. He had external injuries, none severe, but bruised all over. When Su Fugui learned the details, he was at a loss for words. After all, it was his nephew, but Su Youqing had started the fight.

However, Su Fugui’s wife couldn’t swallow the insult. She cursed him for being useless, then stormed off to Su Yu’s house, clearly intending to confront them.

But no one was home. The boys had long since scattered, and Su Yu was out in the mountains with Huzi. The house was empty.