Chapter 111: Reporting to the Authorities

"Ya'er, look at this..."

Helpless, Zhang Caixia turned her gaze toward her son. Her eyes were filled with panic. She was terrified! Accusations of child abduction. Her son had only just been admitted to university. Although it was only a prestigious provincial school, that was still a result many dreamed of but could never achieve!

Not only that, he had transformed the family's tailor shop into a garment factory. Even though that was funded by Liu Qian's family, would they have given the money for no reason without her son’s exceptional ability and extraordinary talent? Impossible! How could such a good son face imprisonment over something like this?

Zhang Caixia’s meaning was clear: she wanted Wu Ya to call Liu Qian’s parents to clear everything up. But could this call be made? No!

"Wu Ya, why don't... I just leave!" Seeing the evident distress on Wu Ya’s mother’s face and the deep-seated worry in her eyes, Liu Qian could no longer bear it. The heart of a parent is truly pitiful! The situation had reached a point of no return. Could she continue to play deaf and dumb, letting the situation develop and pushing all the potential consequences onto Wu Ya’s family? She knew she couldn't. She couldn't let Wu Ya’s parents suffer for her sake. So, she offered to leave. At worst, she would just make do in a small inn. It wasn't as if she would be kidnapped, right?

However.

"Haha, do you think I would agree to that? Not only would that be irresponsible to you, but it would also be a sign of my extreme cowardice! Bowing down to these people who stir up trouble out of jealousy? I, Wu Ya, have no such habit!"

His immediate refusal was firm. Just as he said, to compromise with these gossiping women who thrived on malice and were so consumed by jealousy that they couldn't stand anyone else living a better life than them? Then his past thirty-nine years would have been lived in vain!

"Mom, Dad, bothering Liu Qian’s parents this late will only cause unnecessary worry! They might even think something serious happened here that requires an overnight investigation of everyone! If they find out it was just someone intentionally making a scene to disturb the neighbors, I suspect Liu Qian’s parents would file a formal complaint with the authorities! That is when things would truly escalate."

Wu Ya looked at his parents, but these words were meant for Old Madam Zhang. His demeanor was fearless, and his tone was resonant and powerful. A formal complaint to the authorities—the implication was obvious. I’m giving you a way out; take it. Don’t push your luck and make things worse! If things escalate, I’m not afraid! But you? How will you handle the aftermath?

But his thinking was too simple, and his heart was still a bit too kind. He had no idea how insane these women could be when driven by jealousy. *I don’t care if you’re innocent; I’ll smear you first! I don’t care if you’re not afraid of things escalating; I’ll escalate them first!*

In short, "I'm a neighborhood watch member, who am I afraid of?" At worst, she would just offer an apology. She had connections with the authorities anyway. She would keep her position as a neighborhood watch officer. But as for them? They would be living under the weight of public spit and scorn by tomorrow! Who was afraid of whom?

Consequently: "Hmph! You brat, it’s clearly your own guilty conscience! Seeing your evil deeds about to be exposed, you start threatening us openly and secretly? Do you really think we’re pushovers? Sisters, watch the door and don’t let their family run away!"

"Watch the door, don't let them run!" Old Madam Zhang, threatened by Wu Ya, was now fueled by shame and anger. Who did he think she was? The most outstanding neighborhood watch officer within a five-mile radius! How many repeat offenders had fallen into her hands right here? A child who hadn't even grown up yet dared to speak to her in that tone? Today, she would show him the true power of their neighborhood watch team!

"Got it! Sister Li, Sister Wang, you guard the door to the outer room, and I’ll stand at the door of the inner room with Sister Han! With the four of us working together, they won't be able to fly out!" Upon receiving the order, Madam Shen immediately set up the positions.

Whoosh!

Four obese middle-aged women moved with surprising agility. In the blink of an eye, they had barricaded the entrance and exit of the Wu household! It was clear they had practiced this often—perhaps more so than they practiced their speech.

"Haha, blocking my door and restricting our personal freedom? Aunt Zhang, you really are determined to blow this out of proportion! Unfortunately, do you really think I’m one of those people who, when bullied by you, chooses to suffer in silence without daring to speak up? They are weak because they fear your tyranny and your foul mouth! But I, Wu Ya, am not afraid! I give you one minute to get out of my house immediately! Otherwise..."

"Hmph! Otherwise, what will you do?" Old Madam Zhang was furious. Her chubby face was now livid! *Your foul mouth?* Humiliation! This was a naked, blatant insult! Bullying people? She had bullied so many! But who had ever dared to challenge her? Even if they were furious at first, as long as she set up her formation, they would all eventually cave in and act weak! If things went to the authorities, with her status as a neighborhood watch officer, at most she’d be reprimanded for a work error. But if you offended her, your life would be miserable from then on! Rumors flying, intentional obstruction—while you were under the eyes of everyone, you’d also be under her constant surveillance! Exhausted physically and mentally, would you still dare to act up? Everyone would just cower!

For a long time, Old Madam Zhang had developed the habit of expecting no resistance. Now, not only was she insulted to her face by Wu Ya, he had even told her to get out! *Get out?* How dare he!

"Haha..." Wu Ya looked at the wide-eyed, furious Old Madam Zhang and suddenly laughed. His expression appeared completely harmless. *Thump!* But it was this gentle demeanor that inexplicably made Old Madam Zhang’s heart tremble. Every hair on her body stood on end! She considered herself well-traveled and experienced. What had she not seen? How could a mere child bring such psychological pressure upon her? And while wearing a smile, no less!

As Old Madam Zhang’s mind spiraled, Wu Ya began to walk toward her. Slow. Very slow! One could describe it as moving inch by inch! But it was this slow rhythm, this steady, powerful pace, that made the pressure on Old Madam Zhang grow greater with every step he took toward her. Until he was right in front of her...

"What are you doing?" Old Madam Zhang could no longer endure it, and the question blurted out. She looked at Wu Ya with eyes full of fear! Only now did she remember that this boy from the Wu family was a notorious troublemaker in the neighborhood! Always hanging out with low-achievers and causing trouble everywhere!

"What am I doing? Aren't you asking me what I can do? What I’m about to do is show you exactly what I can do!"

As soon as Wu Ya finished speaking, he raised his arms. *Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!* He delivered a flurry of blows, left and right! They were heavy and resonant, causing Old Madam Zhang’s head to shake like a rattle! Her eyes rolled back, saliva flew, and her face swelled up into the likeness of a pig's head in an instant!

But Wu Ya? There was no sign of him stopping! Coming to his home to intimidate his parents to their faces! Making his mother worry and his father anxious, all because of their jealousy over the improvement of his family's life! Trash. His parents were kind and honest, but they were not people you could bully!

The room fell into a dead silence. No one expected that Wu Ya’s "otherwise" would be a brutal beating! And he was beating a neighborhood watch officer! In his own home! And this officer was a notoriously shrewish woman! Someone who would argue even when in the wrong and would never forgive when in the right! You hit her? Wouldn't she turn around and extort you for everything you had? As things stood, it probably wouldn't be settled for less than a thousand!

"Ya'er, stop! What are you doing?" Wu Wanli, stunned into a stupor by Wu Ya’s actions, finally snapped back to reality. Beating a neighborhood watch officer at home—wasn't he just inviting disaster? He shouted and rushed forward, grabbing the arm Wu Ya was swinging with such vigor.

"Ya'er, you’ve brought a great disaster upon us!" Seeing Old Madam Zhang, who was now nearing unconsciousness, Zhang Caixia was terrified out of her wits. They had lived half their lives and had never experienced anything this big! In their own home, in front of everyone, their son Wu Ya had beaten a neighborhood watch officer until she was unresponsive! And this officer was Old Madam Zhang! Usually, if people even slightly offended her, the consequences were unimaginable. Let alone beating her so badly—bruised, swollen, and bleeding from the nose! Given her shrewish nature, how could she let this go? Once the police were called, wouldn't their son be arrested?

"Sister Zhang, Sister Zhang, are you okay? Wake up!" Seeing the furious Wu Ya restrained by his parents, Madam Shen’s true nature surfaced again. Her obese body moved with surprising speed. She jumped to the side of the tottering Old Madam Zhang. While calling out loudly, she began to press on her philtrum. Flattery—this was a rare opportunity!

Before long... "Whoosh..." Old Madam Zhang exhaled faintly. Her two eyes slowly opened. In truth, she had just been shocked into a daze! Wu Ya’s strikes, naturally, had been measured.

"Zhang Caixia, Wu Wanli! You’ve raised a fine son! This matter isn't over, I won't let you go!" But who would have thought, the first thing this old woman did upon opening her eyes was to start cursing again!

"You..." The look of concern that had been on Madam Shen’s face vanished in an instant. It was as if... she were looking at a fool! She still dared to threaten this kid? It was obvious he was a reckless youth who feared nothing! Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to hit her! As the saying goes, a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Not only did she not know to restrain herself and seek revenge later, but she was still here provoking him. If that wasn't looking for a beating, what was?

Sure enough. "You unkillable old woman! You still dare to threaten my parents? See if I don't beat you to death today!" Wu Ya’s violent roar followed immediately. He shook his arm, breaking free from Wu Wanli’s restraint, and lunged toward Old Madam Zhang!

*Gasp!* Old Madam Zhang, who had wanted to continue her angry tirade, instantly wilted! The sharp pain in her face finally began to register in her brain. She had just been beaten by this kid! Was he still afraid now? He wasn't afraid at all!

Thinking of this, "You, you just wait! All of you, just wait!" Old Madam Zhang dropped the words and suddenly stood up from Madam Shen’s arms. That appearance—where was the earlier daze? She was full of spirit! *Whoosh!* The speed at which she ran toward the door was several times faster than the speed at which Madam Shen had helped her! In a puff of smoke, she was reduced to a mere black dot in the distance!

"This..." Everyone looked at the night outside the door, falling into shock. This old woman, her legs were actually that agile? Didn't she usually limp around and look sickly? But just as they were stunned by Old Madam Zhang’s agility...

"I’m going to report this to the authorities right now!" Report to the authorities! In the distant night, Old Madam Zhang’s angry roar suddenly echoed again. Zhang Caixia’s face turned pale as a sheet!