If this matter escalated, old man Li Tau would definitely stand up for Yang Milan.
Just as Chen Gang was about to move forward to "check" on Milan's injuries, he saw Yang Milan staggering back a few steps, clutching his nose in pain. In horror, Milan shouted:
"You… you don't come near me!"
This action was, of course, misinterpreted by the onlookers.
Everyone began wondering how Chen Ergou could bully Yang Milan like this. Look how terrified he was!
"What the hell do you mean? I only hit you once…" Chen Gang growled.
Before he could finish, Yang Milan, his voice trembling, said:
"Chen Gang, do you still have any shame at all? How could you hit me and then still scream at me?"
Then Milan continued:
"Wasn't it just because I wanted to stop you from badmouthing me in front of Mercy? Do you really have to be this cruel?"
"You're talking nonsense! You were the one who struck me first, so I hit you back!" Chen Gang shouted angrily, his tone harsh and his face twisted with fury.
But before Yang Milan could even reply, the members watching from the side couldn't hold back anymore and began to speak out:
"Chen Ergou, you've gone too far! Milan is so weak, how could he possibly hit you? Isn't that just a lie?"
"Chen Ergou, you're really a disgrace to us men of Maggie Village! How could you gossip and then attack like this?"
"This Chen Ergou only dares to act so brazen because his father is the team leader. He's becoming more and more outrageous! Look how he just beat Yang Milan…"
Chen Gang was now panicking. In truth, he had been the one to start the fight, but hearing the villagers' words, he realized people no longer believed him.
In his rage, he caught sight of the faint smile in Yang Milan's eyes—and suddenly realized he had been tricked.
"You bastard Milan, you're playing dirty tricks on me! I'll beat you to death!" Chen Gang roared.
He grabbed a wooden stool nearby and rushed straight toward Yang Milan.
Everyone was stunned. If Chen Gang really struck with that stool, he could kill Milan!
Immediately, a few young men rushed forward and restrained Chen Gang.
Just then, a deep, stern voice came from outside:
"Stop right there!"
Everyone recognized the voice—it was Secretary Li. They instantly stepped aside to make way.
Then Li Tau entered, followed by the four famous Li brothers and several villagers, along with Chen Jianying and his third son, Chen Tie.
They had all rushed over after hearing the commotion.
When Li Tau walked into the headquarters, he saw Yang Milan lying on the ground, blood all over his face, with Li Mercy crying beside him. His anger exploded:
"What happened here? Who dared to beat you?"
Yang Milan wiped some blood off and said painfully:
"Dad, it was Chen Gang! He beat me. You must stand up for me!"
Before Li Tau could even respond, the four Li brothers thundered:
"Chen Ergou, you dare bully our brother-in-law? Are you tired of living?"
"Do you think the Li family has no one left to deal with you?"
"You bastard! I've been gone only a few days and you've grown bold enough to bully my brother-in-law?"
"Chen Ergou, today we're going to teach you a lesson!"
Chen Gang's face instantly paled. These Li brothers had been his rivals since childhood, and every time they fought, he and his brothers always ended up on the losing side.
The Li brothers were furious and ready to pounce, but Li Tau barked sternly:
"Enough! Shut up!"
The brothers immediately fell silent.
They dared to fight anyone else—but not their father. Even though Li Tau carried old injuries from his years as a scout in the army, he could still defeat them all.
Once the room quieted, Li Tau turned back to Yang Milan and asked:
"Tell me clearly, why did Chen Gang hit you?"
Although the scene clearly made Milan look like the victim, Li Tau was careful not to show bias. After all, in a fight, being injured didn't always mean being right.
Yang Milan immediately explained:
"Dad, fellow villagers—this is what happened. I came here to deliver food to my wife, but just as I reached the door, I heard Chen Gang insulting me to her!"
"Mercy refused to listen and scolded him. Then this guy became furious and tried to attack her. I couldn't stand by and watch, so I stepped in to protect her…"
The Li brothers' blood boiled.
They were famously protective of their sister. Hearing that Chen Gang not only insulted their brother-in-law but even threatened Mercy, they were enraged.
"Second Brother Guoqing" snatched up a stool and hurled it.
Fortunately, Chen Gang had been on guard and dodged, and the stool smashed into the wall instead.
"Bang!"
The stool shattered into pieces, leaving a hole in the adobe wall.
Everyone, including Chen Gang, was shaken. The nickname "Li Erlangzi" for Guoqing was not given in vain.
If that stool had struck, Chen Gang's head would have been split open.
"Second Brother, stop!" Li Tau shouted. "It's not too late to act after we've heard the whole story."
Yang Milan also frowned. He hadn't planned all this just to have the Li brothers beat Chen Gang. That was meaningless.
Beating someone up wouldn't solve the problem. If it were that simple, he could have taken down Chen Gang himself without dragging anyone else into it.
What he wanted was bigger: not just to humiliate Chen Gang, but to provoke the entire Chen family.
So, without waiting for Li Guoqing to speak, Yang Milan cried out:
"Everyone here saw it! Chen Gang beat me like this. My head is spinning, my chest feels tight—I must have internal injuries. I need to be taken to the hospital right away…"
Before Milan could finish, Chen Gang shouted:
"Mr. Chen, don't believe him! He's lying. He hit me first!"
"Shut up!" Li Tau's voice was ice-cold. He turned sharply toward Chen Jianying:
"Captain Chen, your son has grown more shameless by the day. I thought he was just lazy before, but now I see he's full of lies. You really raised him well!"
Chen Jianying's face turned pale. He knew exactly what kind of person Yang Milan was.
If someone said Milan outsmarted his son, he would believe it. But if someone claimed Milan actually struck first, he would never believe it.
After all, Chen Gang and Milan were not even on the same level. Even if Jianying's second son fought Milan one-handed, Milan could never win.
In front of so many villagers, Jianying didn't dare defend his son. If this was reported, at best he could lose his position, at worst he could end up in prison.