Chapter 9 Her Uncle Was A Murderer

"Lewis, did you not just see what Celia was doing to your wife? You should show this rude girl what you're made of. It's time she should learn her place." The grandmother, Sue wasn't going to let Celia get away with any of this that easily. No mercy seemed to be the theme for that day.

Finally in the comfort of the protection of her husband and mother-in-law, Lucy could let her sobs out without holding back.

Lewis was a little stunned. He didn't know what he stepped into, but it seemed he was right in the thick of it.

After putting down the hoe on his shoulder, Lewis pulled his mother aside and whispered in her ear. She listened intently when her face suddenly crunched into a frown.

After their whisper, Lewis walked over to Celia. As he got closer, he noticed the blade in her hand and even he felt intimidated. He faked a smile and said, "That's enough for today. I think you should go back home."

These women didn't want to let her leave a second ago and now all of a sudden, she was free. What on earth had happened?

Whatever it was, she chose to leave anyway. She was outnumbered and she wasn't the strongest woman in the world by any means. She still had something to say though. She arrogantly threatened, "I'm going to leave but if anyone tries to hurt my mother again, they're going to have to deal with me. Heed my words. I will fight to the death!"

Leaving her words ringing in their ears, Celia glided out the room with the machete in her hand. Even though she looked calm on the surface, only she knew the fear that swept through her body. She was sweating from every pore, as this was her first time to do such a brave thing.

Before she left, she took the noodles and salt back of course. It was hers at the end of the day.

After Celia left, Lucy began to cry like a spoiled child. She screamed and shouted, telling Lewis that he shouldn't have shown Celia any mercy and even threatened him that she would commit suicide by drinking the pesticide potion. She was truly a wicked woman.

Celia was the polar opposite. She was so proud that she finally avenged herself after all these years.

She slapped Lucy so hard that her own hand still stung in all honesty.

Celia still wanted to know what Lewis said to her grandmother though. Why did she give in so easily? She didn't even fight it and just let Celia go. What happened?

Like a triumphant soldier, Celia twirled the blade in her hand as she strode home.

To her surprise, there was a Honda motorbike parked outside her house.

It was the 1990's and to own a motorcycle was something of a luxury item. Celia was eager to find out who the hot shot was. Did her grandmother back down because of this strange visitor?

Celia had seen so much of the outside world but returning home still filled her with an anxiousness. What made it worse was hearing her mother's sobs as she neared the doorway.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Celia walked into the house briskly. Her mother sat on the bamboo chair and sobbed like a child. Tears streamed down her eyes like a waterfall.

"Are you okay, Celia? Did they hurt you?" Wendy looked at her daughter with nothing but angst in her eyes. Celia was the most important thing in her life and she couldn't bear seeing her get hurt.

"I'm fine, mom. I got the revenge we deserved. I showed Lucy what we're made of. I smashed her cooking pot and even slapped her for good measure. I also got back the salt and the noodles she took from us! She tried to take things from us? Not on my watch!" Celia said smugly.

"What?" The news hit Wendy like a truck. She sat in a stunned silence. She had no idea that Celia was going to be brave enough to hit that awful woman.

"Did she hurt you?" Wendy said through her trembling voice. She held Celia's hand, shaking.

"No, I'm fine. Well, this is... " As Celia spoke, she notice the man sitting in the corner of the room. He sat so silently that she didn't even notice him until now.

"This is your uncle. We've spoken about him before but I don't think you'll remember him. The last time you saw him, you must have been only a baby," Wendy explained, noticing Celia's shock and confusion.

Celia did remember that she had an uncle but she remembered him being in jail. Did he get let out by some chance?

Even so, Celia called him uncle just to show him respect.

"How time flies! I haven't seen Celia for years. She really has grown up!" He looked Celia up and down. Her uncle, Zack Zhang, smiled as he spoke to them.

Noticing her machete, he asked, "Who on earth troubled your mother? I asked her, but she didn't want to tell me. Your father died when you were only young and I haven't been here to protect you. But now that I'm here, I won't allow anyone to hurt you."

"It's my aunt, Lucy. She kicked us out of the house with grandmother. She came here, robbed us and beat my mother." Although Celia felt like she already dealt with the problem, she was still going to take every opportunity to make trouble for Lucy. If her uncle went over there, surely it would be of greater effect.

"Huh, they're so ruthless! Maybe I'll go over there and give them some warnings."

"Hey, Zack, you just got out of jail. Don't even think about stirring up more trouble! I'm fine and Celia has already done enough." Wendy wasn't having any of this. She was far too anxious to let Zack stand up for their family. She stood up and grabbed his wrist, yanking him back into the house.

Smiling, Zack said calmly, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I've just got released from prison. Do you really think that I want to go back?"

"Mom, just let uncle go. They'll know we're serious then," Celia chimed in, clinging onto her mother's arm.

It all made sense now. Her grandmother let her go because they knew her uncle was back in town. They wouldn't dare cross him, especially since he was a known murderer.

"But..."

"Sister, stop being so scared. I promise I won't kill them." Zack burst into laughter and then marched out the house.