Chapter 128 Enemy (1/2)

Zhang Yunyan felt grieved and angry when thinking of her family hatred and hoped to cut Yan Xiaopeng into pieces. She remembered the tragic death of her parents clearly. It happened more than a decade ago. Her sister Yunxia was lost at that time. She had no news of her so far.

This was the crime of Yan Xiaopeng and made her family be destroyed. She had no news of her brother Yuntian and sister Yunxia. Perhaps, she was the only person of family Zhang living lives in the world.

Yunyan vowed to slaughter Living Yama to avenge her parents. This was a life-long vow and must be completed.

In the midst of pain and despair, the disaster of more than a decade ago came to her mind again. She felt grieved and angry to the extreme.

...

Zhang Yunyan’s hometown was in Shuanghe county, Linjiang province. There was a Lianhu Village on the east side of the county. Her family lived in the village.

Here, the mountains in the distance were continuous. Then, it was plain.

There was a Jade Dragon Lake in the east of the village and it was the origin of the name of the village.

The water of Jade Dragon Lake was coming from the mountains. The lake was wide and one could not see its edge. It was a picturesque place with beautiful scenery.

In the legend, there was a white dragon in the Jade Dragon Lake, which was shining and powerful. This white dragon cared about people's livelihood and exerted its skills to manage the land in peace. People there lived in happy lives.

The white dragon hated the bad guys deeply. Sometimes, it would use the magical fire to burn them out or drown them with stirring the water.

Since ancient time, no one had ever met the white dragon. People suffered a lot but the bad guys lived very comfortably. The legend was very good, but just a beautiful hope in people's hearts, the embodiment of their pray, and the spiritual sustenance. However, poverty and suffering had not been changed.

Although there was no white dragon in Jade Dragon Lake, fish and shrimps were abundant, bringing livelihood for the people around to make livings.

People in Lianhu Village made livings by farming and fishing. They have one more way to make livings than others without a lake.

However, it did not improve people's living in Jade Dragon Lake. People were still poor and could not see any hope.

They were busy all year round. They had to plant crops and catch fish, but still could not fill their stomachs. In addition to the harsh taxes of the government, they would be bullied by the bad guys. They lived in a bad life.

Zhang Yunyan’s father named Zhang Erlin and her mother was Mrs. Zhou. They relied on farming and fishing.

In that year, Mrs. Zhou was 25 years old. She was young and beautiful. Although she had got married for many years, she looked younger than her age and looked like a girl at 20 years old. She was kind and warm. Villagers there like to get along with her. They were harmonious.

The couple had a boy and two girls. The boy was Zhang Yuntian, the elder daughter was Zhang Yunyan, while the younger daughter was Zhang Yunxia.

That year, Zhang Yuntian was seven years old, Zhang Yunyan was at five, while little Yunxia was less than four. Their names were good and had some knowledge, which was given by the teacher in the village.

Their names contained their parents' wishes, hoping that they could have good careers when they grew up and bringing some blessings for their kids and family.

Yan Xiaopeng found that Jade Dragon Lake was a cornucopia and gathered some bullies to conquer this place.

He set his own rules over there that one must pay for it if he wanted to get into the lake. Otherwise, he would not be allowed to fish. If someone disobeyed his order and sneaked into the lake, he would break his boat and beat him badly.

People were suffering and the days were even more miserable.

The government knew it and people would accuse Yan Xiaopeng of his crimes sometimes, but the officers had accepted his bribe and ignored people's reports, allowing him to do what he wanted.

In this regard, Zhang Erlin was angry and hateful, but could do nothing. Poor people could not fight against the government and bullies. They could only endure all the sufferings.

However, being tolerant did not give family Zhang a chance to avoid the disaster. A great catastrophe was coming for them...

In the past few days, Zhang Erlin caught a cold and could not work. He had a few medicines to get better. The government forced him to hand over the tax and the bullies asked him for debt. Their family had no money to feed themselves. Zhang Erlin had to go into the lake to catch fish in his weak body condition.

When he arrived at the lake, he was stopped by Yan Xiaopeng's vicious servants. One named Li Tietou, while the other named Chen Dahu. They asked him for payment to get into the lake.

Zhang Erlin was penniless and had to plead them. He hoped to get into the lake to catch some fish first and sent them big ones as the payment to get into the lake.

Li Tietou and his fellow would not care about Zhang's life. They stared at him and did not agree.

Zhang Erlin was penniless and felt both anxious and helpless. He had to plead, ”Masters, please give me a chance. There is no food in my home, while the government comes for debts. I have nothing to give them. Please allow me to go fishing.”

Li Tietou stared at him. ”No! The government should ask you for the debt. We will do this, too. If you can't hand over the payment to get into the lake, you can't go fishing here!”

Zhang Erlin was worried. He kowtowed and made a bow. He continued to plead, ”Masters, please. My family is starving. Please...”

Chen Dahu snorted and said, ”Save your words. We need money for meat and drinks, too. Hand over the money.”

It was useless for Zhang Erlin to plead, but he could not allow his family to starve. He insisted to get into the lake for fishing at this vital moment, but was tied up by the bullies and beaten.

Mrs. Zhou got this news and felt worried. She hurriedly went to save her husband. She went all the way to the lake and saw Zhang Erlin tied on the tree. She rushed to hug her husband and cried.

Zhang Erlin sighed and advised, ”My love, leave me alone and go back to look after our kids. I can not live any longer. I will follow my fate!”

Mrs. Zhou stopped crying and untied her husband.