146: Is it right or wrong?

The moment he finished speaking, Mrs. Liu sprang up from the ground as if pinched, rushing toward the police officer and wailing tearfully:

"Officer, you must uphold justice for us! This man kidnapped my daughter and hit us! Look at my old bones, he nearly broke them apart."

As she spoke, she tried hard to squeeze out a few tears.

"Officer, please don't listen only to her side of the story." Liu Nansheng stepped forward.

"This is my home, Chen Li is my boyfriend, and they are my parents and younger brother.

Today, they came here to forcibly demand a two-million bride price. When we refused, they started hitting people and smashed everything in the house."

As she spoke, she handed her phone to the police officer: "This is the home surveillance footage. The entire process was recorded. Please take a look."

The police officer took the phone and carefully examined the surveillance video.

The footage clearly recorded everything: from the Liu family entering, to the subsequent refusal of the bride price, and then Mrs. Liu initiating the assault,

Liu Tianbao attacking with his fists, which Chen Li easily evaded, and finally Liu Tianbao wildly smashing furniture... Throughout the entire process,

Chen Li remained in a state of passive defense; even Liu Tianbao's fall was caused by him lunging and missing.

The situation was clear at a glance.

The police officer returned the phone to Liu Nansheng, turned, and spoke sternly to Mrs. Liu and the other two:

"The three of you, assaulting someone and deliberately damaging property, are suspected of breaking the law. Please come back to the police station with us for investigation."

"What? Why are you arresting us."

Mrs. Liu was stunned, then started screaming excitedly, "They didn't give the bride price! Chen Li kidnapped my daughter! You should arrest him! Where is the justice?"

The police officer looked at her expressionlessly, his tone severe: "Which law mandates giving a bride price? All we saw in the surveillance footage was your unilateral violence and destruction.

Now, will you come with us willingly, or do we need to take compulsory measures?"

Upon hearing "compulsory measures," Liu Tianbao, who had been arrogant moments before, instantly panicked, hiding behind Mrs. Liu and crying out:

"Mom, I don't want to be arrested by the police! Quick, think of something!"

Mrs. Liu truly panicked then. She turned to look at Liu Nansheng, her tone softening, carrying a hint of pleading:

"Xiao Nan, he's your own brother! How can you bear to watch him be taken away by the police? Quick, say something to the officer!"

"Brother?" Liu Nansheng let out a slight laugh, a sound filled with sorrow and finality.

"When has he ever treated me like a sister? When have either of you ever treated me like a daughter? In your eyes, I'm nothing more than a tool to exchange for money!"

Her gaze swept over her parents and brother, and she stated clearly, word by word: "Listen, I will fulfill my legally mandated duty of support.

Once I start working, I will send you monthly living expenses based on my ability.

But from now on, if you ever harass Chen Li and me again, I will definitely call the police immediately, just like today."

Ultimately, the three members of the Liu family were escorted into the police car under the supervision of the police officers.

Right up until the moment the police car door closed, Mrs. Liu was still turning back and cursing unwillingly:

"Liu Nansheng, you ungrateful wretch, you will face retribution!"

Seeing that this person was still screaming curses even at this point, Chen Li wondered if she felt no remorse at all. She truly was beyond reason.

The police car disappeared at the end of the Residential Complex, and silence returned to the surroundings.

Liu Nansheng's constantly tense shoulders finally relaxed. She leaned gently against Chen Li, resting her forehead on his shoulder.

Her voice held a hint of confusion: "Chen Li, was what I did... right?"

"It's hard to measure this matter with simple right or wrong. Letting Liu Tianbao learn a lesson might not be a bad thing for him."

"He dares to act so lawlessly now; who knows what greater trouble he might cause in the future."

From his perspective, seeing that family taken away by the police certainly felt satisfying.

But this feeling of satisfaction was his, as an observer and protector.

Yet for Liu Nansheng, this was the family she had lived with for twenty years.

The fragmented disappointments, the grievances of being treated as a bargaining chip time and again.

And the pain of familial bonds being openly priced—these were things he could never truly understand.

So, how can there be an absolute right or wrong in this matter? It's merely standing on different shores and looking at the same whirlpool.

Having not gone through everything she has experienced, no one has the right to easily judge whether her actions were right or wrong.

"Chen Li, I'm sorry for causing you trouble again." Liu Nansheng looked up, her eyes full of apology.

"Don't be silly. Your business is my business. What trouble?" Chen Li smiled and ruffled her hair.

He glanced at the time and reminded her: "We need to quickly tidy up the house and go out to buy a new TV.

If Mom and Dad see this mess when they come back tonight, they'll definitely worry. Plus, Liu Zhao and the others are coming over this afternoon."

"Right, right, I almost forgot. Let's hurry up and clean."

Liu Nansheng immediately cheered up and quickly walked toward the house.

Fortunately, the damage was mainly to the TV and a few ornaments; the furniture was only knocked over.

The two divided the tasks, cleaned up the debris, packed up the smashed items to throw out, and put the fallen furniture back in place.

In less than an hour, the living room was tidy again, though the wall where the TV used to be was conspicuously empty.

They immediately went out and headed straight for the appliance store—picking out a TV, arranging delivery and installation. The whole process went smoothly and didn't take much time... The afternoon sun scorched the earth, and the air was thick with mugginess.

Zhong Hao, Liu Zhao, and He Min appeared at Chen Li's doorstep, carrying several bags of fruit.

As soon as they pushed open the door, the cool air conditioning immediately rushed out, and the three simultaneously sighed in relief: "Wow, that's amazing!"

Chen Li stepped forward and took the fruit from their hands: "Just come and hang out, why bring anything? We have plenty of fruit at home."

"Nansheng, come on, let's go wash the fruit."

He Min linked arms with Liu Nansheng, and the two walked toward the bar counter, chatting and laughing.

Chen Li led Zhong Hao and Liu Zhao to sit on the living room sofa and skillfully began brewing tea.

Amidst the misty tea fragrance, the conversation quickly turned to tomorrow's class reunion.

According to the custom of previous years, the reunion usually involved class cadres preparing the ingredients for the evening barbecue during the noon,

everyone would eat dinner together early, and then go to The Beach for a barbecue and fun. The Beach barbecue has always been the most popular activity in the class.

Although Zhong Hao and his companions had conflicts with Chen Shimei's group, those were ultimately private matters within a small circle.

In the context of the entire class, no one really cared about their little feud.

After all, they had never openly fallen out; the worst they did was exchange a few barbs, maintaining an unspoken understanding.

"It's strange, why did Chen Shimei suddenly jump out this time and threaten to make us pay?" Liu Zhao's face was full of confusion.

Sitting nearby, Chen Li's eyes flickered upon hearing this.

He suddenly recalled that previous incident—could Chen Shimei have held a grudge over just that until now?