But Old Man Li, to continue his enterprise later, also asked the factory flower to keep their identities secret.
When the time was ripe, he soon coaxed the factory flower into saying they would return to meet his parents.
The factory flower was overjoyed, packed her bags immediately, and left with him.
And so, this departure led them deep into hell!
Old Man Li had announced beforehand that the highest bidder would win.
When the factory flower arrived at the village, all the single men in the village came out to see, including the young village chief.
In terms of family fortune, no one could compare to the village chief, so Old Man Li did not hesitate to sell the factory flower to the village chief, thus receiving his first earnings from human trafficking.
Later, he used the same method to coax several more women back.
His most successful venture was abducting his own wife.
This was originally one of his goals, but after his several attempts, many people in the village became envious, so it became difficult for him to sell people to the village.
The last time he brought someone back was this old woman. In her youth, she was quite beautiful and devoted to Old Man Li.
Even after discovering that Old Man Li was a human trafficker, she was not afraid. Instead, she offered herself, saying, "Since you don't have a wife, why don't you keep me? I'll stay and be your wife. I can work, and I can have sons, I'll guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
For some unknown reason, Old Man Li actually kept her this time, and the two lived a happy life together.
The matter quickly spread throughout the village and became a celebrated tale.
After all, it was not easy to make someone abducted willingly become one's wife!
The two lived together for decades and had a son, Li Bai.
However, due to difficult childbirth back then, the old woman became infertile.
It was from this point onwards that her life gradually worsened.
Old Man Li had a bad temper and would often resort to beating and scolding.
Their son, Li Bai, influenced by his father, did not show much respect to his mother.
Yet, the lovestruck old woman was devoted to her family. Even when her son cursed her and her husband beat her, she bore no complaints. Instead, she constantly reflected on whether she was not doing enough.
Although Old Man Li was old and rarely appeared in public, he still held some influence in the village.
Occasionally, young men who wanted to get into this line of work would come to him for advice.
When Old Man Li tapped his pipe, Wang Shunli's heart sank.
"Shunli, I've watched you grow up, haven't I?"
Wang Shunli nodded. "Uncle, just say what you need to say. I'll do whatever I can." If I can't, it's not my fault.
Old Li took a puff and exhaled heavily.
"I have nothing else to say. Li Bai is getting old, and the woman he was supposed to marry before is no longer an option. My wife and I are anxious to have a grandchild at our age."
"Since Ning Wei is the one you've taken a liking to, Li Bai certainly can't compete with you for her."
"However, others, you must let us pick first. This request is not unreasonable, is it?" Old Man Li raised his eyelids and looked directly at Wang Shunli.
Wang Shunli thought he was going to say something else, but it turned out to be this request. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Uncle Li has spoken, what else can I say? How about this: this time, when my brother chooses a wife, whatever woman he fancies, I will refuse, no matter who offers a higher price. Will that do?"
This was giving Old Man Li a lot of face, not only letting them pick first but also at a cheaper price.
Wang Shunli had done enough to honor Old Man Li's request.
Old Man Li softly grunted. "If that's the case, we'll look around these next couple of days. When we find a suitable one, I'll have Li Bai privately inform you. This time, you must keep the person for us!"
Wang Shunli nodded repeatedly and then excused himself, claiming it was getting dark, and left the Li residence.
After he left, Old Man Li immediately struck the old woman's thigh with his pipe. The scorching pipe head immediately burned a hole in her pants, and the skin on her thigh blistered.
But the old woman dared not speak, nor could she dodge, because she knew that if she dodged, she would be beaten even more severely.
Three days later was the village's wedding ceremony. She could not appear in front of others with a bruised and swollen face.
She knew that people in the village were gossiping about her, so she certainly couldn't let them look down on her.
Furthermore, in three days, their family would have a new daughter-in-law. She couldn't lose her dignity as a mother-in-law at such a time.
After Old Man Li finished his beating, he continued to smoke.
Li Bai was displeased and questioned Old Man Li, "I like Ning Wei, I don't want to choose another wife!"
Old Man Li glared at him. "What are you being so aggressive for in front of me? Why didn't you say something earlier?"
Li Bai was dismissive and even blamed Old Man Li. "Wang Shunli is only relying on his father, the village chief. In the end, you're useless! You can't even keep the woman your own son likes!"
Old Man Li coughed in anger and said fiercely, "I don't care about Ning Wei or Wang Wei, I only want a fat grandson. If you mess this up again, I'll kill you!"
Li Bai was still defiant and argued with Old Man Li, enraging him to the point where he took off his shoe and chased him.
The old woman, doting on her son, quickly stepped in to cover for him.
Old Man Li didn't care who was trying to break up the fight. In this house, he was the authority!
By the time he had vented his anger, the old woman was covered in bruises and pain.
Fortunately, she still maintained some rationality. Even while being beaten, she protected her face.
It was a pity that the back of her hand was also bruised. She wondered if rubbing it with medicinal wine would help.
If not, she could always say she got injured while working.
After beating her, Old Man Li, breaking into a sweat, immediately urged the old woman to heat bathwater for him.
The old woman quickly agreed and went to the kitchen. Before leaving, she reminded her son not to anger Old Man Li anymore, as there would be no one to protect him if he continued.
Li Bai didn't care that his mother had taken a beating for him. Instead, when Old Man Li was furious, he used his mother as a shield.
He even stood by and watched his mother get beaten, as if watching a show.
After the old woman and Old Man Li had left, Li Bai's attention turned to the woman in the pigsty.
He still had pent-up anger with nowhere to release it!
He couldn't have the woman he fancied as his wife!
He couldn't even have chicken legs!
Tonight, he had only eaten a chicken butt, and hadn't even had a bowl of soup.
Li Bai grew increasingly angry, so he walked into the pigsty and began raining blows down on the woman.
The woman cried out in pain, so Li Bai grabbed straw from the ground and stuffed it into her mouth.
The straw not only silenced the woman but also cut her mouth.