I Am David Evans

Zhang Shi grabbed Su Daqi by one ear and forcefully dragged him from the house into the snowy courtyard.

Su Daqi felt like his ear was about to be torn off, the pain making him gasp for cold air through his teeth.

Outside, it was freezing cold; both Su Daqi and the blanket were soaked with cold water, making him feel the chill invading, as if his insides were about to freeze.

By the courtyard wall outside, Old Su and Su Shimao heard the commotion inside the house, someone shouting about catching a thief.

The grandfather and grandson exchanged a glance.

Su Shimao said, "Grandpa, doesn't that sound like the people from Third Uncle's family?"

Old Su pricked up his ears and listened carefully for a moment, then slapped his thigh: "Oh no, these are the voices of some brothers from Third Aunt's family! Oh, her family’s brothers are fierce, and her sister-in-law is no pushover either!"

Su Shimao's face changed as he said, "This is bad. Dad is being caught as a thief by Third Aunt's family. If he slips up and lets them know that our Third Grandpa wanted to kidnap Su Lanxiang to sell, what will we do?"

Old Su spun around anxiously twice, then heard Su Daqi screaming like a pig being slaughtered, seemingly moving from inside to outside the house.

In the courtyard, the three Sun brothers and Zhang Shi continued to beat him.

Villagers hate thieves the most, especially those who steal during the New Year. Every household is poor, and losing even a little to thieves hurts deeply.

So when thieves are caught in the countryside, they are usually severely beaten. If caught by a powerful village clan, their hands might even be cut off as a warning and deterrent.

So the four Sun family members showed no mercy beating the thief. Soon, Su Daqi was bruised all over and could no longer hold back, hurriedly shouting his identity: "Stop, stop hitting me! I'm not a thief!"

"Breaking into the house at midnight, what else could you be if not a thief!? Bah, do you think I'm stupid!" Zhang Shi kicked Su Daqi on the head.

Su Daqi was kicked until stars flashed before his eyes, almost wetting himself, crying out, "I'm really not a thief, I'm Su Daqi, the elder brother of Su Shiyun!"

"Nonsense! If you really are Su Daqi, why are you sneaking into Su Shiyun's house at midnight?" Zhang Shi didn't believe a word and kicked Su Daqi again on the butt.

"I really am Su Daqi! Stop hitting me, someone's going to die! Please take the cloth off my face, you'll recognize me once you see!" Su Daqi wailed in pain.

Zhang Shi squatted down and yanked the cloth off Su Daqi's face.

By now, Su Daqi was beaten and bruised, barely recognizable. Brother Sun brought over an oil lamp, and Zhang Shi waved it in front of Su Daqi's face for a while, whispering to Brother Sun, "Husband, do you think this is Su Daqi? I think he looks a bit like, but also not."

Brother Sun also looked carefully for a while and said, "The last time we met was five or six years ago, I don't quite remember what Su Daqi looks like."

The Sun family's second and third brothers also came over, and the group started poking and squeezing Su Daqi's face, examining him carefully.

Su Daqi was in so much pain he was about to cry, his body already frozen through by the icy water, practically turning into an ice pop, shivering as he gasped, "You see clearly now that I'm Su Daqi, right? Please let me go! It's all a misunderstanding!"

Zhang Shi slapped Su Daqi on the head: "Don't make noise. We haven't seen clearly yet. Who knows if you're pretending, knowing we don't recognize Su Daqi well?"

Su Daqi panicked: "I really am Su Daqi! If you don't recognize me, at least recognize my dad! My dad and my son are right outside by the wall. Bring them in and ask, you'll know for sure."

With that, Su Daqi shouted at the top of his lungs, "Dad, Shimao, come in quickly! They're going to beat me to death! Please tell them I'm Su Daqi!"