Chapter 36 Arson

With a thought, Liu Zhixia noticed that the cabbages in her spatial dimension were ripe and plump. She casually picked a few and took them out, intending to make them into pickles.

When Shen Hongmei saw this, she immediately came over to help.

As she washed the vegetables, she exclaimed in amazement, "Little sister, where did you find this magical place? This cabbage is bigger than three of the ones we grow in our brigade's field!"

Liu Zhixia smiled, her expression perfectly composed: "Since it's a secret, naturally the fewer people who know about it, the better."

"Alright, alright, you're even wary of your own people. You're really vigilant." Shen Hongmei pouted.

Liu Zhixia was too lazy to argue with her and buried herself in her work.

The two were busy until the afternoon.

Shen Hongmei rubbed her aching back and stood up: "I'm going to the outhouse, I'm exhausted. Can you watch Da Bao and Er Bao for me?"

Liu Zhixia moved the pickled vegetable jar to a corner and then played with the two children in the yard.

A moment later, Shen Hongmei rushed out of the outhouse in a great hurry, her pants not even properly pulled up.

Liu Zhixia frowned: "Sister-in-law, what's wrong? Is there a snake in the outhouse?"

Shen Hongmei grabbed her and whispered, her voice trembling with excitement, "There's someone behind the outhouse!"

Liu Zhixia's eyes sharpened: "Did you see who it was?"

"No! But it's definitely a man!"

Liu Zhixia immediately picked up the second child and calmly said, "Don't panic, take the children back inside first. Xuejun is still at home, let's call him to go check on them together!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The two rushed into Liu Xuejun's house with the child in their arms.

Upon hearing that a thief had broken into his house, Liu Xuejun put down his book without saying a word, grabbed an axe from the corner of the wall, and headed outside.

The three of them went to the back of the outhouse, but there was no one there.

Liu Xuejun scratched his head: "Sister-in-law, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

"How could that be!" Shen Hongmei exclaimed anxiously. "I'm not blind, I'm just seeing things! That's clearly a human figure!"

Liu Zhixia didn't speak, but carefully examined the ground. Soon, her gaze sharpened.

"Come and see! These footprints are deep and fresh, your sister-in-law is not mistaken."

Upon seeing this, Shen Hongmei immediately straightened her back: "See! I told you there was someone there!"

But the next second, her face turned pale again, and she grabbed Liu Zhixia's arm in fear: "Little sister, what do you think this person is up to, acting so suspiciously? Could he be... a pervert who's peeping at us when we go to the outhouse?!"

Liu Zhixia glanced thoughtfully at the shoe print and said in a deep voice, "Let's go back first, the child is still inside."

Back inside, Liu Xuejun, still worried, took a ruler and measured the footprints again. When he returned, his face was grave: "It's the footprint of an adult man."

Shen Hongmei patted her chest in lingering fear: "What is this person up to, sneaking around like that? Could it be that he's got malicious intentions because our family has made some money recently?"

Liu Xuejun speculated: "Could it be Lu Huaiyuan? Does he hold a grudge against my sister and want to get revenge?"

Liu Zhixia shook her head directly: "It's not him. This person climbs in and out of the wall. Lu Huaiyuan is so skinny, he doesn't have that kind of skill."

Liu Xuejun stroked his chin, continuing his train of thought: "This person is agile, quite strong, and has a habit of stealing chickens and dogs in the village..."

The three people's eyes met, and a name seemed to be on the tip of their tongue.

Liu Zhixia's face darkened: "Wang Laizi."

When Liu Shouren and Zhang Xiuying returned and heard about this, the whole family's expressions turned serious.

"This needs to be reported to the brigade, and Wang Laizi needs to be arrested!" Liu Shouren said angrily.

Zhang Xiuying slapped her thigh, her eyes fierce: "What are you arresting? There's no evidence! If there were evidence, this beast would have been sent to a labor camp long ago! If he dares to touch a single hair on my daughter's head, I'll risk my life to kill him!"

The eldest brother, Liu Xiangyang, immediately said, "Father, Mother, this person can climb over walls. Just guarding the door won't be enough. Before dark, I'll put bolts on every door!"

"Yes! Go quickly! Who knows if this beast is after money or wants to kill us? We must be on guard!" Zhang Xiuying immediately made the decision.

Liu Zhixia remained silent.

If Wang Laizi really had designs on her, why would he need to scout the place in broad daylight? Wouldn't that be just asking to expose himself?

In his past life, he deliberately chose a timid female educated youth to lay a hand on, and even threatened her not to tell anyone.

The female educated youth did not tell anyone, but Zhao Dongmei found out and called people to arrest him.

Therefore, Wang Laizi would not sacrifice himself for a woman.

That means he had other motives.

"Daughter, don't be afraid!" Zhang Xiuying thought her daughter was frightened when she didn't speak. "Tonight, let Xuejun sleep on the floor in your room! Let's see who dares to come in!"

Liu Xuejun patted his chest and assured her, "Sister, don't worry! I'll stay up all night to protect you!"

As night fell, Liu Xuejun lay on his makeshift bed on the floor, vowing confidently, "Sister, don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Liu Zhixia lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Wang Laizi's move was definitely a dirty trick.

"Xuejun," she called softly, "come with me to the outhouse?"

Her response was Liu Xuejun's soft snoring.

Liu Zhixia was both annoyed and amused. This kid spoke with such conviction, but then fell asleep instantly.

"They're really unreliable!"

She muttered something to herself, put on her clothes, and went out.

After relieving herself, she inexplicably went around to the back of the outhouse.

With no one around, she had a sudden thought and flashed into the space.

Despite being inside the space, she could see the outside world as clearly as if she were watching a surveillance camera; it was simply the perfect hiding place.

She wanted to see what tricks Wang Laizi was up to!

I'm scouting the location today; the operation will definitely take place within the next two days.

While waiting for people to leave, she busied herself in the space, clearing out an open area.

The climate of the space is suitable for growing any kind of vegetables and fruits, so she decided to clear a plot of land to grow some rice and wheat.

This is a huge project.

To have a sufficient harvest of rice and wheat, the cultivated land must be large!

We also need to dig irrigation ditches to bring in water.

She was worried that she wouldn't have time to make pickled vegetables all day, but she ended up working on her online space while she was out making them.

Just as a piece of land was cleared, a sneaky sound came from outside the space.

It's here!

Liu Zhixia stopped what she was doing, focused her attention on the outside world, and her eyes turned cold.

Sure enough, Wang Laizi used both hands and feet to climb over the courtyard wall in a sleazy manner.

He squinted around furtively, and after confirming the location, a lewd and malicious smile spread across his face: "Hehe, start the fire from here, it's the furthest from that little wench's house. Once the fire starts, she'll definitely be able to escape, but let's hope such a beauty doesn't burn to death. After she's homeless, I'll get my hands on Gu Zhiqing too, then I, Old Wang, will be the ultimate winner in life!"

Upon hearing these words, Liu Zhixia's eyes instantly turned cold.

Set fire to the whole family? Good, very good.

A murderous glint flashed in her eyes, and Wang Laizi, who was about to make his move, suddenly shuddered and turned around abruptly, but saw nothing. He assumed it was just the cold night wind, rubbed his hands together, and squatted down to fiddle with the tinder.

Liu Zhixia watched his actions and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.