Ding Ermei is a villain.

Ding Ermei robbed Zhao Zhenzhu of her money, but Zhou Bingchen remained silent, which only emboldened Ding Ermei.

Having grown accustomed to getting something for nothing, Ding Ermei felt that the third wife was weak and easy to bully, and her greed grew even stronger. She wished that Zhao Zhenzhu could also give her all the money she had earned.

“Zhao Zhenzhu and the others went to the army to buy food, so it’s better for them to stay home and work! At least the two little ones can get rations in the brigade,” Ding Ermei said, pursing her lips.

"Mom, all the soldiers in our unit who can accompany their families have brought them with them. You can't just watch your son, who has a wife, remain a bachelor year after year, can you?" Zhou Bingchen said helplessly.

Zhou Bingchen knew that Ding Ermei valued money, but he never expected that Ding Ermei would even disregard his own son's happiness for money.

"What I said didn't..." Ding Ermei wanted to say more, but Zhou Fugui interrupted her.

"Cough cough cough..." Zhou Fugui cleared his throat and said, "Bingchen! Don't listen to your mother's nonsense. Women are all talk and no action. In the future, your whole family will be away from home, and it won't be easy for you to come back. It may be difficult for my son and me to even see each other."

Zhou Fugui was more cunning than Ding Ermei. Seeing that things were hopeless, he immediately started playing the emotional card.

"Dad, when your son becomes successful, I'll take you and Mom to stay with me for a while." Zhou Bingchen's heart warmed, and he immediately made the promise.

"Good, good, I knew you were our most filial child and wouldn't abandon me and your mother." Zhou Fugui's face was full of wrinkles with joy.

"Bingchen! You mustn't forget!" Ding Ermei was overjoyed.

I never imagined that Ding Ermei would have such good fortune in her life. She can live in a big city for a while in the future.

“Mom, I definitely won’t forget.” Zhou Bingchen said, “Mom, I have something I want to talk to Dad about alone. Could you please go out for a moment?”

“I’m your mother, what can’t I listen to?” Ding Ermei said unhappily.

"Old woman, you go out for a bit," Zhou Fugui said.

Zhou Fugui was very curious about what important matter Zhou Bingchen wanted to tell him alone.

After Ding Ermei left, Zhou Bingchen told Zhou Fugui what he had seen and heard the previous night.

Zhou Fugui was dumbfounded.

“Dad, you really need to persuade my brother to return the money he embezzled as soon as possible, and also to cut ties with that widow Liu. These two things are extremely serious,” Zhou Bingchen said.

"Impossible, Bingqiang couldn't possibly have done such a thing," Zhou Fugui muttered to himself.

“Dad, I know it’s hard for you to accept this fact all at once, but I heard these words with my own ears last night when I was behind my eldest brother. If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself.” Zhou Bingchen felt a little sorry for Zhou Fugui’s dazed look, but he still continued to persuade him.

"Bingchen, you didn't tell anyone these things, did you?" Zhou Fugui snapped out of his daze, grabbed Zhou Bingchen's hand, and asked.

"No, I know what's important. I didn't even mention the pearls." Zhou Bingchen knew what Zhou Fugui was worried about, so he quickly said this to reassure him.

"That's good, that's good." Sure enough, Zhou Fugui was relieved.

“I believe that as long as Big Brother and Brother Dazhu actively return the embezzled funds, the higher authorities will definitely treat them leniently,” Zhou Bingchen reminded them.

"Are you going to the town to sue your older brother and the others?" A hint of anger flashed across Zhou Fugui's face.

“Dad, embezzling public funds is a crime. Once it happens, it will happen again. Even if I don’t say anything this time, my eldest brother is no longer suitable to be the village accountant,” Zhou Bingchen explained.

"Let me think about it." Zhou Fugui stood up and paced around the room.

In fact, Zhou Fugui believed Zhou Bingchen as soon as he said it.

Zhou Fugui got up early this morning to open the door, and Zhou Bingqiang was leaning against the door, dozing off.

Zhou Fugui asked Zhou Bingqiang where he had gone. Zhou Bingqiang stammered and couldn't answer at all.

Zhou Fugui had a good idea of ​​what kind of person his son was.

Zhou Fugui never expected that Zhou Bingqiang would be so blinded by lust that he would tell Widow Liu about his embezzlement.

But Widow Liu was no pushover.

If Zhou Bingqiang fails to comply with Widow Liu's request and allow Zhou Dazhu to release her back to the city, Widow Liu is absolutely capable of resorting to desperate measures.

Zhou Bingchen was someone who couldn't tolerate the slightest injustice. This time, even if Zhou Bingchen didn't report it to higher authorities, Zhou Bingqiang would still have to step down from his position as village accountant.

what to do?

After circling around a few times, Zhou Fugui gradually came up with an idea.

“Bingchen, you don’t need to worry about this. I’ll talk to Bingqiang about it,” Zhou Fugui said.

“Okay. Dad, if there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know,” Zhou Bingchen said to Zhou Fugui before leaving.

Zhou Fugui nodded without saying a word.

Zhou Bingchen didn't pay any attention.

Zhou Fugui was an old-fashioned man who always valued his eldest son.

It's no wonder Zhou Fugui couldn't be happy when his beloved eldest son had suffered such a fatal accident.

Not long after, Zhou Fugui called Zhou Bingqiang into the house to talk.

Inside the house, Zhou Bingchen heard Zhou Fugui cursing, calling him a "rebellious son" and saying things like, "Do you want to die?" Zhou Bingqiang's voice was very soft; Zhou Bingchen only heard him say, "I was forced into this."

Zhou Fugui and his son whispered inside for over an hour before the door finally opened.

After Zhou Bingqiang came out, he glared hatefully at Zhou Bingchen, who was standing in the corridor.

Zhou Bingchen knew that his elder brother must hate him, but Zhou Bingchen had a clear conscience.

Just as Zhou Bingchen was waiting for Zhou Bingqiang to come and argue with him, Zhou Fugui came out.

"Bingqiang, why aren't you getting to work? All you do is slack off," Zhou Fugui scolded sternly.

Zhou Bingqiang withdrew his angry glare from Zhou Bingchen and dejectedly went back into the house with his head down.

After finishing lunch, Zhou Fugui went out.

Around 3 p.m., Zhou Fugui returned home drunk.

When Zhou Fugui woke up, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening.

Zhou Fugui called Zhou Bingchen into his room and said with a smile, "Bingchen, Dazhu wants you to go to his house. He has something to say to you."

"Dad, let's do it tomorrow! It's too late today," Zhou Bingchen refused.

Since learning that Zhou Dazhu and Zhou Bingqiang had embezzled public funds together, Zhou Bingchen had a very bad impression of Zhou Dazhu.

Zhou Bingchen didn't want to get too close to someone like Zhou Dazhu, who had poor character.

"Bingchen, Dazhu was supposed to ask you to go this afternoon, but it's all my fault. I got drunk and messed things up." Zhou Fugui said regretfully, "If you don't go today, Dazhu will definitely think we're giving him a hard time. If you and Zhenzhu just run away, your mother and I will still have to live in the village!"

Zhou Bingchen hesitated for a moment.

Zhou Dazhu is still the brigade leader. If he holds a grudge, Zhou Fugui's family will definitely have a hard time in the village in the future.