Chapter 76 The Trap He was going to kill Qian Haishen tomorrow morning.

Before Zhong Ying even reached the village entrance, everyone in her production team put down their work in the fields and came to greet her.

Li Ming strode ahead, anxiously asking, "How did it go? Did you manage to book it?"

“In a few days, the purchasing agent from the county supply and marketing cooperative will go to the agricultural machinery factory in the neighboring province to place an order. He told me to go there again in ten days and give him an answer then. If the order is placed, he will confirm the delivery time with me. I will also need to borrow a tractor from the commune to bring the machine back,” Zhong Ying replied.

Those who were listening attentively immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "That's great! The purchasing agents in the county can buy anything, they'll definitely be able to order the water turbine we need."

Li Ming laughed along, but he noticed that Zhong Ying seemed to want to say something but was worried about the others present, so she finally kept quiet.

"Alright, the tasks in the fields are almost finished. Let's call it a day and go home to rest. Those who need to cook, go home and cook. Remember, you're going to the construction site tomorrow morning." Li Ming waved the people around him away without saying a word.

Zhong Ying was pulled around by her mother, Deng Xia, and checked to make sure she wasn't missing any limbs and was otherwise in good condition before being let go.

"Come over for dinner tomorrow," Old Man Zhong said, wanting to talk to his daughter.

Zhong Ying responded and then left with the Li family.

When they returned to the Li family, Zhong Ying told them about Li Rou.

Liu Hongyan wiped away her tears, "This child... I only knew that she had difficulty conceiving all these years, and that she would always miscarry for no reason. I didn't know that her daily life was so difficult."

Li Rongshi clenched his fists angrily, "When my father and I went to deliver the grain, they didn't show this kind of attitude at all!"

Zhong Ying shrugged. "I guess they look down on me and are too lazy to put on an act in front of me."

Li Ming lit his pipe again and smoked it silently.

Li Rongshi spat at Qian Haishen and cursed, "You bastard! He said all that he wanted to marry my sister, not that my sister was trying to climb the social ladder by marrying him. If Rou Ni hadn't married him, she could have chosen any good young man in the surrounding area!"

Li Rongshi became increasingly angry as he spoke, "I'll go to the county town tomorrow to stand up for Rou Nier!"

"Don't be impulsive," Li Gangshi stopped his younger brother.

Li Rongshi turned and glared at him angrily, "A perfectly good daughter has been wronged in her husband's family. If her own brothers don't stand up for her, who will? You coward, if you don't dare to step forward, then don't try to stop me!"

Li Gangshi's temper flared up too. "I told you not to be impulsive, and you're wrong? What can you do if you go over there? Go and cause a scene? Bring Rou Ni'er and Qian Qian back? Even if you bring them back, what good will it do? Your brother-in-law will still have to take them back. If you go and cause a scene, it will only make your sister's life even worse when she goes back!"

"You're worrying about this and that, and in the end you think doing nothing is the best thing to do?" Li Rongshi retorted. "Don't you know the phrase 'bullying the weak and fearing the strong'? If you don't say anything, people will think that Rou Ni'er's family are all cowards! And they'll take advantage of you even more!"

The two brothers argued more and more fiercely, and their wives couldn't stop them even if they tried.

"That's enough!" Li Ming interrupted sharply.

Li Gangshi then took a step back to the side, following his wife Tian Mei's lead.

Li Rongshi snorted, turned his head towards Nie Jinfeng, and didn't want to look at his older brother again.

Li Ming thought for a moment and said to Zhong Ying, "Yingni, next time you go to the county town, have a good talk with your sister and see what she thinks. If she wants to come back and stay for a while, I'll have my second son go and pick them up."

Li Rongshi immediately snorted even louder and glanced triumphantly at Li Gangshi.

Li Ming immediately glared at his second son, "I told you to go pick him up, not to cause trouble!"

Li Rongshi could only listen obediently, saying "Oh" without any remorse.

——

On Zhong Ying's second trip into the city, she encountered only three thugs whose heads were drenched by water from a roadside awning, a stalker whose clothes were soiled by mud splashed by a car, and a pickpocket who was pushed and fell down. Li Lin's record increased by three; along the way, there were three victims who felt unlucky.

Zhong Ying just watched with schadenfreude. There was nothing she could do; if they weren't the ones suffering, she would be.

This time, Zhong Ying didn't bring any food. After getting off the bus, she went directly to the county supply and marketing cooperative.

"Nothing?" Zhong Ying didn't expect this trip to start with such a bolt from the blue.

The director of the production materials department of the supply and marketing cooperative came out specifically to talk to Zhong Ying, saying, "There's nothing we can do, young comrade. Our purchasing agent went to the agricultural machinery factory in the neighboring province to inquire about the water turbine you requested, but there are no machines available. Production teams in various places are building small hydropower projects, and they are all using the same type of water turbine. The agricultural machinery factory's production tasks are scheduled until May or June of next year. Can you wait? If you can, it will probably take six or seven months to deliver."

Zhong Ying frowned. This wasn't just two or three months, but more than half a year. The wait was too long, and it was difficult for her to make a decision on her own. She needed to go back and discuss it with everyone in the production team, Yu Jing, and the other educated youth.

"I'll ask again when I get back," Zhong Ying said hesitantly.

The director wasn't surprised. "Okay, but you'd better hurry, the later you are, the further back you'll be in line."

Zhong Ying left the supply and marketing cooperative with a heavy heart and headed towards Li Rou's house.

This time, as soon as Li Rou heard the knocking, she didn't ask who it was and just opened the door. Zhong Ying had told her before she left that she would come back in ten days.

But seeing Zhong Ying's expression, the happy look on her face faded, and Li Rou guessed what was wrong. "What's wrong? Didn't you order the machine?"

Zhong Ying nodded with a pout, then sighed heavily, "Oh no, it will take more than half a year to deliver the goods."

Li Rou was taken aback. "It'll take this long! Come in first. My family is off today, so I'll cook breakfast early."

Even though the water turbine project didn't work out, Zhong Ying didn't forget that she had another matter to attend to during her trip to the county town.

After finishing dinner early, Zhong Ying helped Li Rou clear the table. Her gaze swept over the three "old men" sitting in the living room before returning to Li Rou.

"Sister, I've been feeling like I have liver fire lately and I can't sleep well at night. Is there anywhere in the county where I can get medicine? I'd like to take some medicine to regulate it." Zhong Ying lied through her teeth without batting an eye.

Li Rou was puzzled. She had heard that her second sister-in-law's elder brother and sister-in-law had gone to the commune's medical training class. If Zhong Ying was feeling unwell, she could get treatment at the production team now. Why did she still need to get medicine in the county town?

However, she quickly realized that Yingnier probably wanted to talk to her alone.

Li Rou agreed, "Then I'll take you to a traditional Chinese medicine shop."

She dried her hands and put on a coat, just like Zhong Ying.

"I'll take Yingni'er to see Old Zhou at the Chinese medicine shop," Li Rou said to the Qian family.

They had actually overheard Zhong Ying and Li Rou's conversation a long time ago, after all, their home was only a small square plot of land.

"Okay." Qian Haishen nodded.

Zhong Ying and Li Rou came out and stood downstairs in the tenement building, then stopped going out.

“Dad asked me to ask you, sister, do you want to go back to the production team to stay for a while?” Zhong Ying said. “If you want to, then your second brother can come and pick you up tomorrow.”

Li Rou understood what he meant. Her second brother's act of coming to take her back to her parents' home was actually an expression of dissatisfaction with the Qian family, a kind of demonstration.

Zhong Ying rubbed her arms. Seeing this, Li Linshi silently stood in the wind, steadied himself, and blocked the whistling cold wind.

"Sister, what are you thinking?" Zhong Ying asked. "Are the Qian family still treating you the same way these days?"

“…Hmm.” Li Rou nodded and fell silent.

What was she thinking? Li Rou had actually been thinking about it these past few days.

Before marriage, when feelings for each other were blossoming, there were sweet, blissful days. But after marriage, things slowly changed. Her mother-in-law became increasingly critical and harsh, her father-in-law was indifferent and contemptuous, and her husband's attempts to comfort her didn't offer much solace; instead, she grew increasingly timid and fearful…

But after carefully considering her actions over the past few years, Li Rou realized, just as Zhong Ying had said, that she believed she had not done anything wrong.

The longer this marriage goes on, the more it resembles rotten, smelly pork; it's unpleasant to eat, but hard to let go of once it's gone.

Li Rou buried her face in her hands, lost in thought.

Zhong Ying looked at the thin woman in front of her and wondered if a pair of "wings" would grow from her arched back.

Li Rou exhaled a long puff of white mist, raised her face, and forced a smile as she said to Zhong Ying, "Never mind, it's too much trouble for Second Brother. Anyway, life has been like this all these years. Apart from not getting any kind looks, there haven't been any other major problems."

She still didn't want her family to worry about her.

Zhong Ying was disappointed; she had failed to accomplish either of the two things.

But Zhong Ying really couldn't wake up someone who was pretending to be asleep; Li Rou had to "wake up" on her own and save herself.

Zhong Ying could only make a final effort. "Sometimes breaking out of a predicament takes a bit of courage. Stepping out of the mental control of the Qian family is not just about stopping doubting yourself and being led by the nose, but also about becoming stronger. Sister, have you thought about going out to work?"

“Well, I’ve been asking around these days about whether there are any job openings at nearby factories,” Li Rou said, her mood improving. “I’m literate, hardworking, and can endure hardship. I think if I try, I might get a job. Then I can transfer my household registration and grain ration to my workplace, and my family won’t have to keep sending me grain. Qianqian can also change her status from rural to urban with me.”

Zhong Ying breathed a slight sigh of relief; at least things hadn't gotten too bad, had they?

“I think you can do it,” Zhong Ying encouraged. “Besides what you said, I think you’re also very smart.”

Zhong Ying wasn't deliberately flattering her; she genuinely felt that way. Many women never figured this out in their entire lives, but Li Rou understood it in just a week or two. Moreover, she guessed several times before Zhong Ying could explain that the water turbine hadn't been ordered and that she wanted to talk to her alone.

None of the four siblings in the Li family are mentally challenged.

Li Gangshi was constantly scheming and plotting, all of which he used to plan his succession as production team leader; Li Rongshi focused on his own family and was content with the small joys of a simple life, which is a kind of great wisdom; Li Rou was trapped in the predicament of her marriage, but she still thought of inquiring about recruitment quotas; Li Linshi, needless to say, his university degree was already very strong proof.

Zhong Ying and Li Rou talked as they walked back together and entered the tenement building again.

Upstairs, in the Qian family's house.

After Li Rou left, Qian Haishen coaxed his daughter to sleep and carried her into the room. He also took the opportunity of Li Rou's absence to talk to his mother, "Please tone it down a bit and don't go too far. If Xiao Rou weren't from the countryside, would she have worked so hard and patiently for so many years? Would she have tolerated your bad temper like this?"

The mother retorted indignantly, "You only like her because she's pretty!"

Mr. Qian spoke up for his son, saying, "Anyway, he's going to find someone from the countryside, so what's wrong with Hai Shen picking a pretty one?"

Qian's mother then turned to Qian's father, saying, "You men are all like this! Bah!"

Mr. Qian frowned. "Why are you arguing with me about our son?"

The elderly couple started arguing, so no one heard the door open.

Qian Haishen mediated, "Alright, Mom, just try to keep things in check. Since you thought rural girls were easy to manipulate, stop bringing up their backgrounds. You know I'm the one with the problem, which is why Xiaorou keeps having miscarriages after only a few months of pregnancy."

"Mom, just bear with it. Let's wait until our grandson is born. Since Qianqian can be born, I'll have a son sooner or later." Qian Haishen coaxed his mother. "It's not without its advantages that Xiaorou is beautiful. I'm not good-looking, but your future grandson will definitely be good-looking."

Reluctantly, Qian's mother said, "Alright—"

"What do you mean, 'okay'?!"

Zhong Ying shouted angrily, "We all heard it with our own ears! You fat sea cucumber! So it turns out you're a useless man, that's why you want to find an easy-going country girl to be your wife, making her go through all that trouble getting pregnant and giving your family a son!"

Li Rou's face was deathly pale, her dark eyes fixed on Qian Haishen. "So, the reason I keep having miscarriages is because of you? And you still let your parents blame me? It made me feel guilty all the time, so I did my best to take on all the housework..."

Qian Haishen didn't expect the two of them to come back so quickly. Wasn't Li Rou supposed to take her younger brother and sister-in-law to a traditional Chinese medicine shop three streets away? How come they're back so soon?

"Listen to me, Xiaorou," Qian Haishen hurriedly tried to fabricate an explanation, "What I just said was—"

Li Rou interrupted him, "Is it true? Is there something wrong with you?"

Qian Haishen was about to shake his head when Li Rou continued.

“If you say no, we’ll go to the hospital tomorrow and see who has the problem.” Li Rou’s eyes were filled with tears, but she still stared intently at her husband. This was the most pressing issue in her heart.

She lost several pregnancies, and her only daughter, Qian Qian, was also physically weak. Li Rou was constantly criticized by her in-laws, and she thought it was her fault. She felt that she had let down her daughter and the children who had not been able to come into the world.

Qian Haishen froze.

Li Rou laughed mockingly. Her marriage had started with ulterior motives, a deliberate trap. Her years of silent tolerance were nothing but a joke.

Li Rou was heartbroken. "I'll take Qianqian back to my parents' home tomorrow."

Qian Haishen immediately reached out to pull her, "Why are you going back? You've already caused all that trouble with the child. I still have to come pick you up. Life goes on, and we can't get a divorce."

“Why not!” Zhong Ying couldn’t help but retort. “Hasn’t the Marriage Law been implemented in your county? It’s been implemented in our production team! Besides, this is marriage fraud! You didn’t even mention that you had a problem before the marriage!”

Qian Haishen turned around and angrily roared at Zhong Ying, "What business is it of yours what we two have to do! If I don't agree to a divorce, then we're not getting a divorce!"

Qian's mother also shoved Zhong Ying, saying, "That's right, we let you stay here, and instead of being grateful, you're causing trouble!"

Li Linshi's face was frighteningly dark, and the chilling aura around him grew stronger. Qian's mother simply assumed it was just the low temperature of a winter night and didn't think much of it, continuing to push Zhong Ying out, "Get out of here! Don't stay at my house anymore!"

Seeing that Li Linshi was not in a good state, Zhong Ying was afraid that he would lose his mind and do something that would make him a beast in his next life. She didn't care about dealing with Qian's mother and just grabbed Li Linshi's arm.

So Zhong Ying and Li Linshi were pushed out of the Qian family's house.

As the door slammed shut in front of her, Zhong Ying was momentarily stunned.

"Mom, why did you kick my sister-in-law out? Where is she supposed to stay at night?"

"There are plenty of guesthouses outside. Someone as capable as you can't possibly not have a place to stay? My place is too small to accommodate such a big shot!"

"Xiaorou, Xiaorou, listen to me. Even if I approached you with ulterior motives at first, we've developed feelings for each other over the years, and we have a child together... What I said just now was just going along with Mom's words, not what I truly meant. I only wanted to live a good life with you..."

"Qianqian woke up startled, daughter-in-law, why don't you go and comfort her..."

The chaotic noises inside the room pierced through the door.

Zhong Ying gave Li Lin a wry smile, "Looks like I'll have to experience the guesthouse accommodations tonight."

As she spoke, she still didn't dare let go of Li Linshi's arm, fearing that he would simply pass through the door and kill the entire family of three inside.

Although Zhong Ying used to yell "Slaughter them all, kill them all!" when she was furious, it was just talk in anger. But now, the devil really has the ability to make it a reality.

Qian Haishen still wanted to win over Li Rou, but Zhong Ying wasn't worried about her. She simply left on her own to find a place to stay for the night.

It was cold, and there were hardly any people on the streets late at night. Zhong Ying, clutching a large "ice block," sniffled from the cold wind as she kept talking to Li Linshi, "Luckily, I had all my things with me, otherwise I'd be in trouble... Honestly, if it weren't for you, I'd feel terrible being kicked out all by myself..."

Zhong Ying didn't care if anyone saw her; if they did, they could just think of her as a madwoman talking to herself. She was just afraid that Li Linshi would be like her aunt, losing her mind because of her concern, and accidentally killing someone, thus violating the taboo against ghosts.

Most of the shops on the street were closed, but thankfully the guesthouse was still open.

The receptionist on duty looked at the letter of introduction in her hand over and over again, and then raised her eyelids to look at the person in front of her several times. Zhong Ying let her look at her, after all, her behavior of coming to stay at the hotel late at night was a bit suspicious.

"You came to the county town alone to purchase production materials?" the duty officer asked again to verify.

“Yes, I have relatives in the county town, and I was originally staying at her house,” Zhong Ying said with a bitter smile. “But I just had a little conflict with her family and was kicked out.”

The duty officer, a woman in her forties, felt sorry for the girl upon hearing this, and her tone softened considerably when she spoke again, "Then I'll get you a single room. This is the only room left, along with the dorms. You're a young woman, and you probably won't be able to sleep peacefully with two or three strangers. Single rooms are a bit more expensive, two yuan a night. Do you have any money on you?"

Zhong Ying nodded quickly, "It's just enough for me."

She carried all her money on her person and didn't leave it at Li Rou's house, so she naturally had more than two yuan on her. However, Zhong Ying was still very cautious about keeping her wealth out of sight when she was out.

After filling out a very detailed "visitor form," Zhong Ying was finally able to enter a small single room to rest.

Zhong Ying poured water from the thermos in the room into an enamel basin to wash her face, and comforted Li Linshi, whose complexion was still not very good, "Tomorrow morning, let's go over again earlier. If Sister still wants to leave, we'll take her and Qianqian with us."

Since she had decided to get up early the next day, Zhong Ying didn't delay any longer. She took off her padded jacket and went to bed. She dragged the stiff Li Linshi to bed with her and arranged him to hug her. Zhong Ying even pressed his arm down as a pillow to prevent the dead ghost from coming to take her life in the middle of the night.

Adding another layer of "double insurance," Zhong Ying pulled the blanket over the bed, wrapping herself and Li Linshi up like a silkworm cocoon.

The guesthouse had a set time for lights out, and shortly after Zhong Ying closed her eyes, the entire house was plunged into darkness.

Li Linshi could feel Zhong Ying's breathing gradually becoming longer and more even. He kept his eyes open, constantly recalling what she was saying.

What if his sister can't leave tomorrow morning, just like she did tonight?

Even if he could leave, just as Qian Haishen said, he would still go and bring his sister back. As long as they are still husband and wife, his sister can only go back.

Divorce? It was just a word he'd heard of. Li Linshi had never actually seen anyone get a divorce. Qian Haishen didn't want a divorce. Since he was the one with the problem, he wouldn't let Li Rou off the hook.

After calmly thinking it over, Li Linshi realized that marriage is sometimes the most secure guarantee, but sometimes it is the most difficult prison to escape. As long as his sister is still in this marriage, she can't leave, she can't leave for the rest of her life.

so……

"Kill Qian Haishen, kill him," Li Linshi thought, "that way his sister can be free."

At this moment, Li Linshi understood what his aunt had done back then; she was indeed lucid.

Because there was no other way.

Li Linshi was equally clear-headed at this moment. In order to free the person he loved from suffering, he had no choice but to take this path of no return.

He knew what he had to do.

Li Linshi calmly thought that if he went to the Qian family again tomorrow morning, he would kill Qian Haishen.

-----------------------

The author says: Divorce was rare in 1969. Even a decade or so ago, it was very difficult for rural women to get a divorce. That's why Li Linshi's story is so extreme, with the younger brother killing his brother-in-law, which is a real phenomenon.

However! We still need to resolve this through proper channels! We must trust the country and the law! We're not at our wits' end yet! We still have Zhong Ying!