Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Dark and Windy Night, A Time for Murder and Arson
The meal was still going on past seven o'clock, and Zhang Li was still bragging loudly in the main room, while the others were all red-faced and swollen from drinking, and they refused to let them leave.
The other women from the families also came looking for someone. Seeing the situation in the main room, they sat with Guo Rou and chatted. Before long, Ma Daya brought Zhang Qiancheng over.
As soon as Guo Rou saw her enter the courtyard, she hurriedly pulled her into the kitchen.
"Heavens, what are you doing here?"
“My mother-in-law was worried that my husband had drunk too much, so she asked me to come and check on him and tell him to go home.”
Guo Rou was so angry that her face turned red and her neck bulged. She stuck out a finger and poked Shen Yuzhu's forehead hard. Shen Yuzhu saw this and stood up abruptly.
“You’re such a fool. Your mother-in-law told you to come over, and you came. She figured you were useless and sent you over to get a lecture, but you’re so clueless.”
"Have you eaten dinner yet, Qiancheng? Are you hungry? I'll get you a steamed bun, okay?"
Ma Daya waved her hand, refusing repeatedly, "No, no need, I'll ask him, and then I'll leave."
"Don't go. They're having a great time drinking, and it'll be a while. You should take care of yourself and have something to eat with the kids!"
Shen Yuzhu spoke softly and gently, which surprised Guo Rou. She knew that Shen Zhiqing was gentle, but she didn't expect her to be this gentle.
Ma Daya turned her head and saw that it was the educated youth who had helped her before. She smiled shyly at her.
Shen Yuzhu nodded to her, then quickly turned to prepare some food for her, afraid that she might accidentally burst into tears. The eldest daughter of the Shen family was born to be bright, flamboyant, and pampered.
Like her, like Shen Yuxia, one should never be like this: timid, humble, cautious in everything, cowardly and afraid of trouble.
Guo Rou gave Ma Daya and Qiancheng a steamed bun filled with meat and eggs, and told her and the child to eat it at home. If she had taken it back, half of it would definitely have been given to Zhang Li's mother.
It wasn't that her mother was a bad person; sometimes she would cook something delicious and send some over to Fangzi and Dandan, for which she was grateful. But whenever she saw Ma Daya, that gratitude would quickly dissipate, and she didn't really want to have anything to do with them.
Because it's so painful and conflicting inside, I can't stand it but I can't help it, it's the most torturous thing.
Sun Fenglan, Zhang Shuai's wife, clapped her hands. She was always feisty and fearless. Looking at Ma Daya and Qiancheng eating cautiously, she said disdainfully, "Eat slowly, don't choke. I'll ask Sister Guo to get you two more steamed buns later for Zhang Jie, Yangyang, and Qianqian. I'll go ask that bastard Zhang Li for you. If he dares to yell at me, I'll tear his mouth apart."
"Thank you, thank you!"
Sun Fenglan rolled her eyes at her, turned around and walked towards the main room. Shen Yuzhu was in the kitchen, silently adding a bowl of water for Ma Daya and Qiancheng.
"Zhang Li, you drunkard, you're so drunk you could drink cat pee! You keep drinking, aren't you afraid of drinking yourself to death? What time is it? Hurry up and finish this and go home. Zhang Shuai, hurry up and finish this, the kids at home are sleepy."
"What are you yelling about, you old woman? The men are drinking, and you come here shouting. Zhang Shuai, you're no good either, don't you know how to manage the household?"
"Get the hell out of here! It's none of your business to meddle in our family affairs. Go drink yours!"
Zhang Shuai winked at Sun Fenglan, who snorted and turned to leave.
In the kitchen, Sun Fenglan told Ma Daya to eat quickly and leave, lest Zhang Li see her and get angry at her again. Ma Daya ate her food, gave her a grateful smile, and pulled Qiancheng away.
Shen Yuzhu took two more steamed buns, filled them with eggs and meat, and quickly chased after her after seeing her leave.
"Wait a moment."
"Sister Ma, wait a moment."
Ma Daya paused, looking at Shen Yuzhu with some surprise. It was the first time she had been called "Sister Ma," and she was somewhat flattered. Because she was from out of town, the village children sometimes called her "Old Barbarian."
She knew those children were young and meant no harm, and she never took them to heart. Most of the people in the village were kind to her, though she also understood that there wasn't much kindness. In fact, apart from Zhang Li, her life here was much better than when she was at her parents' home.
So when Shen Yuzhu openly protected her and cared for her without any ulterior motives, she was actually very apprehensive inside.
"Chen, Chen, the educated youth, are you calling me?"
"Um, Sister Ma, this is what I, oh, Sister Guo prepared for your Qianqian and Yangyang, Zhang Jie. Take it and sneak it back to eat. It'll probably be a while before we finish here!"
"Thank you, thank you so much. But these steamed buns are made from a mixture of flour and water, so I can't accept them."
She grabbed Qiancheng, pushed Shen Yuzhu's hand, and ran away quickly. Unfortunately, she was carrying a child and was running slowly. Shen Yuzhu caught up with her in a few steps and stuffed the child into her arms.
"You can take it and eat it; if you don't want it, I'll throw it away."
"Why!"
Shen Yuzhu turned and left, her eyes blazing with a deep-seated hatred for Lü Jiahao, Zhong Fu, Zhang Li, and her sister's adoptive father and ex-husband whom she had never met.
Qiao Wangshu waited at the courtyard gate for a while, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her return.
"I've packed everything. There's still some meat and oil left, but I decided to leave it all for Sister Guo. I've taken everything else I could carry. It's getting late, so let's head back now. Oh, and the food you asked me to leave for the educated youth, I've packed it in a lunchbox. Shall we head back now?"
"Okay, let's go back!"
After saying goodbye to Guo Rou, Sun Fenglan, and the group of people drinking in the main room, the two returned to the educated youth settlement. Shen Yuzhu showed up and gave each of the male and female educated youth at the settlement half a bag of apples before going home.
After closing the door, she lit a kerosene lamp. The educated youth washing clothes or going to the outhouse outside, or the villagers taking a stroll, could all see the light on in her room.
After confirming that everything was alright, Shen Yuzhu turned around and entered the space. She found an electric scooter and drove it directly towards Ershun's house. Five minutes later, she stopped and slipped out of the space.
She discovered this by accident. Moving within the space, heading in one direction, allows you to reach your desired location once you exit the space. Although there may be slight deviations at times, the general direction is not too far off.
This time, she wanted to go to Ershun's house. After coming out, she was on a straw stalk behind Ershun's house when she was so frightened that she stumbled and almost rolled to the ground.
She then entered the space, changed into a black outfit, and came out to squat by the haystack and wait. Half an hour later...
After all the lights were turned off at Er Shun's house, Zhang Li staggered over, groaning as he walked towards his own home.
Dark and windy nights are perfect for murder and arson.
Shen Yuzhu seized the opportunity, took out a sack from her spatial storage and put it over his head. Then she swung the stick in her hand hard, hitting him with all her might. She moved quickly and finally stomped on his legs.
A scream of agony echoed through the sky!
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