Under the cover of night, Zhao Qingshan, with a fierce look on his face, arrived at the door of Widow Zhao's house once again, holding a thick wooden stick in his hand and some dry grass tucked into his arms.
Several times in a row, they quietly piled up the hay under the corner of Widow Zhao's house, took out a tinderbox to light it, and then picked up a stick and stood guard to the side.
Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately.
What's more, they were just a casual couple. The man, awakened by the smoke, shouted "Fire!" and ran towards the door without even putting on his clothes, completely ignoring Zhao Haixia.
Just as he escaped the inferno, a dark shadow flashed past his eyes, and a thick wooden stick struck him hard on the head, knocking him unconscious.
Zhao Haixia gradually regained consciousness, but looking at the sea of fire in front of her, she still risked her life to retrieve things from the cabinet.
Zhao Qingshan looked at the man he had knocked unconscious, a well-known honest man in the village named Sui Guangyi. He kicked the man hard in the crotch twice, then threw him into the burning house before quickly leaving.
As the fire grew larger, Zhao Haixia grabbed her savings and clothes and ran out of the house.
Her hair and body had burns of varying degrees, and she didn't even notice that Sui Guangyi hadn't left!
He shouted as he put on his clothes.
"Fire! Fire! Help!"
Several neighbors were woken up, dressed, and ran to the team leader's house to inform him. Then, a gong was struck, waking up the entire village.
When they arrived at the scene, it was too late to stop the fire. They could only watch as it burned until around 2 a.m., when the fire finally subsided. But the original house had been reduced to ruins.
Zhao Haixia met her original husband on the road of fleeing famine. In order to survive, Zhao Haixia married her husband. The two fled to this place, but her husband fell seriously ill and did not survive. Zhao Haixia was left as a widow, living alone.
A woman couldn't survive here, so she started to play both sides and eventually sold her body, so hardly anyone in the village was willing to approach her.
Seeing that no one was helping her, Zhao Haixia's cries became even more pitiful. Zhao Qingshan, who was in the crowd, narrowed his eyes and moved closer to Zhao Haixia.
"Sister Zhao, there's no use worrying now. The female educated youths at the educated youth compound have left. Why don't you stay there for now? Brigade Leader, what do you think?"
Zhao Qingshan's expression was feigned; he seemed to be helping Zhao Haixia, but only he knew the truth.
Li Dazhuang looked at Zhao Haixia's miserable appearance and nodded. It wasn't a good idea for everyone to stay here. It was still very hot up close, so he directed everyone to disperse.
On the way back, Zhao Qingshan tried to grope Zhao Haixia, but after such a big incident, Zhao Haixia had no desire for such things.
"Little brother, I'm not in a good mood. Let's talk about it in a few days."
Zhao Qingshan sneered inwardly, "You bitch, you're all lovey-dovey with other men, but when it comes to me, you start making excuses!"
Zhao Qingshan is now close to madness. When they returned to the educated youth compound, he pushed Zhao Haixia onto the bed. Before Zhao Haixia could react, he started to undress her.
Zhao Haixia tried to block him with her hand, which angered Zhao Qingshan.
"Slap, slap," two slaps were given to Zhao Haixia.
"You bitch, don't push your luck! You're all lovey-dovey with Sui Guangyi, but you're making excuses for me. Do you believe I'll send you to meet him?"
Zhao Haixia was stunned by the beating. Hearing Zhao Qingshan's words, she stared wide-eyed in disbelief. What did he mean by that? Did he know that Sui Guangyi was at her house last night?
Zhao Haixia had forgotten how to resist, and no longer dared to resist. She just lay there, being humiliated by Zhao Qingshan.
Zhao Qingshan's words just now connected in her mind, forming a coherent line. He knew Sui Guangyi was with her yesterday? He started the fire? And what about his offer to take her to see Sui Guangyi? Could it be...?
Thinking of this, Zhao Haixia dared not think any further. Zhao Qingshan saw Zhao Haixia lying on his body like a wooden doll and slapped her buttocks.
"Snap, snap," two sounds rang out, and Zhao Haixia was startled awake by a cry of "Ah!" The person in front of her was an arsonist, and possibly a murderer!
"Good little brother, please don't hit your sister anymore."
After Zhao Haixia finished speaking, she took the initiative to pounce on Zhao Qingshan. For her own life, Zhao Haixia used all her strength.
It was already late at night, and after several attempts, dawn finally broke.
Zhao Qingshan's twisted nature also began to awaken. Zhao Haixia, covered in wounds, watched as Zhao Qingshan gradually fell asleep. Despite her discomfort, Zhao Haixia picked up her clothes and ran out.
There was no time to get dressed; any later and they might lose their lives!
Without even bothering to put on her clothes, she ran straight towards the brigade leader's house, shouting as she ran until she was far away from the educated youth settlement.
"Murder! Murder!"
After the fire broke out in the middle of the night, many people were still asleep. However, the shouts of "Murder!" woke them up one by one, and they quickly put on their clothes and ran out.
They saw Zhao Haixia running naked into the village.
The brigade leader's wife, Xu Meijuan, was preparing breakfast when she heard the noise and quickly went out to check. She saw Zhao Haixia running towards her house naked, carrying clothes, with others rushing towards her from behind.
Xu Meijuan stopped Zhao Haixia from entering the courtyard.
"Hurry up and get dressed. You don't need to run anymore here."
Upon hearing Xu Meijuan's words, Zhao Haixia was taken aback for a moment, then quickly began to put on her clothes.
Hearing the noise, the captain came out and anxiously asked Zhao Haixia, who was getting dressed.
"Who killed someone? Who was killed?"
Upon seeing the brigade leader, Zhao Haixia relaxed and recounted what happened when she returned with Zhao Qingshan in the latter half of the night. Although she would be criticized and even paraded through the streets for doing this, at least she was alive, which was better than dead!
"You're saying Zhao Qingshan burned down your house and killed Sui Guangyi?"
The captain confronted Zhao Haixia with a question, and Zhao Haixia nodded.
“Meijuan, you stay home and watch over her. I’ll take the militia over there and arrest Zhao Qingshan first.”
After the brigade leader finished speaking, Xu Meijuan nodded and helped the brigade leader take out her own Type 38 rifle.
As soon as the captain went out, he encountered some people who had been awakened by Zhao Haixia. He immediately led these people to capture Zhao Qingshan.
At that moment, Zhao Qingshan was sleeping soundly, naked, when the captain burst through the door and ordered the militiamen to tie him up.
Awakened, Zhao Qingshan tried to fight back, but how could he possibly be a match for so many people?
After tying Zhao Qingshan up and taking him to the brigade headquarters, they assigned someone to keep a close watch on him.
Then the brigade leader quickly ran towards the old village chief's house, since the old village chief was the one who made the decisions on important matters in the village.
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