Chapter 50
When Zheng Nanle said his first sentence, Boss Zheng's head exploded. He didn't expect that Zheng Nanle had even found out about this matter.
When Zheng Dahu was drugging the food, Zheng Laoda learned from his father's failure and knew that he couldn't put it in water or food, otherwise Zheng Nanle would notice.
Some people are born with a keen sense of smell or taste, and can detect anything wrong with their taste or smell.
However, Da Hu was a clever kid who came up with the idea of soaking the medicine in chopsticks and pressing the medicine to the bottom of the bowl.
However, Zheng Nanle ate the food with chopsticks and was not drugged. He and Da Hu later reviewed the situation and overturned their previous conclusion, believing that Er Ya's special constitution made her immune to the drug, which is why it was ineffective after two attempts.
After all, if Zheng Nanle had any suspicions, why would she have used chopsticks to eat and then not put away the chopsticks and bowl to preserve evidence?
But at this moment, Boss Zheng suddenly realized that she hadn't been unaware at all; she was clearly one step ahead and was watching Da Hu make a fool of himself.
What kind of monster is this?
How come nothing can be hidden from her?
How did she know?
Is she really not some mountain spirit or monster with abilities unknown to ordinary people?
Old Zheng was so terrified that his stomach kept contracting.
Mei Lanhua was taken aback and looked at Boss Zheng.
She didn't know about this.
To maintain secrecy, only Zheng Laoda and Da Hu took action throughout the entire process, keeping Da Ya and Mei Lan Hua completely in the dark.
Even now, she doesn't know that Da Hu's real intention is to marry Er Ya off. She genuinely believes that Da Hu wants to marry Da Ya off to Butcher Zhang, and she is madly tempted by the dowry offered by Butcher Zhang.
Da Ya hastily gets married, and the man she can't afford to offend is Xie Jianhua. She keeps regretting that she can't get the 300 yuan dowry.
The daughter's betrothal gifts were already gone, and the wealthy daughter-in-law couldn't be let off the hook again. This was why she was so eager to pounce and tear Zheng Nanle apart.
Zheng, suppressing his fear, licked his lips to ease the tension and whispered, "You have no evidence."
"Really not?" Zheng Nanle laughed. "That pair of chopsticks is still at the Zheng family's house. It seems that Uncle has chosen to send Brother Dahu to jail. Okay, I understand."
Zheng Nanle took out a pen and paper, ready to take notes.
Mei Lanhua suddenly realized what was happening and tried to snatch the pen and paper from Zheng Nanle's hand. Even in her ignorance, she knew that once there was a record, her son would have to go to jail.
She can't have a son who goes to jail; her son is a high school student and absolutely cannot go to jail.
“Er Ya, no more. Your brother Da Hu doesn’t want this job anymore. For the sake of our family, let him off this time. He’ll never dare to do it again.”
Zheng Nanle easily dodged Meilanhua's attempt to snatch the pen, and as the pen tip landed on the paper, he looked at Meilanhua with indifferent eyes.
Mei Lanhua flinched, as if pierced by a dagger, the pain sending shivers down her spine. A sudden realization struck her: "Er Ya, we won't bother you, never, not even the fourth brother's family."
She was scared.
Before, Er Ya hadn't made a fuss about the bad things her father and husband had done to her. People thought she wouldn't hold a grudge. But it turns out that Er Ya wasn't unaware of the consequences; she just kept them all in her heart.
Is it because Er Ya has a hold over Dad that he indulges her so much?
Zheng Nanle exclaimed in surprise, "Auntie, how can you be so naive after living for so long? If someone slaps you, and you just say 'I'll never do it again,' do you think it didn't happen?"
"Uncle, what do you think?"
“One hundred, we’re willing to pay one hundred in compensation,” said Boss Zheng.
Zheng Nanle smiled and thought to himself, "Old Master Zheng and Old Man Zheng are indeed father and son; they both start with a hundred."
However, while Old Man Zheng could buy his way out of trouble, Old Man Zheng couldn't.
Zheng Dahu is not one to stay still, and Boss Zheng can't control him.
“Uncle,” Zheng Nanle chuckled softly, “wasn’t the punishment I gave him before enough for Brother Dahu to reflect on and be afraid?”
"Despite my warnings, Brother Da Hu still wouldn't stop. He kept asking for my job. My aunt's kneeling almost ruined my future. Brother Da Hu is so smart and so persistent. I'm scared."
Zheng Nanle was actually quite lenient towards the Zheng family out of consideration for Er Ya, and she rarely went to extremes. However, her leniency and kindness were mistaken for weakness.
She gave him a light retort, but Da Hu not only didn't stop, he continued to cause her trouble. Er Ya's influence was enough to protect him this time.
"Er Ya, I promise, Da Hu won't keep an eye on your things anymore. He'll stay far away from you. Please let him off this time."
Zheng Nanle's face was stern. "Uncle, are you instigating me to cover it up? For the sake of our blood ties, I'll pretend I didn't hear this. But as a public security officer, how can I let personal feelings interfere with my duty?"
As she spoke, she looked at Boss Zheng and smiled again, "Uncle, I'm going back tonight. Tell Brother Da Hu to wait for me at home. If I run away, I'll become a fugitive, okay?"
Old Zheng felt a chill run through his body.
Zheng Nanle's laughter was like a man-eating flower, its petals binding people tightly, leaving them motionless and filled with despair as they awaited death.
He wanted to reach out and stop Zheng Nanle, but he was worried that he might say something wrong and incur Zheng Nanle's jealousy. He froze on the spot, his mind blank.
Mei Lanhua hurriedly got up and was about to kneel down to Zheng Nanle again, but Zheng Nanle finished eating the last noodle, turned around and left, just in time to avoid kneeling down.
Mei Lanhua hurriedly got up and pulled Zheng Nanle, "Er Ya, Er Ya, please, when you were little, Brother Da Hu held you too. For the sake of you growing up together,"
She didn't dare say she'd let Da Hu go, fearing Zheng Nanle would also accuse her of instigating and protecting him. She choked back tears, pleading softly, "For the sake of the fact that you grew up together..."
Zheng Nanle glanced at Zheng Laoda and said, "By the way, Aunt, you know that Uncle also drugged me. So, are you choosing Uncle or Brother Dahu?"
Mei Lanhua trembled involuntarily, and her hand that reached for Zheng Nanle fell limply to the ground. She stared at Zheng Nanle as if she were looking at some beautiful venomous snake that would bite anyone it caught.
"Aunt, think it over carefully."
After Zheng Nanle finished speaking and was about to leave, an older woman couldn't help but speak up: "Young lady, how can family members hold grudges overnight? How can you force your elders to kneel?"
Zheng Nanle spoke softly, and no one could hear what she said, but everyone could clearly see Mei Lanhua's crying and pleading. At first, no one intended to interfere, but when Mei Lanhua knelt down, everyone couldn't help themselves.
You kneel to heaven, earth, and ancestors; how can an elder kneel to a junior?
Zheng Nanle ignored the old woman and turned to Mei Lanhua with a smile, "Auntie, did I force you?"
“No, no,” Mei Lanhua quickly shook her head, “It was my wicked son who wanted to force Er Ya by kneeling down.”
Zheng Nanle then looked at the old woman, "Auntie, is there anything else?"
The older woman said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, young lady, I misunderstood you."
Zheng Nanle nodded politely to the old lady and left the state-run restaurant.
That evening, Zheng Nanle kept his word and returned to the Zheng family home.
It was already eight o'clock when they arrived home. The Zheng family had eaten dinner, washed up, and went home. Zheng Nanle glanced at the door of Zheng Lao Da's house.
Mei Lanhua opened the door and was startled to see Zheng Nanle. She smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Er Ya is back. Haven't eaten yet? I'll go make you some food."
"Don't rush." Zheng Nanle entered the room. The room was laid out the same as Zheng Nanle's room. There was a living room in front, with a space partitioned off by a cabinet. In the back was the bed. Originally, there was a small bed partitioned off by a cloth in the living room for Zheng Daya. Now that Zheng Daya was getting married, the cloth curtain was drawn up, and the small bed was placed against the wall as a low couch, making the space much more spacious.
Zheng Nanle picked out a small stool and sat down, smiling as she asked Mei Lanhua, "Auntie, have you chosen someone? Is it Uncle or Brother Dahu?"
Zheng Nanle's knocking was unrestrained and heard by the entire Zheng family. Old Man Zheng and Old Woman Zheng, who were indifferent to the affairs of Zheng Laoda, pretended not to hear it. Zheng Laosi's wife quietly went to the door and listened to the commotion from Zheng Laoda's side. Da Hu came out of the outhouse and went into his parents' room.
Hearing Zheng Nanle's words, he said angrily, "Er Ya, are you sure you want to go this far?"
Zheng Nanle's smile remained unchanged. "Wasn't it Brother Dahu who went to such extremes first? Does that mean only Brother Dahu is allowed to be ruthless and heartless, while everyone else has to be kind and magnanimous?"
"Also, Brother Da Hu is exaggerating. It's just a farm transformation. At most, Brother Da Hu will be back in a year or two." Zheng Nanle smiled with narrowed eyes, a smile that, in Da Hu's eyes, was colder than the moon in the sky.
He took two steps back and leaned against the door.
Zheng Nanle looked him over; his face was deathly pale, his lips were bloodless, and he looked listless, as if he had been ill for a long time.
Zheng Nanle secretly admired him, thinking that Dr. Lu was indeed a doctor, and Zheng Dahu's health had collapsed in less than half a month.
“Er Ya, your aunt really didn’t lie to you. Your brother Da Hu’s health has collapsed. I don’t know where those thugs beat him up, but they probably injured his internal organs. Your brother Da Hu can’t do heavy farm work. If he goes to the farm, he won’t survive. Er Ya, your aunt is begging you.”
Meilanhua was about to kneel again, but under Er Ya's smiling gaze, she couldn't bring herself to kneel.
“It seems Auntie has chosen Brother Tiger. Alright, then Uncle, go to the farm for a year of reformation. I have all the evidence.” Zheng Nanle looked at Zheng Laoda, “Uncle, come with me tomorrow morning.”
"No, no, no, I didn't choose, I didn't choose!" Mei Lanhua shook her head frantically.
"I'm going with Er Ya," Zheng Laoda said, his spirits immediately deflated.
"No, no, no," Mei Lanhua looked at Zheng Dahu, then at Zheng Laoda, and then at Zheng Nanle.
Zheng Nanle smiled, but for some reason, Mei Lanhua didn't dare to speak.
“It’s great that my uncle turned himself in. Considering our kinship, I will try to get a reduced sentence for him.”
Zheng Nanle turned around and met Zheng Dahu's hateful eyes. She raised an eyebrow and said, "Brother Dahu, your uncle took the blame for you this time. If you provoke me again, no one will take the blame for you. After all, your aunt did not commit a crime."
"Brother Tiger, think it over carefully."
Zheng Dahu watched helplessly as Zheng Laoda followed Zheng Nanle out of the house and into the courtyard, disappearing completely into the night, just like his future, which, like the night before him, was devoid of any light.
Zheng Dahu grabbed his hair, his face contorted in pain.
Why didn't he listen to his father in the first place and not provoke her? Why didn't his father be more firm and refuse him?
After being retaliated against, he didn't really want to provoke Er Ya again. It was Zhang the Butcher who had broken his leg, burned himself, suffered a lot, and ruined his body. He believed that he had been exposed to the cold while naked, which caused these consequences. He was unwilling to accept that Er Ya, the instigator, was unharmed and forced him to make trouble for Er Ya.
Thinking of the thousand yuan he was owed for being tricked, and of the gambler who had tried to cut off his hand, Zheng Dahu felt an even greater fear.
He was torn, the smiling Er Ya and the ferocious Zhang the Butcher clashing in his mind.
After weighing his options for a long time, he rushed out and caught up with Zheng Nanle, panting, "Er Ya, I'm going to the farm."
Once he went to the farm, neither Er Ya nor Butcher Zhang could threaten him anymore.
Old Master Zheng was so angry he jumped up and down: "With your frail body, how can you survive on the farm? I'll go, I'm healthy, I can handle it, it'll only be a year, not a long time."
“I’ll go,” Zheng Dahu said. “It was my fault, I should take responsibility. Dad, I should listen to you, I was too greedy.”
Zheng Nanle raised an eyebrow slightly.
Things started to get interesting.
It's interesting that the selfish and self-serving Zheng Dahu suddenly wants to go to the farm.
Zheng Nanle placed a wisp of spiritual energy on Zheng Dahu and laughed, "Oh, Uncle, Brother Dahu, I'm not an unreasonable person. We're all family, and I can't bear to see Uncle and Brother Dahu separated from their flesh and blood. How about this?"
Zheng Dahu's eyes lit up, a sense of anticipation rising within him.
At the same time, I thought to myself, women are just soft-hearted.
Seeing a bit of warmth, they forget the hurt they've suffered and want to be magnanimous and forgive.
"I'll give my uncle's family four more days to consider. Give me your answer by next Monday."
Zheng Dahu's eyes darkened.
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