On his way back, Zhang Fan stopped by Zhang Si's house for a quick look.
Zhang Qingshan, with a bandage wrapped around his forehead, was kneeling in the mourning hall burning paper money, enduring the contemptuous looks from those around him.
He was filled with remorse; he should never have betrayed them.
Hu Xue was then brought over with her hands clasped behind her back by Li Ting and Wang Wu.
She was carrying a large bag on her back, her face was pale, and she struggled desperately, but she still couldn't escape.
Zeng Guihua slammed her hand on the table: "I told you to tie up Zhang Fan, but you brought back a woman instead."
Wang Wu explained, "Fourth Sister-in-law, Zhang Fan married into Hu Xue's family. They're married now, so they're family..."
He spoke softer and softer, unsure if this excuse would suffice. He just felt that Zhang Fan was indeed very wicked and dared not provoke him.
Zeng Guihua glanced at the bag, her eyes narrowing dangerously: "Are you planning to run away?"
Hu Xue vehemently denied it: "I didn't, I was going to visit relatives."
Wang Wu chimed in, "She almost ran away, luckily we were fast enough."
Zeng Guihua slapped Hu Xue across the face, her sharp nails scratching her cheek and leaving two bloody marks.
"You wretch, you still want to run away? You must guard this spirit. Kneel down."
Hu Xue was so badly hit that she saw stars, and Wang Wu shoved her hard to the ground.
She lunged forward, grabbing the coffin with both hands to steady herself.
Zhang Si's face came into view, and her face turned pale instantly. Her scream startled the birds in the tree, which flapped their wings and flew away.
Enraged, Zeng Guihua grabbed Hu Xue by the neck and forced her head into the coffin: "Look at how badly your man has ruined my man, and you still have the nerve to cry!"
Hu Xue's face was less than half a foot away from Zhang Si's. Her nose was filled with the smell of blood and decay. Her vision was a blur of flesh and blood. Finally, she couldn't bear it anymore and collapsed.
She felt that Zeng Guihua must know about her affair with Zhang Si, and was just using Zhang Fan as an excuse to deliberately make things difficult for her.
Hu Xue burst into tears and knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, saying, "Sister, please forgive me. I didn't know Zhang Si would turn out like this. He always came to me on his own initiative."
"I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong."
Zeng Guihua's mind was buzzing, and her eyes were filled with astonishment.
"What...what did you say?"
Hu Xue spilled all the dirt on her and Zhang Si's affair.
Zeng Guihua then realized that her man had betrayed her long ago.
The pain of losing her husband was replaced by anger. Zeng Guihua gritted her teeth and pointed at Hu Xue with bloodshot eyes, saying, "Lock this slut and Zhang Si together."
Hu Xue was locked in the mourning hall, crying and banging on the door, but no one came to save her. Zhang Qingshan knelt to the side, not daring to speak, shrinking into a quail to minimize his presence.
Zeng Guihua walked out of the mourning hall, glared at it fiercely, and staggered into the arms of the burly, bearded man who rushed over: "Big brother, waah waah waah."
Zhang Fan had no interest in watching any further; he gazed at the horizon.
The sun hung on the horizon, burning most of the sky a fiery red, and soon it was dark.
Guessing that his sister-in-law would be back soon, Zhang Fan hurried home.
Just as I reached my front door, a loud bang came from behind me: "Zhang Fan, where did you go? You scared me to death!"
Zhang Fan scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly, "Auntie Pang, I'm going out to play."
The plump aunt wiggled her large buttocks and shoved Zhang Fan into the yard: "Next time you go out, remember to tell us. We were all worried something might happen to you."
The yard was almost completely tidied up and looked very neat.
Zhang Tiegen also returned. Seeing Zhang Fan, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked in: "Zhang Si was making a scene earlier, but thankfully it wasn't Zhang Fan."
He gave a brief account of what happened at Zhang Si's funeral hall, and the plump aunt snorted coldly, "Serves him right!"
She glanced at Zhang Fan and sighed, "If you weren't so stupid, that old hag wouldn't have gotten a chance."
Zhang Tiegen clicked his tongue: "Speaking of which, they didn't get a marriage certificate, so it doesn't really count as getting one."
Aunt Pang exclaimed, "That makes sense."
She turned to look at Zhang Fan: "Don't you think so?"
Before Zhang Fan could answer, Aunt Pang suddenly slapped her forehead: "You're stupid and I'm still asking you? I'm stupid too."
Zhang Fan: "..."
As darkness fell, Li Chunyan still hadn't returned.
Zhang Fan couldn't help but look into the distance. Aunt Pang comforted him, "Your sister-in-law might have been left at her parents' house. Don't worry, Aunt Pang will call you when she's done cooking."
"I'll help." Zhang Fan followed behind Aunt Pang and Zhang Tiegen.
The couple had been a great help, and Zhang Fan was quite touched.
Zhang Fan started the fire, Aunt Pang cooked, and Zhang Tiegen chopped firewood nearby.
A tranquil and harmonious scene, a sense of life that Zhang Fan hadn't felt in a long time.
After finishing his meal, Zhang Fan chose to wait for Li Chunya at home.
Li Chunyan still hadn't returned by the time the bright moon rose.
Zhang Fan put his hands behind his head and listened carefully to the sounds outside.
It's so late, my sister-in-law probably won't be back. Zhang Fan closed his eyes, but couldn't fall asleep.
A faint crying sound could be heard, barely audible. If Zhang Fan hadn't had extraordinary hearing, he wouldn't have been able to hear it at all.
He suddenly opened his eyes, went into the courtyard, and listened carefully.
You heard it right, there was indeed crying.
Looking out through the half-collapsed wall, Zhang Fan saw a staggering figure on the mountain path.
Upon closer inspection, it was my sister-in-law, Li Chunyan.
Fearing encountering the gray wolves, Zhang Fan climbed over the wall and ran down the mountain. When he got close to Li Chunyan, he suddenly stopped and ran past her at a normal speed.
"sister in law."
Li Chunyan suddenly raised her head, the sadness in her eyes had not yet faded, and there were still two lines of tears on her cheeks.
Upon seeing Zhang Fan, she quickly wiped away her tears and forced a smile: "There are wolves at night, why aren't you home?"
“I heard my sister-in-law crying.”
"Nonsense, I didn't cry, go back now."
Halfway there, Li Chunyan twisted her ankle again.
Zhang Fan squatted down and, by the bright moonlight, saw that Li Chunyan's ankle was swelling rapidly.
He massaged it a few times, and the swollen ankle quickly returned to normal.
My sister-in-law's health is too poor; she needs to be taken care of.
Zhang Fan patted her shoulder and said, "Sister-in-law, I'll carry you on my back."
Li Chunyan didn't hesitate and climbed onto Zhang Fan's back.
In the sweltering summer heat, Li Chunyan's chest pressed tightly against Zhang Fan's back, and a thin layer of sweat quickly appeared where they were in contact.
Zhang Fan carried Li Chunyan's plump buttocks on his hands, feeling as if he were holding a soft ball of jelly, as if it would shatter with the slightest pressure.
Li Chunyan rested her head on Zhang Fan's neck and whispered, "Zhang Fan, you're all I have left."
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