Zhao Ru returned home in a daze.
Niu Quangen had already prepared the meal at home.
Cornmeal porridge and multigrain pancakes.
With the extra work points she earned as a broadcaster, Niu Quangen's family's meals had improved somewhat.
At least, the cornmeal porridge is much thicker than before.
There was only one intact stool in the house, but none of the children sat on it. Some squatted, some stood, and two others sat on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Zhao Ru mechanically sat down, and Niu Quangen promptly placed the bowl and chopsticks in front of her.
I'm poor.
This family is truly poor.
Looking at Niu Quangen, he was in his thirties. Although he was still quite sturdy, his face looked incredibly weathered.
Standing next to her, people would believe they were father and daughter.
And his teeth were stained yellow from smoking; they looked disgusting.
Zhao Ru closed her eyes in disgust, her hatred for Hu Wenwen growing stronger.
The banknotes stuffed into her socks were a little uncomfortable on her feet, but feeling this gave Zhao Ru a glimmer of hope.
Hu Wenwen said that you can get a train ticket if you have money, and she has money now.
"By the way," Zhao Ru said casually, "that Chen Tieshu from Chenjialiang, is he going with you to Lijia Gou to build a dam tomorrow?"
During the winter off-season, some public works projects are carried out. The river in Lijia Gou has a large flow of water, so a hydroelectric power station needs to be built. Strong laborers from several nearby communes can go if they want.
Niu Quangen had actually wanted to go for a long time, but he couldn't let go of Zhao Ru.
With only half a month left until the Chinese New Year, he gritted his teeth and prepared to set off so that his family could have a good holiday.
Chen Tieshu was an acquaintance he had known for many years, and they were about the same age, but he was still single.
Besides being poor, the reason was also related to Chen Tieshu's character.
Niu Quangen is at least a hardworking man. He likes to smoke, but he won't completely neglect his family because of smoking. He can barely make ends meet.
But Chen Tieshu lost his parents at a young age and had no one to discipline him. He started gambling when he was a teenager and couldn't save a single penny.
Moreover, Chenjialiang is far inferior to Haowan Village. It is located at a high altitude, and even water is scarce. The people there can't even take a bath once a year.
Chen Tieshu was over thirty years old and still hadn't married. He was so desperate for a wife that he was almost going crazy. There was even a scandal about him trying to molest a widow. It's said that when he failed, he was beaten black and blue by the widow's family and was also denounced.
With no other option, he decided to temporarily stop gambling, earn some money, and see if he could marry a wife.
Chenjialiang is more than ten miles away from Haowan Village. Chen Tieshu wanted to set off with Niu Quangen, but he didn't want to get up early and walk those extra miles, so he decided to come over this afternoon and stay at Niu Quangen's place for the night.
Zhao Ru was initially extremely unwilling, but now she brought it up herself, and her expression didn't seem unhappy.
Niu Quangen was somewhat surprised.
It seems like she's been acting strange ever since she came back from the commune. According to Xiao San, she even went to the educated youth settlement first after returning.
Niu Quangen became alert.
He scrutinized Zhao Ru discreetly, looking her up and down from head to toe countless times.
Suddenly, Zhao Ru finished eating and got up. As she moved her foot, her trouser leg moved along with it.
In that instant, Niu Quangen seemed to see something bulging in Zhao Ru's socks.
But as Zhao Ru stood up straight, her trouser legs covered her feet, and nothing could be seen.
Niu Quangen looked away and slurped down the cornmeal porridge in his bowl.
After finishing his meal, he sent all his sons away and then pretended to go to the outhouse.
Peeking out from the outhouse by the courtyard, I saw Zhao Ru furtively closing the cave dwelling door.
Niu Quangen walked over quickly and lightly and poked a small hole in the paper covering the window.
Looking through the small hole, one could see Zhao Ru taking a wad of ten-yuan bills out of her socks and putting them into her suitcase.
That box was locked.
But such a small lock isn't hard to open; it only takes one hammer blow.
***
Chen Tieshu arrived late, just before dark, and as usual, his eyes didn't miss Zhao Ru at all.
Niu Quangen also looked down on Chen Tieshu, but Chen Tieshu's father had given him half a steamed bun during a famine years ago.
His father had taken good care of Chen Tieshu when he was alive, and even on his deathbed, he held Chen Tieshu's hand, urging him to continue repaying his kindness.
Niu Quangen was at a loss. He was struggling financially and couldn't help Chen Tieshu, but in other respects, he really couldn't sever ties with Chen Tieshu.
Niu Quangen, exuding a menacing aura, blocked Chen Tieshu's path and said sternly, "I sent the three eldest sons to their uncle's house. You will sleep on the same kang (heated brick bed) with the younger ones."
Chen Tieshu was quite sensible; he chuckled and didn't glance at Zhao Ru again.
Who knew that Zhao Ru would come looking for him so soon!
Chen Tieshu's heart was pounding in his chest as he stared intently at Zhao Ru.
Zhao Ru suppressed her disgust and went straight to the point: "Brother Tieshu, you're so old, don't you miss your wife?"
"Yes!" Chen Tieshu slurped his saliva. "How could I not want to?!"
Zhao Ru said, "How about I introduce someone to you?"
Chen Tieshu thought he had misheard and stared blankly at Zhao Ru.
Zhao Ru said, "Go to that abandoned old house on the west side of Chen Guan Commune before nine o'clock tonight. There's an educated youth from a big city waiting for you."
Chen Tieshu remained blank, as if he hadn't understood Zhao Ru's words.
Zhao Ru said to herself:
"Don't worry, she's someone who made a mistake and ran away. As long as she's not seen, no one will bother you."
"But you'd better keep a close eye on her after you take her home, don't let her run away, otherwise you'll be without a wife again."
As if she could already see the miserable life Hu Wenwen was living, Zhao Ru's eyes reddened with excitement.
Chen Tieshu was startled by Zhao Ru's appearance.
***
Chen Tieshu was walking on his way to the commune.
It gets dark early in winter, and it's already hard to see the road clearly.
However, he often gambled until midnight and was accustomed to walking at night, his steps quick.
He also wondered if this was a trap, and whether Zhao Ru was just teasing him.
But then I thought, why would anyone want to harm a bachelor like him who has no parents?
More importantly, he desperately wanted a wife. He was willing to go through any danger, even if it meant facing a one in ten thousand chance of getting one.
When we arrived at the abandoned old house, there were still only a few stars in the sky.
Chen Tieshu estimated that it was still early, so he hid in the shadows, his eyes darting around shrewdly.
I don't know how much time passed, but a woman really did come from the light!
Suppressing his excitement, Chen Tieshu remembered Zhao Ru's instructions not to mistake one person for another. As he approached the woman from the darkness, he called out, "Hu Wenwen?"
The woman responded with a reflexive "yes".
Chen Tieshu lunged forward, wrapping one arm around her from behind and covering her mouth with the other.
How could Hu Wenwen possibly be a match for Chen Tieshu? After struggling for a while, she ran out of strength and her limbs went limp. Only then did Chen Tieshu take out the rope he had prepared beforehand, tie her hands and feet, and stuff her into a sack.
Hu Wenwen gradually came to her senses after being stuffed into the sack.
That bitch Zhao Ru set her up!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
