Chapter 159 Going Back to Get Caught, Struggling to Survive
When it was time for lunch, the village chief was late in returning.
Aunt Zhang looked anxiously out the gate: "Why aren't they back yet? They're usually home before noon."
What happened?
Zhou Ye asked in a low voice, "You did it?"
"No! I just went to check if the village chief had gone there. I came back after I confirmed!"
Xie Jianshe denied it.
But the problem now is that the village chief hasn't returned!
Why?
Zhou Ye also fell into deep thought.
Could it be that even the heavens are helping us, and the village chief is injured?
this……
That's unlikely, isn't it?
I shook my head to stop myself from thinking nonsense.
Just then, a villager ran in in a panic: "Aunt Zhang, quick, quick, the village chief is injured! Some children found out."
That's when they called us to carry him down the mountain.
quick! "
Aunt Zhang was so startled that she dropped her chopsticks.
"Let's go... Eldest brother... Second brother... Hurry up and pick up your dad..."
Then they ran outside with the others.
Xie Jianshe followed suit...
Ten minutes later, the village chief was carried in, his head injured and one leg broken, with obvious bone damage.
"Old man, hang in there! I'll go get the doctor! Hang in there... Waaah..."
Aunt Zhang cried helplessly.
Zhou also stepped forward to check the village chief's wound.
Aunt Zhang then remembered that Zhou also knew medicine.
"Xiao Ye, take a look at this..."
After carefully examining the wound and taking its pulse, Zhou breathed a sigh of relief: "Aunt Zhang, don't worry, it's just a superficial injury."
It won't be life-threatening!
To everyone's surprise, Aunt Zhang's expression did not soften.
"What about your leg? Can you still walk?"
"No! I need to set Uncle Zhang's bones next, I need someone to hold him down!"
Zhou also said.
Aunt Zhang couldn't even think about her grief.
"Okay, eldest brother, second brother, you hold your dad down!"
The village chief was sweating profusely, and after being held down, he cooperated quite well.
With a "crack..." sound, the bone was displaced.
However, there are still external injuries.
It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, and the village chief is not young either, so it's estimated that he won't be able to go up the mountain for the next few months.
Zhou was still puzzled. The wound was serious, but the timing of the fall was very coincidental, making it easy to cover. It was as if the fall happened at just the right moment.
It's not serious, but you'll have to stay indoors for several months and can't walk around freely.
Next, Zhou Ye began to disinfect and bandage the village chief's external injuries!
By the time I finished, an hour had passed.
The village chief was exhausted.
Aunt Zhang sniffed: "What's wrong with you, old man? Don't you always take that road?"
"How could someone fall when it's neither raining nor snowing?"
Uncle Zhang gave a weak laugh: "I don't know what tripped me up. I didn't see clearly and just fell down."
"Just accept your bad luck!"
"Then...what about that place?"
Uncle Zhang certainly knew where they were talking about.
He sighed and looked up at the roof.
"Why……"
Aunt Zhang didn't dare to say anything more.
Zhou knew it wasn't appropriate for her to stay there, so she and Xie Jianshe got up and went out.
Only then did Zhang the eldest speak up: "Dad, how about my second brother and I go deliver it together? They saw us at the door before."
"No, that won't do. We agreed that only I could deliver it!"
But you're injured now!
Boss Zhang said with a worried look, "This won't work, that won't work, so what should we do?"
The people there are not easy to get along with.
The village chief stopped Zhang Laoda and said, "I'll give you the money and the list of supplies. Go and prepare the supplies first. There's a shortage of supplies right now, and it might be hard to find everything you need."
Go and prepare. Don't go to work for the next few days!
Together with the second child!
"Yes, Dad!"
Zhang Laoda took the order, but he wondered, "Will Dad be able to stand up in a few days?"
How to get it in is the problem!
Never mind, we'll see when the time comes...
Just as Zhang Laoda was about to leave, the village chief suddenly called him back.
"Boss, if you run into trouble and can't find all the supplies, ask Jianshe and Xiaoye. They might have a solution."
"good……"
With five days left, Boss Zhang knew his own limitations.
Zhou Hong found a job the next day. She thought that perhaps her sister-in-law was the Zhou family's lucky star, but her family had not realized it.
When my sister-in-law was alive, the family prospered!
My sister-in-law is gone, my family is broken and I am heartbroken...
Sure enough, I got a job right after seeing my sister-in-law!
Although it's just a temporary job, just making clothes, and it's hard work, at least they provide food and lodging, and I get ten yuan a month!
Compared to the past, it's definitely very different.
But isn't this the stable life I've been looking for?
Today is Sunday, a rare day off.
It was also her child's birthday, and Zhou Hong risked being discovered by returning to the county town.
She bought toys for the child that were only available in the provincial capital, and also bought gifts for the Fang family.
"Zhou Hong!"
A sharp shout—was it my brother?
Zhou Hong's first instinct was to run.
But Zhou Tao grabbed her tightly. Zhou Tao was also ruthless. He grabbed her and cursed fiercely, "Zhou Hong, you ungrateful wretch! Your parents raised you all these years, and you dare to run away from me?"
ah?
You've really grown up, haven't you?
Come back with me!
Zhou Hong resisted, "Brother, let me go, let me go!"
"Let you go? If I let you go, who will marry into Old Li's family? Do you know that you're forcing Mom and Dad, and you're forcing me!"
"Zhou Hong, if it weren't for you, would the Fang family have been able to retaliate against us? Do you know that? I've lost my job!"
I lost my job.
What am I supposed to do now? Huh?
Zhou Hong was also surprised: "What happened to your job?"
"What? It's all because of Fang Cheng. He said I abandoned my post and was unprofessional, so he dismissed me."
What right does he, an official from the grain bureau, have to interfere in our factory's affairs?
ah?
It's all because of you!
This isn't over yet, I'm telling you! Come back with me!
Zhou Hong knew that it would be very difficult for her to come out again once she went back!
She pleaded, "Brother, you are my own brother! Big brother, I am your only sister. Can you really bear to see me sent to the Li family?"
Old Li is older than my parents.
And he has violent tendencies, can you really bear to do that? If I go, I'll just be sending myself to my death.
elder brother……"
Zhou Hong's shouts seemed to awaken a sliver of conscience in Zhou Tao.
But it disappeared very quickly...
When Zhou Tao thought about losing his job and not being able to find Xie Yanli, he panicked and didn't know what to do in the future.
My wife is gone, my child is gone...
Now everything is gone!
Zhou Tao said through gritted teeth, "You and your sister-in-law are both jinxes! Why don't you just focus on contributing to the family?"
You insist on running away?
Come on, you have to come home with me!
must! "
Zhou Hong panicked; she shouldn't have come back!
"Help! Help! Someone please save me..."
People in this era are still quite righteous.
"Hey, stop right there!"
An old man sweeping the streets ran over: "What are you doing? Young man, what's your relationship with me?"
Why are you holding this girl's hand?
Zhou Tao was not afraid at all. He snorted and said, "Old man, you'd better not meddle in my business. This is my family matter."
"What family matters are you getting involved in?"
The old man was still relentless, and at this point, many older women gathered around.
"Young man, let's talk this out. What do you want by grabbing a girl's hair like that? Right?"
What's your relationship? Can't you talk things out? What happened?
"yes!"
Everyone was talking at once, which made Zhou Tao completely lose her patience.
"Shut up, all of you! I'm telling you, this is my sister, my own sister! My sister born of the same mother!"
I made a mistake and got divorced from my in-laws!
She stole money from her parents' home and ran away from home.
I finally caught her, and you still want to stop me?
What do you want to do?
Immediately, everyone's expressions changed!
She's a divorced woman.
Zhou Hongjue felt utterly humiliated. Everyone was looking at her with disdain, but what had she done wrong?
Yes, the divorce was wrong of her, but she has never wronged her family.
Brother, you've always said you'd protect me since we were little, so why did you turn out like this?
Yes, that's right, I used to be like that too.
So this is what my sister-in-law's helplessness was like back then.
"Why are you getting a divorce? Did you do something wrong?"
"That's right, you're divorced and your family is willing to take you in, so you should just let it go! How could you steal money?"
That's outrageous!
If that were my daughter, I'd break her legs!
"Yeah, it's embarrassing and a disgrace. You should go back with your brother right away!"
"Yes, young lady, listen to your aunt's advice: a woman should know her place!"
Zhou Hong cried out in despair, "They took me in there to exchange me for a bride price! That's why I ran away!"
Waaah...
Please help me, you also have daughters.
Would you marry her off to an old man?
Please, please! Waaah…
However, everyone had already formed a preconceived notion that Zhou Hong was a bad woman!
"Go home quickly!"
"Exactly, what are you saying? My daughter is not like you. Divorce? Humph! Hurry up and go home with your brother."
Would your family harm you?
"that is!"
The indifference of everyone made Zhou Hong lose her last glimmer of hope!
"Ah...please help me...please help me! Waaah...please..."
"Please, I beg you..."
"Help……"
Just then, Zhou Hong spotted Fang Cheng's bicycle in the distance.
He watched himself from afar...
It seems like they're watching a joke.
She wanted to call for help, but after opening her mouth, she ultimately didn't say anything.
What qualifications do I have?
Zhou Tao pulled Zhou Hong back home. It was noon, and Zhou's mother had just finished cooking, muttering curses under her breath...
The moment I saw Zhou Hong, my eyes instantly turned red...
It wasn't out of heartache, but out of anger.
"You brat, you dare run away from home? Huh? Why are you back now? Where's the money?"
Have you spent all your money?
ah?
Hand over the money now, and look at the state of our lives.
Look!
You're a jinx! Look at you, you've ruined your brother's job! Why aren't you home yet?
What are you?
Looking at her mother sadly, Zhou Hong asked, "Mom, I ran away from home, aren't you worried about me at all?"
Aren't you worried about something happening to me?
Zhou's mother said angrily, "Of course I'm worried! That's a dowry of five hundred! You brat, what can you do?"
ah?
Is it wrong for you to marry someone?
Now you're complaining about marrying an old man? Before, when we married you into the Fang family, you didn't live a good life and divorced them.
You deserve it!
Zhou Hong cried and said, "Isn't it your fault? You forced me to go home and cheat people out of money. After that, you clearly cut off all ties with me so as not to pay me back."
Why go to the Fang family's house?
Why did you hurt me?
Aren't you the ones who caused my divorce?
It's all your fault!
Zhou's mother felt a little guilty, but it was absolutely impossible for her to admit her mistake!
"Whose fault is that? Isn't it yours? You married into your husband's family and you can't even control your husband or get any money back. And you still have the nerve to be polite?"
Xiao Hong, Mom loves you!
When your sister-in-law was alive, what did Mom ask you to do?
Do they think you're the apple of their eye? Your sister-in-law got divorced, and now you're acting like a madwoman?
Do you know that women are supposed to support their own family?
You're too young to know the good qualities of older men!
Old Li has several sons, all older than you. When you go, you'll be the youngest.
In that family, they still have to listen to you.
"If you outlive Old Li until he dies, you'll be the head of the family!"
"Oh……"
Zhou Hong gave a miserable laugh.
"Mom, are you saying that a daughter should please her own family and serve them?"
"Yes, isn't that right?"
Zhou Hong then asked, "Then why don't you let your sister-in-law help her family? Why do you want to take everything from her?"
After your brother gets married, will you say the same thing to your sister-in-law?
"So you're telling me to have my sister-in-law steal and hide all the good stuff in the house to help her own family?"
Zhou's mother was stunned by what she was said, and then slapped him hard across the face.
"You...you..."
"You're absolutely crazy! How can they compare to our family? Anyway, this is how things are in our family."
Once a daughter gets married, she should help out her parents' family.
A daughter-in-law, once married into the family, must also serve her parents' family.
"You have to marry into the Li family, whether you like it or not!"
Zhou Hong seems to have given up entirely!
"Mom, you really do care about me! Don't worry, if you're determined to marry me off to the Li family..."
Alright!
I'm telling you in advance, I will absolutely not bring a single penny of the Li family's wealth back to my parents' home! I'm severing all ties with you completely.
"What...what did you say? You want to cut ties with me? You little wench, you're really infuriating!"
Sons are still the best. Tell me, why did I insist on having you in the first place?
ah?
Tell me, are you going to do anything about it or not?
"Huh? You're not taking any money?"
She would say one thing and get hit another, but even though Zhou Hong was curled up in pain, she still looked at her mother and said mockingly, "I told you, if you dare to marry me off, I won't take a single penny! And I won't come back!"
Never!
Zhou Hong's words were absolutely ruthless!
Mr. Zhou was extremely panicked and grabbed Mrs. Zhou, saying, "Old woman, this... won't this make the child hate us?"
Xiao Hong has always been a very obedient child.
Isn't this... going too far?
Zhou's mother spat and said, "Too much? I don't think so. As my daughter, you have to get married and help your brother!"
This was something she was born with.
"If you don't do it, I'll kill you!"
"Okay...come on over!" In some ways, Zhou Hong and her mother are very similar...
It looks so much like... so much like...
Zhou's mother was furious and picked up a rolling pin to hit someone!
"Alright!"
Zhou Tao shouted impatiently!
"Xiao Hong, your brother will definitely succeed. Your marriage to the Li family is only temporary. Once your brother receives the betrothal gifts, he will go to Beijing with Mom and Dad."
Find your sister-in-law!
Then everything will be much easier! Your sister-in-law has a great job in Beijing! Once your brother settles down, we'll bring you over so you can enjoy a comfortable life together.
Then your brother will find you a man in Beijing!
You must trust your brother; he's doing this for your own good!
"Heh... Hahaha..."
Zhou Hong laughed loudly in anger.
I realized it too late. I didn't know the pain until it was on my own body!
Oh……
"Brother, you really are a good brother. No brother in the whole world can compare to you. If you can't, you're not human!"
Zhou Tao, you'll never amount to anything in your life!
No way!
You're just an ordinary person, no, you're not even as good as an ordinary person! You're a menace! My parents always say I'm a money-loser!
I think you are the one who is wrong!
You're a piece of trash. Your whole family has to support you, or you'll starve! Trash...trash..."
Zhou Hong relentlessly continued to curse!
Zhou Tao was so angry that her face turned completely red!
He wanted to go up and hit her, but looking at his sister's face, he hesitated for a long time before striking her.
Mr. Zhou sighed and pulled his son aside: "Alright, your parents only have you two siblings. From now on, we'll have to rely on each other."
It's understandable that your sister was a little emotional about marrying into that kind of family.
You should try to understand this.
"Alright, let's eat!"
Zhou Tao then gave up!
Zhou's mother pulled Zhou Hong directly into the house and locked the door!
"Old man, hurry up and go to Old Li's house to tell him that we'll send the person over to him tomorrow!"
"To save time, things might get complicated!"
Mr. Zhou hesitated for a moment, then sighed and left.
They haven't even eaten!
Zhou Tao and his mother sat at the dining table, eating heartily.
"Mom, are you really going to marry Xiaohong off?"
Zhou's mother rolled her eyes: "Do you think I'd be willing to do that? What if I'm not willing? How will you live?"
You've lost your job!
"Your dad and I haven't received our salaries yet, what are we going to eat?"
"Don't worry, I've looked into Old Li. Apart from his age, he doesn't have any major health problems! As for his habit of hitting people, it's not really a big issue."
Xiao Hong is pretty, Old Li is too busy swooning over her!
After we receive the betrothal gifts tomorrow, I'll buy you some meat and stew a pot so you can have a good meal.
Then, let's discuss when to go to Beijing!
Find Xie Yanli and ask her to give you the job!
If she's obedient enough, we'll let her come into our home to serve us in the future; if she's disobedient, we'll kick her out!
We'll eat well and live a good life, and then I'll introduce you to a wife from Beijing.
Our good days are coming!
Zhou's mother had a very beautiful idea!
Zhou Tao, however, thought differently: "Mom, what if Xie Jianshe doesn't want to? It was arranged by Xie Jianshe and his wife!"
"Tch! What are you thinking? Xie Jianshe is far away, how could he know? By the time he finds out, we'll have already succeeded!"
He didn't have time!
"Besides, it was his older sister's own choice, so why should we be blamed?"
The Zhou family mother and son never imagined that Xie Yanli would refuse this offer.
Zhou's father went to Old Li's house, and Old Li was overjoyed to hear that the marriage could be arranged the next day!
He even gave Zhou's father a pack of cigarettes!
Zhou's father took the cigarettes home, his heart heavy. Old Li's back was hunched over, and he had a lot of white hair.
Even though my own daughter is remarried!
But she's only in her early twenties!
Oh dear... what a tragedy!
But the thought that things would really get tough if the family didn't have this income left him with no other options!
"Daddy... I love Daddy the most!"
"Okay, my daughter, Daddy will buy you candy!"
"Yes, I like Daddy..."
Looking at the father playing with his child by the roadside, Zhou's father felt a pang of sadness. When Xiao Hong was little, her mother didn't love her and always favored her older brother.
So as a father, he dotes on her a little more.
They always bring their children out to play.
But... my child is going to marry a dead old man tomorrow, and that old man is even older than her.
A full head of white hair, and a bad person at that!
Even if she survives until the old man dies, will that family let Xiao Hong go?
It's terrifying to think about.
Will the family treat Xiaohong well? No!
The old woman just wanted that five hundred yuan.
Mr. Zhou regretted it...
He can bully others, and he can let his wife and son bully others, but... Xiao Hong is still his child...
My face felt a little itchy... so I wiped my face...
So it was tears?
When Mr. Zhou returned home, there was only half a plate of cabbage and half a bowl of pickled vegetables left on the table.
There are still plenty of steamed buns!
I ate two bites, and then I felt terrible!
Thinking of my daughter inside the house, she must not have eaten yet.
He picked up a steamed bun, added some vegetables, and went to the door: "Daughter, have something to eat, Dad will open the door for you."
There was no sound from inside; he knew his daughter hated him.
What are you doing?
Zhou's mother asked from behind.
"I...I...my daughter must be hungry, I'll get her something to eat!"
Zhou's father answered haltingly.
"Tsk... You've finally woken up as a father? You even know how to care for your daughter now? This food was saved for you, not for her."
If you don't want to eat it, then forget it!
Mr. Zhou pleaded with Mrs. Zhou, "If you're going to marry him, at least give the child a decent meal!"
Zhou's mother sighed deeply: "Old man, I know you love your daughter, but you have to face reality!"
It's just you and me working at home!
I only make about ten yuan a month, and you only make about twenty!
All things considered, it's very difficult to eat and drink well!
Besides, we're going to Beijing! Where won't we spend money?
"Okay, once we've settled down in Beijing, we'll definitely bring Xiaohong out, alright? Don't worry!"
Let's eat!
"Besides, you won't starve to death even if you skip one meal! Don't worry!"
Mr. Zhou sat down nervously and sighed.
My dear daughter, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that I'm not capable enough!
Zhou Hong looked out the window, but her brother had blocked it from the outside, so she couldn't get out.
Am I really going to marry that man?
No... there must be another way, there must be another!
Zhou Hong sniffed, trying to clear her head.
Suddenly, a bad thought popped into her mind.
May I?
Is it okay to do this?
If I tell my parents about my sister-in-law and her child, will they stop pressuring me to get married?
Two voices were fighting in Zhou Hong's mind;
A voice said, "Tell your parents, and they'll harm other people! Then you'll be free!"
Another voice said, "Zhou Hong, you can't do this! You promised Xie Yanli that you wouldn't tell Mom and Dad about her."
You must keep your word!
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