Zhou Zhijun always assumed others thought exactly like he did, which left Chuntao feeling quite helpless.
Just then, Wang Xiaohong walked out of the main room. Seeing Zhou Zhijun, she greeted him, Uncle Zhijun.
She then turned to Chuntao and said, Sister-in-law, the party secretary really disciplined those two who were fighting over the slop today. I bet they won't dare to do it again...
Hearing this, the corners of Zhou Zhijun's mouth twitched up imperceptibly. He said in a deep voice, From now on, when it's your family's turn to carry the slop, I'll go!
Uncle Zhijun, there's no need to trouble you. They definitely won't dare to do it again! How could Wang Xiaohong possibly guess what was really on Zhou Zhijun's mind?
When it was Chuntao's family's turn to carry the slop, Zhou Zhijun still took it upon himself to do it.
Since Chuntao rarely went to the workers' compound to watch television anymore, her chances of running into Li Mingliang naturally decreased.
As the weather grew warmer day by day, the farming chores multiplied. Chuntao and Wang Xiaohong worked from dawn to dusk every day.
The plot in the East Gully was close to the river dam, making it convenient to water during dry spells.
Chuntao planned to plant watermelons there again, so she made a special trip to Qingshan Street to buy watermelon seeds resistant to continuous cropping.
Since their private vegetable plot had been taken over by an oil well, she set aside an empty patch in the watermelon field to grow vegetables.
After the watermelons and vegetables were planted, it was immediately time to plant sweet potatoes and cotton.
These were tedious tasks. The trenches for the sweet potatoes and cotton were all dug with Zhou Zhijun's help.
When it was time to transplant the seedlings, Wang Xiaohong dug holes in the front, while Chuntao followed behind, placing the seedlings into the holes.
After placing a few, she had to run to the river dam to fetch water, pour it into the holes, and then level the holes with soil.
Zhou Zhijun had finished planting his own sweet potatoes and cotton a few days earlier. Seeing Chuntao and Wang Xiaohong busy planting sweet potatoes, he ran over without a word to help carry water.
You focus on planting the seedlings; I'll fetch the water! Zhou Zhijun grabbed the carrying pole from Chuntao's hands without taking no for an answer. Balancing the two water buckets, he strode toward the river dam with his long legs.
With Zhou Zhijun's help, their efficiency shot up significantly. The two acres of sweet potatoes and half an acre of cotton were completely planted in just two days. Then, Zhou Zhijun went to help hoe their fields.
In a field not far away, Zhou Zhimin's family was also hoeing. Looking up, they saw Zhou Zhijun working in Chuntao's field.
Huang Meili felt a surge of sour jealousy and could not help complaining to Zhou Zhimin, Look at your second brother. An old bachelor, working for a woman every single day. Doesn't he worry about the village gossiping?
Zhou Zhimin actually thought the same thing, but verbally he replied, Our mother has already taken Chuntao as her goddaughter. They're not just neighbors now, they're relatives. Isn't it only right to lend a hand?
Huang Meili glared fiercely at Zhou Zhimin. Just as she was about to retort, Zhou Xiaoying spoke up first, Dad, according to what you said, Second Uncle should be helping our family even more! You're his blood brother!
Zhou Xiaomei chimed in, Exactly! We are the real family!
Zhou Zhimin glared at them and said sternly, What do kids know! Stop interrupting when adults are talking. Nobody thinks you two are mute!
Zhou Xiaoying and Zhou Xiaomei felt indignant but did not dare say anything more aloud. They could only trail behind, heads down, whispering to each other, their eyes glinting with calculation.
Sis, Li Chuntao is just a vixen. She deliberately seduces our Second Uncle and has him completely bewitched!
Isn't that the truth! Did you know, I also saw a worker from the oil field treating her really well. Last time, he even brought her a whole mesh bag of treats! Li Chuntao is truly a vixen reincarnated!
Zhou Xiaoying smiled slyly and said, Xiaomei, I just can't stand Li Chuntao...
Zhou Xiaomei curled her lip and said, I can't stand her either. She's just a bit pretty, what's the big deal?
The two sisters muttered resentfully, a knot of malicious ideas forming in their bellies.
They conspired to find an opportunity to make this vixen take a hard fall.
Zhou Zhijun only went to hoe his own field after he had neatly finished all the chores in Chuntao's.
Feeling bad about it, Chuntao pulled Wang Xiaohong along to help him work.
While working, Chuntao constantly felt Zhou Zhijun's gaze glued to her like adhesive, making her feel uncomfortable all over.
She didn't dare look at him and stayed silent, just keeping her head down and working quietly.
But the fire in Zhou Zhijun's heart was shooting up like spring bamboo shoots.
It was also like a flame on a barren winter slope; the more the wind blew, the brighter it burned.
His heart burned with an urgent desire, thinking he absolutely had to find a chance to get intimate with Chuntao.
Even if it was just whispering a few sweet words or sharing a hug, it would make him feel better.
But that girl Wang Xiaohong was like Chuntao's shadow, following her every day. No matter how anxious Zhou Zhijun was, he could only hold it in.
One day, Chuntao and Wang Xiaohong came to help Zhou Zhijun work again.
Halfway through the morning, Zhou Zhijun walked up to Wang Xiaohong, pulled a few dollars from his pocket, and handed them to her.
Lowering his voice, he said, Xiaohong, go home, get on the bicycle, and go to the street to buy two pounds of pork. When you get back, have your grand-aunt make us some dumplings!
Chuntao was busy with her head down, her mind still pondering over the old sow giving birth, completely oblivious to what was happening beside her.
After Wang Xiaohong left, Zhou Zhijun looked around. Seeing no one nearby, he tiptoed over to Chuntao and suddenly hugged her from behind.
Chuntao was badly startled by this abrupt action, her whole body instantly freezing.
Wasn't Wang Xiaohong still here? How dare he do this!
Let go! she squeezed out two words from her throat, hurriedly turning her head to look back, but there was no sign of Wang Xiaohong.
Where is Xiaohong?
Xiaohong went to the street to buy meat...
This was a deep gully. Zhou Zhijun had found a slightly higher spot to clear a piece of wasteland.
It was in the middle of nowhere, with absolutely no one else around. At this moment, it was just the two of them.
With one hand, he pulled off his coarse cloth jacket and spread it out on the grass nearby.
As he spoke, he undeniably laid Chuntao flat on the coarse cloth jacket. His tall figure loomed over her, perfectly blocking the glaring sun overhead.
Chuntao's voice was low and soft, The people in the village are watching every day. If they see us, we're doomed!
Let them see, what are you afraid of? Zhou Zhijun said stubbornly.
You and Wang Jieshi never got a marriage certificate, nor did you consummate the marriage. I've already gone to the commune to ask around, and they said you two don't count as husband and wife!
He still wants you to bear his children, he must be dreaming...
As soon as the words fell, the rapid sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from a distance.
