What are you all doing? Do you think it's easy for me to grow these crops? Look at how badly you've trampled them...
Zhou Zhimin stood blocking the middle of his wheat field, raising his voice. Look! The wheat is about to ear, and you've snapped so many stalks. Do you know how much grain I'm going to lose? You have to pay me back today!
As he shouted, his eyes couldn't help but glance down into the ditch below. His land was situated right between the upper plots and the deep ditch, and for Liu Cuilan and her group to get down there, cutting through his field was the shortest route.
Seven or eight people surged forward, and Zhou Zhimin couldn't possibly stop them all by himself. He was deliberately yelling loudly just so Zhou Zhijun, who was at the bottom of the ditch, could hear him.
After delaying them in the field for a while, he ultimately failed to hold them back. Zhou Zhimin sighed, thinking to himself that he had done his best and could only leave the rest to fate.
Liu Cuilan charged at the front holding a fire poker, cursing as she ran. Li Chuntao, you wretched barren woman!
You shameless slut, actually sneaking out here to hook up with a wild man! I'll beat you to death today!
She was running so fast that she tripped over a large clod of dirt. With an Ouch!, she fell hard onto the ground, her fire poker flying out of her hand.
Wang Haichao quickly went to pull her up, lowering his voice. Slow down! Stop yelling. With you being so loud, they would have run away long ago!
Hearing him say this, the others also shut their mouths and tiptoed toward the edge of the ditch.
Zhou Zhimin was still shouting, What kind of people are you! Ruining my crops and not paying for them. I'm going to find the village secretary to reason with you right now!
A sharp look flashed across Zhou Zhijun's eyes, but his hands didn't stop moving. He continued to leisurely dig up dandelion sprouts on the ridge of the field.
Brother! Second Brother! Time to go home and eat! Zhou Zhimin suddenly shouted toward the bottom of the ditch.
Liu Cuilan and her gang's hearts sank. Wasn't this alerting the prey?
Ignoring the clods of dirt and wheat seedlings tripping their feet, the group hurriedly ran toward the ditch.
Zhou Zhijun looked up in the direction of the voice, meeting the gaze of the crowd.
His eyes were like ice blades, scraping fiercely across their faces.
Second Brother, it's already noon. Why haven't you gone home to eat? Not seeing Chuntao in the ditch, the heart that Zhou Zhimin had had in his throat finally settled back into his chest.
Zhou Zhijun withdrew his gaze, put down his hoe, and crouched down to pick up the dandelion sprouts from the ground. His tone was flat. I'm digging up some dandelion sprouts to make tea at home.
Liu Cuilan and her gang swept their eyes around the ditch but didn't even see a shadow of Chuntao. There was only Zhou Zhijun, and his calm and collected demeanor didn't look at all like someone who had just been doing that.
The group looked at each other in dismay. Zhou Xiaoying and her sister had described it so vividly, so why wasn't Li Chuntao here? Liu Cuilan was the first to jump down.
Li Chuntao! Come out here! Don't think we won't find you just because you're hiding!
She then yelled up to the others, She must be hiding. Everyone come down and let's search together!
Last time, Zhou Ergan had been fooled by Zhou Zhijun in the ditch and failed to catch Chuntao, a failure he had regretted for a long time.
This time, no matter what, he couldn't let himself be bluffed by him again; he had to drag her out.
Zhou Ergan closely followed and jumped down, and the third to go down was Baldy Zhang.
Wang Haichao stood at the top, looking at Zhou Zhijun with a half-smile. Brother Zhijun, you really picked a good spot with this wasteland. It's well hidden!
Zhou Zhijun couldn't be bothered to respond to him. He glanced up toward the north and shouted at Liu Cuilan, If you want to find someone, go look at home. The person you're looking for isn't in this ditch!
Hearing this, Liu Cuilan became even more certain that Chuntao was hiding there. You saying that just proves you've hidden her here!
Wang Haichao and the others also jumped down one after another. Zhou Zhaodi was plump and clumsy, so she could only sit on the edge of the ditch and slide down.
Seeing that they had all come down, Zhou Zhijun's face turned colder and more piercing than icicles in the dead of winter.
What do you think you're doing? Coming down here and trampling my crops. Get back up right now!
Zhou Zhijun, you fooled me last time. Do you think you can trick me again? Zhou Ergan shouted, stiffening his neck.
What do you mean? Zhou Zhijun's eyes were dark and ruthless, his gaze piercing straight into Zhou Ergan.
Stop playing dumb! Do you think I don't know what you and Li Chuntao were doing in the ditch?
I believed you last time, but I won't be fooled so easily this time! I'm definitely going to drag her out today!
Zhou Ergan, don't spit venom without any proof! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!
Zhou Zhijun crossed the distance to Zhou Ergan in a few strides, grabbed him by the front of his shirt, and lifted him up like a little chick.
Zhou Zhijun, you bastard! Let me go! Once I find her, I'll make sure neither of you gets away with this! Zhou Ergan struggled and yelled.
With a sudden burst of strength, Zhou Zhijun threw Zhou Ergan onto the steep slope at the edge of the ditch.
Ouch! Zhou Ergan let out a miserable scream.
He struggled to get up, but Zhou Zhijun planted a foot firmly on his chest.
Zhou Ergan, if you spout any more nonsense, I'll cripple you! Zhou Zhijun's voice was frighteningly cold.
The rubber-soled cloth shoe slowly moved down, stepping onto his lower abdomen.
Zhou Ergan was so scared that his whole body trembled, but he still talked tough. If you have the guts, let me search! If I find Li Chuntao, I'll report you!
Zhou Zhijun clenched his back teeth and squeezed out a few words through them. And if you can't find her?
Can't find her? Zhou Ergan stiffened his neck. If I can't find her, I'll walk upside down on my head!
You said it!
A gentleman's word is a bond!
Zhou Zhijun retracted his foot and spat out a single word. Scram!
Zhou Ergan's clothes were completely soaked in sweat. He scrambled up from the ground and, ignoring the pain, took off running to catch up with Liu Cuilan and the others.
Search carefully! Li Chuntao is definitely hiding in this ditch! he shouted as he ran.
Zhou Zhijun scoffed coldly, then finally looked at Zhou Zhimin beside him. What are you here for?
Zhou Zhimin forced a fawning smile on his face. I heard they were coming to catch you in the act, and I was worried... I was worried something bad would happen...
Worried about what? Zhou Zhijun's face grew even colder.
I was worried that just in case... I stopped them in the wheat field... I shouted loudly just so you would hear me... Zhou Zhimin stammered, his eyes darting evasively.
Today, he truly owed it to Zhou Zhimin. It was exactly because Zhou Zhijun heard the commotion above that he quickly let go of Chuntao.
He had carried her over to the watermelon patch and let her head home from there, which perfectly allowed her to avoid this group.
But Zhou Zhijun pretended to know nothing, his face darkening. Do you also think I'm messing around down here?
No! Not at all! Zhou Zhimin quickly waved his hands.
Zhou Zhijun looked up toward the north again. The group had already walked quite far along the ditch.
Estimating that Chuntao must have already made it home by now, his suspended heart finally settled.
Just as Chuntao entered the courtyard, Aunt Zhou from next door came out of the kitchen.
Tao, the dumplings are almost done boiling. I was just about to have Xiaohong go call you! Aunt Zhou called out with a smile.
Chuntao's mind was a mess, and she barely managed to force a smile onto her face.
Just then, Zhou Zhijun returned carrying two hoes. Chuntao didn't dare look at his face and kept her head down. However, from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of his trouser pocket, and her small face instantly burned bright red.
