Before dawn the next day, Zhou Zhijun got up, told his employer he had some matters to attend to at home and needed to make a trip back, then hopped on his bicycle and left.
With a fire burning in his heart, he pedaled furiously. By the time he reached Qingshan Street, it was just noon.
Today was market day, and the streets were bustling with people. Zhou Zhijun thought about buying something for Chuntao.
She definitely wouldn't accept outerwear, so he could only buy her a couple of undergarments and some food.
He parked his bicycle at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, ready to go in and take a look, but caught sight of Zhou Hongxia out of the corner of his eye.
Hongxia! he called out.
Zhou Hongxia was also surprised to see him. Second Uncle, didn't you go out for work?
I had some business, so I came back! Zhou Zhijun furrowed his brows slightly. Are you here at the market alone?
Zhou Hongxia's eyes instantly turned red. Second Uncle, my brother was stabbed... and they still haven't caught the culprit...
How are your brother's injuries? Hearing this, Zhou Zhijun's heart leaped into his throat.
It almost hit an artery... He's been in the clinic for a few days now, and he's doing much better...
Zhou Hongxia had come out to buy food for Zhou Xiaowei. Zhou Zhijun decided against going into the cooperative; instead, he followed Hongxia to buy the food, paid for it, and then accompanied her to the clinic to see Xiaowei.
When they walked in, they saw a young woman standing by Zhou Xiaowei's bed.
Xiaowei, how are you doing? Zhou Zhijun walked over and asked.
Zhou Xiaowei forced a smile. Second Uncle, I'm lucky to be alive. I'm fine now!
Seeing Zhou Zhijun and the others enter, the young woman said her goodbyes and left.
Hearing from Zhou Hongxia that Zhou Xiaowei was stabbed just outside Chuntao's courtyard, Zhou Zhijun felt even more unsettled.
What happened? Wasn't there a movie showing that night? Didn't you go watch it?
The last time on the road, Zhou Zhijun had overheard what he said to Chuntao, and his expression had been quite dark.
That day when he helped Chuntao look for Old Man Han, Zhou Zhijun had scolded him for showing off, so this time Zhou Xiaowei didn't dare tell the truth, afraid of being reprimanded again.
He just mumbled vaguely, I'd already seen the movie they were showing that night!
Zhou Hongxia had already told Zhou Zhijun the whole story. He knew about Zhou Xiaowei's little ulterior motives and didn't press the matter further.
He simply asked, Who was the person that stabbed you? Do you have any idea?
Zhou Xiaowei shook his head. I don't hold any grudges against anyone, I don't know who it was. I was caught off guard and didn't get a good look!
Could this have something to do with Chuntao? Zhou Zhijun's heart tightened further.
By the time he came out of the clinic, it was late afternoon, and the marketgoers were gradually heading home.
He went to the supply and marketing cooperative. Aside from a clerk, there was no one else inside.
The weather was getting hotter, and he wanted to buy a small handkerchief for Chuntao to wipe her sweat.
He suddenly remembered that her underwear was so old it was unwearable. Moreover, it was made of coarse cotton cloth—not only lacking elasticity but also in a loose, unflattering boxer style.
He thought about buying her two pairs of the briefs that movie stars wore, which were stretchy and pretty.
Zhou Zhijun wanted to hurry home to see her, so putting aside his embarrassment, he said to the clerk, Get me two pairs of women's briefs!
The clerk gave him a sidelong glance, her expression complicated. What size?
Zhou Zhijun honestly didn't know that underwear came in sizes, let alone what size Chuntao wore.
If you called her skinny, she wasn't lacking in the places that mattered. If you called her plump, she didn't have an ounce of extra fat where she shouldn't.
Thinking about it made Zhou Zhijun's mouth go dry. His Adam's apple bobbed as he said, I'll take the medium size! They would look best fitting snugly; too big wouldn't do.
The clerk placed two medium-sized pairs of briefs on the counter. These are imported from Shanghai, three yuan a pair.
Clothes without matching tops aren't a proper set! Such fashionable briefs naturally needed fashionable undershirts to go with them.
So he spent another five yuan to buy two small undershirts and a handkerchief.
He asked for the undershirts in a large size, so they wouldn't be too tight and would be easy to put on and take off.
He rolled up the items and stuffed them into the inner layer of the cloth bag hanging on his bicycle frame. Then he went to a small diner near the cooperative and bought fried dough sticks and sugar cakes.
He specifically ordered two taels of braised beef for Chuntao, wrapped in kraft paper and placed at the very bottom of the bag.
Her body was too weak and lacked strength; she needed some good nourishment.
He pedaled his bicycle swiftly toward home. As he reached the main road at the edge of the village, he saw Chuntao and Wang Xiaohong pruning in the cotton field.
Since there were other villagers in the surrounding fields, Zhou Zhijun didn't call out to them and simply rode home.
It wasn't until he got home that he realized he hadn't eaten lunch. He lifted the pot lid, took out a large white steamed bun, and started gnawing on it.
His mother used to say that when a person is starving, anything tastes delicious. He was indeed very hungry, and he was eating a big white steamed bun, but it somehow tasted bland.
Thinking of her, his heart itched with longing.
It was still early, so he scooped a ladle of cold water to wash his face, shouldered his hoe, and headed to the fields.
His family's field and Chuntao's cotton field were separated by the fields belonging to Zhou Zhiguo and Zhou Zhimin.
Zhou Zhimin was also hoeing in his field. Seeing Zhou Zhijun, he came over with his hoe.
Second Brother, you're back! he said in a lowered voice. Xiaowei got stabbed, did you know?
Zhou Zhijun didn't look at him, keeping his head down as he hoed. I know!
Xiaowei is so easygoing, he hasn't made any enemies, has he?
Zhou Zhijun knew he was about to drag Chuntao into it, so he asked, Who do you think did it?
Zhou Zhimin forced a dry laugh, then turned his head to glance in Chuntao's direction. Second Brother, how would I know who it is? But everyone in the village says this has something to do with Li Chuntao!
Zhou Zhijun looked up and glared at him coldly. Don't listen to people chewing the fat. You're a grown man, why are you gossiping like a woman!
Second Brother, I don't believe it either. It's just that the person who stabbed Xiaowei still hasn't been caught, and I'm worried something else might happen!
In truth, this was exactly what Zhou Zhijun was worried about. What was the motive behind someone stabbing a person right at Chuntao's doorstep?
Was it simply a grudge against Zhou Xiaowei, or was it an attempt to ruin Chuntao's reputation? Not catching the culprit was indeed unsettling.
As the sky grew dark, the workers gradually shouldered their hoes and headed home. Chuntao and Wang Xiaohong also emerged from the cotton field.
When they reached the edge of the field, they saw Zhou Zhijun walking over with his hoe.
Uncle Zhijun, when did you get back? Wang Xiaohong was excited to see him, while Chuntao was too shy to even look at him.
Today! Zhou Zhijun replied, though out of the corner of his eye, he was glancing at Chuntao.
Chuntao's heart beat like a drum. Just yesterday, she had heard Aunt Zhou say that Zhou Zhijun had gone to build a house and wouldn't be back for a month. She hadn't expected him to return today.
Xiaohong, nothing much has happened in the village recently, right? Zhou Zhijun asked casually.
Brother Xiaowei was stabbed, did you know about that? Wang Xiaohong looked at Zhou Zhijun. The culprit still hasn't been caught!
I only found out today myself! Zhou Zhijun didn't say anything more and strode off ahead with his long legs.
While Chuntao was boiling soup, Zhou Zhijun came over to visit, holding a bowl.
Taking advantage of Wang Xiaohong's absence from the kitchen, he leaned in close to Chuntao, the fire in his eyes practically burning outward. Tao, I've missed you to death. Come to my place tonight!
Chuntao felt a heavy weight in her chest as she thought about Liu Cuilan's constant fault-finding, the idle gossip of the villagers, and her grandmother's repeated warnings.
Wang Xiaohong walked over from the main room. Zhou Zhijun's expression returned to normal as he looked at Chuntao and said, "Our eldest sister's daughter-in-law is about to give birth. Mother's eyesight is failing, so go over tonight and help her finish making the baby's padded jacket!"
Chuntao murmured in agreement.
She had something she wanted to say to Zhou Zhijun, but she felt deeply conflicted.
After Wang Xiaohong went to bed, Chuntao sat alone in the kitchen. The door was shut tight, and the kerosene lamp had been blown out.
Her heart fluttered wildly like a panicked little rabbit, thumping so hard that her breathing grew ragged.
Suddenly, the kitchen door was pushed open with a soft creak. "Tao!" Zhou Zhijun called out, his voice thick and hoarse.
Chuntao bolted up from her stool. Before she could even find her footing, he pulled her into a fierce embrace. His thick, muscular arms banded tightly around her waist, pulling her flush against him.
His ragged, urgent breaths ghosted against her ear. "Be good..."
