Zhou Zhimin was squatting by the kitchen door smoking dry tobacco, his mind repeatedly mulling over his family's relief grain.
There was never enough food to eat every year. If Zhou Dana really withheld their relief grain, life would be even harder.
Suddenly, Zhou Xiaohai ran back from outside. His head was covered in sweat, and he barged into the courtyard shouting, Dad! Mom! Someone's been beaten to death!
The family, who had just been frowning in worry, immediately straightened up.
Life was as bitter as chewing coptis roots, and they were always hoping for some novelty to relieve the boredom. Hearing the words beaten to death, the gloom in their eyes instantly dissipated.
What? Who died? Zhou Zhimin knocked his pipe against the sole of his shoe, his voice rising a few notches.
Zhou Xiaoying also suddenly perked up. She grabbed Zhou Xiaohai's arm and asked, Who got beaten to death?
Huang Meili and Zhou Xiaomei also looked over, staring at Zhou Xiaohai in surprise, their eyes full of excitement at the prospect of drama.
Grandpa Ergan beat the southern woman to death! Zhou Xiaohai gasped, his voice even louder.
Before the new year, the southern woman had run away once, but Zhou Ergan found her, pinned her to the ground, and beat her until she howled like a ghost.
Since then, Zhou Ergan had been kicking and punching the southern woman every few days. It wasn't long before he actually beat her into madness.
After going mad, the southern woman sat around in a daze all day. When she saw people, she would just giggle foolishly, and she often fed steamed white buns to the dogs.
At first, everyone thought she was faking it. To test whether she was truly crazy or not, someone handed her a handful of sheep droppings, and she actually stuffed them into her mouth. Only then did everyone believe that the southern woman was truly mad.
A while ago, rumors were going around the village that the southern woman was expecting, but Zhou Ergan had tormented her until she lost the baby.
The women gossiped privately, saying it was no surprise that Zhou Ergan killed the baby, but how could he have beaten his wife to death?
The southern woman is really dead? Huang Meili stood up abruptly from her low stool and headed out the door as she spoke. The sisters, Zhou Xiaoying and Zhou Xiaomei, hurriedly followed her out.
It's already noon! Aren't you going to cook? Zhou Zhimin shouted from behind.
Huang Meili didn't even turn her head as she shouted back, You stay home and cook the mush! And go to the vegetable garden to pull some wild amaranth. We'll mix it up to eat when I get back!
Seeing that everyone had left, Zhou Xiaohai also chased after them. Mom, wait for me!
On the way to Zhou Ergan's house, there wasn't a single person out visiting. Huang Meili felt suspicious and looked around as she walked.
When they reached Aunt Wang's house at the west end of the village, Aunt Wang was sitting on the threshold stitching shoe soles.
Seeing Huang Meili and her children rushing by, she asked, Meili, where are you all heading?
Huang Meili slowed down, leaned in, and lowered her voice. Aunt Wang, haven't you heard that something happened at Zhou Ergan's house?
Aunt Wang shook her head, her needlework never stopping. No, I saw him early this morning. I haven't heard any commotion.
Huang Meili thought to herself, someone was beaten to death, so how could no one know? Could it be that Xiaohai was spouting nonsense?
Unwilling to give up, she walked a few steps further and pricked up her ears to listen, but it was dead quiet ahead, without even a dog barking.
She turned back to glare at Zhou Xiaohai and asked crossly, What nonsense are you talking about? Who got beaten to death?
I'm not talking nonsense!
Zhou Xiaohai flushed red with anxiety. Tugging at her hem, he said, I was hunting for bird nests behind Grandpa Ergan's house, and I heard the southern woman screaming so miserably inside! Grandpa Ergan was even cursing at her, saying he'd fuck her to death. Later, the southern woman was only groaning, sounding like she was out of breath...
Huang Meili froze for a moment, then rolled her eyes. She raised her hand and smacked Zhou Xiaohai on the head. You stupid kid, what the hell do you know! Let's go, we're going home!
This Zhou Ergan, a man in his fifties, was actually doing that kind of thing in broad daylight, and even let a child hear it. In her heart, Huang Meili couldn't help but compare Zhou Ergan with Zhou Zhimin.
During the first two years of their marriage, Zhou Zhimin had also been like a starving wolf, clinging to her day and night. Even during lunch, he had to drag her into the inner room for a quick session.
Once, while harvesting wheat in the fields, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he had even demanded it with monkey-like urgency.
But ever since they had three kids, he had become increasingly listless. Now he was only thirty-four, yet he was like an eggplant hit by frost, unable to muster any energy.
Huang Meili sighed. Her own fate was actually worse than that of that foolish southern woman.
Zhou Ergan's body was so robust, while Zhou Zhimin...
Mom, I'm telling the truth! Zhou Xiaohai was still being stubborn.
Zhou Xiaoying also lowered her voice, her eyes filled with curiosity. Mom, Xiaohai heard it all. Could she really have been... beaten to death?
Nothing of the sort! Huang Meili interrupted her.
Zhou Xiaomei also leaned in and asked in a low voice, Mom, what was Grandpa Ergan trying to do?
Why are you asking! You'll know when you grow up! Huang Meili snapped, quickening her pace toward home.
Zhou Zhimin was in the kitchen tending the fire. He looked up to see his wife and children returning with their heads drooping, so he asked, What's wrong? Didn't get to see the drama?
Zhou Xiaohai was the first to complain. Dad! Mom said I don't know shit! I really heard the southern woman groaning!
Zhou Zhimin's furrowed brows relaxed, and the corners of his mouth twitched, though he didn't dare laugh out loud. As a grown man, how could he not understand what those words meant.
Huang Meili ordered her two girls, Go to the vegetable garden and pull some wild amaranth. Pinch off the tender parts.
She glared at Zhou Xiaohai again. Go with your sisters. Don't just holler blindly around here.
Wait until the children left the courtyard, Huang Meili leaned against the kitchen door, her tone full of dissatisfaction. Look at Zhou Ergan. He's over fifty, and his body is still so robust...
Zhou Zhimin also knew he was becoming increasingly useless. He used to want it every few days, but now it was only once every week or two, and he always felt tired.
Hearing Huang Meili say this, he awkwardly defended himself. He's an old bachelor who's been pent up for over fifty years. He finally managed to get a wife, so it's normal for him to be like that.
He glanced toward the door, lowered his voice, and wore a slightly wicked smile on his face. The old bachelor was truly starving and desperate!
Huang Meili gave a cold snort. Are you saying you're too full and don't care for it?
I'm hungry too. I get hungry just looking at you, Zhou Zhimin quickly smiled apologetically.
Huang Meili looked at him sideways. Hungry? Do you even have the ability?
These words poked at Zhou Zhimin's sore spot. His face darkened. If I didn't have the goods, did our three kids pop out of the cracks in a stone?
Zhou Zhimin, what do you mean by that? Huang Meili immediately got anxious. She grabbed a brush block from the stove and started hitting him with it.
Zhou Zhimin knew she had pent-up anger in her heart, so he didn't argue with her, just dodging with a cheeky grin.
I didn't mean anything! I'm just saying, we've had three kids, which proves my abilities are just fine. It's just that lately... I've been tired.
Huang Meili glared at him, muttering, You used to be fine, but now it's like you haven't eaten a full meal. You don't look like half a man!
A man fears hearing these words the most, especially being despised by his own wife.
Huang Meili nagged about it often. The more she nagged, the less confidence Zhou Zhimin had, making him even more useless.
Feeling suffocated in his heart, he said, Meili, can't you give me a little confidence? If I were like Wang Jieshi, you would have packed up and run away long ago, right?
Mentioning Wang Jieshi actually made Huang Meili feel a bit more balanced. Li Chuntao's life was much harder than hers.
She had to shoulder all the work in the house and the fields alone, and there wasn't even a trace of warmth under the covers. It was practically living like a widow.
You've got that wrong, she said crossly. If you were like Wang Jieshi, I wouldn't have married you in the first place!
She paused, then curled her lip in disdain. "Wang Jieshi is completely useless. Do you really think that wretched woman Li Chuntao can stay faithful? She hooked up with Lao Er a long time ago!"
Zhou Zhimin frowned. "Stop talking nonsense!"
Huang Meili let out a sneer. "He is a single, rugged man, built as strong as an ox. He spends every day with Li Chuntao and even helps her with her chores. Do you think he is some kind of living saint? Only a fool would believe that!"
