Grandma Shen saw Zhou Zhaodi and was originally going to greet her, but she didn't expect her to say such things.
Anyone with eyes could tell that her words were directed at Chuntao.
She wondered what kind of grudge there was between them.
But Grandma Shen knew Chuntao's temperament best; even if there was bad blood with someone, it definitely wouldn't be her fault.
At first glance, this woman was no pushover. Chuntao might be afraid of her, but this old woman was not.
Grandma Shen's gaze toward Zhou Zhaodi grew a bit colder. She wanted to snap back, but ultimately suppressed the anger in her heart.
She could only be here for a moment, not for a lifetime. If a real fight broke out, she could just wash her hands and leave, but the one left in a difficult position would be Chuntao.
Zhou Zhaodi was always picking on Chuntao for no reason, making snide remarks whenever she saw her.
Although Chuntao had a soft personality, she had her limits. She paused slightly, wanting to curse back.
But on second thought, her grandmother was right there. If they really made a scene, it would look bad for her grandmother, so she held it in.
Both grandmother and granddaughter were thinking of each other, gritting their teeth and swallowing their resentment.
There were no adults at Zhou Zhiguo's house, only Zhou Xiaobao and a group of children playing in the mud in the yard.
Chuntao put down a bag of candy and a box of fruit sticks, instructing Zhou Xiaobao, When your parents come back, tell them that Grandma Shen from Lijia Village came to visit.
They then went to Zhou Zhimin's house, but his door was also locked tight.
Chuntao figured Aunt Zhou should be back from gathering vegetables, so they turned back to check, but the gate was still locked. The grandmother and granddaughter had no choice but to go home.
Hearing the grunting of piglets in the pigpen, Grandma Shen walked over.
Looking at the litter of chubby piglets, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.
Chuntao's life was so hard, but these little guys could add a bit of vitality to her bitter days.
Tao, these piglets are growing really well. How many months has it been? It's about time they left the pen!
Over two months! Chuntao also walked to the side of the pigpen. Looking at the lively piglets, her heart was filled with a sense of security.
Now is the perfect time to sell them. The wheat harvest is coming soon. Sell the pigs first, and it'll be easier for you then!
Grandma Shen said, looking at Chuntao's wrist again, You still need to rest this properly. How about I go back and talk to your brother, have him come over and take them to the market to sell!
Yeah, it would be good if he could find the time to help me sell them. They are ready, and when the harvest gets busy, I won't have time to take care of them!
Chuntao hoped her brother could come help, otherwise she would have to trouble Zhou Zhijun again.
When she was in the hospital, Zhou Zhijun had contributed both effort and money. After coming back, he was busy with the work in her fields, not even having time for his own farm work.
Zhou Zhijun was like a basin of charcoal fire in the dead of winter, bringing warmth to Chuntao's freezing heart.
She was grateful for his kindness in her heart, but couldn't say it out loud.
Yet that heavy debt of gratitude was like a mountain, pressing down on her until she couldn't breathe.
It was exactly because of this endless debt of gratitude that she lacked the confidence to firmly reject Zhou Zhijun when he bullied her.
She wanted to completely cut ties with him, but she couldn't do without him for many things.
The two ropes in Chuntao's heart kept twisting together: on one side, remembering his kindness filled her heart with gratitude;
on the other side, the fear of being bullied was like a thorn in her heart, making her eyes red whenever she thought about it.
She hated herself for having no backbone, and hated Zhou Zhijun for giving her a piece of candy only to serve her a bowl of bitter medicine.
Seeing that it was almost noon, Chuntao picked up the bamboo basket by the kitchen door, preparing to go to the melon field to cut some chives, then come back and stir-fry them with a couple of eggs.
I'll go too! Grandma Shen took the basket from her hand, and the two walked toward the East Ditch melon field.
Before they even arrived, they saw someone in the melon field. Looking closer, it was Aunt Zhou.
Aunt Zhou was pulling weeds in the melon field.
Godmother! Chuntao's nose tingled, her voice trembling.
Aunt Zhou looked up and saw them, pressing one hand against her aching lower back as she stood up.
The sun was so bright, Aunt Zhou's face was covered in sweat, and the cotton shirt on her back was soaked through.
Chuntao was full of gratitude but couldn't speak; her eyes instantly turned red.
Grandma Shen stepped forward and tightly held Aunt Zhou's mud-covered hands, her own eyes growing moist.
Godmother of my granddaughter, we went to your house just now but didn't see you. The neighbors said you went to the vegetable patch... It's so hot, why are you pulling weeds here?
Everyone knows my granddaughter has had a hard life. Meeting a family of good people like yours is truly her blessing!
Her having this accident caused you so much trouble again... As she spoke, her voice began to waver.
Why are you saying this? Chuntao is my daughter! It's what I should do! Aunt Zhou's eyes also turned red.
Grandma Shen said, Go rest under the shade of the trees at the edge of the field, I'll pull them!
Aunt Zhou had done a lot of hard labor in her youth, and now that she was older, aches in her waist and legs had caught up with her. Pulling weeds these past few days had exhausted her, but she still forced herself to keep going.
She said, There's only a little bit left. Once I finish, it'll be clean! Aunt Zhou refused to rest. The few of them finished pulling the remaining weeds before heading back.
Returning from the melon field, Chuntao delivered the gifts to Zhou Zhimin's house.
Huang Meili didn't give her a good look, but Zhou Zhimin was very polite and absolutely refused to accept them.
Chuntao said, It's nothing special, just a little token of my grandma's appreciation!
Coming back from Zhou Zhimin's house, she went to Aunt Zhou's house again. Aunt Zhou naturally understood Grandma Shen's intentions and accepted them, even inviting Grandma Shen over for lunch.
No thanks, Godmother, I'm heading back! She put down the things and left.
Don't go just yet! Aunt Zhou called after her, clutching a few eggs in her hand. Take these eggs back to stir-fry with your chives!
We have some at home! Chuntao declined and hurried home.
Walking into the yard, she saw Zhou Zhijun standing by the pigpen. His pant legs and cloth shoes were still stained with mud, clearly showing he had just returned from the fields.
Grandma Shen was also there, discussing the matter of selling the piglets.
Hearing her return, Zhou Zhijun turned his head to look at her and said, The sweet potato vines have been turned over, and the trenches are gathered. The oats in the field have also been weeded.
While the rapeseed isn't quite ripe yet, tomorrow I'll take the pigs to Wanggang Street to sell.
The street there is big and crowded. If things go smoothly, they can be sold out in a day!
Grandma Shen quickly said, I was thinking of having her brother come help sell them, so we wouldn't have to trouble you!
What trouble? It's fine if I go! Don't make Brother Dazhuang run back and forth!
Second Brother, this family owes so much to you. If it weren't for your help, what would she do on her own?
Tao often tells me how good you and her Godmother are to her. It's truly her blessing to have met you...
She won't be able to repay your family's kindness in a lifetime!
The corners of Zhou Zhijun's mouth curled up, his tone gentle, Grandaunt, I'm her brother, it's what I should do! I might not be able to help with much else, but I can certainly put in some physical effort...
Chuntao suspected that in his past life, he was an old working donkey; his physical strength seemed endless.
Grandma Shen looked at Chuntao and said, Tao, while it's not too busy right now, let's trouble your Brother Zhijun to make a trip tomorrow and sell the pigs in Wanggang!
Wanggang was over twenty li away from Wangjiazhai. Even if things went smoothly, they wouldn't finish selling until the late afternoon, and it would be dark before they made it home.
Chuntao was afraid he would go crazy again and take advantage of the dark to bully her out in the middle of nowhere.
Thinking of this, her heart began to race with anxiety, but since he was helping her sell her pigs, it wouldn't do for her not to go.
Grandma Shen went to the outhouse, and Zhou Zhijun turned his head to look at Chuntao. Tomorrow we're going to Wanggang to sell the pigs. It's a long way, so we have to leave early...
The thought of going to sell pigs with Zhou Zhijun tomorrow left Chuntao's mind in a chaotic whirl. She tossed and turned until midnight, unable to fall asleep.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to sleep, but those shameless images kept creeping into her mind, refusing to be chased away.
The day she was discharged from the hospital... Zhou Zhijun had ridden his bicycle up the desolate slope and set her down in the little woods...
The scene was frighteningly vivid, every single detail flashing right before her eyes.
She gave a sudden shudder. Her chest ached as if a long, sharp needle had been driven straight into her heart!
Yet, tangled within that pain was something else—like a faint, teasing itch, or an inexplicable, tingling warmth.
