After eating and drinking her fill, Chuntao suddenly remembered that Zhou Zhijun had paid for all her expenses when she was hospitalized in the county town.
He had also given her the money for the April Eighth temple fair. The money from selling the piglets definitely wouldn't be enough to pay him back, but she couldn't just not pay him.
She took out the handkerchief wrapped around the money, untied it, and handed the cash inside to Zhou Zhijun.
"Brother Zhijun, take this money for now. I'll pay you the rest when I have it!"
She had been so docile last night, but now she was suddenly trying to pay him back. It left a sour taste in Zhou Zhijun's mouth.
But on second thought, if she kept the money, she wouldn't spend it on herself anyway. He might as well take it and spend it on her later.
Zhou Zhijun took the money and said, "I'll hold onto it, then, and spend it on my wife later!"
He stuffed the money into his pocket and started pulling the handcart. He didn't let Chuntao get off until they were almost at Wangjia Zhai.
Chuntao had rested the whole way. Having eaten meat buns and drunk some tofu pudding, she had finally regained a sliver of strength, but her legs still felt like jelly.
When they reached the North Field, she saw that her family's rapeseed had turned completely yellow. Knowing it had to be harvested tomorrow, she resolved to push through even if she didn't have an ounce of strength left.
Zhou Zhijun also noticed Chuntao's rapeseed and said, "Go back and get a good sleep. I'll come over in the late afternoon to cut the rapeseed for you!"
As they drew closer to the village, Chuntao's heart tightened, as if gripped by an invisible hand.
It was nearly noon, and there were still quite a few people working in the fields on both sides of the main road.
Some were bent over harvesting rapeseed, some were squatting in the furrows turning sweet potato vines, and others were carrying bamboo baskets, pulling out wild oat spikes in the wheat fields.
Early yesterday morning, when she and Zhou Zhijun left for Wanggang, many people in the fields had seen them.
Seeing them just now returning with the handcart, the villagers' gazes were indeed strange, sticking to the two of them like glue.
Zhou Zhijun's face was taut, and no one dared to step forward and ask any questions.
Liu Cuilan and Wang Haichao, along with his brothers, were also in the fields.
Seeing the two return, Liu Cuilan immediately wanted to jump up and throw a fit. But the thought of how miserably Zhou Ergan had been beaten by Zhou Zhijun sent a chill down her spine.
She only dared to curse in a low voice, "Shameless slut! How does it take two days to sell a pig? She definitely went out to fool around! During that half a month she was hospitalized in the city, who knows how many times she was kicked out, otherwise why would he take care of her for nothing? He even gave her money and bought her clothes!"
Wang Haichao glared at her and said gruffly, "Is this all you're good for? What's the use of cursing behind their backs? Besides, even if you know something's going on between them, they won't admit it unless you catch them in bed."
"Then what do you suggest? Can't I just curse a bit to vent my anger?" Liu Cuilan retorted stubbornly.
"Sure, why not? But that won't solve the root of the problem! Right now, the most important thing is to get Chuntao pregnant as soon as possible!"
Hearing Wang Haichao say this, Wang Haibao quickly leaned in and asked slyly in a low voice, "Big brother, when do we make our move? I promise I can plant the seed on the first try!"
"Didn't I tell you? It's not your turn for this!" Wang Haichao said with a dark face.
Wang Haibao was unconvinced and yelled stubbornly, "When we dragged Wang Jieshi to the East Mountain, you promised me! If you won't let me do it, do you want to do it yourself?"
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?" Wang Haichao glared at him fiercely, and Wang Haibao finally shut his mouth resentfully.
Wang Haichao had actually already explained the complete plan to him—there would be plenty of opportunities when the time came. But Wang Haibao was already burning with impatience and couldn't wait.
He turned his head toward the main road, his eyes glued to Chuntao's back. He swallowed hard and turned back to urge Wang Haichao.
"Big brother, you have to hurry up! My heart feels like a cat is scratching at it every day. You're a full man who doesn't know what it's like to be starving!"
Was Wang Haichao not anxious? He was more anxious than anyone.
When he first got together with Liu Cuilan, aside from liking her hard work and ability to support herself, he also had his eyes on Chuntao.
He originally thought that if Liu Cuilan followed him, Zhou Zhijun would definitely form a grudge against the Wang family, and from then on, they would mind their own business.
Who knew that Zhou Zhijun not only didn't form a grudge, but instead protected Chuntao at every turn. Wang Haichao's wishful thinking completely fell through.
After Wang Jieshi returned, he came up with the scheme of borrowing a seed to have a child.
At first, he thought about doing it himself and letting his younger brothers have a taste too.
Later, he changed his mind, planning to make a sum of money first.
Yesterday, taking advantage of Chuntao and Zhou Zhijun going to Wanggang to sell the pig, Wang Haichao went to discuss it with Wang Jieshi again. "You've taken a lot of medicine by now. I think it's time to put that plan into action!"
Wang Jieshi wasn't stupid either. He knew Wang Haichao wouldn't do anything without a benefit, and he was afraid he would play tricks.
He was even more afraid that if the matter failed and the plan was leaked, Zhou Zhijun would not spare him.
"Why are you in such a hurry? The wheat harvest is coming up soon. Let's talk about it after this busy period!"
"Jieshi, I'm afraid that a long delay will bring trouble! Something big is bound to happen sooner or later! By then, it'll be too late for you to cry!"
Wang Haichao's last sentence ruthlessly poked at Wang Jieshi's sore spot.
"Let me think about it some more!" Wang Jieshi gritted his teeth.
Wang Haichao patted his back and lowered his voice, "Jieshi, then think about it carefully! I'll come by again when I have time. The sooner this is implemented, the sooner you can be at ease!"
Wang Haichao was already worried that the plan would go wrong, and now seeing Zhou Zhijun and Chuntao returning from Wanggang, he felt even more panicked.
As a man, he understood men's minds best, especially the minds of old bachelors.
Don't be fooled by Zhou Zhijun's usual ruthless and quiet demeanor; who knew what he was like behind closed doors.
They hadn't come back last night, so they must have done the deed.
Watching Zhou Zhijun and Chuntao enter the village, he couldn't help but spit and curse, "Damn it, that old hooligan Zhou Zhijun, sticking to a young wife every day. Shameless!"
Liu Cuilan wrinkled her nose and shot back, "You just said I was useless! If you're so capable, why don't you go have a word with Zhou Zhijun?"
Wang Haichao wished he could tear Zhou Zhijun into a million pieces, but he didn't have the guts, let alone the strength.
"Don't provoke me! One day, I'll settle the score with him!"
Liu Cuilan and Wang Haichao's brothers were squeezed into three dilapidated thatched cottages, and she had long been feeling suffocated.
Not only could she not let loose during their nighttime activities, but the three bachelors also eyed her covetously, even peeking at her when she went to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
She had long wanted to build a house and live separately, but without a penny to her name, how could she?
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she said to Wang Haichao, "Didn't Li Chuntao go sell her pigs? I'll go ask her for money to build a house!"
"In your dreams! With Zhou Zhijun's family involved, it'd be a miracle if you got anything!"
It was as if a basin of cold water had been poured over Liu Cuilan's head, and the light in her eyes instantly extinguished.
Zhou Zhijun was simply her nemesis! If he hadn't been protecting her, she would have brought Li Chuntao to heel a long time ago.
However, she still didn't give up, secretly scheming in her heart to get her hands on the money Chuntao made from selling the pigs.
Walking all the way back from the North Field, Chuntao felt as though everyone's gazes were like nails pinning her down, piercing her and making her feel utterly uncomfortable.
When they reached the front gate of Zhou Zhijun's house, Zhou Zhijun suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Tao, you're exhausted. Go back and get some sleep, and don't worry about anything. If anyone dares to cause trouble, let them come to me!"
Chuntao dragged her heavy feet toward her own courtyard, hearing the old sow grunting in the pigpen from a distance.
She went to the kitchen, grabbed the bucket, and headed out to feed the pigs, only to be spotted again by Wang Chunxiao from the west courtyard.
"Oh my, Chuntao, you went to sell pigs yesterday. When did you get back?"
Chuntao knew she was asking a question she already had the answer to. Without looking at her or saying a single word, Chuntao just focused on pouring the slop into the pig trough. Once she was done, she turned and went to the woodshed to scoop out some wheat chaff.
Watching her walk away, Wang Chunxiao curled her lip and muttered under her breath, "Who takes two days to sell pigs? Like hell I'd believe that!"
The news that she had returned from Wanggang together with Zhou Zhijun spread like wildfire, quickly sweeping through the entire Wangjiazhai village.
When Wang Xiaohong returned from the southern fields and reached the water well at the edge of the village, she noticed a few women huddled together, chattering away about something.
The moment they saw her coming, the women snapped their mouths shut. Wang Xiaohong straightened her back and walked right past them without sparing them a single glance.
Wang Chunxiao approached from the opposite direction, carrying water buckets on a shoulder pole, and called out to stop her. "Xiaohong, your sister-in-law is back. Did you know?"
Wang Xiaohong had not been worried at all about Chuntao failing to return the night before.
Zhou Zhijun was highly skilled in martial arts and an upright man. With him around, her sister-in-law was guaranteed to be safe.
She couldn't be bothered to entertain Wang Chunxiao, so she simply turned her face away and pretended not to hear.
Upon returning home, she saw Chuntao in the kitchen, tending the fire and cooking. She called out, "Sister-in-law, you're back! Uncle Zhijun knows martial arts. I knew you would be perfectly fine with him there."
Just as she was speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. Wang Xiaohong turned her head, realizing the person had already reached the kitchen doorway.
When she clearly saw who the visitor was, her eyes instantly lit up, and she was so thrilled she almost jumped for joy.
