Wang Jieshi had a look of disdain on his face. "So what if it belongs to Chuntao?"
Wang Haichao's face immediately tightened, his brows knitting into a deep knot. He hesitated before speaking, "There is something fishy about that handkerchief, I saw it clearly..."
Wang Jieshi knew he was being deliberately mystifying again, so he turned his face away, too lazy to engage.
"I saw a word written on that handkerchief, it was the word Jun!"
Jun? Wang Jieshi instantly reacted, his eyes darkening. "What do you mean?"
"Do you even have to ask? Zhou Zhijun definitely gave this handkerchief to Chuntao..."
Wang Jieshi had long believed that Chuntao was having an affair with Zhou Zhijun, so it made sense that Zhou Zhijun would give her a handkerchief.
But no matter how foolish Chuntao was, she would not go as far as giving the handkerchief to Wang Xiaoming, would she?
"If Zhou Zhijun gave it to her, why would she give it to Xiaoming?" Wang Jieshi's gaze grew even gloomier.
"Chuntao is illiterate, how would she know there was a word on it?" Wang Haichao curled his lips, shifting the conversation back to their old topic.
"While Zhou Zhijun is away from home, we must get this borrowing a child business done!"
Wang Jieshi was feeling conflicted, but unable to withstand Wang Haichao's glib tongue, he finally relented.
"That is more like it!" Wang Haichao patted Wang Jieshi on the shoulder. "To be on the safe side, we will wait a few more days before making a move..."
He laid out his plan flawlessly, as if everything was completely under his control.
Meanwhile, Wang Haibao was already burning with anxiety, constantly urging Wang Haichao, "Big brother, if we do not act soon, that kid Zhou Zhijun will be back!"
"Let me think about it some more..." Wang Haichao frowned, stroking his chin in deep thought for a moment.
"Alright, go inform Wu Jinshan early tomorrow morning. Do not choose Niuzhuang for the location, change it to somewhere else!"
"Change it to where?"
"Nangang. Tell him to find a hidden spot and wait..."
Little did Wang Haichao know, Zhou Zhijun had not gone out to work at all; he was hiding at a relative's house just a few miles away.
He had already secretly dispatched a few trusted militiamen to keep a close eye on the Wang brothers' every move.
At night, with the moonlight completely obscured by dark clouds, Zhou Zhijun snuck back into Wangjia Village under the cover of darkness.
He hunched over and crouched in the shadows of the gable wall of Wang Haichao's house, his eyes shining brightly, terrifyingly sharp.
Over the course of a few days, he had completely figured out the shady dealings of the Wang brothers.
Leaving Wang Haichao's house, he sneaked around to the window of Chuntao's house, holding his breath and perking up his ears to listen to the activity inside.
"Tao, I am sorry. I was a bastard before, and now my guts are green with regret!"
Wang Jieshi's voice was low but every word was clear. "I have no other demands of you. I only beg you to bear me a child, and we can live a good life together!"
Chuntao did not reply; there was only the rustling sound of the bedding.
"Chuntao, I know you hate me."
Wang Jieshi's voice softened a bit. "Do not worry, once you are pregnant with a child, as long as you are not willing, I will never touch you again..."
"Wang Jieshi, stop talking." Chuntao's voice was hoarse, carrying an uncontrollable tremor.
Outside the window, Zhou Zhijun's fists cracked as he clenched them, wishing he could rush in and beat Wang Jieshi to a pulp.
He was useless himself, yet he came up with such a filthy scheme, even wanting to tie Chuntao down for a lifetime. What a complete bastard!
However, these people were like grasshoppers at the end of autumn; they would not be jumping around for much longer!
Zhou Zhijun had been away from Wangjia Village for several days, and Wang Haichao, noticing nothing unusual, decided to make his move.
One day, while Wang Xiaoming and his sister were unloading melons in the fields, Chuntao returned home to make soup. Wang Jieshi dragged a stool and slowly shuffled into the kitchen to help tend the fire.
The weather was scorching hot. After the soup was done, Chuntao ladled the food into a large basin to cool off.
Since Wang Xiaoming had to sleep in the fields to watch over the melons, Chuntao filled a small bowl with noodles, grabbed a steamed bun, and went to the fields to deliver the food, taking the opportunity to call Wang Xiaohong home for soup.
After Chuntao left, Wang Jieshi served two bowls of food, pulled some medicine from his pocket, and with trembling hands, sprinkled it in.
After drinking the soup, Wang Xiaohong did not go to Zhou Hongxia's house. Zhou Hongxia had gone to visit her aunt today.
After feeding the pigs, Wang Xiaohong was so sleepy her eyelids were fighting each other. Yawning, she went to the main room.
Chuntao was stirring batter, preparing to steam buns the next day.
Wang Xiaohong did not say a word. She listlessly shuffled to the main room, lay down on Chuntao's small bed, and fell asleep.
Wang Jieshi lay on the small bed next door, his heart full of apprehension.
These past few days, Chuntao and Wang Xiaohong had been taking turns going with Wang Xiaoming to sell watermelons. Upon returning, they still had to hoe the fields, pull weeds, cook, and wash clothes, leaving them completely exhausted and weak.
Chuntao was also tired and sleepy, her mind groggy. Her hand stirring the batter almost hit the edge of the basin.
After finally finishing the batter, she dragged her feet into the room. Seeing Wang Xiaohong sleeping soundly, she quietly moved to another room, collapsed onto the large bed, and fell into a deep sleep.
In the middle of the night, the Wang brothers sneaked over stealthily. Pushing open the unlatched door of the main room, Wang Haibao rushed into the inner room first.
Wang Jieshi was not asleep. Half-leaning against the headboard, he was panicking intensely. Seeing the two enter, he frowned sharply. "I think... let us just forget it."
"Why are you acting like a woman, so indecisive!" Wang Haibao's eyes instantly turned red with frustration. "I am putting so much effort into helping you, and you..."
Wang Jieshi interrupted him, stiffening his neck and retorting, "Helping me? If there was not a profit in it for you, would you be this invested?"
Furious, Wang Haibao clenched his fists and pointed at Wang Jieshi's nose. "You..." He raised his hand, ready to strike.
"What are you doing?" Wang Haichao quickly pulled him back, lowering his voice to urge him on. "They are still waiting, hurry up!"
He then turned to Wang Jieshi, softening his tone. "Jieshi, doing this, we do have a bit of selfish motive...
Think about it. If this family breaks apart, will all the pressure not fall on your mother?
We are also doing this to lessen your mother's burden, and to lessen our own!"
"We need to go quickly, the sooner we go the sooner we are back!" Wang Haichao gave Wang Haibao a look.
Wang Haibao stopped wasting words, bent down to hoist the unconscious Chuntao onto his shoulder, and sprinted outside.
The two ran wildly southwards. Reaching a deep ditch in the northwest corner of Nangang, Wang Haibao abruptly dumped Chuntao onto the ground.
"Send her to Wu Jinshan first, wait until we get the money in our hands!" Wang Haichao grabbed him to stop him.
Wang Haibao's eyes were already red with lust. He stiffened his neck and roared, "You are a full man who does not know the hunger of a starving man!
I ran all the way here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping, for what? If you do not let me, you can carry this woman yourself!"
Wang Haibao was just a reckless fool. Wang Haichao knew he could not reason with him, so he had to grit his teeth. "Hurry up, do not delay our main business!"
Wang Haichao held a flashlight, its beam landing right on Chuntao's waist. That patch of tender white skin was exceptionally striking in the dark night.
His Adam's apple could not help but bob. He swallowed hard and urged, "Hurry up!..."
Wang Haibao's hands were shaking terribly. He fumbled for a long time before finally managing to untie Chuntao's waistband.
"Little Taotao, tonight let your big brother love you properly..."
