Just at this critical moment, a sharp shout suddenly came from behind.
"Stop!"
This voice was like a sudden clap of thunder on flat ground, shocking the insects in the deep gully into an abrupt silence, and even the rustling sound of the night wind blowing through the thatch weakened a bit.
Wang Haichao was so scared that his hand trembled, and the beam of the flashlight abruptly swept toward the source of the voice, illuminating several dark figures standing at the edge of the gully.
The man in the lead was tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and a fierce aura gathered between his brows. Who else could it be but Zhou Zhijun?
At this moment, only one thought remained in his mind: "I'm doomed!" His legs were shaking like vibrators, and he almost slumped onto the ground.
"Zhou... Zhou Zhijun? Why are you back?"
Wang Haichao's voice went out of tune, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back, soaking his coarse cloth jacket.
He couldn't figure out why Zhou Zhijun, who hadn't made a move for days, would suddenly appear out of nowhere.
Wang Haichao stumbled and turned around, wanting to run away, but was caught by two militiamen behind Zhou Zhijun.
Wang Haibao's hand froze on Chuntao's waistband, his eyes bulging as if they were going to pop out.
The foul words that were about to jump out of his mouth were abruptly choked in his throat, burning so much that he rolled his eyes like he had swallowed a hot sweet potato.
Zhou Zhijun took two steps to him, grabbed his arm with his iron-pincer-like big hand, and lifted him up like a wilted chick.
Another punch smashed hard onto Wang Haibao's face, "Son of a bitch! How dare you bully an innocent woman!"
Wang Haibao screamed in pain, and a nosebleed instantly gushed out, smearing all over his face and dripping down his chin onto the ground.
He tried to struggle, but Zhou Zhijun held his arm firmly, digging his elbow into his back, causing a piercing pain with every movement.
Wang Haichao, on the side, was so scared that he wet his pants, but he still talked tough, "Zhou Zhijun, mind your own business! This is our Wang family's domestic affair..."
"Domestic affair?" Zhou Zhijun sneered, standing up and stepping on Wang Haibao's back with one foot, while kicking Wang Haichao's knee pit with the other.
Wang Haichao felt the pain and fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead hitting a hard clod of dirt, raising a bruise.
Zhou Zhijun bent down and snatched the flashlight from his hand. The beam shone straight on his pale face, and his tone was as cold as well water in winter.
"Drugging someone unconscious and carrying them to this desolate wilderness to do such shady, filthy deeds, and you dare call it a domestic affair?"
As he spoke, he looked at Chuntao, who had been thrown aside, and his heart ached.
While several militiamen escorted the Wang brothers, Zhou Zhijun walked quickly to Chuntao, took off his coarse cloth jacket, and gently covered her thin body.
"Chuntao, Chuntao, wake up..." he said, gently patting her cheek with his hand.
The night wind in the deep gully carried the dampness of a summer night, making Chuntao's eyelashes flutter.
She opened her eyes groggily and saw Zhou Zhijun's face. She was startled at first, and then her body suddenly curled up into a ball, her eyes full of terror, "..."
Tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes, "Where... where is this?"
Zhou Zhijun looked at the little woman, who was like a frightened bird, and his heart ached even more.
He held her hand tightly and said in a deep voice, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. No one can hurt you."
On the other side, Wang Haibao was still struggling, "Let me go! Or else I won't let you off!"
Zhou Zhijun turned to look at him, his eyes as cold as sharpened ice blades, "Won't let me off? Today's matter has only just begun!"
He gave a look to the militiamen, "Tie these two beasts up tightly! Take them back to the village.
And that coward Wang Jieshi, today, in front of the whole village, we will settle this score properly!"
Two militiamen went to untie the hemp ropes around their waists. Just as they were about to make a move, Wang Haibao, relying on his strength, violently broke free from the militiamen's hands and started running out of the gully.
Zhou Zhijun stood up with a "swish," swept a long leg fiercely, and Wang Haibao let out a miserable scream of "Ouch," falling flat on his face, even loosening his front teeth.
Zhou Zhijun stepped on his back with a big foot and said coldly, "Death is at your door, and you still want to run?"
He picked up the hemp rope on the ground, tied Wang Haibao's arms behind his back in a few quick moves, and then lifted him up.
Wang Haichao was also tied up tightly by the militiamen. Knowing that he couldn't escape today, he stopped struggling.
He figured that Zhou Zhijun would definitely send them to the commune, which meant going to jail. He trembled even more violently and didn't dare to talk tough anymore, only begging for mercy.
"Brother Zhijun, we are all fellow villagers, just let us go! We will never dare to do it again, and we brothers will all listen to you!
Besides, if this gets out, it will be bad for Jieshi's family's reputation..."
"Shut up!" Zhou Zhijun's gaze coldly scraped across his face. Wang Haichao shivered in fear, and the crotch of his pants got wet again.
Chuntao sat on the ground, her mind completely blank, having no idea what had just happened.
Several militiamen escorted the Wang brothers back to the village first. Zhou Zhijun squatted down and helped Chuntao up from the ground.
He helped her tidy up her messy hair, buttoned her up, and tightened her waistband.
"Brother Zhijun, what exactly is going on?" Chuntao's lips trembled, her voice as faint as a mosquito's.
Zhou Zhijun pulled her into his arms, his big hand patting her back, "Tao, it's alright now. You can escape this sea of suffering from now on..."
Zhou Zhijun carried Chuntao on his back and walked towards Wangjiazhai.
The night road was bumpy, but he walked exceptionally steadily, explaining the whole story to her along the way. Listening to him, Chuntao felt a chill down her spine, her hands tightly clutching his clothes.
She had never dreamed that such an absurd thing would happen to her.
"Wang Jieshi is really not a thing. He actually..." Chuntao bit her lip, her eyes red and bloodshot.
"Tao, Wang Jieshi is worse than a beast. This time, I'll send him to the commune too. I'm going to save you from this fiery pit!"
Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard in Nangang, several militiamen tied Wu Jinshan with hemp ropes and escorted him toward Wangjiazhai.
The villagers of Wangjiazhai never expected that such a big drama would unfold in the middle of the night.
The loudspeaker at the edge of the village suddenly crackled, broadcasting the smoky voice of the village party secretary, Zhou Dana.
"Emergency situation, emergency situation. Attention all villagers, please come to the brigade headquarters for a meeting immediately..."
The weather was muggy, and the villagers were already sleeping poorly. With the loudspeaker shouting, all the men, women, and children in the village woke up.
"What is Zhou Dana going crazy about in the middle of the night?"
Liu Cuilan rolled over, muttering curses, grabbed a palm-leaf fan on the mat, and fanned herself vigorously.
Immediately after, Zhou Zhijun's voice came out of the loudspeaker. Liu Cuilan's heart skipped a beat, and she scrambled up from the torn mat.
Wasn't Zhou Zhijun away for work? Tonight, Wang Haichao and his brothers sent Li Chuntao to Nangang... Could it be that Zhou Zhijun caught them?
Liu Cuilan's heart instantly leaped into her throat. She slid into her plastic sandals and ran out into the yard.
Wang Haihu and Wang Hailong, who were sleeping on the cooling mat in the yard, also woke up.
Wang Haihu rubbed his eyes and cursed, "Fucking Zhou Dana, ruining my sleep!"
"Listen, isn't that Zhou Zhijun's voice?" Wang Hailong frowned, straining his ears. "Why is he back?"
"Come on, let's go see!" Liu Cuilan said, stepping out of the courtyard. The two brothers sauntered out after her.
Outside, lights were flicking on in every house. Villagers, throwing coats over their shoulders and shuffling in their shoes, were heading toward the village headquarters in twos and threes.
The sound of footsteps, yawns, muttered curses, and the wailing of abruptly awakened children all blended together, creating a restless, unsettling clamor.
"What on earth is the village secretary doing in the middle of the night?" someone hollered.
"Zhou Zhijun is there too. Do you think they caught a thief?"
"Probably not the kind of thief who steals things, but the kind who steals someone's wife..."
The crowd chuckled and gossiped, their pace quickening with anticipation.
Liu Cuilan followed amidst the crowd, not daring to utter a single word, her palms slick with sweat.
When the villagers finally reached the courtyard of the headquarters, they all gasped in collective shock. The chatter died in an instant.
