The wheels of the handcart rolled over the bumpy dirt road, jolting Liu Cuilan so much that she kept groaning in pain.
Zhou Zhijun gripped his bicycle handlebars tightly with both hands, his feet planted on the ground, and his eyes as cold as winter icicles. Get out of the way.
Wang Hailong stiffened his neck and shouted, Get out of the way? Why should we? Did your family build this road?
I will say it one more time, get out of the way! Zhou Zhijun's voice was not loud, but it carried a ruthless edge.
Instead of stepping aside, Wang Haihu pulled the cart rope tightly over his shoulder and slowly sauntered forward with a swaggering gait.
Chun Tao sat on the bicycle, her hands tightly gripping the edge of the back seat, her heart pounding wildly.
Hearing Zhou Zhijun's voice, Liu Cuilan hated him so much she almost ground her teeth to pieces.
Her face instantly turned livid, and she abruptly sat up on the handcart.
Seeing that Chun Tao was actually sitting on the back of Zhou Zhijun's bicycle, her anger immediately flared up.
She stretched out a bony finger, pointing tremblingly at Chun Tao, spitting as she yelled, You shameless slut! You vixen! Wang Jieshi is still lying in the hospital, and you do not even care, yet you are having an affair at home! A jinx like you, why do you not just die!
These words were like a poisoned awl, viciously stabbing into Chun Tao's heart.
She trembled all over, her face as white as a sheet. With quivering lips, she stumbled down from the bicycle.
Liu Cuilan, watch your mouth! What did I, Li Chun Tao, do wrong? How have I ever let you down? When Wang Jieshi eloped with that wild woman, why did you not say anything? He did such a wicked thing, and ending up like this now is purely his own fault!
Chun Tao's voice was not loud, but it carried a desperate stubbornness, every word revealing the grievances she had suppressed for so long.
Zhou Zhijun turned his head and cast her an approving glance. This girl was becoming more and more courageous.
Liu Cuilan screamed in anger, jumped down from the handcart, and scolded with her hands on her hips, Li Chun Tao, give you an inch and you take a mile. Just because no one in my family has been watching you these past few days, you have forgotten your place?
While cursing, she bent down, grabbed a fist-sized clod of dirt from the roadside, and raised her hand to throw it at Chun Tao.
Liu Cuilan, do not push it! Zhou Zhijun shouted loudly, then turned his head and roared at Wang Haihu, Make way!
Wang Haihu shuddered in fear, his legs going soft. Just as he was about to move the handcart aside, Wang Hailong shouted at the top of his lungs, Do not move! Let us see what he can do!
The villagers working in the nearby fields were getting ready to head home. Hearing the commotion, they all gathered around carrying their hoes, gossiping over one another.
Listening to the people's discussions, Chun Tao felt so ashamed that her small face turned pale and flushed.
Zhou Zhijun felt a pang of heartache and roared at the onlookers, What are you looking at? Do you have nothing better to do? Go do what you need to do!
The onlookers shrank their necks at his shout, but no one left; they were all waiting to watch the drama unfold.
Wang Haihu scanned the crowd, then suddenly raised his voice and shouted at Chun Tao, Li Chun Tao! I will go to the commune tomorrow to report you, and have the security team arrest you and parade you through the streets!
Zhou Zhijun's face instantly darkened. Wang Haihu, a good dog does not block the way. Get out of the way right now!
I will not, let us see what you can do to me! Wang Haihu clamored with a stiff neck, though his momentum had weakened a bit.
Zhou Zhijun could not be bothered to waste any more words on him. He shoved the bicycle handlebars into Chun Tao's hands and stepped over to the handcart in two strides.
He bent down, grabbed the sides of the cart tightly with both hands, and with a sudden burst of strength, he flipped the handcart over. Get out of the way!
He yelled at the people watching the commotion by the roadside. Those few people were so frightened they quickly dodged aside. Before they could even steady their feet, they heard a loud crash as the handcart tumbled into the dirt ditch by the road.
The cart rope was still hanging on Wang Haihu's shoulder. He had no time to untie it and was dragged down with it, falling flat on his back.
Zhou Zhijun, you bastard! Wang Haihu climbed up with red eyes, wiped the mud off his face, and lunged at Zhou Zhijun howling.
Before he even got close, Zhou Zhijun lifted his leg and delivered a swift kick right to his chest.
Wang Haihu let out a muffled groan, staggered back a few steps, and landed hard on his rear, unable to catch his breath for a long time.
Wang Hailong rubbed his fists, wanting to step forward and help, but his feet did not dare to move forward; instead, he took two steps back.
Zhou Zhijun dusted the dirt off his hands, took the bicycle back from Chun Tao, swung his long leg over it, and patted the back seat. Get on, let us go!
From the corner of her eye, Chun Tao caught a glimpse of Wang Xiaohong. She saw that her eyes were red, staring blankly at the ground, completely motionless.
They had not seen each other for just two days, yet she seemed like a completely different person.
Chun Tao opened her mouth, wanting to say something to her, but her lips moved for a long time without making a single sound.
Chun Tao lifted her leg and sat on the back of the bicycle. Zhou Zhijun pedaled hard, and they rode away.
From behind came Liu Cuilan's furious curses, You bitch! You shameless slut! My Wang Jieshi is still lying in the hospital, and here you are at home seducing wild men...
Zhou Zhijun looked back at Chun Tao. Seeing her red eyes and the grievance suppressed at the corners of her mouth, he comforted her in a low voice, It is alright now.
Chun Tao raised her bloodshot eyes, her voice choking. Brother Zhijun... a person like Liu Cuilan definitely will not let this go!
Zhou Zhijun held the handlebars steadily with one hand, reached back with the other, and tightly grasped Chun Tao's small hand. From now on, you will live at my house. With me here, no one will dare touch a single hair on your head!
Chun Tao stayed at the Zhou family's house, but in her heart, she kept worrying about Wang Xiaohong.
After finishing her soup, she went over there. The kitchen door was open, and no lamp was lit. By the dim moonlight, she saw Wang Xiaohong sitting on a stool in a daze.
Xiaohong? Chun Tao called out to her in a hushed voice. Why did you not light the lamp? Have you had any soup?
Wang Xiaohong did not say a word, not even lifting her eyelids, as if she had not heard.
Chun Tao felt around for the matches on the stove, lit the kerosene lamp, and scooped out some flour, preparing to roll out a bowl of noodles for her.
Sister-in-law, I want to ask you something, and you have to tell me the truth! Wang Xiaohong suddenly spoke, her voice as hard and abrasive as a stone.
The rolling pin in Chun Tao's hands paused. Her heart was in turmoil, not knowing what she was going to ask, only feeling incredibly anxious.
Xiaohong, what do you want to ask?
Is there really something going on between you and Uncle Zhijun?
Chun Tao's heart skipped a beat. She had originally thought that Wang Xiaohong resented her because her brother had been arrested. She never expected that she was also suspicious of her and Zhou Zhijun.
For a moment, she did not know how to answer. She held it in for a long time before whispering, Xiaohong, there is nothing.
Wang Xiaohong abruptly turned her head, her gaze like two steel needles piercing straight into Chun Tao's face. Really?
Chun Tao felt extremely guilty and did not dare to meet her eyes.
Wang Xiaohong suddenly stood up and grabbed Chun Tao's arm, her tone full of interrogation.
If there is really nothing, why are you staying at his house? And what were the two of you doing today?
Just at that moment, Zhou Zhijun's deep voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Wang Xiaohong's hand instantly froze.
