Afterward, Zhou Dana lay on the bed like a dead fish, not moving an inch.
Huang Meili clung to his arm, acting spoiled. "Tomorrow, when you go to town, you have to buy me that ring!"
Zhou Dana stayed silent, lying there playing dead.
"Did you hear me?" Huang Meili gave him a hard shove. "You had your fun, so don't think you can just back out!"
"Buying a ring isn't like buying turnips or cabbages. One costs a dozen or so bucks.
A thing that expensive—your girl threw it away, and now you want me to buy you another? You think I run a bank?"
He had already drained his savings over Zhou Pandi's matter. Where would he find spare cash to buy Huang Meili a ring?
His son was in the city for high school, and tuition and living expenses all cost money, didn't they?
"What? Zhou Dana, are you trying to pull up your pants and pretend nothing happened?"
Huang Meili sat up sharply and pushed him again. "If you don't buy it, I'll tell Wang Jinzhi about us!"
"You stubborn woman, always thinking up nonsense! Go ahead and tell her. She won't believe you!"
"She won't believe me? Then I'll go to the commune and report you! I'll say you used your little bit of power to ruin my innocence.
The crackdown is on right now, and they'll drag you to a struggle session. You'll never be able to hold your head up again!"
The political crackdown was fierce. Huang Meili wasn't just bluffing. If she made a scene at the commune, he'd be arrested without needing witnesses or evidence.
But he had no money for a ring, and even if he did, he wouldn't waste it like this. For now, he just had to string Huang Meili along, stalling day by day.
"What's the rush? I didn't say I wouldn't buy it," he said, reaching out to touch her.
"You know how much Pandi's trouble cost. Staying in the county hospital was like drinking money—every last bit of our savings got poured into it.
A ring costs over ten bucks. Where am I supposed to get that money now? Give me some time. When I scrape it together, I'll buy it for you right away."
"I can wait, but Zhou Zhaodi is breathing down my neck. What am I supposed to do?"
Huang Meili huffed. "Unless you go talk to her and make her stop harassing me. Then I won't push you."
"Fine, I'll talk to her tomorrow!"
Huang Meili didn't really insist on the ring. If only Zhou Zhaodi would let it go, she'd drop the matter too.
Everyone said women were the ones who lost out in these sexual matters, but Huang Meili didn't see it that way. She figured both sides were just having fun—no one was losing or gaining.
Being coaxed by Zhou Dana, Huang Meili got interested again. But Zhou Dana was sixty years old. How could he muster the energy for another round?
Sensing her mood, he quickly let go of her and urged, "You'd better head back. Don't let Zhimin wake up and get suspicious!"
Huang Meili didn't want to leave. Zhou Dana was too worn out, so he had to find other ways to satisfy her.
Huang Meili rolled her eyes and complained, "The first time we were together, you had your way with me again and again. Now you're getting weaker every time. Are you tired of me already?"
Complaints aside, Huang Meili didn't dwell on it. She dressed and hurried off.
Zhou Dana never did go talk to Zhou Zhaodi. The next morning, just as Huang Meili and Zhou Zhimin were about to head to the fields, Zhou Zhaodi stopped them.
"Huang Meili, you have to buy me that ring today. I'm done waiting!"
"I've been busy planting wheat and rapeseed in the fields. When have I had time to go to town? Once the farm work is done, I'll buy it right away!"
Huang Meili cursed Zhou Dana in her heart. That man's promises were worse than hot air.
That ring—Zhou Zhaodi had found it while cutting grass. It was muddy at first, but it got shinier the more she wiped it. She'd already decided it was a valuable old piece.
"My ring isn't some ordinary one. It's worth a lot. I've already been generous by not asking you to replace it with an exact match.
If you keep dragging your feet, don't blame me for being rude!"
Huang Meili's chest ached with anger. She wanted to spill everything about her and Zhou Dana right there. But breaking the pot to pieces wouldn't do either of them any good.
Zhou Zhimin quickly stepped in to smooth things over. He spoke gently to Zhou Zhaodi. "Don't worry. Once the fieldwork is done, even if I have to sell everything I own, I'll pay for your ring..."
With his smooth tongue, he managed to send Zhou Zhaodi off.
Before leaving, Zhou Zhaodi threw out a warning: "If you break your word, don't expect any courtesy from me!"
As soon as the fieldwork finished, Zhou Zhaodi came knocking for the ring.
Huang Meili had no choice but to go to Zhou Dana and ask him to reason with Zhou Zhaodi.
But Zhou Zhaodi wouldn't budge. "That ring of mine is an antique. A worker once offered me fifty bucks for it, and I refused to sell. And then that little brat Zhou Xiaoying threw it down the well. She has to pay me back!"
"Her family is dirt poor. They can barely feed themselves. How can they afford to pay you back?" Zhou Dana tried to reason.
"I don't care. She can't pay? That doesn't mean this is over!"
Zhou Dana wanted to kick her, but he held back, seeing her pregnant belly.
He regretted it bitterly. If only he'd never gotten involved with Huang Meili, he wouldn't be stuck in this mess.
Over on the East Mountain.
Under Chun Tao's careful nursing under Granny Zhou, her complexion had improved greatly, and she'd even put on some weight.
After planting the wheat and rapeseed, Zhou Zhijun didn't dare linger. He rushed back to the East Mountain that very night.
When he saw Chun Tao, her belly was noticeably bigger. His heart raced with excitement. "Chun, let me touch it!"
As he reached out for her belly, Granny Zhou was still sitting nearby. Chun Tao blushed fiercely and slapped his hand away.
Granny Zhou laughed and smoothed things over. "Tao's health is much better than before, and the baby's growing more every day. Next spring, you'll be a father!"
"Mom, she's only five months along, and her belly's this big. Could it be twins?" Zhou Zhijun's face lit up with joy.
Granny Zhou nodded. "Exactly. Only five months and she's already showing this much. I'm thinking the same thing!"
Chun Tao felt both happy and nervous. Part of her hoped it was twins, but she couldn't shake a strange unease. Her palms were sweating.
Zhou Zhijun didn't stay long on the East Mountain. He immediately took Granny Zhou home and then carried half a bag of flour back to the East Mountain.
Huang Meili and Zhou Zhimin were weeding in the vegetable garden. When they saw Granny Zhou digging for sweet potatoes in the field, Huang Meili curled her lip. "They must've hidden Li Chuntao at a relative's house!"
"At which relative's?"
"Somewhere remote, like a mountain ravine or something."
What Huang Meili said sparked a thought in Zhou Zhimin's mind. He blurted out a place.
Huang Meili slapped her forehead. "Oh! Maybe she really is hidden there!"
When Zhou Zhaodi showed up again demanding the ring, Huang Meili's eyes flickered. She leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "I know where Li Chuntao is hiding. Want to know?"
Zhou Zhaodi's eyes lit up, and she pressed for answers. "Where? Tell me!"
"Do we have a deal? You forget about the ring, and I'll tell you where Li Chuntao is."
Zhou Zhaodi paused, staring at Huang Meili as if she'd grown a second head. "Huang Meili, you're dreaming! What's that got to do with me?"
"Oh, it does. If it weren't for her, you and Zhou Zhijun would've been together by now." Huang Meili lowered her voice and leaned in to whisper a few more words in Zhou Zhaodi's ear.
When these words came out, Zhou Zhaodi was so furious that her lungs felt like they were about to explode. Her face turned ashen. "Are you telling the truth?"
"I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be fake?"
Zhou Zhaodi cursed through gritted teeth, "That shameless slut, Li Chuntao! I'm going to find her and drag her to the commune for an abortion. Let's see how she keeps flaunting herself!"
She grabbed Huang Meili's arm and shook it violently. "I don't want the ring anymore. Just tell me, where the hell is she hiding?"
"She must be at—"
Before she could finish the sentence, footsteps were heard.
Huang Meili looked up and, upon seeing who was approaching, felt a surge of delight. Perfect timing.
