Liu Cuilan and Huang Meili were chatting away in the room, spitting and gesturing animatedly, when Zhou Zhimin came back from the fields, carrying a hoe on his shoulder.
Liu Cuilan was well - known in Wangjiazhai as a real troublemaker. Anyone who got involved with her was bound to end up in a mess. Zhou Zhimin couldn't stand her at all.
Huang Meili was no better. When these two got together, it was a sure sign of trouble.
Zhou Zhimin wore a gloomy face. He ignored Liu Cuilan and turned to stare at Huang Meili. "It's getting dark. Why aren't you making soup right away?"
Liu Cuilan knew Zhou Zhimin disliked her. Since she had already got the information she wanted, she quickly stood up, patted the dust off her buttocks, and left.
After Liu Cuilan left, Huang Meili glared at Zhou Zhimin angrily and then turned around and walked into the kitchen.
Thinking about what Liu Cuilan had said, Huang Meili's anger welled up.
When she was pregnant with triplets, she hadn't slacked off on any of the household or farm chores.
Her mother - in - law had only cooked a few meals for her during the confinement period.
But what about Li Chuntao? Her mother - in - law and Zhou Zhijun had taken turns to take care of her, treating her like a precious gem.
She clenched her fists and sneered inwardly, "Li Chuntao, you think you can hide and give birth secretly, violating the family - planning policy. I may not be able to deal with you, but there are people who can!"
"What did Liu Cuilan come here for?" Zhou Zhimin followed her into the kitchen, sat down to stoke the fire, and couldn't help asking.
"It's none of your business!" Huang Meili replied without looking up from cutting the sweet potatoes, her tone cold and harsh.
She didn't want to say more, afraid that Zhou Zhimin would tip off Zhou Zhijun.
"I can guess even if you don't tell me," Zhou Zhimin said slowly. "It's about Li Chuntao, isn't it?"
As soon as Li Chuntao was mentioned, Huang Meili couldn't hold back her words. All her pent - up grievances came pouring out.
"Li Chuntao is pregnant with the second son's child. And what does the old woman do? She goes to take care of her!
In her eyes, there's only that slut. She doesn't treat me and Wang Haiying as her daughters - in - law at all. Can you just swallow this insult?"
Zhou Zhijun had done something that shamed the family. Instead of scolding him, his mother was even protecting him. Zhou Zhimin was also seething with anger.
"This second son is really being absurd! And our mother is getting more and more muddle - headed!" His brows were knitted so tightly that they could have pinched a fly.
"Before, you even stopped me from talking. Now you realize she's muddle - headed?"
Huang Meili rolled her eyes. "If Li Chuntao really gives birth to a boy, the old lady will probably put her on a pedestal!"
"Who said she's going to have a baby?" Zhou Zhimin actually suspected that Chuntao was hiding to give birth secretly, but since he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wasn't sure.
"Everyone in the village knows about it! People are all talking about it!"
Huang Meili lowered her voice a bit. "Liu Cuilan just said she was going to find the family - planning office to arrest her!"
Zhou Zhimin fell silent and just kept adding firewood to the stove.
Huang Meili continued, "We should go too! If Li Chuntao really has the baby, the old woman will surely give all our family's savings to her.
We have to make a scene and let the old woman and Zhou Zhijun know that they shouldn't go too far!"
"Are you stupid?" Zhou Zhimin glared at her. "Let others make a fuss. We just watch. We can't get involved!
The more you make a scene, the less popular you'll be. With the second son's stubborn temper, he'll probably tear the roof off our house!
Let Liu Cuilan and the others do the dirty work. Whether it turns out well or badly, it's their own business and has nothing to do with us."
Huang Meili cursed, "Coward! If you were a bit more assertive, the old woman wouldn't be so partial..."
"Enough!" Zhou Zhimin interrupted her. "You really are stupid and don't even admit it. Haven't you heard of the tactic of using others to do your dirty work?"
Although Huang Meili talked tough, she didn't have the guts to confront Zhou Zhijun head - on.
On the other hand, as soon as Zhou Pandi and Zhou Zhaodi entered the house, Zhou Pandi suddenly shook off Zhou Zhaodi's hand. "What were you arguing with Liu Cuilan for? You can't tell what's important!
The most important thing now is to join hands and deal with Zhou Zhijun and Li Chuntao. What's the use of getting angry with her?"
Zhou Zhaodi stroked her slightly swollen belly, still fuming. "That shameless old woman, Liu Cuilan.
She even had the nerve to bring up those old and annoying things. I really couldn't stand it!
If you hadn't held me back, I would have torn her mouth apart!"
"Will tearing her mouth apart make Li Chuntao suffer?" Zhou Pandi sneered, a calculating look flashing in her eyes.
"Liu Cuilan went to see Huang Meili to find out where Li Chuntao is.
Let her make a fuss. We don't have to lift a finger. Just wait and watch the show."
Zhou Zhaodi was stunned for a moment and then realized. "You mean we don't have to do anything?"
"What do you think?" Zhou Pandi sat down on the chair, covering her chest and gasping for breath. "If we can't bring down Zhou Zhijun, he won't let us off easily in the future!
Let Liu Cuilan and the others go first. We'll sit back and watch the fight. No matter who wins or loses, we won't be involved."
After leaving Huang Meili's house, Liu Cuilan rushed all the way to find Wang Jieshi.
As soon as she stepped into the threshold, she quickly closed the door behind her. "Jieshi! I've found out!
It's in Liujiaogou. Zhou Zhijun's second aunt's house is in Liujiaogou on Dongshan!"
Wang Jieshi was lying in bed, his eyes blood - red. Hearing this, he tried to sit up suddenly, but his whole body was so weak that he couldn't move an inch.
His bony fingers curled into a fist and he slammed it hard on the edge of the bed, making a loud "thud".
The anger in his eyes was almost palpable. "Okay! We'll go to the family - planning office early tomorrow morning and lead the people there to arrest her! Let's see where else Li Chuntao can hide!"
"What's the hurry?"
Liu Cuilan lowered her voice. "Dongshan is hundreds of miles away from here. The roads are bumpy. It'll take more than a day and a night to go there and come back.
Moreover, we can't do it alone. We have to get others involved so that we can share the responsibility."
"Who should we get?" Wang Jieshi asked in a muffled voice.
"Of course, we should get Zhou Zhijun's enemies!" Liu Cuilan thought carefully. The people who hated Zhou Zhijun the most were Zhou Ergan, Baldy Zhang, the Zhou Zhaodi sisters, and of course Huang Meili.
But Zhou Ergan had been sentenced to several years in prison. Baldy Zhang was about to be released, so he might be persuaded to join.
The Zhou Zhaodi sisters were no good. She didn't want to humble herself and ask them.
Moreover, now that Zhou Zhaodi was pregnant and Zhou Pandi had asthma, what could they do?
With Zhou Zhimin around, he definitely wouldn't let Huang Meili get involved.
After thinking it over, Liu Cuilan realized that only Baldy Zhang could be recruited.
"Wait for a few days. After Baldy Zhang is released, let him go to Dongshan. If he confirms that Li Chuntao is there, then let him report to the commune's family - planning office!"
Liu Cuilan didn't want to get involved directly because she was afraid that if things didn't work out, Zhou Zhijun wouldn't let her off.
Wang Jieshi gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling. The veins on his forehead were throbbing.
"Okay, let's do it like this! Li Chuntao is hiding in the mountains to give birth secretly, violating the family - planning policy. The family - planning office hates this kind of thing the most!"
Liu Cuilan snorted coldly and added, "And Zhou Zhijun. Without getting married, he got her pregnant and hid her away. He's also going against the family - planning policy!
If they're caught by the family - planning office, these two will pay the price!"
A few days later, Baldy Zhang was released from the commune. At midnight, Liu Cuilan went to his house with a basket of steamed buns.
A few minutes later, as Liu Cuilan was getting dressed, she said, "Brother Baldy, take advantage of the current crackdown and bring down Zhou Zhijun. Otherwise, we won't have any peace..."
During this anti-crime campaign, Baldy Zhang was arrested for petty theft. He believed that it was Zhou Zhijun who reported him, and was bent on causing trouble for Zhou secretly.
Unexpectedly, just when he was feeling sleepy, someone brought him a pillow.
Liu Cuilan not only slept with him but also said she would pay him a fee for running errands.
It was a great thing that allowed him to take advantage and get revenge at the same time. Naturally, he readily agreed.
He was lying naked on the moldy and damp quilt. The foul air in his chest rushed upwards all at once.
Gritting his teeth and scolding viciously, he said, "Zhou Zhijun, you son of a bitch made me suffer in jail. I'll definitely make you end up in prison!"
