Wang Xiaohong lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, her mind filled with the image of Zhou Hongxia and Li Mingliang huddled together.
Li Mingliang was the man she truly loved from the bottom of her heart, and Zhou Hongxia had been her close sister since they were kids. If the two of them really got together, she simply couldn't accept it.
She prayed over and over again, praying that it wasn't true, that she was just overthinking things.
Whether this matter was real or not, her brother's business couldn't be delayed any longer. She had to go to the commune first thing in the morning to testify, without another moment's hesitation.
Going to the commune to testify as well was Huang Meili, whose heart was also full of anxiety.
If they could bring down Zhou Zhijun, all the better. But if they couldn't, and he found out she'd been involved, there'd be no good fruit to eat afterward.
This matter also had to be kept from Zhou Zhimin. After all, they were brothers born of the same mother.
Though there was usually some resentment between them, when it came to real trouble, Zhou Zhimin would always side with Zhou Zhijun.
"Meili, what are you thinking about?" Zhou Zhimin wrapped his arms around her from behind, his hand wandering restlessly toward her chest.
Huang Meili turned around and pushed him away, her tone impatient. "What are you doing? It's freezing cold, and you can't keep still. Just go to sleep!"
Zhou Zhimin hadn't touched her in over ten days. Partly because it was too cold to bother, and partly because he felt he couldn't keep up, always worried he couldn't satisfy her.
Back in his twenties, he was the one desperate for it, while Huang Meili only went along passively.
But now the tables had turned. Huang Meili's desire burned hot, yet he couldn't summon the slightest interest.
When a married couple stops having that kind of intimacy, not only do they stop feeling like a couple, but their feelings for each other tend to drift apart.
It was rare for Zhou Zhimin to take the initiative like this, yet she pushed him away. It was truly out of character.
"Meili, it's been over ten days now. Don't you want it?" Zhou Zhimin tested the waters.
It wasn't that she didn't want it—she wanted it every single day. But the man she wanted wasn't him. It was Zhou Dana.
Zhou Zhimin had disappointed her too much. A man in his thirties, and he couldn't measure up to sixty-year-old Zhou Dana.
These past few days, all she could think about was sneaking off to meet Zhou Dana and tell him about Zhou Zhijun and Li Chun Tao, asking him what he thought as the party secretary.
Tomorrow she had to go testify, and she still hadn't managed to talk to Zhou Dana. She was frantic with worry.
Earlier that day, while soaking up the sun by the wall, she saw Zhou Dana coming over. She was about to go up and whisper something to him, but two women walked by, and she didn't get the chance.
Luckily, Zhou Dana gave her a look. The two of them were thinking the same thing. He'd definitely be waiting for her at the village office tonight.
She'd planned to wait until Zhou Zhimin fell asleep and then slip out. But it was already the middle of the night, and not only was he still awake, he was thinking about that thing.
If Zhou Zhimin didn't sleep, she couldn't leave. Hearing his question, Huang Meili pretended to be coy. "Who said I don't want it? It's just too cold out there. I'm afraid of freezing!"
With that, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Zhou Zhimin's waist, urging, "Hurry up!"
Zhou Zhimin gathered all his strength and finally managed a satisfying round. Huang Meili wasn't disappointed. She even praised him, "You're getting better and better."
Hearing that, Zhou Zhimin's nose stung and he hugged her tightly.
It had been so long since she'd praised him. All she ever gave him before was criticism. That single compliment made him perk right back up, ready for another round.
"How about we go again?"
Huang Meili quickly pushed him away. "Go to sleep!" Then she leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, "There's plenty of time ahead. What's the rush?"
Every time he finished, Zhou Zhimin felt especially drowsy. Holding Huang Meili, he mumbled sleepily, "Next time I'll make it even better for you."
Before long, soft snores filled the room.
Huang Meili gently moved his arm off her, then gave him a little shove. "Zhimin... Zhimin..."
She called his name twice with no response, then reached over and pinched his nose.
Zhou Zhimin, struggling to breathe, swatted her hand away, turned over with his back to her, and snored even louder.
Still not convinced, Huang Meili gave him another hard push. Only when she saw he was dead asleep did she finally relax.
Zhou Zhimin was always a heavy sleeper, especially after sex. The last few times she'd snuck out to meet Zhou Dana, she'd gone during this exact window, and it had never gone wrong.
Huang Meili tiptoed out of bed, quickly threw on her padded jacket, and groped on the broken cabinet for that wooden comb missing a few teeth. With a few rough strokes, she managed to smooth out her tangled hair.
A wind had picked up outside, howling mournfully. She grabbed an old scarf and wrapped it tightly around her head and face, then crept quietly out the door.
Her house sat in the middle of the village, and all the neighbors kept dogs. At the slightest sound, they'd bark. She was terrified a bark would wake the neighbors.
Luckily, in the dead of winter, everyone went to sleep early. Even if there was a noise, no one was willing to get up and check.
Huang Meili crouched low, slipping along the shadow of the wall. The neighbor's dog only let out a low whimper or two and didn't actually bark.
On the other side, Zhou Dana had long since made up the bed at the village office and brought an extra thick quilt from home.
He often slept at the office, so his wife, Wang Jinzhi, was used to it and never asked questions.
He was sixty years old. They hadn't had sex in over a decade, and Wang Jinzhi figured he didn't have the ability even if he had the desire, so she trusted him completely.
Zhou Dana sat on the edge of the bed smoking his pipe. The charcoal in the brazier at his feet glowed red, keeping the room toasty warm. But his heart was in a frenzy, and he kept glancing toward the door.
It was already the middle of the night, and Huang Meili still hadn't shown up. He walked to the window and peered out, not a trace of her.
Could it be that Zhou Zhimin was holding her up and she couldn't get away?
Zhou Dana took a deep drag from his pipe, recalling how Huang Meili had said Zhou Zhimin was useless, that he was done before he even started.
He believed that, but he didn't think Zhou Zhimin was truly incapable. He just hadn't met the right woman.
Just like himself. Around Wang Jinzhi, he was always limp as a noodle. But with someone else, he came alive again. Not as vigorous as in his younger days, but still good enough.
Was it like that for all men? Worthless with their wives, but just fine with someone else?
The image of Huang Meili floated into his mind, and Zhou Dana's body grew hot.
This woman wasn't much to look at, with her loose tongue and love of petty bargains. But she was young, and in bed she was unrestrained, calling him "Good Man" over and over. She was a hundred times better than that wooden block of a Wang Jinzhi.
The more he thought about it, the more frantic he grew. His throat went dry. He cursed under his breath, "Damn slut, why won't she hurry up? You're killing me here!"
He shot another glance out the window, and his eyes lit up. A figure was shuffling this way!
He picked up the kerosene lamp and pressed it to the window for a closer look. Sure enough, it was Huang Meili.
He quickly pulled the door open and growled under his breath, "Little Vixen, what took you so long? Any later and I'd have been asleep!"
With that, he dragged her toward the bed, panting heavily. "Little Slut, tonight I'll make sure you've had your fill!"
"What's the hurry?" Huang Meili twisted her body, her voice sickeningly sweet.
"You're in more of a hurry than I am!" Zhou Dana said, already fumbling at her waistband. "Did Zhou Zhimin just have his way with you?"
"Don't mention him!" Huang Meili pretended to be angry. "Just thinking about him makes me furious. Worthless as can be!"
"He's no good, but I am!" Zhou Dana spouted filth. "Tonight I'll do you in good, see if you still strut around..."
Huang Meili loved hearing that. The more she heard, the hotter her body burned, the more impatient she grew. She stopped pretending and reached out to tear at Zhou Dana's belt.
Neither of them even took off their padded jackets. They dove headfirst under the quilt, and a frantic rustling came from beneath the covers. They'd already forgotten everything around them.
While the two of them were having their fun under the quilt, a dark figure slipped silently up to the door outside.
A pair of eyes full of murderous intent pressed against the crack in the door, glaring fixedly at everything happening inside.
