On the first day of the New Year, rural households had many customs and taboos, the most important being that you couldn't sleep in.
Every family got up early, ate their dumplings, and then went to pay New Year's respects to the elders of the same surname.
Wang Xiaohong hadn't slept a wink all night, but on the morning of the first she forced herself up to boil dumplings.
After eating, she didn't feel like going anywhere, so she sent Wang Xiaoming off on his own.
Zhou Hongxia had gotten up before dawn to cook for the workers, boiling a big pot of steaming dumplings.
After eating and cleaning up, she hurried home. Just as she reached the main road, she ran into Wang Xiaoming.
"Xiaoming, where's your sister? Why didn't she come out with you?"
"She's at home! Sister Hongxia, if you've got nothing to do, why don't you go over and keep her company?"
Zhou Hongxia had originally planned to go over that evening, but hearing that Wang Xiaohong was home, she decided to head over now.
Misunderstandings were best cleared up sooner rather than later.
No matter what Old Ma had said about Li Mingliang, she wouldn't agree to it anyway. In her heart, there was only Han Wenke.
Besides, it was entirely possible Li Mingliang didn't even fancy her at all — it was all just Old Ma jumping to conclusions.
"Xiaohong!" Zhou Hongxia walked straight toward the Wang family courtyard. The moment she entered, she saw that the north room's door was shut tight.
She stepped forward and tried to push it open, only to find it bolted from the inside.
Wang Jieshi was a paralyzed man who couldn't get out of bed, let alone get up to bolt the door. No need to think twice — Wang Xiaohong had to be inside.
She called out again, "Xiaohong, open the door! I have something to tell you!"
Wang Xiaohong had just crawled back under the covers, hoping to catch a bit more sleep, when she heard Zhou Hongxia's voice.
She yanked the quilt over her head and pretended not to hear.
Zhou Hongxia walked over to the window. "Xiaohong, you must be misunderstanding me and Brother Mingliang! We're just acquaintances — nothing else between us at all!
Last night you asked me about the shoe insoles — those have nothing to do with him either. As for who I'm embroidering them for, I can't tell you right now, but you'll find out in time!"
Wang Xiaohong had her head covered, but her ears were wide open. The moment she heard Zhou Hongxia mention Li Mingliang, she threw off the quilt and listened carefully.
She took in every single word Zhou Hongxia said — that the insoles weren't for Li Mingliang — but since she wouldn't say who they were for, Wang Xiaohong refused to believe it.
She climbed out of bed, grabbed a cloth bundle from the cabinet, slipped on her cotton shoes, and walked to the front door of the main room.
Just as she pulled the door open, Zhou Hongxia was already standing right there. "Xiaohong, every word I've said is the truth!"
Wang Xiaohong didn't answer. She just shoved the bundle into Zhou Hongxia's arms. "I appreciate the thought, but I'm just a farmer. I don't have any use for leather shoes. Take them back and wear them yourself."
Zhou Hongxia, seeing how stubborn she was being, got irritated too. "Wang Xiaohong, since when did you become so petty?
How many times do I have to tell you — the insoles are for someone else, not for Li Mingliang! Why won't you believe me, no matter what I say?"
"Whoever they're for is your business — nothing to do with me!" Wang Xiaohong said with a sardonic half-smile and moved to shut the door.
"Xiaohong, I'll tell you the truth! The insoles are for Han Wenke!"
Hearing that, Wang Xiaohong felt a sudden weight lift off her chest.
So it really had been a misunderstanding on her part — Zhou Hongxia was innocent. But she didn't show it on her face at all.
She raised an eyebrow and kept her tone hard. "Whoever they're for is your business — none of my concern!"
Zhou Hongxia pressed firmly against the doorframe. "These leather shoes were bought specially for you! If it hadn't been for you helping me back then, I never would've gotten this job!"
A flicker of irritation crossed Wang Xiaohong's eyes, but her tone softened a little. "That job thing is ancient history. Don't bring it up again!"
Zhou Hongxia saw that her demeanor had eased considerably and felt a surge of hope. She quickly pushed the bundle forward again. "Take them — it's just a small token of my gratitude!"
Wang Xiaohong paused for a moment. Her heart felt both warm and a little raw, though her mouth stayed stubborn. "Fine — you've got a good heart. I'll take the shoes!
And about those insoles — if you're going to give them, give them soon. Don't keep dragging your feet! If someone else snatches him up first, you'll have no one to cry to but yourself!"
Zhou Hongxia, seeing the misunderstanding finally resolved, smiled and answered, "Alright! I'll do what you say!"
Wang Xiaohong didn't shut the door this time. She picked up the bundle and went back inside.
"Xiaohong, I'll head off now. There's still work at the canteen — I need to get an early start on lunch."
The New Year's Day lunch was a big deal. Not only did you have to boil dumplings, but you also had to lay out seven plates and eight bowls to make it proper.
The dumplings had been wrapped well in advance and stored in the freezer; the hot dishes had all been deep-fried ahead of time and just needed steaming to be served.
It was only the cold dishes that had to be prepared fresh. Today she was the only one at the canteen, so she needed to get back early and get busy — she couldn't delay the workers' meal.
Just as she walked out of the Wang family courtyard, she saw a crowd gathered at the edge of East Ditch, and more villagers heading over in small groups.
Zhou Hongxia was just wondering why everyone was going to East Ditch on New Year's Day, when Loudspeaker Wang Chunxiao came over with a few women.
"Hongxia! Someone's dead in East Ditch! Come on, let's go take a look!" Wang Chunxiao yelled at the top of her lungs, her face alight with excitement.
Zhou Hongxia's heart sank. On the very first day of the New Year — how could something like this happen? Who had died?
"What exactly happened?" she asked quickly.
"I don't know the details! Word is some kids went skating on the riverbank at East Ditch and spotted a dead body in the reed marsh!
Those kids were scared out of their wits and came running back crying to report it! Come on, come on — let's go see!"
Back then, people had little in the way of entertainment, and curiosity ran strong. When something like this happened, everyone wanted to be part of the crowd.
Zhou Hongxia felt the itch of curiosity herself, but thinking of the canteen work, she suppressed the urge to join the gawkers.
Nearly all the villagers of Wang Family Village had surged over to East Ditch. Even folks from several villages across the river came flooding in like a tide, surrounding the place so tightly you couldn't get through.
There, at the edge of the reed marsh, lay a naked man sprawled on his stomach, his head wrapped in a burlap sack so his face couldn't be seen.
The crowd pressed in layers deep, buzzing with murmurs — everyone was wondering who this man was and how he'd died.
The villagers of Wang Family Village surveyed the body, then scanned the crowd, trying to see who wasn't there. But no matter how they looked, they couldn't think of anyone missing.
Huang Meili squeezed through the crowd, her eyes darting across every face. But she couldn't spot Zhou Dana anywhere and suddenly panicked.
Could it be that Zhou Zhimin had killed Zhou Dana?
That night, she'd left her panties in Zhou Dana's bed, and when she'd gone back to retrieve them, she'd run into Shi Yanhua in the room and hadn't been able to get them.
But the next night, as she was going to sleep, Zhou Zhimin pulled a pair of panties out from under his pillow — the very pair she'd left in Zhou Dana's bed!
"Huang Meili, are these yours?"
The moment Huang Meili saw them, she was stunned.
That bitch Shi Yanhua must have given the panties to Zhou Zhimin!
She forced herself to stay calm and fought back, "Those aren't mine! Zhou Zhimin, you shameless bastard — I should be asking you whose those are!"
"Huang Meili, quit pretending! I know all about your filthy little deeds!" Zhou Zhimin's voice was ice cold.
Huang Meili's heart was pounding with guilt, but her mouth wouldn't back down an inch. She stuck her neck out and shouted, "What did I do? Go on, tell me! If you can't come up with an answer today, I'm not letting this go!"
On ordinary days, Zhou Zhimin always gave in to her in everything and always accommodated her when something happened, just to live a normal family life.
But that day, he got red - eyed. He grabbed a kitchen knife from the kitchen and hacked it hard at the head of the bed. Wood chips flew everywhere.
"Huang Meili, I, Zhou Zhimin, am also a real man! If you really push me too far, I'll chop him up with one strike!"
That night, Huang Meili flatly refused to admit those disgraceful things she had done. Zhou Zhimin also didn't say clearly whether the underpants were given to him by Shi Yanhua.
But Huang Meili was convinced in her heart that it must be Zhou Dana who had told Shi Yanhua about their affair, and that was why Shi Yanhua gave the underpants to Zhou Zhimin.
She was so angry that she gritted her teeth. Originally, she planned to blackmail Zhou Dana with Shi Yanhua's matter and get some money from him.
But right now, if Zhou Dana was really killed by Zhou Zhimin, everything would be over.
Not only would her disgraceful deeds be exposed, but her family would also be ruined.
The more Huang Meili thought about it, the more scared she became. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and her face was as pale as paper.
Just then, several policemen arrived. They quickly set up a cordon and dispersed the on - lookers.
When the policemen removed the sack from the dead man's head, all the on - lookers gasped in horror, and the area fell silent instantly.
Huang Meili squeezed to the edge of the cordon. Her heart was about to jump out of her throat. She timidly glanced over.
When she saw the face clearly, all the strength seemed to be drained from her body at once. Her legs went weak, and she slumped to the ground.
Her eyes were wide open, but she couldn't make a sound. Her body shook like a sieve.
