Wang Jinzhi finished cooking and carried the bowls and dishes into the main room. She set them on the square table and called, “Come eat, old man!”
Then she turned and went into the inner room, calling softly to Zhou Pandi, “Get up and eat!”
It was the height of the autumn harvest, with more work in the fields than anyone could finish, yet Zhou Pandi lay in her room day after day.
It would have been one thing if she simply refused to work in the fields, but Wang Jinzhi was also afraid she might sneak out to find Qian Wanyin. Every day, before going to the fields, she locked Pandi inside.
Pandi was still seething with anger. She answered sullenly, “I’m not eating!”
Neither of her daughters let her rest easy. Thankfully, her son Jinzhu was sensible and obedient. Wang Jinzhi sighed inwardly.
It was only because she had this son to rely on that she still had something to look forward to. Without him, she truly wouldn’t know how she would get through life.
She also thought of the woman who had hurried out of the brigade office that night. She hadn’t seen the woman’s face clearly, but that voice had sounded exactly like Huang Meili.
Still, she had no proof and didn’t dare spread the story. If someone with ulterior motives passed it around, Zhou Dana’s dignity as the village Party secretary would be ruined, and his reputation would be dragged through the mud.
As long as he remained secretary, she would remain the respected secretary’s wife. No one could take her place.
If Zhou Dana got into trouble, not only would she suffer with him, but their son Jinzhu would be implicated as well. That was the last thing she wanted to see.
They had been husband and wife for decades, and now both were sixty. He couldn’t possibly cause much trouble anymore. She might as well turn a blind eye and let him do as he pleased.
For now, what troubled her most was Zhou Pandi’s marriage.
That girl was dead set on being with Qian Wanyin, but what kind of man was Qian Wanyin?
He was nothing but an idle good-for-nothing. If Pandi married him, she would be throwing herself straight into a pit of fire.
“Pandi, how can you skip a meal? Get up and eat a few bites, at least,” Wang Jinzhi coaxed patiently.
“I’d be better off dead!” Pandi shrieked.
Zhou Dana was sitting in the doorway of the main room. The moment he heard that, he flew into a rage, slapped the table, and shouted, “Then don’t eat! Starve to death for all I care! Stop threatening everyone with this talk of dying every day!”
Wang Jinzhi hurried out of the inner room and went over to him, lowering her voice. “Say a little less. Why get worked up over a child?”
Zhou Dana abruptly rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and stalked out angrily.
Helpless, Wang Jinzhi picked up the food and followed him, gently urging, “She’s young and doesn’t know any better. Why are you arguing with her? Come eat. Afterward, you still have to get back to the fields. The weather forecast says it may rain again tomorrow.”
“I’m not eating!” Zhou Dana grunted and headed straight toward Zhang Dongsheng’s house.
Zhang Dongsheng’s family was squatting in the kitchen, eating dinner. When they saw Zhou Dana enter with a dark expression, they hurriedly set down their bowls and chopsticks and stood up.
“Secretary, have you eaten? Why don’t you sit down and have something here?” Zhang Dongsheng’s wife ventured timidly. Seeing that Zhou Dana looked upset, she didn’t dare raise her voice.
Zhou Dana waved a hand and stared directly at Zhang Dongsheng. Zhang Dongsheng immediately understood.
“Secretary, let’s go sit in the main room,” he said, carefully leading Zhou Dana there with half a bowl of rice in his hands.
Once they were inside, Zhou Dana got straight to the point, his voice cold and hard. “That bastard Qian Wanyin has been unusually quiet these past few days. I think he’s plotting something.”
Zhou Dana was afraid Qian Wanyin would come to make trouble, but the fact that he had been silent for several days only made him more uneasy. He had a feeling something big was about to happen.
“It’s harvest season. Maybe he’s at home bringing in the crops,” Zhang Dongsheng said, though even he didn’t believe it.
That lazy bum Qian Wanyin had never set foot in the fields in his entire life.
“Go to his house quietly tonight and find out what he’s been up to,” Zhou Dana ordered. Before Zhang Dongsheng could answer, he turned and left.
Zhang Dongsheng was so exhausted that his back felt as though it might break. The moment he sat down on a stool, he didn’t want to move again. But he didn’t dare disobey the secretary’s orders.
The western fields of Wangjia Village bordered the fields of Qianzhuang. After lunch, Zhang Dongsheng went to work in the western fields.
When he saw people from Qianzhuang working there, he went over and casually tried to ask about Qian Wanyin.
He questioned several people in succession, but they all said they hadn’t seen him in the past few days.
Zhang Dongsheng refused to give up. Even after night had completely fallen, he didn’t go home for dinner. Instead, he took a roundabout route from the fields to Qian Wanyin’s house.
Qian Wanyin was indeed not home. His parents said he had gone out several days ago and still hadn’t returned.
Qian Wanyin spent most of his time wandering around outside and rarely stayed home quietly, so his parents were used to it and weren’t worried in the least.
After Zhang Dongsheng returned, he told Zhou Dana everything he had learned. Zhou Dana was silent for a long while before saying heavily, “I understand.”
Zhang Dongsheng knew perfectly well that Qian Wanyin would never let the matter go. He wanted to urge Zhou Dana to simply give in and let Pandi marry Qian Wanyin, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back.
With Qian Wanyin away from home, Zhou Dana wanted to marry Zhou Pandi off to the Liang family as quickly as possible.
That night, as he lay in bed, he said quietly to Wang Jinzhi, “We have to get Pandi married as soon as possible. Only after she’s married will I be able to put my mind at ease.”
Wang Jinzhi was full of worry. “Qian Wanyin is a reckless man who doesn’t value his own life. If we force Pandi to marry someone, he definitely won’t let it go when he comes back.”
“Doesn’t he just want money? Give him money. Even if he’s unhappy, there’s nothing he can do!” Zhou Dana said forcefully.
“But… Pandi’s completely lost her head. She refuses to go to the Liang family no matter what we say,” Wang Jinzhi said anxiously.
Zhou Dana’s brows drew together, and he said coldly, “Whether she agrees or not, she’s getting married. This isn’t up to her!”
Early the next morning, Wang Jinzhi tiptoed into Zhou Pandi’s room.
“Pandi, your mother needs to tell you something…”
“Last night, Zhang Dongsheng brought word that Qian Wanyin was arrested by the county police. They say he committed a serious crime!”
Pandi had been lying there with her eyes closed, pretending to sleep. The moment she heard that, she sat bolt upright, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“I don’t believe you! He’s already turned over a new leaf!”
“A leopard can’t change its spots. How easy do you think it is for someone like him to change?”
Wang Jinzhi had invented the lie, but she still pleaded earnestly, “Your mother would never deceive you. This is absolutely true.
“You may think he’s fine now, but living with a man like that will bring you nothing but hardship in the long run. He spends all day loafing around and has no proper work. Can you really live with him for the rest of your life?”
“If he has no proper work, why would he be trying to lease the river embankment to raise fish?” Pandi shot back, leaving Wang Jinzhi speechless.
After a long silence, Wang Jinzhi continued persuading her. “I’m your mother. I would never harm you.
“Bald Immortal said that as long as you marry Liang Dashan, the illness in your body can be cured completely.
“Your father and I only want you to be healthy and live a steady, ordinary life.
“Qian Wanyin is in jail now. Who knows when he’ll get out? And even if he does, do you really think he’ll change his ways?
“When choosing a husband, you don’t need wealth or status. All you need is a man who’s steady and dependable. That’s what truly matters…”
Wang Jinzhi nearly wore out her tongue, but Zhou Pandi still refused to give up. She stubbornly refused to believe that Qian Wanyin had been jailed.
The girl had a fierce temper, and Zhou Dana and Wang Jinzhi didn’t dare force her outright. All they could do was wear her down little by little.
Over the next month, the autumn crops were completely harvested, yet Qian Wanyin still did not show himself.
Zhou Dana had Zhang Dongsheng make inquiries again, and only then learned that Qian Wanyin had really gone to prison.
Apparently, he had been caught red-handed stealing cables from the Nangang Oilfield. He had already been sent to the county detention center and would likely have to spend at least a year or two behind bars before getting out.
When Zhou Dana and Wang Jinzhi heard this, they both let out a long sigh of relief. The worry that had been hanging over them for so long finally lifted.
“A petty thief like him deserves to rot in prison and learn his lesson!” Zhou Dana could barely suppress his delight and almost burst out laughing.
Wang Jinzhi spat contemptuously. “He was always bragging about making a fortune in business. Turns out he’s been scraping by through petty theft!”
The group sat in the main room by the doorway, deliberately speaking in loud voices so Zhou Pandi in the inner room could hear them.
Zhou Pandi had once dreamed of following Qian Wanyin and living a life of luxury. Now that she knew he had truly gone to prison, her heart sank bit by bit.
“Stop talking!” she suddenly shouted. She snatched up the bedsheet and pulled it tightly over her head.
“Pandi, a leopard never changes its spots. You’d better give up on him while you still can!” Wang Jinzhi pressed on while she had the chance.
Pandi gritted her teeth, yanked the sheet off her head, and screamed with red-rimmed eyes, “Now that he’s in prison, you’re satisfied and happy, aren’t you? Isn’t this all because you want to force me to marry that good-for-nothing Liang Dashan? Fine! I’ll marry him! I’ll marry him, all right?”
Wang Jinzhi froze, unable to believe her ears. She asked tentatively, “You… You’re not just saying that in anger, are you?”
“I don’t have the time to trade angry words with you! I know you all think I’m a burden. I won’t drag you down anymore. I’ll marry into the Liang family right now! Even if I work myself to death or starve to death over there, you won’t have to worry about me at all!”
When Zhou Dana heard that she had finally relented, his tone softened as well. He sighed and said, “Pandi, your mother and I aren’t forcing you to marry into the Liang family for no reason. We’re doing this because we want you to get better and live a peaceful life.”
Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by someone shouting at the top of his lungs, “Secretary! Auntie Jinzhi! This is bad! Zhaodi has fainted!”
