That big foot clad in a cloth-soled shoe landed a vicious kick right on Ergan Zhou's backside.
Ergan Zhou let out a howl of pain and collapsed on the ground like a heap of mud.
The newcomer was none other than Zhijun Zhou.
He had just come back from the fields and hadn't even entered his courtyard when he saw Xiaohong Wang and Cuilan Liu returning one after the other from the north fields, but he didn't spot Chuntao among them.
He thought to himself that the girl must still be busy working in the field, and a flicker of secret delight stirred in him.
Last time in the sorghum field, he had torn her little undershirt and promised to buy her a new bodice. He had actually bought it a while ago but just hadn't found the right opportunity to give it to her.
Seeing Chuntao every day yet not even getting to touch a single finger of hers had made him as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, itching to climb the walls.
Zhijun Zhou quickly tucked the bodice into his inner coat pocket, grabbed a handful of fruit candies and stuffed them into his trouser pocket, hopped on his bicycle, and sped off towards the north fields.
Scanning the fields from a distance and seeing no sign of Chuntao, his heart sank. His feet pedaled like they were on wind-and-fire wheels, and the bicycle shot forward, reaching the edge of the field in no time.
He was about to call out her name after a quick look around when suddenly he heard Ergan Zhou's pained cry coming from the cornfield. He immediately broke into a run towards the sound.
Getting closer, he saw Ergan Zhou, his head bleeding, his hands still desperately clutching Chuntao's ankle.
Zhijun Zhou instantly saw red. Without a word, he lashed out with a kick.
Ergan Zhou was scrawny to begin with; how could he withstand such a kick? He toppled over to the side with a thud.
"Tao!" Zhijun Zhou's voice was hoarse as he called out, quickly helping Chuntao to her feet.
Seeing two buttons torn off her blouse, revealing the patched, worn undershirt beneath, his eyes turned a frightening shade of red.
He turned and delivered two more kicks to Ergan Zhou's backside, gnashing his teeth as he cursed, "Ergan Zhou, you beast! Come on, I'm dragging you through the village right now for public shaming!"
Zhijun Zhou grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up like a chick.
"Zhijun Zhou, let me go!" Ergan Zhou flailed his limbs. "We're both Zhous, from the same clan! You're no kin of hers, why are you siding with an outsider?"
He howled, "Put me down! My head's bleeding, I'll die if I don't bandage it soon..."
Chuntao had long been scared stiff. She even forgot to button her blouse, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her body trembling like a leaf.
Zhijun Zhou looked back at her. The ferocity on his face softened considerably, his eyes filled with pain and concern. "Button up your clothes first, then come with me back to the village to find Zhou Dana! I refuse to believe we can't deal with this beast!"
In those days, when such incidents happened between a man and a woman, even if the woman was the victim, the villagers would only point fingers at her, calling her shameless, accusing her of seducing men.
Moreover, Chuntao had been keeping an empty house for four years. Now that her husband was back, it was as if he hadn't returned at all.
If this got out, she'd never be able to hold her head up again. Cuilan Liu would undoubtedly find new ways to make trouble for her.
Chuntao's heart was full of grievance and humiliation, yet she stubbornly refused to take a step.
She just stood there dazedly, her eyes fixed blankly on the ground, her face completely expressionless.
Zhijun Zhou walked up to her and tugged her arm. "Let's go! To find Zhou Dana, let's see if he'll control his good-for-nothing brother or not!"
Zhijun Zhou was the captain of the village militia. In such matters, he had the authority to act.
Ergan Zhou might yell fiercely, but inside he was already panicking. He knew Zhijun Zhou always handled matters strictly by the book, showing no leniency.
Seeing Chuntao wouldn't move, Zhijun Zhou threw Ergan Zhou hard onto the ground.
The blood was still flowing from Ergan Zhou's head. In desperation, he grabbed a handful of dry dirt and pressed it to the wound. Staggering to his feet, he tried to run, but Zhijun Zhou lifted his leg and delivered another kick, sending him face-first into the dirt.
By then, villagers who had finished their lunch were starting to return to the fields. Xiaohong Wang also hurried over, carrying a food bucket.
Seeing the scene, everyone immediately understood what had happened.
"Sister-in-law, are you alright?" Xiaohong Wang set the food bucket down on the ridge and quickly ran to Chuntao's side, taking hold of her arm.
Chuntao's legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground. Tears gushed out like a breached dam.
"Sister-in-law..." Xiaohong Wang helped her button her blouse while turning to glare at Ergan Zhou. "Ergan Zhou, it must have been you bullying my sister-in-law!"
Ergan Zhou lay sprawled on the ground, aching all over, unable to get up. The villagers who had gathered around murmured and pointed.
Chuntao knew it couldn't be hidden anymore. Burying her head in her knees, she finally couldn't hold back her sobs.
Everyone was thoroughly fed up with troublemakers like Ergan Zhou, but he was a barefoot man afraid of no one in shoes; usually, people couldn't do much about him.
This time, caught red-handed by Zhijun Zhou, everyone hoped he'd finally get his due punishment.
Zhijun Zhou dragged Ergan Zhou, Xiaohong Wang supported Chuntao, and the group headed towards Zhou Dana's house.
Zhou Dana's family was just about to head to the fields and were stunned by the sight.
"What's going on here?" Zhou Dana asked with a frown.
Before Zhijun Zhou could speak, Xiaohong Wang spoke up first and said, "Branch Secretary, he bullied my sister-in-law! You must stand up for her! If you don't handle this, I'll go straight to the commune's joint defense team and report him!"
Zhou Dana's face instantly turned as dark as a pot bottom.
He was both the village branch secretary and Ergan Zhou's own elder brother. Openly shielding him was impossible, but he couldn't actually let them take him to the commune either.
If he went in again, he'd be a repeat offender, the punishment would be even heavier, and it would bring shame on him as branch secretary. He might even face repercussions himself.
Furious and embarrassed, he kicked Ergan Zhou. "A dog can't change its habit of eating shit! Just see if I don't break your legs today!" He started towards the kitchen door, intending to grab a shoulder pole.
"Branch Secretary," Zhijun Zhou stepped forward, his tone serious. "Ergan Zhou has committed the crime of harassing a woman. I brought him to inform you. I'm taking him to the commune's joint defense team now."
As the militia captain, taking a hooligan to the joint defense team was his duty. Even if Zhou Dana was unwilling in his heart, he couldn't openly stop him.
But he still reached out to block the way. "Zhijun, hand him over to me. I'll definitely deal with him properly, I won't go easy on him!"
Zhijun Zhou saw right through it; he knew Zhou Dana wanted to protect his brother.
He wasn't afraid of anyone in the village, but Zhou Dana was, after all, the branch secretary. If he outright refused to give him face, future village work might become difficult.
He pondered for a moment, deciding to give Zhou Dana this face, but the punishment for Ergan Zhou could not be lessened.
"Alright, Branch Secretary, I'll give you this face. I won't take him directly to the commune!"
His gaze was sharp, fixed intently on Ergan Zhou. "But the rules cannot be broken! Today, he must make a public self-criticism at the village-wide meeting and stand there wearing a placard until the meeting ends.
His entire year's relief grain rations are to be withheld. His six-month quota for subsidized chemical fertilizer is also fully revoked.
He harassed a woman in broad daylight; he cannot be let off lightly! Otherwise, I, as militia captain, can't answer to the villagers!"
Zhou Dana's face remained taut. He shot a fierce glare at Ergan Zhou, then turned back to Zhijun Zhou, his tone carrying an official sternness. "Agreed! We'll do as you say!"
With that, he stepped forward and grabbed Ergan Zhou by the collar, gritting his teeth as he scolded, "You good-for-nothing! Always causing trouble for me! I won't let you off for this today!"
Then he turned back to Zhou Zhijun and said, "Zhijun, don't you worry. We'll hold a village meeting tonight and make him wear a sign and confess. We'll deduct every last bit of his relief grain and fertilizer quota! If I shield him, you can send him straight to the commune, and I won't say a word against it!"
With that, he pulled Zhou Ergan into the house. "Come inside with me. Let's get that bloody head of yours bandaged up first. We'll settle accounts with you tonight!"
Chuntao stood in the courtyard, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, the tear stains not yet dry on her small face. She had no idea what awaited her next.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zhaodi, standing at the kitchen door, shot a fleeting, venomous glance towards Chuntao.
