It seemed there was no escaping it this time; she could only leave it to fate...
Just as she was falling into despair, an urgent, tearful cry suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard gate. Dad! Dad! Something terrible happened! My brother fell into the river!
It was Zhou Zhimin's eldest daughter, Zhou Xiaoying. She shouted while running to the door, completely out of breath. Dad, hurry! My brother fell into an ice hole!
Hearing this, Zhou Zhimin was frightened out of his wits. No longer caring about what was happening inside the house, he bolted outside.
Zhou Zhijun wasn't in the room either. Chuntao quickly rolled out of bed and put on her clothes.
Just as she finished dressing, Zhou Zhijun came in and hugged her without a word.
Xiaohai fell into an ice hole, go check on him quickly! Chuntao suddenly remembered Zhou Xiaoying's crying.
Zhou Zhijun's mind had been so full of Chuntao that he had heard the shouting just now but hadn't caught what was said.
Hearing her words, his heart tightened.
Even though he found Zhou Zhimin and his wife annoying, the child was innocent. Let alone his own nephew, even if it were a stranger, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
I'll go take a look! He let go of Chuntao, turned around, and dashed out.
She had originally come to deliver cotton-padded shoes, but after being tossed about by him, the shoes she was holding had fallen to the ground.
Chuntao picked them up, patted off the dust, placed them at the head of the bed, and hurried outside.
Just as she stepped out of the inner room, she ran into Aunt Zhou and Old Man Zhou coming back.
Aunt Zhou was clutching a roll of red paper in one hand and carrying a cloth bag in the other.
Old Man Zhou carried a long snakeskin sack on his back, half full of New Year's goods.
Seeing Chuntao, the old couple was taken aback for a moment.
The blush on her face hadn't faded yet. Chuntao quickly explained, Godfather, Godmother, you're back? I came to bring Brother Zhijun some cotton shoes.
Oh my, you're busy inside and out every day, yet you still make shoes for him. He has plenty to wear!
Aunt Zhou walked into the room smiling, put her things on the table, and asked, How are your preparations for the New Year coming along?
Chuntao had originally wanted to borrow money from Aunt Zhou, but since Zhou Zhimin had just come to borrow money and Zhou Zhijun had said they didn't have a single cent, how could she dare to open her mouth? She could only reply vaguely, My family has few relatives, so the New Year's goods are easy to handle.
She wanted to tell them about Xiaohai falling into the ice hole, but she was afraid the old couple would get too anxious, so she swallowed the words that had reached the tip of her tongue. Auntie, I'll be heading back first.
Don't leave in such a hurry! Aunt Zhou grabbed a handful of fruit candies from her cloth bag and stuffed them into Chuntao's pocket. Take these to eat, sweeten your mouth.
Old Man Zhou glanced toward the east room and, not seeing Zhou Zhijun, asked, Where is your Brother Zhijun?
Unable to hide it any longer, Chuntao had to tell the truth. Upon hearing the news, the terrified old couple quickly ran outside.
The snow on the ground had been trampled hard. Aunt Zhou stumbled and almost slipped, but Chuntao quickly supported her.
Just outside the courtyard, they saw a group of people running over from the direction of the east ditch. The one leading them was none other than Zhou Zhijun.
His old padded jacket was bulging, with Xiaohai tucked inside his arms.
He had long legs and ran fast. Huang Meili, Zhou Zhimin, and a crowd of villagers followed closely behind.
Huang Meili was crying her heart out; slipping on the ice, she took quite a few tumbles.
Aunt Zhou and Old Man Zhou turned and headed toward Huang Meili's house. After helping Aunt Zhou to Huang Meili's door, Chuntao turned around to go home.
As soon as she walked out of the yard, someone crashed right into her. The person let out an ouch and fell flat on their bottom onto the icy ground.
The person who bumped into her was none other than Zhou Ergan's wife, the southern woman.
Her hair was disheveled, and several buttons were missing from her torn padded jacket. Her hands and face were covered in chilblains, making one's heart ache just looking at her.
The ground was freezing cold, so Chuntao quickly reached out to pull her up. Get up quickly, the ground is cold!
But she dragged her bottom and refused to get up, just giggling foolishly at Chuntao.
Li Chuntao, I couldn't tell! You pretend to be pitiful all day long, but it turns out you're just a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong!
A harsh shout rang out. Chuntao looked up and saw it was Zhou Zhaodi.
With one hand in her pocket and the other pinching sunflower seeds to feed into her mouth, she said, You're bullying my aunt because she's a fool, aren't you?
The fat on Zhou Zhaodi's face jiggled as she walked over. She slapped away Chuntao's outstretched hand and shouted at the top of her lungs, Everyone, come look! Li Chuntao is bullying a fool!
The villagers gathered at Zhou Zhimin's door heard the shouting and turned their heads to look in their direction.
A few older children also ran over, circling the southern woman and excitedly chanting a nursery rhyme: The southern woman is wild, making flower balls, eating dog poop, passing a flowery year! I asked the southern woman how she spent it, and the southern woman said she was grinding at the mill...
The southern woman sat on the ground, giggling foolishly along with them.
Chuntao ignored Zhou Zhaodi and reached out to pull her up again. Get up quickly, what will you do if you freeze?
But the southern woman seemed truly mad, only caring about giggling and refusing to get up.
Li Chuntao, who gave you the nerve to bully my aunt? Today I have to teach you a lesson, you shameless thing!
Zhou Zhaodi spat the sunflower seed shells from her mouth onto Chuntao's face, her eyes full of smugness. You shameless slut, haven't you been messed with enough by wild men, running over here to act out!
The sunflower seed shells mixed with spittle plastered Chuntao's face. She abruptly let go, bit her lip, and with red eyes, stared fiercely at Zhou Zhaodi.
Zhou Zhaodi sneered provocatively and stepped closer. Li Chuntao, what, are you thinking about hitting someone?
Chuntao remembered Aunt Zhou's words, A kind person gets bullied, just as a docile horse gets ridden. All the grievances and anger from these past days surged into her heart at once.
Smack!
She raised her hand and, with all her strength, delivered a crisp, resounding slap across Zhou Zhaodi's face.
Zhou Zhaodi, I have no grudges against you, yet you bully me time and time again!
Chuntao's small body trembled slightly, but her eyes were terrifyingly bright. I'm telling you, my tolerance has its limits!
Zhou Zhaodi was stunned by the slap. She never expected that a pushover like Li Chuntao would actually dare to strike her!
Li Chuntao, you bitch! You dare hit me? Do you have a death wish?! She lunged at Chuntao like an enraged tigress.
The southern woman had been curling her legs up, but seeing Zhou Zhaodi lunging forward, she suddenly stuck one leg out.
Caught off guard, Zhou Zhaodi tripped over it. Her feet slipped, and with a heavy thud, she crashed onto the rock-hard icy ground.
Her face was scraped by the ice shards, leaving several bloody scratches, and beads of blood instantly seeped out.
Grimacing in pain, she looked up at Chuntao, her eyes blazing with fury. Li Chuntao, see if I don't beat you to death today, you bitch...
She scrambled up from the ground, and like a mountain of flesh, hurled herself toward Chuntao...
