Chapter 29: The Zhao Family Storms the Gates

Gu Wennuan passed by the entrance of the village, where a group of women who weren't working were sitting under a tree chatting.

"Look, the Zhou family's daughter-in-law is back. I heard she went to Shan Province."

"Who knows who she went with? Haven't you noticed Hu Ailian has been pulling a long face at work every day? She probably ran off with someone, and now she’s back."

Gu Wennuan looked at this group of gossiping women. She couldn't hit them or curse them out; if anything happened, their entire family would block her door to cause a scene. Gu Wennuan took out some milk candies she had retrieved from her space and shared them among the women.

"Here, you ladies must be tired from chatting. Have some candy. I bought this in Shan Province; we don't have this kind around here."

Gu Wennuan’s gesture made the women blush, and they felt too embarrassed to reach out and take the sweets. Gu Wennuan pressed the candy into their hands, her expression shifting. "I don't know who started the rumor that I ran off with a man, but if you find out, please tell them off for me. After all, if they keep spreading rumors, I could report them to the police station."

The villagers were still afraid of the authorities. "It wasn't us! It was Old Mrs. Wang next door. She just finished telling us and said she was going to your house to watch the excitement. You’d better go find her."

Gu Wennuan’s expression changed. What kind of excitement could be happening at home? She hurried back.

The Zhou family home was surrounded by three layers of people; everyone who had finished work was gathered there to watch the commotion. Zhao Jiaming was sitting in the yard, pinning Zhou Siye to the ground.

"You little punk, thought you were tough? Hiring people to beat me up? Today, I’ll show you what your brother-in-law is really capable of."

Ever since Gu Wennuan had beaten him up, Zhao Jiaming had been traumatized. He thought he was fine at first, but after failing to perform in bed with the Li woman and being mocked for it, he realized he was completely ruined. From that moment on, he held a grudge against everyone in the Zhou family.

Gu Wennuan had been home for a while, so he hadn't dared to show his face. But after finding out she had left, he brought his cronies to drag Zhou Qing home to "teach her a lesson."

In the Zhou yard, Zhou Qing and Zhou Xi sat on the ground with disheveled clothes, along with Hu Ailian. Yubao and Yaya were hiding behind the door in terror. Zhou Siye was being stepped on by Zhao Jiaming, and the rest of the Zhou relatives were being blocked outside by the thugs. The onlookers were too afraid to help; these thugs were notorious in the surrounding ten miles. If you got on their bad side, they’d steal your chickens or set your firewood pile on fire. No one dared to cross them.

Zhao Jiaming looked at the cowards and patted Zhou Siye’s face. "Zhou Qing, if you want your brother to live, come home with me right now and serve me well, and I’ll spare your pathetic life."

Zhou Qing hated her own helplessness for bringing this upon her family and prepared to smash her head against the water vat. Zhou Xi grabbed her. "Sister, Sister-in-law said she was coming back today. She must be almost home. Once she’s back, everything will be fine."

Hu Ailian hugged her two daughters, determined not to let these thugs ruin them. She looked at the villagers for help. A few aunts who couldn't bear to watch were about to step forward, but Zhao Jiaming brandished a kitchen knife, freezing them in place.

"I suggest you don't meddle in other people's business, or this knife in my hand won't be so careful."

"Zhou Qing, since you don't want to come back, we'll just stay in your house. After all, such a big brick house needs someone to inherit it." Zhao Jiaming looked greedily at the bright, spacious house, feeling even more tempted. "Mother, your son-in-law will take care of you here. This house must have cost a fortune to build, right? From now on, I’m the head of this household." Saying this, he started walking toward the house.

"I heard you want to be the head of my household."

Gu Wennuan’s voice rang out from nearby. Zhao Jiaming jumped and spun around, seeing Gu Wennuan standing right behind him.

"Li Xu, get over here and help me!" Zhao Jiaming grabbed the kitchen knife and pointed it at Gu Wennuan, but there was no sound from outside the gate.

The onlookers wore expressions of terror. Zhao Jiaming looked out to see all his cronies knocked to the ground, beaten black and blue. He stared at the devilish woman before him. Everything was her fault—she had ruined him and made him the laughingstock of the entire village. He had planned to take Zhou Qing away while she was gone to sell her for a good price, but he hadn't expected this jinx to return.

Gu Wennuan saw right through Zhao Jiaming’s ill intentions and decided to teach him a lesson. "See your brothers outside? I'm going to send you all to a place you belong."

Gu Wennuan tied them up and lashed them to the tree stumps in the yard. She looked at the onlookers and chased them away. "Scatter! Go home and make dinner."

Gu Wennuan helped the family into the house. The brigade leader, Zhou Chuangen, arrived after hearing the news. By coincidence, he had been at a commune meeting and had just returned to hear about the trouble at the Zhou house.

"Sister-in-law Zhou, are you all right? You tell me, those useless things like Jinsheng and Zhou Zuo couldn't even beat a few thugs."

Hu Ailian sat on a stool and let out a long sigh. "I'm fine, Uncle. Isn't Nuannuan back now? Besides, if you cross those thugs, who wouldn't suffer? You've been busy all day, go on back." Hu Ailian was truly disheartened; her own relatives had watched them suffer humiliation without lifting a finger, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Zhou Chuangen didn't leave immediately. He went into the yard and saw the men tied to the stumps, afraid that Gu Wennuan might take matters into her own hands.

"Si Nian’s wife, how do you plan to handle these men? You mustn't do anything illegal."

Gu Wennuan tightened the ropes. "Don't worry, Uncle. I'll send them to the police station tomorrow. I won't do anything illegal. Go on home, you’ve been busy all day."

"Alright then, I'm off."

After Zhou Chuangen left, Gu Wennuan went inside. Zhou Qing and Zhou Xi had tidied up, and the two children were curled up in bed, terrified. Zhou Siye sat on the floor, dejected, tears streaming down his face. "Sister-in-law, I'm useless. As a man, I couldn't even protect my own family. I might as well be dead." Today’s events had hit Zhou Siye hard. Being stepped on and insulted in front of so many people meant he would never be able to hold his head high in the village again.

"Siye, there were many of them today; it’s normal that you couldn't fight them off. Once the autumn harvest is over and we’re settled for the winter, I’ll teach you some combat techniques."

Zhou Siye wiped his tears. "Really?"

"Really. Stop crying and bring the luggage in."

Zhou Siye brought the parcel in, and Gu Wennuan distributed the items. Seeing the new clothes, the bad moods of Yaya and Yubao vanished.

At night, the Zhou courtyard was quiet. The men had woken up and, seeing they were tied to the stumps, struggled until one of them managed to slip the ropes and untie the others.

"Let's get out of here!"

Gu Wennuan stood by the window watching them leave, then quietly followed. As they passed Daqing Mountain, the sound of wolves howling made them freeze.

"Big Brother, there are wolves!"

"What are you standing there for? Run!"

Gu Wennuan unleashed the wolf pack, cornering them on the mountain. Throughout the night, screams echoed from the heights. The villagers of the Fengtian Brigade heard the wolves but didn't dare step outside.

The next morning, Zhou Chuangen came to the Zhou house. Gu Wennuan told him they had escaped. The matter eventually faded away, and no one ever knew what really happened to that group of men.