Zhou Lihong listened to Dad and Uncle’s conversation in the hall, her eyes turning red. What’s so good about that man? He’s over fifty, why should I marry him?
Thinking of this, she cried and pulled the door curtain open, then knelt on the ground, "Dad, Uncle, I’m begging you, don’t make me marry him. How many days does a person like that have left?
I’m your daughter, your niece, please have mercy. I’d rather die than marry."
Zhou Xiangxing didn’t say anything and continued drinking. Though Zhou Jiaxing wasn’t heartless towards his daughter, and despite not valuing daughters much, she was after all his first child and was very helpful with the household chores.
"Alright, you go out, I’ll think about it."
Zhou Lihong wasn’t truly foolish; she understood she could only make efforts with Dad, because her uncle was not a good person. Such a great candidate, why didn’t he let Zhou Chunxiang marry him?
She wiped her tears, stood up, and walked out. She scooped half a bowl of sauce from a vat and peeled a big green onion, then brought them into the house.
Zhou Jiaxing felt even more reluctant. After his daughter went out, he dipped the sauce with the green onion and took a bite, "Brother, if Lihong doesn’t want to, then she won’t marry."
"Fine, it’s your decision." Zhou Xiangxing smiled, thinking to himself that you’d agree eventually.
In the afternoon, Wang Jianqiang sought out the other five small team leaders one by one. These five had aligned with him.
"Captain, do we still need to guard it? Didn’t we lock the door?"
"Jisheng, better safe than sorry. Everyone is this desperate now, and the village head suddenly gave me the warehouse keys, I feel uneasy. We have a good relationship. Would you join me?"
"Sure, got nothing to do now, just wear more clothes tonight."
"Captain, are we going tonight?" Qian Shiqin asked.
"Yes, we’re going tonight."
"Should we take shifts? Three people per night?" Zhao Zilong suggested.
"Okay, tonight it’ll be you, me, and Zheng Huicheng.
Tomorrow it’ll be Qian Shiqin, Zhou Jisheng, and Gan Demin, you three.
Don’t mention this to anyone. Make sure to tell your families."
"Captain, do you know something?" Qian Shiqin asked.
"Yes, I know someone wants to sabotage me, steal the seeds, and frame me."
"Captain, do you know who it is?" Zhou Jisheng asked.
Wang Jianqiang shook his head, "I can’t be certain yet. But it’s definite, I estimate they’ll act within a few days."
"Alright, we understand, don’t worry. We won’t even tell our kids, once they’re asleep, we’ll sneak out."
With everything arranged, Wang Jianqiang felt at ease. It was not that he didn’t want to ask his brothers, but he feared being betrayed, so he chose these trusted friends, who were also small team leaders and respected in the village.
After returning home, Wang Jianqiang said, "Dear, go borrow a flashlight from Xinyu."
Jiang Xinyu replaced the batteries in the flashlight and handed it to Sun Ermei, knowing they’d begin preparations tonight.
After a night’s sleep, nothing happened; the Zhou Brothers hadn’t acted.
He waited for three days without any sign, and Wang Jianqiang began to worry. It was freezing at night in the warehouse, really enduring suffering.
"Dad, I saw Zhou Jiaxing repairing the cart this morning."
"Seems like they’re going to make a move tonight."
"Honey, quickly take a nap. The kang is quite warm."
Jiang Xinyu was awoken in the middle of the night by loud noises.
Maybe they caught them, Jiang Xinyu thought, turning to sleep again, uninterested in the commotion.
The next morning, Jiang Xinyu had just finished breakfast when there was a knock on the door.
"Jiang Xinyu, lend me money, quick."
"What’s wrong? I spent all my money, how can I lend it to you?"
"Hurry up, I don’t believe you’ve spent it all. I’m in a life-or-death situation."
"Why do you ask so much?"
Hearing her, Jiang Xinyu slammed the door shut. How arrogant to demand money!
"Jiang Xinyu, open the door. I know you have money."
The door was pounded heavily, yet Jiang Xinyu ignored her; they intended to use money to settle Zhou Jiaxing’s arrest?
Liu Manquan from next door came out, "Do you intend to break the door?"
Zhou Lihong continued to knock desperately, shouting Jiang Xinyu’s name. She knew only here could she borrow money in the village. Her dad had been caught and sent to the township police station overnight, she needed money fast to visit him.
Although Dad wasn’t good to her, he did refuse to sell her out to Uncle, which was something at least.
She kept knocking, attracting many onlookers.
Gathering at the Jiang Family’s door, Jiang Xinyu figured it was about time, then opened the door, catching Zhou Lihong off guard, causing her to stumble and nearly fall.
"Zhou Lihong, I told you, I don’t have money, really can’t lend you any."
"You’re lying, you spent that much money so quickly?"
The crowd finally understood what happened, whispering among themselves. Many knew about last night’s incident.
The villagers resented the Zhou Brothers for stealing seeds, wanting to beat them to death. If the grain seeds were gone, what about next spring’s planting?
Seeing his daughter act this way, a few women couldn’t bear it.
"Zhou Lihong, is this how you borrow money? Even if I had money, I wouldn’t lend it to you."
"Yeah, are you trying to buy your dad back?"
"Dream on, how can someone like that be bought out?"
Overwhelmed by the villagers’ criticism of her dad, Zhou Lihong finally slumped and left with her head down.
"Aunties, what’s really going on?"
"Xinyu, didn’t you hear the commotion last night?"
"I heard, but was wondering what happened? What happened last night?"
"Zhou Jiaxing and Zhou Xiangxing went to the warehouse to steal seeds and got caught by the Captain."
"Yes, it’s really heartless, if they ate the seeds, what will everyone do next spring?"
"This year we’re already starving, do they want us to suffer next year too? How can someone be so heartless?"
The Zhou Brothers provoked public outrage; fortunately, Wang Jianqiang was straightforward, sending them directly to the police station, preventing Kong Zhongyou from easily covering it up.
Suddenly hearing the sound of a bell, the dozen or so women at the door turned and ran.
"Xinyu, hurry up and put on your coat, go to the Captain’s office, there’s a meeting."
"Auntie, go ahead, I’ll get changed."
By the time Jiang Xinyu arrived, almost the entire village was present, even the children were there.
"Xinyu, come over here," Sun Ermei called.