Liu Shuzhen not only knew the secret she tried so hard to hide but also knew exactly who her son’s biological father was.
Moreover, she suggested determining the paternal relationship through blood type testing, directly extinguishing her last glimmer of hope.
Dai Honghua’s chubby face turned pale with fright, her triangular eyes fixated on Shuzhen, as if calculating the chances of eliminating her to keep the secret.
Seeing this, Shuzhen chuckled and deliberately raised the kitchen knife in her hand: "Well, well, well, don’t bother pondering over that murder and silence trick with your limited strength, courage, and strategy. Don’t end up failing to kill and getting yourself killed instead, dragged to the wilderness to become a roaming ghost, wouldn’t that just benefit those good girls waiting to become the brigade leader’s wife?
If you really don’t want to be coerced by me into things you don’t want to do, then just harden your heart and send little Shengli on his way, so that there’s no witness to testify against you..."
Before she could finish, Dai Honghua’s sharp gaze interrupted her: "You, are you even speaking like a human? Shengli is just a child, and you cold-heartedly want his life. Liu Shuzhen, even if my brother Weiguo doesn’t want you anymore, you don’t need to rabidly attack our Dai family.
No matter what, remember that Shengli once called you ’aunt’ and you held him and comforted him!"
At this, Shuzhen laughed.
Back when you had the upper hand, you couldn’t wait to crush me, using every petty trick to cling to Chen Shimei and Jian San, hardly ever at peace.
Now that I’ve got a handle on you, and you’re unable to jump around, you turn back and talk about past bonds?
Do you think the whole world is your mother, and must indulge your bad temper indefinitely!
Hmph, the child in my belly may be my own flesh and blood, but I’ve never expected to pamper him all my life.
Small mistakes will be punished, big ones will be cut down; better to raise a filial son with a stick than another ungrateful wretch.
With this attitude towards my own bloodline, do you think I’d sympathize with my enemy’s bastard offspring?
Shuzhen sneered coldly, looking at Dai Honghua with derision in her eyes: "Either fight it out with whatever you’ve got, see whether you, as a cadre’s family member, first use that ridiculous charge of ’stealing socialist potatoes’ to get rid of me, or if I end up unscathed and return the favor tenfold.
Or, put away that useless sentimentality and obediently follow my lead.
Become my visible protector in the village, and naturally, I won’t do anything self-destructive.
Quickly now, my husband Lianshan is about to return, and I have to cook for him; I don’t have time to idle chat with you!"
From being a high-ranking cadre’s wife to a puppet in the enemy’s hand, this is tragically unacceptable for Dai Honghua.
But with fatal leverage in her opponent’s hands, what choice does she have even if she refuses to yield?
After quite some time, Dai Honghua barely swallowed all her anger and reluctance.
With a cold, sullen face, she grudgingly said: "Fine, I’ll pay and wipe away the hundred-plus dollars you owe. When the autumn harvest work is divided, I can have Yuzhi give Lianshan a good task. Given that you’re pregnant and weak, there’s no need for you to work in the fields during the harvest. Of course, even if you don’t work, after the autumn harvest, the grain distribution definitely won’t shortchange you and your husband..."
"Stop!" Shuzhen frowned and waved her hand: "No need, we’ll repay what we owe the production team ourselves. A good man with working hands and feet, diligent and capable, why worry about making a hundred-plus dollars? Our Lianshan has high consciousness, and we wouldn’t take advantage of the party and country!
Do a piece of work, earn a work point; we don’t need to be greedy or take more.
Just keep that foolish member of your family in line, stop trying to scheme against us so frequently. As long as they don’t maliciously damage my reputation, cause me constant distress."
"Is it that simple?" Dai Honghua’s eyes widened, ready to make major financial sacrifices, only for Liu Shuzhen to dismissively reject even the money she offered?
The relief from surviving a disaster was mingled with disbelief!
Shuzhen sneered at this sight: "How could it be? Not wanting money just shows our broad vision and clean heart. Your money, not tainted by embezzlement or bribes but private dirty money from illicit lovers, isn’t enough to tempt us. No need for you to arrange special work either. My Lianshan, my brother-in-law, brother, and uncle, each stands tall as a true man. We earn our good days through our own efforts, avoiding low-class tricks.
None of them stoops to official speeches, living off another’s effort. Which of my family members isn’t a thumbed-up and praised good man?"
Such self-pride, like a victorious rooster puffing its chest, stung Dai Honghua’s eyes. Complimenting her family’s often reviled fish, turtle, shrimp, and crab while stomping on her own man made one want to tear her apart.
Bear-gnashing hatred gripped on by fatal evidence, even as anger threatened to explode, she must endure.
Turning the adage ’swallowing broken teeth and blood’ into action, waiting for opportunities to repay her exponentially.
Refusing to believe that this contemptible woman insists on bearing that little bastard, and once news spreads, that Bai Jing, the cherished daughter, wouldn’t stomach such an affront.
After all, Liu Shuzhen’s existence is Bai Jing’s utmost disgust, especially when that revolting woman may raise a child to compete for resources, affection from her son?
Imagining Liu Shuzhen’s future torment at Bai Jing’s hands, Dai Honghua’s fury slightly abated.
After several deep breaths, she calmly asked Shuzhen: "If it’s not that simple, what exactly do you want to forget Shengli’s secret?"
Shuzhen, amused by the question, replied: "Well, my life is satisfied and my family is harmonious, there’s truly nothing I want but can’t have. I’ve heard that the Worker Peasant Soldier University is good, and our Liu village production team gets a spot every few years. There’s going to be another recommendation next year, isn’t there? Why not wrack your brains to secure that slot for Lianshan to study, to broaden his horizons!"
This Shuzhen said quite casually, as if it were as natural as wearing a cotton-padded jacket in winter and fanning oneself in summer.
Hearing this, however, sent Dai Honghua’s blood pressure spiking, nearly spewing blood onto Shuzhen’s face.
Getting a spot at the Worker Peasant Soldier University, are you joking?
This is a public election in the whole village, with not a bit of room for underhanded dealings. Do you think it’s like harvesting corn in the fields, effortless without bending down?!