Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Intentional Homicide Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Intentional Homicide Everyone was picking plums with laughter and chatter, but near the edge of the field, one plum tree had become skewed due to the recent heavy rain that had washed away a lot of the soil, meaning that the majority of the branches were drooping down. To pick from it, one had to go down below.
However, there was a narrow path below, which, being little used, was overgrown with grass. No one wanted to go down for fear of snakes in the grass. Luo Qiao thought of her own agility and decided that if no one else would go, she might as well do it herself since she had to pick plums either way.
Zhang Qiaoyan, who was herding cattle at the slope below, looked up at the crowd picking plums and wanted to ask for a few to taste. But seeing the women’s team leader there, she felt too shy to ask.
Just as she was about to drive the cattle away, she saw Luo Qiao descend the slope, standing on that narrow path to pick plums from that skewed tree. Now, she wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
Standing there, staring at Luo Qiao, Zhang Qiaoyan seemed lost in thought. The others in the field who were picking plums noticed Zhang Qiaoyan always standing there, looking in this direction, and someone even commented, “Who’s that Qiaoyan from the secretary’s home staring at?”
Auntie Caifeng from the accountant’s home said, “Looks like she’s eyeing Luo Qiao. That girl is too narrow-minded, can’t stand to see anyone doing better than her.”
After Luo Qiao had picked a large amount, someone on top dropped down a rope with a hook to pull up the basket. She then switched to a backpack and resumed picking at the edge of the trail.
Suddenly, a young girl asked, “What is Zhang Qiaoyan doing?”
The adults looked up and were all startled; the secretary’s daughter was hitting the cow’s rear with a stone while clearly holding something else in her other hand.
In pain, the cow bolted towards where Luo Qiao stood, but since that spot was quite narrow, she had no room to dodge. The only way to avoid being hit by the cow was to jump down the cliff, which was at least seven or eight meters high.
As the cow neared, everyone shouted in panic, “Luo Qiao, grab the rope and we’ll pull you up!”
“Luo Qiao, it’s dangerous, run!”
“Luo Qiao, run fast!”
In the midst of their cries, Luo Qiao also saw the cow charging towards her. She quickly scanned her surroundings and spotted an elm tree growing on the cliffside about two meters away. With no other choice during their shouts of alarm, Luo Qiao ran forward and leaped off the cliff.
It was the best option available; even if the small elm couldn’t support her weight, it would at least give her some buffer time. At the very least, if she fell, it wouldn’t be from as great a height.
Luo Qiao’s movement startled the cow even more, causing it to blindly dash off and, after running about ten meters on the dirt path, tumble down.
Now everyone was stunned. That was the village collective’s property falling from such a height—it wouldn’t be dead, but it was certainly going to be crippled.
Luo Qiao was still swaying on the small elm when they saw someone rushing down the opposite slope, sprinting toward the elm tree where Luo Qiao was hanging.
Lu Yichen was filled with rage, not at Luo Qiao, for he had just been behind Zhang Qiaoyan on the slope above while cutting branches intending to weave more baskets.
Catching a glimpse of Zhang Qiaoyan taking a large nail from her pocket and hammering it into the cow’s rear, and then seeing the direction the cow ran off in, he broke into a cold sweat.
That Zhang Qiaoyan was too malicious; she was intentionally trying to commit murder.
Lu Yichen exerted the strength of both oxen and tigers to pull Luo Qiao up. Seeing blood on her sleeve, he quickly asked, “Let’s see if you’re hurt anywhere else?”
Luo Qiao replied, “I’m okay now, if there is anything it’s just a scratch. I’ll find some medicine to apply when I get back.”