Chapter 200 - 188: Zhao Wendong Sets the Rules

Chapter 200: Chapter 188: Zhao Wendong Sets the Rules

"Dad, I promise I won’t gamble anymore, okay? Please don’t let Zhao Wendong send me away! If I’m sent away, I’m as good as dead."

Zhao Dahai fell silent for a moment, then sighed.

"We’ll have to discuss this with Dongzi later."

A moment later, Wang Jinzhi came from the east room. She poked her head out the door and waved to Zhao Wendong.

"Dongzi, come here!"

Zhao Wendong followed her into the east room. Zhao Wenhua was huddled on the heated bed, hiding in a corner with his face covered like a turtle in its shell. Zhao Dahai, for his part, gazed at his nephew with a bitter expression. He hadn’t left the bed in days, but word of Zhao Wendong’s exploits kept reaching his ears.

He’d heard about everything: how Wendong had stormed the Wang Family’s Hut and taken down Wang Dana to get justice for him, forcing Wang Dana to come and apologize in person. How he’d thrashed Li Guangming for trying to steal Lin Zhiyin away. On top of that, there was the incredible calligraphy incident, and now, he was even the guiding hand behind the production team’s fervent spring plowing and work point drive.

’They were both from the Zhaos’ bloodline; his own son and Zhao Wendong even shared a grandfather. So why wasn’t his own son the successful one?’

"Dongzi, your cousin is still young. We wouldn’t be able to rest easy if you sent him away. He himself said he’ll never gamble again. Please, just let him off this one time. We’ll discipline him properly from now on and make sure he walks a straight path. What do you say?"

"Sure. Why not?"

Zhao Wendong had expected this; he knew they couldn’t bear to part with Zhao Wenhua. In his past life, it wasn’t until Zhao Wenhua threw them out and abandoned them that the couple finally learned what regret felt like.

"Then from now on, the three of you will be on your own. I’ll take care of Pandi, Laidi, Grandpa, and Grandma."

"Dongzi, what’s the rush? The New Year is almost here. If we do this now, we’ll be the laughingstock of the village. I’m your uncle, how could I show my face anywhere? Can’t we just wait a little longer? Just a little longer."

In the end, this was Zhao Dahai’s family affair. Seeing his uncle beg him like this, Zhao Wendong couldn’t press too hard. But he knew exactly what kind of person Zhao Wenhua was. In his past life, that heartless bastard had done countless rotten things—so many that Zhao Wendong couldn’t even be bothered to recall them all.

"Pandi’s and Laidi’s marriages must be their own choice. You are not to force them. Agreed?"

"Yes, yes, of course."

Seeing Zhao Wendong relent, Wang Jinzhi and Zhao Dahai nodded again and again. As long as Zhao Wenhua wasn’t sent away and they weren’t cast aside, they would agree to anything. After all, most of the food they ate these days was thanks to the generosity of Ye Qingmei and Zhao Chuanhe. Not only had Zhao Wendong brought them food, but Zhao Ergou had also delivered some before.

"Remember your promise."

With that, Zhao Wendong turned and returned to the west room. He recounted the conversation to Pandi and Laidi, and seeing their faces still clouded with worry, he offered a reassuring smile.

"Don’t worry. Brother San promised to take care of you, and I’ll see it through to the end. As long as I, Zhao Wendong, am here, no one can force my sisters to marry a man they don’t want. Come find me anytime you need anything."

Only then did Zhao Pandi and Zhao Laidi feel completely at ease. Zhao Wendong then took Ye Qingmei’s hand.

"Grandma, they told me they’d keep an eye on Zhao Wenhua, but I don’t believe a word of it. A dog can’t be taught not to eat shit!"

"You two shouldn’t waste your energy being angry. Just focus on taking care of yourselves and looking after Pandi and Laidi. That’s all that matters. Zhao Wenhua is bound to cause trouble again. I doubt he’ll behave for more than a few days. Once my new house is built, I’ll bring you both to live with me and enjoy a peaceful life. It’s better to be out of sight, out of mind."

Ye Qingmei nodded in satisfaction at his words. ’My grandson has really grown up,’ she thought. ’Not only has he earned great honors, but he’s also so much more mature in how he sees and handles things. Marriage really does change a man.’

"That’s right. Our children will have their own fortunes to make. Out of sight, out of mind," Zhao Chuanhe chimed in from the side, his hearing exceptionally sharp this time—not deaf in the slightest.

On the walk back from Zhao Dahai’s home, Lin Zhiyin held Zhao Wendong’s arm, her head resting on his shoulder as they walked in silence.

’I used to think my life was the most bitter,’ she reflected. ’But after seeing Zhao Pandi, I don’t feel so miserable anymore. At the very least, I had my parents’ love and a comfortable life. But Zhao Pandi? From the moment she was born and named, she was treated like a tool. Her only purpose was to work, from childhood to adulthood, only to be married off to a cripple a dozen years her senior to get some money for her brother.’

’Luckily, Zhao Pandi had a cousin like Zhao Wendong to protect her. But then again, how many other girls like her were there in Dragon King Pond who didn’t have a Zhao Wendong to stand up for them? How many in the entire Commune? In the whole county?’

"Zhao Wendong, I want to do something for the girls in our village."

Zhao Wendong turned to look at Lin Zhiyin, instantly reading the determination in her gaze.

"Of course. I’ll support you in whatever you want to do!"

"Okay."

Lin Zhiyin pressed her head closer against him, happy to have his unconditional support. Her mind was already racing, thinking about what she could do for those girls. Nearby, Jin Xiuying glanced from Lin Zhiyin to Zhao Wendong, looked like she wanted to say something, but then held her tongue. Instead, she kicked Zhao Wenwu in the butt.

"Zhao Wenwu, I’m too tired to walk."

"Easy. Get on, wife."

Zhao Wenwu squatted down, and Jin Xiuying climbed onto his back. Then, Zhao Wenwu broke into a dead run, shouting as he went.

"Pigsy’s carrying his wife!"

"Zhao Wenwu, are you crazy?! Slow down! AHHHH!"

Watching his older brother and sister-in-law disappear into the distance, and then seeing the expectant look in Lin Zhiyin’s eyes, Zhao Wendong thought, ’Well, I’d better spoil my own wife too!’

He swept her up in his arms and hoisted her right onto his shoulder. Taking great strides, he chased after Zhao Wenwu, and Lin Zhiyin’s shrieks soon joined the cacophony.

The four of them were still laughing and roughhousing when they reached the production team’s warehouse. Lin Zhiyin and Jin Xiuying were immediately roped into doing bookkeeping for the team office, so the two brothers had to head home on their own. As they neared their gate, they saw a crowd gathered by the road, all staring into their garden. Several older kids were there too, constantly herding flocks of sparrows in their direction. Each time a flock flew past, a new patch of black specks would be left struggling desperately on the sticky net.

"Wow, another batch got stuck! Look at all those sparrows!"

"This net is amazing! This is great! Go chase some more over, hurry, hurry!"

The well-fed sparrows had no idea it was such an unlucky day to be out. Each time they were chased and flew in a panic over Zhao Wendong’s yard, a part of the flock would fly straight into the net. A frantic burst of fluttering would sound—THWAP, FLUTTER, FLAP—and another dozen, sometimes several dozen, sparrows would be stuck fast. Their wings beat uselessly, but they couldn’t escape the thin threads of the net.

"Holy shit, that’s a lot!"

Zhao Wendong couldn’t stop a curse from slipping out as he got closer, stunned by the sight before him.