Chapter 277 - 212: Home

Chapter 277: Chapter 212: Home

"Don’t worry. If there’s a real emergency, we have the truck. We can take them straight to the Commune or the county clinic. It’s very convenient."

Zhao Ergou finally relaxed. He looked over at Lin Zhiyin and Jin Xiuying, a strange expression on his face as he thanked them.

"Thank you, Third Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, and Aunt Xiufen."

He and the three Zhao brothers had been hunting together for many days, so their bond was already strong—no words were necessary. But he never expected Lin Zhiyin and the others to be so capable. His third sister-in-law had been the first to act, even faster than his third brother.

Lin Zhiyin smiled faintly. Looking as pure and otherworldly as a celestial fairy, she bore no resemblance to the fierce woman who had just been slapping Li Heihu’s mother. Mimicking Zhao Wendong, she patted Zhao Ergou on the head.

"What’s there to thank us for? We’re your sisters-in-law, aren’t we? We’re family, and family doesn’t stand on ceremony."

Zhao Wenwu’s eyes lit up as he stared at Lin Zhiyin.

"Scrapper, you’re that good at fighting? Then how come you’re always begging Brother San for mercy at night?"

Lin Zhiyin’s smile froze on her face. Her elegance evaporated, leaving only a look of stunned, wide-eyed disbelief.

"Zhao Wenwu, you are so dead!"

Furious, Jin Xiuying immediately administered some family discipline on Zhao Wenwu. Zhao Wendong found it so hilarious he clutched his stomach, roaring with laughter.

"HAHAHA!"

Mid-laugh, he sensed something was wrong. A palpable killing intent washed over him. He looked up to see Lin Zhiyin’s lovely face, red as an apple from humiliation.

"Hilarious, isn’t it? Keep going. Why’d you stop laughing? Or are you just not one for smiling?"

"Ahhh, I was wrong, honey!"

Watching the four of them horse around in the back of the truck, it was now Zhao Wenjun, Zhao Ergou, and Zhao Sanwa’s turn to laugh. Zhao Weiguo, mindful of his status as an elder, could only turn his head to look out of the truck, but the twitching at the corners of his mouth betrayed his amusement.

The big truck didn’t stop at Zhao Wendong’s house, driving straight to Zhao Ergou’s instead. Zhang Yufen had no idea what had happened. She had just finished heating the kang bed-stove and was preparing to go back to Zhao Wendong’s place to wait for Zhao Ergou’s group when a crowd of people burst in. When she saw Zhao Damei, wrapped in a blanket and laid at the head of the kang, she froze for a second before crying out in disbelief.

"Damei! My daughter! What happened to you? Oh, Damei!"

Liu Xiufen quickly grabbed Zhang Yufen to calm her down.

"It’s okay, Yufen, calm down. Damei was just starved."

Zhao Wendong and the men didn’t need to worry; Zhao Ergou, Lin Zhiyin, and the women were already starting a fire to prepare food for Zhao Damei. Both Zhao Damei and the baby in her arms were delirious and barely conscious from hunger, in desperate need of sustenance. The two-year-old girl, however, was a different story. Though weak, her eyes remained open. She didn’t cry or make a fuss, but simply stared intently at each person, as if trying to memorize their faces.

"I have some bean flour at home! I’ll go get it."

Zhao Wenjun said his piece and hurried out the door to fetch the bean flour from his home. Seeing there was nothing for him to do, Zhao Wendong left Zhao Ergou’s house with Zhao Weiguo and Niu Yuesheng.

"Brother Niu, they’ll be alright. You should head back before it gets dark."

"It’s fine, I’m not in a hurry. I’ll wait a little longer and leave once I’m sure they’re okay. I don’t mind heading home after dark."

Niu Yuesheng had also satisfied an itch for action today and was feeling good about it. Besides, Zhao Ergou’s problems were his problems now, so it was only natural that he was concerned.

"Alright, then. You wait here for a bit. I’m going to head back and let my family know what’s happening."

"Yeah, alright."

Once Niu Yuesheng had turned and gone back inside Zhao Ergou’s house, Zhao Weiguo and Zhao Wendong began walking home together.

"Wendong, how do you want to handle this matter?"

"What do you think, Uncle Weiguo?"

Zhao Wendong tossed the question right back. Zhao Weiguo hesitated a moment before he spoke.

"Li Heihu’s family was definitely in the wrong, but to be honest, this kind of thing isn’t rare. People who favor sons over daughters are everywhere. We fought them today, we smashed their things, we let off some steam. If Damei and the kids are alright, you should just let it go. If someone ends up dead over this, it’ll just lead to more trouble."

Zhao Wendong nodded but said nothing. Seeing his silence, Zhao Weiguo grew anxious and grabbed his arm.

"Dongzi, don’t push things too far! Anything stretched to its limit will snap back. Steel that’s too rigid is easily broken. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered!"

He was genuinely afraid Zhao Wendong would be too aggressive and do something irreversible to the Li Family, which would undoubtedly cause more trouble. Zhao Wendong could feel Zhao Weiguo’s concern and knew he was right. Still, a heavy feeling settled in his chest, whether for Zhao Damei, who was starved beyond recognition, or for his two little nieces, who were little more than skin and bones.

For some reason, Zhao Wendong suddenly recalled what Lin Zhiyin had told him a while back—that she wanted to do something for Zhao Pandi, for all the girls of Dragon King Pond.

"Is this kind of situation common in our village, too?"

Zhao Weiguo was silent for a moment. He doted on his own daughter because he was enlightened, but that didn’t mean everyone else was. The belief that daughters were a financial drain was widespread. Zhao Wendong fell silent as well. ’It’s only when society develops rapidly, moving past the most basic forms of manual labor, that women suddenly gain the upper hand. Sometimes, it even seems like an overcorrection.’

"As for the Li Family, let’s wait until my sister Damei has recovered and see what she wants. For the girls in the village... have the village committee look into the situation."

"Alright!"

The two walked the rest of the way in silence, parting at the intersection. When Zhao Weiguo reached his own doorstep, he suddenly felt happy again. He remembered that his daughter would soon be starting a job as a factory worker. He was happy for her, but also for the change he saw in Zhao Wendong. ’That kid not only took my advice,’ he thought, ’but he even started giving me work to do.’ He felt deeply gratified.