Just like last time, when Wen Zhuqing was assigned to shovel manure—wasn’t that all because Old Man Gu was the village chief?
And even later, if an educated youth like him wanted to leave Huaihua Village and return to the city, he’d have to watch out for Old Man Gu blocking his way.
“As for sister-in-law…”
Gu Yunzhou turned to Yang Manman, who immediately tensed up.
“I—I haven’t offended that Wen Zhuqing, have I?” Yang Manman stammered.
“You haven’t, sister-in-law, but you are part of the Gu family,” Gu Yunzhou said.
“I think Wen Zhuqing targeted you because you’re pregnant.”
Yang Manman was startled and quickly covered her belly, her eyes filled with worry.
Gu Yunting listened to his younger brother’s words and glanced at his wife’s swollen belly. A dark expression crossed his face as he considered the possibilities.
Without a doubt, aside from Zhuangzhuang, who was just a few months old, the most vulnerable person in the family was Manman.
If something happened to her, it would mean two lives lost.
At that thought, Gu Yunting tightly grasped his wife’s hand, reassured only by the warmth of her palm.
“Now that we know the general reason, all that’s left is to keep an eye on him,” Gu Yunnan said.
“I’ll keep watch over Wen Zhuqing,” Gu Yunzhou volunteered.
“For the next few days, Manman should avoid going out as much as possible. If she must, either I’ll accompany her, or…”
“Or I will,” Yao Chunhua declared.
That was her daughter-in-law and unborn grandson—of course Yao Chunhua took it seriously.
“If that Wen Zhuqing dares to have any ill intentions, I’m not afraid of him,” Yao Chunhua said boldly.
And she truly wasn’t. In fact, the strongest person in the Gu family wasn’t any of the three brothers, nor Old Man Gu—it was Yao Chunhua.
After all, the Yao family were butchers, and their trade relied on raw physical strength.
Yao Chunhua had inherited that immense strength.
Her brute force surpassed even that of most men, and she had the courage to match.
So, of course, she wasn’t intimidated by a weakling like Wen Zhuqing.
“Alright, then it’s settled.”
…
At the Bao family residence, Bao Shanyan stroked her belly as she watched Wen Zhuqing washing clothes by the well in the yard.
Out of the corner of his eye, Wen Zhuqing’s gaze fell on Bao Shanyan’s slightly rounded stomach, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
The child in Bao Shanyan’s belly—it couldn’t stay.
The thought of those nights when Bao Shanyan had forced herself on him made his expression darken.
The mere thought of it made him sick.
If not for the circumstances forcing him, he would have long since rid himself of Bao Shanyan.
“What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and finish washing, then go cook.” Seeing Wen Zhuqing dragging his feet with the laundry, Bao Shanyan kicked him.
Caught off guard, Wen Zhuqing nearly stumbled.
Luckily, he managed to catch himself—but his hands landed in the basin of water, soaking the sleeves of his overcoat. It was his only one.
A flash of fury crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
“Originally, as a man, you should be out laboring in the fields. But now my mother’s doing that while you handle these chores—you’re getting off easy,” Bao Shanyan said mercilessly.
In her eyes, Wen Zhuqing was nothing but a weakling. Useless in the fields, with nothing to recommend him except his pretty face.
But that pretty face was a good thing—her child would probably take after him and be good-looking too.
After finishing the laundry and hanging it up, Wen Zhuqing was immediately herded into the kitchen to cook, his damp sleeves forgotten.
Bao Shanyan didn’t follow him in—lately, her pregnancy had made her sensitive to smells, and the fumes from cooking made her nauseous.
Staring at the sizzling vegetables in the wok, Wen Zhuqing’s fingers itched to sprinkle in poison, to wipe out Bao Shanyan, her mother, and the unwanted child in her belly. But he held back.
He could get his hands on the necessary drugs, but if Bao Shanyan and her mother died, suspicion would immediately fall on him.
For now, he couldn’t orchestrate it flawlessly.
So he had to wait.
But…
A delicate, charming figure flashed through his mind—
Gu Jianing!
Wen Zhuqing would never forget that his current suffering was all because of Gu Jianing’s scheming.
Unfortunately, Gu Jianing had left for the northwest with that officer, Sheng.
But it didn’t matter. The Gu family was still here.
Gu Jianing clearly cared deeply about her family. If something happened to them, she would be devastated, wouldn’t she?
Wen Zhuqing did intend to strike at the Gu family. And he already had a target in mind—as well as a plan.
All that remained was execution.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, he finished cooking.
Soon, Bao Yingzi also returned, and they all sat down to eat.
Bao Shanyan and her mother ate with unrestrained gusto, grabbing food so quickly that Wen Zhuqing couldn’t keep up.
But he didn’t care.
In front of Bao Shanyan and her mother, Wen Zhuqing had always been obedient and docile. Even when Bao Shanyan occasionally hit him, he endured it.
After all, he would settle the score one day.
After the meal, Wen Zhuqing cleared the dishes. As he worked, he said to Bao Shanyan, “Yanzi, I plan to go to the county town later. Last time I wrote to my parents, they were thrilled to hear you’re pregnant. They’ve probably sent some things—I’ll check the post office.”
Bao Shanyan frowned at first when she heard he was going to town, but upon hearing it was to fetch a package, she relented.
“Fine, go ahead. Leave early and come back early.” Without an introduction letter, he couldn’t run away anyway.
Hearing her approval, Wen Zhuqing lowered his eyes as he stacked the bowls, a faint smile curling his lips.
Soon, he left the Bao household and headed for the county town.
Unbeknownst to him, a shadowy figure quietly followed.
Upon arriving in town, Wen Zhuqing first went to a secluded alley and knocked on a door. It opened just a crack.
“Do you have what I asked for?” he asked in a hushed voice.
“Right here,” replied a voice from inside. The person didn’t show their face but extended a hand. “I’ve brought it. Where’s the money and the coupons?”
Wen Zhuqing handed over the prepared cash and coupons. The hand took them and quickly passed him a small package.
He immediately tucked it into his coat.
After glancing around, he turned and left.
But Wen Zhuqing didn’t return to the village right away. Instead, he went to the gates of the county government compound and spoke to the guard. “Hello, could you notify Comrade Liu Yuan, the secretary’s daughter? Tell her Wen Zhuqing is here to see her.”
The guard seemed to recognize him and didn’t give him trouble, going inside to deliver the message.
Soon, a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl in a woolen coat, her hair in two braids, came skipping out happily.
Spotting Wen Zhuqing from a distance, Liu Yuan’s eyes lit up.
When she reached him, her voice was even brighter. “Brother Wen, you’ve finally come!”
“Comrade Liu,” Wen Zhuqing replied with refined politeness, his handsome face wearing a gentle, affectionate smile. His tender gaze lingered on her as if conveying endless emotion.
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