Chapter 4: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 4: Shagou Village 4

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

"Stop!"

Fortunately, at the critical moment, He Dazhu stepped forward and stood in front of Li Xiulan.

If Liao Chunhua's kick landed, the child in Li Xiulan's belly would definitely miscarry.

Seeing her husband actually protecting a fox spirit, Liao Chunhua flew into a rage:

"He Dazhu, what do you mean? Did you pick a fight with me on purpose today just to drive me away so you could find a chance to have a tryst with this fox spirit at home? I am your lawfully wedded wife, shouldn't you give me an explanation!"

He Dazhu gave no explanation at all, choosing to throw caution to the wind:

"Where's all this nonsense coming from? If we can get along, we get along; if we can't, we divorce!"

Because he knew he simply couldn't explain anything to Liao Chunhua.

Besides, he himself felt guilty, and Liao Chunhua wasn't entirely slandering him.

He did have improper thoughts about Li Xiulan.

It was just that poor Li Xiulan, to keep this family going and to protect the child in her belly, overcame great inner turmoil and agreed to let He Dazhu kiss her once, only to bring such disaster upon herself.

"Sister-in-law Chunhua, it's all my fault, I'm leaving now, don't be angry at Brother Dazhu, okay?"

Li Xiulan had originally intended to apologize and admit her mistake, but she was inarticulate, and once these words came out they took on a different meaning, making Liao Chunhua even more convinced she and He Dazhu were having an affair.

"You stinking bitch, still playing the pitiful one, right? Tomorrow I'll call Wang Zhanggen and let him know that while he's away working to earn money, the wife at home is giving him a green hat—maybe none of the three children are even his!"

Liao Chunhua only said such things because she was furious.

Li Xiulan was immediately stunned.

Her face turned pale, and her whole body trembled involuntarily.

She dared not imagine what Wang Zhanggen's reaction would be if he found out about this.

"Liao Chunhua, have you made enough trouble? If you dare call Wang Zhanggen, believe it or not, I'll beat you to death!"

He Dazhu flew into a rage out of shame.

Liao Chunhua's delicate body trembled; she never expected her husband would turn against her for an outsider woman.

"Go ahead and hit me, hurry up and beat me to death! You've hit me before! You hit me every time you drink, haven't you hit me enough? You never performed once with me in bed, so how can you perform with Li Xiulan, this fox spirit? Either beat me to death, or explain yourself clearly!"

Liao Chunhua screamed heart-rendingly, having completely lost her senses.

Ever since she married He Dazhu, she had never successfully slept with him even once, which was why her belly had remained still for so long.

Most fatally, He Dazhu was incapable and also cared about face, forbidding her to mention it to anyone, resulting in everyone mistakenly thinking she couldn't get pregnant, and her in-laws forced her to drink this and that, tormenting her endlessly.

And this was actually the most fundamental reason for their marital discord.

Hearing Liao Chunhua's words, Li Xiulan's face was full of shock.

She suddenly seemed to understand that back when they were trysting in the haystack, she had already stripped naked and stood before He Dazhu, yet he only held her and trembled for a moment before turning around and fleeing in disgrace.

It turned out this wasn't because of so-called responsibility, nor lack of courage, but simply because He Dazhu was incapable...

"Liao Chunhua, you're simply unreasonable, how can you shout such things out loud, you're practically asking to die!"

He Dazhu was furious beyond measure, out of his mind, dragging Liao Chunhua into the bedroom.

Soon, sounds of smashing and crashing came from inside the bedroom, along with Liao Chunhua's wails.

Li Xiulan dared not go in to stop them, fearing that trying to break up the fight might injure the child in her belly, so she quickly picked up the key she had just given He Dazhu, turned around, and fled in panic.

As for asking He Dazhu to help look after the livestock at home, that matter was dropped.

That night, Li Xiulan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The Family Planning Office wanted to take her for a forced abortion, and Liao Chunhua wanted to expose her affair with He Dazhu—troubles came one after another, what should she do...

The next day early morning, just five-thirty, at dawn, Li Xiulan got up with tired eyes.

No matter what, life had to go on.

Cooking breakfast, feeding pigs, feeding chickens, watering vegetables, washing clothes.

Until eight o'clock in the morning, she and her two children finally ate breakfast.

And just then, the thing she least wanted to see still happened.

The gate outside the courtyard was suddenly kicked open, with a loud "Boom."

Yang Dafu, the Women's Federation Director of the village, brought several staff members from the town Family Planning Office and swaggered in.

Li Xiulan was immediately panic-stricken.

But she did not flee; instead, she immediately hugged her two children into the bedroom, telling them to stay inside and not come out no matter what happened outside.

Then, as if going to the execution ground to die, she walked out to welcome the judgment of Yang Dafu and the Family Planning Office staff.

"Li Xiulan, the propaganda slogans for family planning have already been painted on the wall outside your courtyard, how can you not know your priorities? You've already had two, how are you pregnant again?"

Family Planning Office Director Wang Yuejin had a cold face and, opening his mouth, looked down on Li Xiulan and accused her:

"Don't you understand state policy? Family planning is our country's basic national policy, fewer births, better births, happy life—you're so poor and still have so many children, who will raise your children in the future?"

Li Xiulan didn't understand state policy; she was just an uneducated rural woman. She only knew that if she wanted to have children, she should have the right to have them, and if she didn't want to have children, she should also have the right not to.

She just stood there like a piece of wood, not answering Wang Yuejin's question.

Using silence as resistance.

"Have you paid the superbirth fine for the second child?"

A staff member beside Wang Yuejin coldly asked Li Xiulan.

Li Xiulan still did not answer.

Yang Dafu beside her was very eager, helping to answer:

"Not paid yet. Her family is dirt poor—several thousand yuan in superbirth fines, how could they pay?"

Wang Yuejin lowered his head, took out a small notebook, wrote a superbirth fine with a pen, and handed it to Li Xiulan:

"Fine for the second and third child together. Since your family has no money, hand over your valuables as collateral!"

He then waved his hand:

"Take away everything valuable from her home!"

The Family Planning Office staff immediately sprang into action.

They had long prepared snake skin bags, large cages, and other packing tools.

The chickens and ducks in Li Xiulan's courtyard were all confiscated.

The table, chairs, thermos, and old ceiling fan in the living room—all taken away!

The cotton quilt, mosquito net, and mirror in the bedroom—all taken away!

Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai, hiding in the bedroom, witnessed it all, curled up in the corner trembling! Their young hearts were deeply scarred!

Years later, they would still recall this scene—a lingering shadow over both brothers' lives.

The pressure cooker, large iron pot, hoe, plow, rake in the firewood room, and even Old Huang Gou in the dog kennel—all taken away!

It was clear these staff members were experts, their ransacking techniques highly practiced and efficient!

"Li Xiulan, I told you to shove me aside yesterday! I said you'd regret it, and now you believe me, don't you?"

Yang Dafu's low, smug voice came from beside her ear, making Li Xiulan tremble all over, clench her fists tight, as tears flowed uncontrollably.

At that moment, Li Xiulan was in despair, knowing she could not resist any of this.

Seeing her like this, Yang Dafu grew even more smug.

He decided to add fuel to the fire.

So, like a fawning dog, he hurried over to Wang Yuejin's side and said loudly:

"Director Wang, Li Xiulan's vegetable garden has a pigsty, and it's raising two big fat pigs!"