Chapter 204
Aunt Guo’s caution wasn’t just about the advanced brigade title; she didn’t want the entire brigade to resent Su Xiaoxiao because of someone else’s mistakes. Winning the advanced brigade status wasn’t just for prestige; it came with grain rewards, crucial for the grain-short winter months. After this year’s selection, there would be a whole year until the next, giving people time to cool down.
“Yes, no rush. She’s not showing yet anyway,” Su Xiaoxiao agreed obediently.
After dinner, Jiang Yexun washed the dishes and the pot, then heated water for his mother and Su Xiaoxiao to soak their feet. Once everything was done, he tossed and turned in his room, waiting for the kerosene lamp in Aunt Guo’s room to go out. After another ten minutes, he tiptoed out of his room and slipped into Su Xiaoxiao’s.
Under the dim kerosene light, the little girl’s white, delicate face was soft and pink. Her long, curled eyelashes rested gently, and her slightly pouty red lips occasionally moved, irresistibly adorable. Jiang Yexun leaned down and softly kissed her lips, careful not to wake her. Satisfied, he undressed and slipped into bed, pulling her into his arms.
Meanwhile, chaos reigned in Jiang Quansheng’s room. Yu Siping, holding a blood-stained machete, stared at the lifeless Jiang Quansheng on the bed, laughing maniacally. When she saw his open eyes, she slapped him hard.
“Why are you looking at me? Is it my fault? You forced me! You deserve to die! You made me like this, and now you want to abandon me? You deserve to die!” Yu Siping ranted, then began a new round of venting.
The sounds were clear in the quiet night, heard not only by the entire Jiang family but even by Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun next door. Jiang Yexun, however, didn’t want to meddle. He gently covered Su Xiaoxiao’s ears to prevent her from waking up.
But the smell of blood in the air was unmistakable. Su Xiaoxiao sniffed, confirming it was blood, and woke up in a fright.
“Something’s happened next door!” she whispered, trying to wriggle out of Jiang Yexun’s embrace. Although she had anticipated a fierce confrontation between Yu Siping and Jiang Quansheng, the sudden outbreak in the middle of the night was still alarming.
“Yes, let’s wait a bit before going to see,” Jiang Yexun suggested, trying to pull her back. But Su Xiaoxiao shook her head.
“You’d better go back to your room. Aunt Guo might wake up,” she urged. She didn’t want to be cuddling with Jiang Yexun amidst the heavy scent of blood, fearing it would leave a psychological scar.
“You really use me and then throw me away,” Jiang Yexun teased, lightly tapping Su Xiaoxiao’s nose. Despite his words, he obediently dressed and left.
Just as he stepped outside, an enraged shout came from next door.
“Yu Siping! You wretch!” Jiang Guoli’s voice thundered, waking the entire brigade.
Su Xiaoxiao, carrying a kerosene lamp, rushed out. Aunt Guo’s light was also on, and she emerged in a military coat, looking bewildered at her son and daughter-in-law.
“What’s happening next door?” Aunt Guo whispered, as if afraid the Jiang family would hear.
“Something serious, there’s a strong smell of blood,” Jiang Yexun replied indifferently.
Aunt Guo gulped and looked at Su Xiaoxiao, who also seemed uninterested in the commotion.
“You wretch! How dare you! I’ll kill you! You must pay for this!” Jiang Guoli’s desperate voice echoed again. It was the only voice heard, making outsiders think he had gone mad.
Aunt Guo was curious about what had happened but, having suffered once before, she refrained from getting involved as her son and daughter-in-law stayed out of it.
“Help! Murder!” Hu Yuezhen’s shrill scream pierced the night. Aunt Guo shivered, feeling the chill in her bones.
“Alright, if we’re not going to watch, let’s go back to sleep. Don’t catch a cold,” she urged, not daring to stay out and listen further, fearing trouble.
However, Su Xiaoxiao, having waited for this show, was unwilling to miss it. When she heard someone knocking on the Jiang family’s door, she turned to Jiang Yexun. “The brigade members are here. Let’s go see.”
“Yes, but let’s keep our distance,” Jiang Yexun agreed, opening the door.
Aunt Guo, halfway back to her room, quickly joined them, eager to watch the drama.
At the Jiang family house, a crowd had gathered. Su Xiaoxiao and her group kept a safe distance, watching from the periphery. Yu Siping lay motionless on the ground, bleeding heavily. She had clearly aggravated her recent surgical wounds. Hu Yuezhen was dragging her by the hair, smashing her head against the ground repeatedly.
“How can you be so heartless! Can’t we settle things without such drastic measures? What about your two children? Are you expecting us to raise them for you?” Hu Yuezhen raged, infuriated by the additional burden.
After a couple of minutes, Jiang Guoli and Jiang Quanqi carried out the bloodied Jiang Quansheng.
“A bicycle… no, no, a cart, can someone lend me a cart?” Jiang Guoli, eyes red and voice choked with emotion, pleaded.
Seeing Jiang Quansheng’s head barely attached, everyone recoiled in horror, retreating a few steps, too terrified to help.