Chapter 21: Caught Last Night

Thinking quickly, he hurriedly said, “No, no, I’m not trying to ruin your reputation! Think about it—two years ago, I came looking to get close to you. Later, when they caught me, I refused to admit that and only said I came to steal something. That ten yuan was mine; I even gave it to you as stolen goods, right? If I weren’t thinking of you, if I insisted I came just to get close to you, would you still be able to get married?”

This disgusting excuse once again sickened Feng Mian. Angry, she slapped Zhou Mazi several times and scolded, “You really think you’re looking out for me? Then do you even know the difference between charges of hooliganism and theft?”

“I…” Zhou Mazi got stuck, feeling guilty and shifting his gaze away.

Feng Mian grabbed a rag used for wiping feet, bundled it up, and stuffed it into Zhou Mazi’s mouth.

Listening to his muffled sounds annoyed her, so she slapped him two more times.

After that, she tightened her clothes and went next door to find Lu Lan and Feng Feng, the couple.

When they heard Zhou Mazi had come sneaking through Feng Mian’s window, both were furious.

“I don’t think he’s had enough of prison food for those two years. Let’s go check on him.”

When they arrived at Feng Mian’s house, they indeed saw Zhou Mazi tied up and thrown in a corner by Feng Mian.

Feng Feng kicked him twice, and Lu Lan grabbed him a few times, then took turns berating him.

After the scolding, they asked Feng Mian what she planned to do next.

Feng Mian said, “Wait until dawn, then report it to Fourth Grandpa, and after that report to the public security bureau. Let him spend a few more years in jail.”

“Fine, that’s good—just the thing to scare Feng Gang a bit.”

Zhou Mazi sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face.

Feng Mian kicked him again.

Lu Lan looked at her fierce demeanor and said, “Mianmian, I see you’ve changed a lot recently.”

The village chief had a gentle nature; faced with such trouble, she would probably cry. But Feng Mian was calm and even tied up Zhou Mazi herself.

Feng Mian replied calmly, “I’ve come to realize some things recently. I don’t have parents, and I’m a girl. If I’m not tough, I simply can’t protect myself. For my own sake, I have to stand up and not let anyone bully me.”

Lu Lan nodded quickly and said, “That’s the right attitude.”

…

The next day, early in the morning, Feng Feng went to the team leader’s house and told him they caught Zhou Mazi last night.

The team leader was furious. “What? Zhou Mazi broke into Mianmian’s house again?”

“Yes. You should go take a look. Should we report it to public security or what?”

“Of course we report it.”

He immediately woke up his eldest son and told him to hurry to the county public security bureau.

His wife worried and asked, “This kind of trouble in our village again—won’t it affect your position as team leader? Twenty yuan a month is not much; don’t get yourself removed.”

“If he dares, I’ll deal with that Zhou Mazi if it affects my job.”

The couple rushed with Feng Feng to Feng Mian’s house.

Feng Mian hurriedly greeted them, “Fourth Grandpa, Fourth Grandma, thank you for coming.”

“It’s no trouble. Where’s Zhou Mazi?”

“In the woodshed.”

They went to the woodshed and saw Zhou Mazi. Fourth Grandpa and Feng Feng dragged him out and pulled off the rag stuffed in his mouth.

It was freezing, and Zhou Mazi had shivered all night after being left in the woodshed.

Fourth Grandpa kicked him twice, then asked, “Why did you come to Mianmian’s house so late at night?”

“I… I didn’t do anything bad. I like Mianmian and came to see her.”

Ha, getting smart now. Not only did he deny his purpose, he didn’t even bother with the thief excuse anymore.

“Pfft! Keep your mouth shut and explain it to public security. Feng Feng, put the rag back in his mouth.”

Feng Feng stuffed the rag back in, and Zhou Mazi whimpered nonstop. Fourth Grandpa, annoyed, slapped him twice more.

Fourth Grandma thought Feng Mian, being a young girl, would be scared of this kind of trouble and kept comforting her.

“Don’t be afraid, your Fourth Grandpa is here. We’ll make sure he spends a few more years behind bars.”

Feng Mian played the role of the scared young girl perfectly, lowering her head in fear and only nodding slightly as she listened.

Just then, three people arrived.

Everyone inside the house was stunned as they stared at the three young men standing in the doorway. Both groups sized each other up, eyes locked.

“Who are you?” Fourth Grandpa was the first to speak.

Feng Mian quickly came out from the inner room and invited Gu Yuelin and the others inside.

“Coming so early, really sorry about that. We’ve had some trouble at home. Please, have a seat, I’ll go make some food.”

Saying that, she hurried off to the kitchen.

Fourth Grandma followed her quietly.

“Who are these people?” she whispered.

Feng Mian replied softly, “They’re the guys matchmaker Xu introduced to me. I’m getting married, and the family wants to do some renovations, so they brought friends to help.”

Gu Yuelin led his two friends inside and immediately noticed someone tied up on the floor.

Feng Feng standing nearby said, “You must be Mianmian’s fiancé, right?”

Gu Yuelin nodded, “Yes, that’s me. I brought two friends to help out.”

He looked down at the man on the floor. “What happened here?”

Feng Feng, worried about Feng Mian’s reputation and fearing this young man might misunderstand, quickly explained, “Nothing serious. We just caught a thief last night.”

Zhou Mazi whimpered and glared resentfully at Gu Yuelin, as if ready to fight him.

Gu Yuelin’s two friends exchanged strange looks and gave him knowing winks.

Gu Yuelin kept a serious face and headed toward the kitchen.

“Mianmian, what happened?”

Before Feng Mian could answer, Fourth Grandma interrupted, “Nothing much, just caught a thief. You get back to your work.”

Then she said to Feng Mian, “Your Fourth Grandpa sent your eldest uncle to the county. The police will be here soon, so don’t worry.”

Gu Yuelin hesitated, clenched his fists, and went to the main room.

His friends pulled him aside and whispered, “Brother, that guy doesn’t look like an ordinary thief. When he heard you’re the fiancé, his eyes looked like he wanted to eat you alive. Is this girl… not so clean?”

“Shut up. You’re here to work, so just focus on your work. Don’t pry where you shouldn’t.”

“Alright, alright. So, where’s the wood?”

“The woodshed.”

The three of them silently went to the woodshed to pick suitable wood for the keel.

Not long after, the police arrived.

Seeing the tied-up man, the lead officer was shocked, “Why is it you again?”

“Where’s the victim?”

Feng Mian put down her work and went outside. “It’s me.”

“Again?”

That ‘again’ was said just right.

“Yes. Officer, he came to my house again…” The young girl hesitated, almost in tears.

“Don’t be afraid, take your time and tell us exactly what happened.”

Feng Mian recounted the events of last night: how she blocked the back door with wood, but Zhou Mazi climbed in through the window again.

Gu Yuelin and his two friends were also there listening. Only then did they understand the full story.

The officers looked ashamed, feeling their job wasn’t done properly—they hadn’t properly reformed this guy before letting him out, and he almost caused trouble for the girl again.