Chapter 4: Zhao Third Son Got Beaten Again

But when they considered what Fang Chunsheng had just said, And thought again about Old Lady Zhao’s usual behavior, Bai Ruoqiao’s version of events sounded far more credible.

After all, this old woman once even tried to pinch their bed ticket when the young couple were getting married.

And recently, word had gone around that Zhao Sihai’s retirement and soldier compensation had come through.

Now it looked like either the old woman or Zhao Third Son had taken all the money and supplies.

Suspecting Bai Ruoqiao might be hiding something, they must have lured her away to raid her room for valuables.

“That’s right—the meat’s still here too.”

Right on cue, Fang Chunsheng pulled out a strip of pork from a crooked, half-collapsed basket. It was covered in dirt.

Seeing that it really was pork, several people’s eyes lit up.

So it was true—Old Lady Zhao had taken good stuff from Zhao Sihai’s house.

And yet, the poor mother and son had been left malnourished and gaunt,
a stark contrast to the round-faced Zhao Xiaohui and the fat-bellied Zhao Third Son.

Bai Ruoqiao glanced at Zhao Xiaohui, who still wore an expression of disbelief.

She stated again firmly, “So, let’s call the police.”

Hearing “call the police” again, Zhao Xiaohui instantly panicked.

Without thinking, she shrieked, “No police!”

If the police came and found out what she had done, she’d be doomed.

She was still young—she didn’t want to go to prison.

Her sudden outburst startled everyone nearby.

And it only made Zhao family’s guilt more obvious.

She’d just been the one shouting about not covering up crimes.

Now she was the one screaming not to involve the police?

Too contradictory.

And considering how the Zhao family normally acted,
anyone with a brain could figure out who to believe.

The village chief and the brigade leader both wore dark expressions.
They were just about to say something when—

Someone charged into the scene, screaming wildly.

“No calling the police! Who dares call the police?!”

The village chief was shoved hard, nearly falling over.

Regaining his footing, he shouted angrily,
“Zhao Jinzhong!”

Old Lady Zhao finally reacted, panic flashing across her face.

She had rushed out because she heard they were about to arrest her son and had lost her head.

“Village Chief! My precious boy would never steal! It’s—it’s this little wretch making up lies!”

As she spoke, she glared viciously at Bai Ruoqiao.

Then she looked behind Bai Ruoqiao at the tall, imposing Zhao Sihai.

Her voice rose to a shrill screech again.

“Zhao Sihai! Look at the cursed vixen you married—framing my boy like this! Divorce her right now!”

Bai Ruoqiao seemed startled by her, her body shrinking back slightly.

Zhao Sihai immediately stepped forward and pulled her into his arms,
his dark eyes fixed on his mother like a cold blade.

Then he asked suddenly,
“Mom, then you tell me—why was Third Brother in my room?”

The question stunned Old Lady Zhao into silence.

Her eyes darted around nervously. She stammered, unable to respond.

Seeing her reaction, the crowd believed Bai Ruoqiao even more.

They began cursing Old Lady Zhao and Zhao Third Son.

Suddenly, Zhao Xiaohui shouted,
“She must’ve lured my third brother in! She was trying to seduce him!”

Old Lady Zhao seemed to take the hint and puffed up her chest,
“Yes! That wretched hussy tricked my precious boy into her room!”

Bai Ruoqiao looked like she’d been pushed to her limit. She turned and buried herself in Zhao Sihai’s chest, her shoulders shaking.

Zhao Sihai held her tightly, his expression growing even darker.

“You’re saying she lured him in? Then when exactly did that happen?

From the canteen until now—at what point?

You two tell me.”

Zhao Sihai might have only been a military engineer, but his years in the army gave him an aura not to be underestimated.

The moment he spoke, the two were stunned into silence.

Under the pressure of his presence, they grew even more panicked.

Neither knew what to say.

Old Lady Zhao stiffened her neck, “She—she didn’t even go to the canteen.”

Truth was, she was just as confused.

She had clearly tied Bai Ruoqiao to the bed—
how had she managed to get to the canteen?

The crowd had had enough of the excuses.

Someone called out,
“Village Chief, Brigade Leader—call the police!”

Then others began to shout too, “Call the police!”

That scared Old Lady Zhao and Zhao Xiaohui so badly their faces went pale.

At that moment, Bai Ruoqiao suddenly turned her head,
as if she just remembered something, panic on her face.

“Where’s An’an? Has anyone seen An’an?!”

Suddenly the entire scene fell silent.

An’an?

Right—if Zhao Third Son was caught stealing in the house,
and Bai Ruoqiao hadn’t taken the child with her,
where had Zhao An’an gone?
No one had seen a child around.

With all this noise, even a child asleep in another room would’ve been woken.

“Where is An’an? What did you do with him? He’s still sick!
Do you people even have a shred of humanity?!”

Bai Ruoqiao suddenly charged forward, grabbed Old Lady Zhao’s collar, and screamed at her.

Old Lady Zhao felt like something sharp had jabbed her in the neck.

Hearing Bai Ruoqiao’s accusation, a flicker of guilt flashed through her eyes—
but she quickly masked it with bluster and shoved her away.

“You wretched tramp, what nonsense are you spouting?
How should I know where your brat is?!
And how dare you lay hands on me? I’ll beat you to death!”

She raised her hand to strike.

But before she could swing, Zhao Sihai caught her wrist.

She looked up in shock.

Then burst into a crazed shriek.

“Zhao Sihai, you damned bastard! You’ve gone out into the world and grown some wings, huh?!
Ungrateful dog! You dare raise a hand to your own mother?!”

“Enough!” Zhao Sihai shouted, his face dark as thunder.
“Mom—where is An’an?”

“I don’t know! You ungrateful cur, let me—”

But her voice faltered under Zhao Sihai’s icy glare.

Zhao Sihai really did let her go.

But only muttered, “Fine.”

Then he turned and strode straight into the house.

Everyone was stunned.

The next moment, a roar came from inside—
followed by a blood-curdling scream like a pig being slaughtered.

Old Lady Zhao’s eyes flew wide, and she rushed inside like a madwoman.

“Zhao Sihai!”

They saw Zhao Sihai dragging Zhao Third Son out of the house like a dead dog.

Old Lady Zhao wailed and lunged forward.

“You damned mutt! What are you doing?! Let go of my son!”

The crowd heard this and all had strange looks on their faces.

That insult…
Well, they didn’t even know how to respond.

Zhao Sihai only glanced coldly at his mother.

And just as she was about to charge at him,
he threw a brutal punch straight into Zhao Third Son’s stomach.

The blow was so strong that bile came spewing out of Zhao Third Son’s mouth.

Old Lady Zhao was stunned.

Then they heard Zhao Sihai’s voice, cold and low:
“Where is An’an?”

Old Lady Zhao snapped back to her senses and wanted to keep arguing—
but facing her son’s murderous stare, she flinched.

“I—I…”

She stammered, still trying to make excuses.

But Zhao Sihai turned and landed two more punches on Zhao Third Son.

The man howled like a beaten dog.

The onlookers were all shocked—and honestly, a little intimidated by the current Zhao Sihai.

No one dared step in to stop him.

Zhao Third Son felt like he was going to be beaten to death.

He wailed and screamed,
“I—I know! Please, stop! An’an’s… tied up in the kitchen. Mom did it!”

The moment the words left his mouth, Bai Ruoqiao bolted toward the kitchen.

Even though she’d planned the timing well, her heart was still pounding with fear.

The kitchen was just across the yard. She rushed over and kicked the door open.

Inside, she saw Zhao An’an lying limp on the floor, hands and feet bound—his little face pale as paper.

“An’an!”

Her heart clenched in agony.

She was overwhelmed with both relief and heartbreak, panic and fury.

The emotions surged so violently that she couldn’t think of anything else.

Not even bothering to untie the ropes, she scooped him up and stumbled outside.

Zhao Sihai quickly stepped up to take An’an from her—
but she dodged him.

She didn’t hate him,
but in her current emotional state, it was hard not to lash out at everyone.

When the others saw the rope marks on An’an’s wrists and ankles, their expressions changed.

They started cursing Old Lady Zhao for being heartless, and cursed the whole Zhao family for being inhumane.

It was late August. The autumn winds had begun to blow, and the nights were already cold.

Leaving a sick, frail child in a kitchen like that—they were trying to kill him!