Chapter 21.2

At this, Luo Lan became excited, turning to face him with eyes sparkling like stars. “Really?”

Seeing her happy made him happy too. Making his wife happy was a skill he prided himself on. He pulled her into his arms, cherishing her hard work and not planning on doing anything further but holding her was comforting. Her softness and warmth in his arms brought him great joy.

“Yes, this was something agreed upon earlier. You’ll likely be assigned to the factory. I’ll try to get you a good position.”

“Will it involve cooking? I’m good at cooking.”

“Haha, we’ll see. I don’t want to set expectations too high.”

“Oh, come on, just tell me. Even if it’s street sweeping, I’d be grateful to switch from farming.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t be street sweeping.”

“Just tell me.”

Unintentionally, she used a pleading tone but didn’t realize it herself. Everything flowed naturally. Her soft voice and snuggling against him made his desire rise.

He pulled the covers over her, his voice low and husky. “Go to sleep, you have work tomorrow.”

“Oh, come on.”

“If you don’t sleep, I’ll do something else.”

She knew exactly what he meant. Feeling his body’s reaction, she murmured and finally gave up asking.

“The rumors can be wildly different from the truth.”

The next day, her mother-in-law was back to her usual self, and everyone went about their business, leaving her to pickle vegetables at home. Luo Lan rode her bike to work, harvesting rice again. She wasn’t paying attention to who she was with until someone kept bumping her arm, hindering her work. She turned to see the young wife from the Huang family, looking at her gratefully.

The young wife leaned in close, speaking softly, “Sister Luo Lan, can I borrow that thing from you again?”

Luo Lan immediately knew what she meant. “Your husband hasn’t straightened out yet?”

“He behaved for a while, but now he’s starting again. Yesterday, he tried to hit me, but I ran away just in time.” Seeing Luo Lan’s complex expression, a mix of pity and anger, she continued to explain her situation.

“My family has six brothers, and I’m the only daughter. When I got married, my mother took the bride price but didn’t give me anything. I can’t rely on my family, and divorce isn’t an option. But I can’t live my whole life being beaten. I can’t fight him directly, so please, help me.”

“Don’t make it sound so serious. The thing is…” Luo Lan hesitated, unable to explain that the taser was something the system had lent her. Now, with the system being uncooperative, she didn’t know if she could borrow it again. Promising it meant relying on her points, and she wasn’t stingy but didn’t have extra resources either.

“I’ll try to borrow it.”

“Thank you, Sister Luo Lan.”

During the break, Luo Lan pulled her aside to a quieter spot. “If you really want to control him, there are many ways. That thing isn’t yours, and you can’t always have it with you.”

“What ways?”

“Put some croton seeds in his food to give him diarrhea. Tie him up when he’s weak and give him a good beating.”

“But what if… what if I don’t have croton seeds?” The woman was disheartened. “I have a hoe, but he might grab it quickly. I won’t just let him beat me. I’ve tried crying and begging for pity, but it doesn’t work. If it comes to it…”

She trailed off, partly seeking Luo Lan’s sympathy. Luo Lan had a soft spot for her. If she was only crying without the courage to fight back, Luo Lan wouldn’t interfere. But since she wanted to stand up for herself, Luo Lan, as a fellow woman, wouldn’t just stand by.

“Take the initiative, and let me enjoy the spectacle.”

“Alright.”

At noon, after finishing work, Luo Lan returned to her hut and opened the lunchbox her mother-in-law had prepared. The aluminum lunchbox was flat, and it was the newest one in the house, given for her to use.

Inside were multigrain steamed buns, stir-fried radish shreds, and cabbage, each prepared separately with its own distinct flavor. Though it was simple food, it was prepared with care, looking pleasant and tasting better than if everything had been cooked together.

Luo Lan: System, system?

System: Why are you calling me?

Luo Lan: Can I borrow your taser again?

System: No.

Luo Lan: Are you as stubborn as a mule?

System: The Chinese zodiac doesn’t include a mule.

Luo Lan: Hahaha.

System: What are you laughing at? Tell me, why are you laughing?

Luo Lan: I want to lend it to Huang’s fourth daughter-in-law again. Last time, you lent it to her willingly, so let’s do it again.

System: Points go to me.

Luo Lan gritted her teeth: You’re a powerful system, and you still want to deduct my points?

System: Otherwise, am I a fool?

Luo Lan’s mind raced: Then you must let me keep the taser.

System: You’ve gained again.

Luo Lan: That’s because you’re generous.

Praising words flowed out of her mouth, and the system agreed after a second of hesitation. This host was always calculating, always rationally fighting for her own benefits. Was this human pragmatism?

Luo Lan didn’t know what the system was thinking; she was just happy to get a taser for free. She had initially wanted to get it for low points, and now, after some maneuvering, she succeeded. Was this system a bit immature, sometimes acting quite childishly?

This was a win-win situation. Both the host and the system felt they had gained something, secretly pleased. The system promptly prepared the taser for her, waiting for Huang’s fourth daughter-in-law to make her move.

Huang’s fourth daughter-in-law was not one to procrastinate. At noon, when her husband picked a fight again, she ran out with a spatula in hand. As she ran, she shouted, attracting many onlookers.

Naturally, Luo Lan heard it too, as she ran near her hut. Under the cover of the curious crowd, the two women completed the handover unnoticed.

With the weapon in hand, the young wife didn’t hesitate to use the method she had practiced countless times in her mind. The spatula handle was wooden and non-conductive, so she held it firmly in one hand. The other hand swiftly and accurately jabbed the taser at her husband. As soon as he saw his wife turn back, Old Huang knew something was wrong, and sure enough, his wife started to fight back.

He instantly felt like he was struck by lightning, his body going numb and weak, his limbs twitching uncontrollably, even his teeth chattering.

“Old Huang, the heavens watch over us. If you do evil, you will be punished. You’re a coward outside but bully your wife at home. I spit on you, beware of lightning striking you.”

Her words were all over the place, and Old was confused. He was uneducated and had no idea about tasers. The last time he was electrocuted, he couldn’t figure it out, thinking it was some sort of divine retribution.

His wife had told him she didn’t know either. His body was twitching, and he thought, “Wasn’t that being struck by lightning?”

Today, it was clear there was no thunder, and it was a sunny day, so how could he be struck by lightning? His body collapsed to the ground, his wife standing not far away. How could it only strike him?

“Only a coward who beats his wife deserves to be struck by lightning. This is retribution, no one can save you.”

The young wife, fearing she might not get the taser again, and knowing she couldn’t always rely on others, was determined to teach him a lesson. She turned the taser to its maximum setting, intending to scare him thoroughly. If the current was too strong and killed him, she would rather be a widow than live in fear.

“I… I… ah…”

Unable to form complete sentences, his body convulsing to the point of foaming at the mouth, he could only utter short syllables. His eyes were unfocused, his mouth open, not knowing whether to ask for help or mercy, feeling it was too late for anything. Fear that he had suppressed before now overwhelmed him, and he deeply regretted his actions.

He shouldn’t have hit her, he shouldn’t have hit her.

With his mouth open, wanting to speak but unable to, the surrounding onlookers were all talking, none daring to approach. What was this situation? No one had ever seen someone struck by lightning on a sunny day.

“Is this divine retribution?”

“Serves him right. See, you shouldn’t beat your wife like that. Now he’s getting his retribution.”

Public opinion was shifting as the young wife intended. She squatted down, watching her husband convulse and start to roll his eyes back, but she still didn’t release the taser. This time, she was determined to fight to the end. If she couldn’t subdue him, she’d rather electrocute him to death.

Seeing that the young wife was losing control, and Old Huang was about to lose consciousness, Luo Lan quickly intervened. Pretending to comfort her, she discreetly turned off the taser switch and hid the device in her sleeve.

“Are you scared stiff? You should get a doctor to check on him.”

“Yes, get a doctor.”

Luo Lan extended her hand to check on Old Huang, but someone who had been electrocuted before quickly warned her. “Don’t touch him. If he’s struck by lightning, you’ll get hurt too.”

Luo Lan remained silent, lifting his eyelids to check. His pupils hadn’t dilated, he was just unconscious. My goodness, Huang’s young wife had been quite ruthless, almost electrocuting him to death.

The village had a barefoot doctor, and it didn’t take long for someone to bring him over. Huang’s family members also rushed over upon hearing the commotion, all shouting and talking. If it were before, his older brothers would have scolded their sister-in-law, but knowing their brother was struck by lightning for beating his wife, they were at a loss, their faces twisted with indecision, wanting to say something but holding back.

“Is my brother alright? What happened to him? How could he end up like this in the middle of the road?”

The barefoot doctor could only handle common colds and coughs; he had no idea what was wrong with Old Huang. “His heartbeat is slow, but he’s still alive.”

“So, what should we do?”

“If you have money, take him to the county hospital. Otherwise, you can only take him home and observe.”

The Huang brothers all turned their gaze to Old Huang’s wife, who cried pitifully, “The family still owes money to the brigade.”

They had no money. As the saying goes, “Poverty kills even heroes,” and these people were far from heroes. Hearing that he was still breathing and his heart was beating, the brothers carried him home first.

System: Is she not afraid of electrocuting him to death?

Luo Lan: Where’s the evidence?

System: Women can be so ruthless. But I like it, she’s decisive. Host, if needed, would you be more resolute than her?

Luo Lan: How many points for this question?

System: Host, don’t you think you’re too pragmatic?

Luo Lan: Didn’t you say you liked it? You should appreciate me, right?

System: So narcissistic.

Luo Lan: No, it’s called confidence.

The system ground its teeth: One hundred points.

Luo Lan: I wouldn’t wait until now to take action.

System: You’d nip it in the bud the first time. As expected of my chosen host.

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Hey guys, don’t forget to check out Ayalee’s other translation projects here ʚ(*´꒳`*)ɞ