Chapter 78: She Ran Away

Jing Xi waited for about a week for news.

Finally, the police station called.

It took longer than she had expected.

Zhou Jiwen’s exact words were something like: “Your attitude in admitting your mistake was good. There were no significant social consequences, and it was self-defense. So, even the medical expenses are waived.”

On her way back to the Liu family home from the village office, Jing Xi couldn’t stop smiling.

She even started humming Mouse Loves Rice.

Her singing came to an abrupt halt the moment she ran into Zhang Jianjun.

Seriously, how long had it been since she last saw him?

How did Zhang Jianjun end up looking like this?

His dark circles were enormous, practically taking over his entire face. He walked sluggishly, like someone whose soul had been sucked out.

His skin was so dry that it was visibly peeling from a distance.

This was nothing like his usual self!

She couldn’t help but tease him. “What happened? Did you sneak out at night to plant landmines or something? Why do you look like this?”

Zhang Jianjun hadn’t expected Jing Xi to start a conversation with him.

That alone made him quite happy.

“I could tell you, but would you even listen? Even if I did, wouldn’t you just make fun of me?”

Jing Xi was in a great mood today, so she didn’t mind hearing some gossip. “Go ahead, spill.”

Zhang Jianjun scratched his head and glanced back at his own courtyard.

“My mom set me up on a blind date with a teacher, but she wasn’t interested in me. My parents, though, keep forcing me to shower her with attention every day. I don’t want to, so we’ve been arguing nonstop. I even went on a hunger strike.”

…

A hunger strike.

Jing Xi could hardly believe that a grown man in his twenties was saying this—let alone doing it.

“So, do you like her?” she asked.

Zhang Jianjun shook his head. “Not at all. She’s too short, barely 1.5 meters, has no neck, and a huge head.”

Compared to Jing Xi, there was just no competition.

Jing Xi wasn’t exactly tall either, but at least she was 1.6 meters. She was also slim, fair-skinned, had big, expressive eyes, and good skin.

She thought for a moment before replying, “Don’t be discouraged. She’s got a stable government job—your parents must be thrilled about that.”

Everyone in the village knew that Zhang Jianjun’s mother really wanted a daughter-in-law with a secure job.

His family also had money. Even paying three years’ worth of fines hadn’t been a big deal for them.

He’d definitely find someone who loved money.

Zhang Jianjun stared at Jing Xi’s schadenfreude-filled expression and regretted—more than ever—getting mixed up with Wu Dazhuang in the past.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized what an idiot he had been.

“Heh, yeah, sure, whatever,” he muttered.

Clearly, he had no desire to continue the conversation.

Jing Xi took the hint and was about to leave.

But after just a couple of steps, Zhang Jianjun called her back.

“Hey, did you hear? Zhou Shu’s wife ran away.”

Jing Xi immediately turned around. “She ran? What do you mean?”

Seeing that she was interested, Zhang Jianjun quickly explained.

“Have you ever heard that Zhou Shu’s wife once went to the police station to report him for rape?”

Jing Xi frowned. “When? Recently?”

“No, years ago.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that.”

(But she actually did know.)

Zhang Jianjun continued, “I think it has something to do with that. Word is, yesterday, Chen Xiaowen stole all the money from Zhou’s family and ran off. She even left in a private car—looks like everything was planned in advance!”

Jing Xi finally understood.

That’s why, when she had asked Chen Xiaowen if she needed help, she had said no.

As long as Zhou Shu was in prison, she would finally be free.

Zhou Wenwu and his wife weren’t paying attention to her anymore.

She knew the Zhou family inside out.

If she didn’t run now, then when?

Jing Xi was curious but kept a disinterested expression.

“Oh, I see. I’m not really interested in their family drama. I have things to do at home, so I’ll get going.”

Zhang Jianjun let out a sigh behind her as she quickly walked away.

As soon as she got home, she told Zhang Rui about it.

Surprisingly, even Zhang Rui hadn’t heard the news yet.

The two of them ended up gossiping for ages.

That afternoon, Zhang Rui went out to gather information. During dinner, he mentioned that the Zhou family, including Zhou Wenwu, had not reported anything to the police. Most likely, they didn’t want to stir up old matters, as it would only make things worse for Zhou Shu.

Moreover, Chen Xiaowen and Zhou Shu were not legally married. They had no marriage certificate, no wedding banquet, and no children. Since Chen Xiaowen had run away, she was simply gone.

Jing Xi speculated that Chen Xiaowen probably didn’t take much money with her; otherwise, would Zhou Wenwu and his wife have let her go so easily?

So that was that.

—

While waiting for the sentencing of Zhou Shu, Meng Fanxin, and the others, Jing Xi had been staying with the Liu family for nearly a month.

Summer had arrived, and the mountains were covered in colorful blooming flowers, creating a beautiful sight.

As the weather grew hotter, Liu Yan returned home less frequently, choosing to stay at school to study.

Jing Xi had gone with Zhang Rui twice to visit her, bringing dumplings, steamed buns, eggs, cured meat, and other food. Zhang Rui had been so nervous that he fumbled around awkwardly.

But seeing Liu Yan’s confident demeanor, Jing Xi was sure she would get into a good university.

She reassured Zhang Rui multiple times not to worry.

Zhang Rui, afraid of putting too much pressure on Liu Yan, never showed his concerns in front of her.

Jing Xi received two months’ salary from Xiao Jie. After calculating her savings, she realized she was still slightly short of what she needed to build her house.

The village office paid her a salary every month, and the Long family secretly provided an additional payment. She also earned money from renting out land to the Long family for planting sand ginseng. Even so, she was still about five or six hundred yuan short.

She suddenly remembered that Zhou Wenwu still owed her money.

So, she went to collect it.

The first time, the Zhou family’s door was tightly shut. No matter how loudly she knocked or called out, no one answered.

The second time, the result was the same.

The Zhou family had nothing to lose now. Their son was in prison, their daughter-in-law had run away—why would they care about a little debt?

Jing Xi was at a loss. What should she do now?

After thinking it over, she decided to go to the land that originally belonged to Yuzhu and pull out all the crops the Zhou family had planted there.

She set out before dawn. After five or six hours of pulling up corn seedlings, she had only cleared a third of the field, and her back was already aching.

She quickly took a sip from her water bottle, which contained spring water.

One sip—thirst quenched!

Two sips—refreshing!

Three sips—energy restored!

When the Zhou family saw that their tall, growing corn stalks were being pulled up, they finally couldn’t sit still anymore.

Without even putting on their shoes properly, they ran to the field, only to see Jing Xi bent over, vigorously yanking out corn plants.

“Oh my god! We worked so hard to plant these, and now you’ve pulled them all out!”

“You little troublemaker! Ever since we got involved with you, we haven’t had a single day of peace!”

“I’m going to fight you!”

Li Fenghua took off a shoe, held it in her hand, and ran into the field, trying to hit Jing Xi.

Jing Xi kept her distance, so Li Fenghua threw the shoe at her. But she missed. Jing Xi picked up the shoe and threw it even farther away.

Li Fenghua then threw her other shoe, but Jing Xi dodged it again.

Jing Xi picked up that shoe, too, and tossed it even farther.

Back in Fucha Village, Li Fenghua had always been undefeated in fights. But when it came to Jing Xi, she was completely outmatched.

She had already lost to Jing Xi twice.

Jing Xi ignored her, dodging the attacks and continuing to pull up the corn.

“If you don’t pay me back, I’ll uproot everything! This land originally belonged to my aunt. What right do you have to use it? You had the nerve to claim you burned the rent money for my aunt’s spirit? Don’t worry, after I finish pulling up these crops, when you die, I’ll burn some for you too!”