Chapter 28: Partners in Crime

At the Zhao household, Zhao Pozi walked into the yard beaming, arms full of pilfered goods.

Zhao Laosan was sitting on the doorstep, gnawing happily on an entire chicken.

That morning, he’d excitedly shared the news with his mother that he’d “returned to being a real man”—in other words, his problem was miraculously resolved.

Overjoyed yet pained by her son’s recent suffering, Zhao Pozi couldn’t bear to spend money at the commune for meat, so she had slaughtered her beloved chicken to nourish him.

“Bao’er, look what goodies A-ma brought you,” Zhao Pozi chirped as she stepped through the gate, licking her lips at the smell of chicken in the air.

She happily waved her son over to look inside the basket.

Zhao Laosan leaned in. His eyes lit up at the sight of the goods.

He immediately pulled out the bottle of spirits.

“I was just thinking a drink would go nicely with this! All this from Laosi’s place? They’ve got so much good stuff and didn’t think to send any to the main house. So heartless.”

“Exactly! If I hadn’t gone over, they would’ve kept everything to themselves,” Zhao Pozi snorted coldly.

Zhao Laosan glanced from the bottle of liquor to the picked-clean chicken bones beside him.

He patted his bulging belly and smacked his lips. “A-ma, why don’t you braise that meat for me? I need something to go with this drink—I’m still a bit hungry.”

“Alright, A-ma will get cooking right away.” At the mention of her darling son being hungry, Zhao Pozi dropped everything else and hurried into the kitchen with the basket.

She called out for Zhao Xiaohui several times but got no answer.

Zhao Laosan, picking his teeth lazily, muttered, “She ran off early. Probably back to the educated youth dorm again.”

Everyone in the Zhao family knew Zhao Xiaohui liked Liao Yu’an.

None of them tried to stop her—if she managed to land Liao Yu’an, all the better.

He was a city boy after all; the betrothal gift would likely be hefty.

And if he returned to the city, maybe the whole family could tag along—maybe even secure a job for Zhao Laosan.

Zhao Pozi cursed under her breath and rolled up her sleeves to start cooking.

She definitely didn’t plan to make anything for Zhao Xiaohui.

—

Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaohui had indeed slipped away to the educated youth dormitory.

She’d taken her chance the moment her mother left to harass Bai Ruoqiao.

Ever since learning last night that her fourth brother had become a driver for the commune, her heart had been burning with excitement.

She couldn’t wait to share the news with Liao Yu’an.

Even though her face was still swollen and bruised, she didn’t care.

But at this hour, everyone was out working in the fields. The only one left in the dormitory was Lin Qianqian—her face battered from the beating she’d taken from Zhao Pozi, she’d refused to go out and see anyone.

When Zhao Xiaohui saw her, she sneered.

She had never liked Lin Qianqian.

At first it was because Lin Qianqian was pretty and looked down on the local village girls.

Later, it was because Lin Qianqian was living in the same dorm with Liao Yu’an.

Zhao Xiaohui had always suspected Lin Qianqian of trying to seduce him.

Now, seeing her bruised and swollen like a pig, Zhao Xiaohui felt deeply satisfied.

“Heard you want to be my third sister-in-law, huh? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Maybe I could’ve helped you out. Tsk tsk tsk, look at you now. What a mess.”

Lin Qianqian was already furious with the Zhao family. Being mocked like this, she immediately fired back with a biting retort.

“Worry about yourself first. Parading around with a pig’s head—careful or someone might mistake you for a pig demon and drag you off,” Lin Qianqian snapped.

Zhao Xiaohui was reminded of her own bruised, swollen face and immediately felt a wave of suppressed anger bubble up.

Lin Qianqian, seeing Zhao Xiaohui’s gritted teeth and livid expression, suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Her eyes gleamed.

“You’re here to see Educated Youth Liao, aren’t you?”

Zhao Xiaohui’s face darkened even more, her expression hideous. “None of your damn business!”

But Lin Qianqian just narrowed her eyes and smiled. “All that running back and forth—what’s it gotten you? He’s not interested in you.”

Zhao Xiaohui’s expression twisted with fury. “He doesn’t like you either! But things are different now. I can help him get back to the city—can you?”

“Help him return to the city?” Lin Qianqian’s eyes flickered slightly before she sneered. “Let me guess—you’re thinking of using your fourth brother’s connections.”

Zhao Xiaohui lifted her chin with a cold smile. “Keep dreaming. My fourth brother would never help you.”

But Lin Qianqian just shrugged and smiled faintly.

“What are you smiling at?!” Zhao Xiaohui snapped.

“I’m smiling at how stupid you are,” Lin Qianqian crossed her arms. “If you want to help someone, you need your fourth brother. But Liao Yuan likes Bai Ruoqiao. So tell me, why wouldn’t he just go after Bai Ruoqiao? She’s the one he likes, and she can help him return to the city too. Best of both worlds. Why would he choose you?”

Zhao Xiaohui’s face contorted with rage. She exploded, “Don’t spout nonsense! Bai Ruoqiao is already married! And my fourth brother would never agree to that!”

“Hmph, Bai Ruoqiao’s full of schemes,” Lin Qianqian said coldly. “Have you seen how your fourth brother dotes on her? If she so much as coaxes him a little, he’ll do whatever she says. Once she gets what she wants, she’ll divorce and return to the city. Then she and Liao Yuan can ride off into the sunset, and you siblings? Heh…”

“She wouldn’t dare!” Zhao Xiaohui growled, her face even more twisted, clearly envisioning that scenario—and it drove her nearly mad.

“Why wouldn’t she? Once they’re back in the city, you country bumpkins won’t even be able to find them.”

“I—I’ll keep an eye on her!” Zhao Xiaohui gripped the hem of her shirt tightly.

Just imagining Liao Yuan and Bai Ruoqiao together made her want to scream.

Lin Qianqian let out a mocking chuckle. “How are you going to keep an eye on her? You going to follow her around 24/7? That’s why I say you’re dumb. Just cut off the problem at its root. If Bai Ruoqiao is out of the picture, then if Liao Yuan wants to return to the city, he has no choice but to rely on you. Then everything you say goes.”

Zhao Xiaohui froze.

Then, slowly, a gleam appeared in her eyes as her heart started to race wildly.

But her face quickly turned cold again. She glared at Lin Qianqian. “Why are you telling me this? What’s your motive?”

Lin Qianqian raised her hand to cover the swollen half of her face. “Because I hate her too, of course. She falsely accused me and ruined my reputation. I’m not letting her get away with it!”

Zhao Xiaohui’s eyes flickered with malicious glee.

She never really believed Lin Qianqian had a thing going on with her third brother.

This woman thought far too highly of herself—she looked down on every last villager.

Then Lin Qianqian said deliberately, “We have a common enemy. Why not work together?”

Zhao Xiaohui frowned. “Work together? How?”

Lin Qianqian curved her lips. “Life at home hasn’t been easy lately, has it?”

Zhao Xiaohui’s face darkened. “What are you getting at?”

“Your family listens to your third brother. If you want a better time at home, you need to win his favor. And the way to do that is to give him what he wants most.”

Zhao Xiaohui’s eyes flickered. Of course she knew what Zhao Laosan wanted most.

“You see, we get rid of Bai Ruoqiao, your third brother gets what he wants—everyone wins.”

Seeing that Zhao Xiaohui was clearly tempted, Lin Qianqian added more fuel to the fire with a smirk.

“And if your third brother gets accused of assault and your fourth brother’s wife is said to have loose morals, wouldn’t his job be in danger? That opens up a chance for you. Why depend on others? If you became the commune driver, Liao Yuan would have no choice but to obey you.”

Zhao Xiaohui took a deep breath. “What’s your plan?”

Lin Qianqian smiled—smug and victorious.