Chapter 36

Seeing Through, but Not Speaking Out

Li Meipo took a kitchen knife from under her pillow and got out of bed. She began sharpening it on a whetstone right in front of Wang Changsheng.

The sharp sound of the knife scraping against the stone terrified Wang Changsheng. He trembled all over, his eyes filled with fear. “Wuwuwu…”

Damn woman, what are you planning to do?

Help! Is there anyone who can help me?

As Li Meipo sharpened the knife, she enjoyed watching Wang Changsheng’s frightened expression.

Once the knife was sufficiently sharp, she walked over to Wang Changsheng, grabbed his patched-up pants, and pulled them down, revealing the source of his troubles.

Wang Changsheng realized what Li Meipo was about to do and his eyes filled with terror. “Wuwuwu…”

No, no! I swear I won’t do it again!

Li Meipo saw his reaction with no change in her expression, even sneering slightly. Now you’re scared? Why didn’t you feel this way earlier?

She raised the knife and quickly, decisively cut off the extra bit of flesh.

“Ah!” Wang Changsheng screamed in pain, his eyes burning with hatred.

Li Meipo didn’t care at all, as if it were no big deal. “Without this thing, let’s see how you’ll act all shamelessly in the future.”

The hatred inside Wang Changsheng grew like a violent wind, sweeping through his heart. “Wuwuwu…”

Bitch, bitch! I’m going to kill you!

Li Meipo saw his anger but didn’t take it seriously. “From now on, work honestly. If you try any tricks, I’ll report you for cheating!”

Her words drained half of Wang Changsheng’s rage. He glared at Li Meipo. “Wuwuwu…”

Bitch, just you wait!

Li Meipo grabbed his chin and warned him, “This matter ends here. If you do anything behind my back, I’ll make sure you suffer badly.”

Wang Changsheng was truly afraid now. This wasn’t just an old woman, this was a crazy woman. When she goes mad, she can do anything!

Seeing that Wang Changsheng had become obedient, Li Meipo threw the discarded flesh into the latrine.

The next morning.

Wang Laoda asked his wife, “Did you hear anything last night?”

His wife shook her head. “No, why?”

She was exhausted from working all day and slept so deeply at night that even thunder couldn’t wake her. How could she hear anything?

Wang Laoda scratched his head. “Maybe I heard wrong.”

Li Meipo came out of the other room and overheard their conversation. She said, “What are you two talking about so early? The cakes are heating up in the pot. Eat them and get to work.”

The eldest daughter-in-law replied promptly, “Okay—”

Wang Laoda also responded, “Okay—”

Wang Changsheng, having just lost part of his manhood, was weak, so Li Meipo didn’t rush him to work.

She took the cakes, eating them as she walked toward the fields.

Her eyes locked onto Mrs. Xu. As she approached, she whispered, “Sister-in-law, I cut off his thing.”

These words almost stunned Mrs. Xu. She stared at Li Meipo for several seconds before asking, “Do you regret it?”

Li Meipo answered casually, “No regrets.”

Mrs. Xu tugged at her lip. “As long as you don’t regret it.”

The day after Wang Changsheng rested.

Wang Laoda came to him, asking with concern, “Dad, are you feeling unwell?”

“Don’t ask, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Wang Changsheng, now missing part of his manhood, had become gloomy. When he spoke, he even extended his little finger, giving him an odd appearance.

Wang Laoda frowned as he watched.

He ran to find Li Meipo. “Mother, did Dad catch something bad?”

Li Meipo didn’t want the younger generation to worry. “No, don’t mind it.”

Wang Laoda: “…”

The atmosphere in the house was strange!

Wang Changsheng, having lost his precious thing, visibly shrank, his face pale and haggard. He looked so exhausted that it seemed like a gust of wind could knock him down.

Xu Jianguo thought he had seen it wrong. “My God, Brother Wang, we haven’t seen each other for just two days, and you’ve lost so much weight!”

Wang Changsheng didn’t want to talk about the distressing matters. He tugged at his cracked lips and hoarsely said, “I caught a cold.”

Xu Jianguo raised an eyebrow. “What kind of cold causes someone to lose this much weight in just two days? Brother Wang, your health is important. I advise you to go to the hospital and get checked out.”

“If there’s a problem, get treatment right away. If there’s no problem, just spend the money for peace of mind.”

If Xu Jianguo hadn’t looked so sincere, Wang Changsheng would have suspected he knew something. “No need, it’s just a small cold.”

Xu Jianguo didn’t believe him. “The way you look, this doesn’t seem like a simple cold. It looks more like something is seriously wrong.”

This comment hit a nerve with Wang Changsheng. His eyes reddened, and he shouted at Xu Jianguo, “Shut up! You’re the one who’s seriously wrong, your whole family is wrong!”

Xu Jianguo: “…”

He was just making a casual remark, so why the sudden outburst?

On the way home, Xu Jianguo kept wondering why Wang Changsheng had gotten so angry. When he got inside, he still couldn’t figure it out.

He saw Mrs. Xu busy in the kitchen and went over to seek her opinion. “Mom, isn’t Brother Wang strange? He’s not feeling well, and when I suggested he might have injured his roots and should go to the hospital, his face changed immediately, and he even cursed me.”

Mrs. Xu’s wrinkled lips twitched involuntarily. Her words really hit a nerve, so it was no surprise that he reacted that way.

However, she wasn’t one to gossip about other people’s private matters. “Don’t mind him.”

Xu Jianguo nodded. “Hmm—”

Time passed.

The day before the mechanical factory exam arrived.

The exam was set for 8 AM.

Xu Jianguo was worried about being late tomorrow, so he planned to stay at the guesthouse tonight.

Xu Jianguo wasn’t at ease. “I’ll go with you.”

This time, Mrs. Xu also supported Xu Jianguo. “Let your father go with you.”

Xu Jianguo, of course, wouldn’t refuse the love of her family. “Alright.”

The next morning, at 7 AM.

Xu Jianguo, with dark circles under his eyes, knocked on Xu Jiayi’s door.

Xu Jiayi was startled by her father’s appearance. “Dad, did you go stealing last night?”

Xu Jianguo looked worried. “Ah, I couldn’t sleep well, tossing and turning all night.”

Xu Jiayi instantly understood and smiled as she looked at him. “Dad, are you worried I won’t pass the exam?”

Xu Jianguo shivered, standing up straight, and loudly declared, “No, my daughter is so capable, how could she not pass?”

Xu Jianguo’s response seemed more suspicious the more he tried to cover it up. Xu Jiayi saw through it but didn’t comment. “Yes, yes, I’m so capable, I will definitely pass.”

Xu Jianguo: “…”

That was a bit too half-hearted.

The mechanical factory offered better benefits than the sugar factory.

There were even more candidates this time.

Xu Jianguo looked at the sea of people and became even more worried, though he didn’t show it. “Daughter, it doesn’t matter if you don’t pass. The important thing is that you tried.”

Xu Jiayi looked at Xu Jianguo, and a warm feeling surged in her heart. In her past life, she never had a good relationship with her elders, but in this life, she was receiving so much love from them. It made her feel truly happy. “Dad, I’m not nervous, I don’t feel any pressure. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Xu Jianguo thought Xu Jiayi was comforting him, and his eyes turned red. What a sensible child! He was so worried, and yet she was the one comforting him. “Hurry and go in.”

This time, Chen Ji also came to send them off. He spotted Xu Jiayi in the crowd and immediately ran over. “Sister, sister—”

Xu Jiayi was about to respond but was interrupted by Xu Xin, who walked up. “Comrade Chen Ji, I need to talk to you. Please come with me.”