Chapter 26: Selling Grain in Town

“Jiangxin, go get the wheelbarrow.

I’ll carry the grain to the door,” Qiao Youfu said, carrying grain.

Qiao Jiangxin carried a sack of peanuts towards the door, “The village tractor is back. Lei Honghua and the others will have to walk back, it’ll take a while, but we need to hurry.”

“It’s best to use the tractor, but we’re afraid Grandpa and Grandma will implicate others.”

Qiao Youfu put the grain down, catching his breath, “Let’s push it ourselves. Don’t implicate others. Lei Honghua is unreasonable. If someone helps us, she might cause trouble for them.”

In the west room, Qiao Jianguo secretly opened his door and peeked outside.

This is outrageous.

Those brats are emptying the house.

They killed the chickens and pigs, and now they’re taking the grain.

Why haven’t Mom and Dad come back yet?

Qiao Jianguo was anxious. He didn’t dare to stop them.

Finally, Qiao Jiangxin went to get the wheelbarrow, and Qiao Youfu went to carry more grain. Qiao Jianguo hopped out to peek.

He had to report this.

He knew his parents and the Li family were at the town hospital. His sister lived far away. He had to find someone to tell his parents.

Sangu, who often played with him, had eaten his chicken.  If he offered a reward, Sangu would run this errand.

Otherwise, if the house was emptied, what would he eat and drink?

Where would he find a wife?

Qiao Jianguo, enduring the pain in his leg, hopped outside.

He wanted to do this when they were butchering the pigs, but Liu Afang was watching him closely.

He waited until Qiao Youfu went to carry grain, then quickly hopped outside.

“Thump thump thump~”

“Huff huff,” Qiao Jianguo panted, his heart pounding.

He finally hopped out of the yard. To hurry, he put weight on his injured leg.

He looked back.  Great, Qiao Youfu hadn’t noticed.

Qiao Jianguo quickened his pace, a sinister look in his eyes, “When Mom and Dad come back, you’ll be sorry.”

“You brats, you…”

Qiao Jianguo cursed and looked back.  His pupils constricted, and his words caught in his throat.

The air froze.

Qiao Jiangxin, pushing the wheelbarrow, looked coldly at the hopping, cursing Qiao Jianguo.

“Curse me?”

“Why did you stop?” Qiao Jiangxin pushed the wheelbarrow closer, menacingly.

Qiao Jianguo remembered Qiao Jiangxin’s fighting ability and wished he could faint.

“That, that, Big Sister, Fourth Uncle is bored at home, so he came out for a walk.”

“Yes, a walk. Do whatever you want.”

Seeing Qiao Jiangxin silent, he tentatively said, “Or, I’ll go back?”

Qiao Jiangxin coldly said, “Go back? Fourth Uncle’s leg is injured, how can you walk? Let me help you.”

Qiao Jianguo breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she didn’t fight, everything was fine. He smiled ingratiatingly, pointing at the wheelbarrow.

“Push me back? Heh, how could I?”

Qiao Jiangxin shook her head, “No, no, no. I’ll let you fly back.”

“Fly back? You’re joking. I can’t fly.”

Before he finished, Qiao Jiangxin pushed the wheelbarrow towards him at full speed.

“Aaaaaah~” Qiao Jianguo screamed in terror.

“Bang~” The wheelbarrow hit him.

“Whoosh~ Bang~” He was flung into the air, describing a parabola, then landed.

Qiao Jianguo felt the world go black. His insides felt like they had shifted, preventing him from screaming.

After a while, the darkness blurred, then cleared.

He saw a worn-out shoe.

He looked up to see Qiao Jiangxin looking down at him.

“I said I’d let you fly back. It’s better than pushing you.”

Qiao Youfu came out carrying a sack of grain, “What happened, Jiangxin?”

Qiao Jiangxin helped load the sacks onto the wheelbarrow, pointing at the half dead Qiao Jianguo, “He probably wanted to report us.”

Qiao Youfu glanced at him, “He’s asking for it.  He’s still restless.”

Qiao Jiangxin threw the rope to her uncle, “Ignore him. Tie it up, let’s go.”

They quickly loaded and secured the grain. Qiao Youfu pulled, and Qiao Jiangxin pushed.

“Go!”

Seeing Qiao Youfu approaching, Qiao Jianguo lay still, praying, “Come back quickly, Mom and Dad!  I can’t hold out much longer!”

Qiao Youfu narrowed his eyes and stepped on Qiao Jianguo’s back.

“Ugh!”

Qiao Jianguo felt his lungs almost burst. He understood what Qiao Youfu was going to do and screamed, “Wait, wait!”

Qiao Youfu leaned forward, and Qiao Jiangxin pushed with all her might.

“Aaaaaaaaaaah~ Ugh ugh ugh… Mmm~”

The wheelbarrow, loaded with grain, rolled over Qiao Jianguo.

Qiao Jianguo screamed. He felt his flesh and leg being torn and crushed.

His whole body was numb with pain, unable to scream, only trembling, his eyes wide, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Qiao Youfu and Qiao Jiangxin didn’t even look at him and pushed the wheelbarrow away.

At that time, the government controlled grain purchases and sales. Farmers could only sell their grain to the grain station.

Qiao Youfu pulled the wheelbarrow towards the town grain station. They didn’t dare rest, fearing Lei Honghua and Qiao Jiuwang would catch up.

The sun beat down on them, their clothes soaked with sweat.

Gaoshi Village was eight li from town. They took the main road instead of the shortcut.

The shortcut was a mountain path, suitable for walking. The main road was longer but easier.

The tractor that took Lei Honghua and the others was back. If they returned home, they would have to take the shortcut on foot, avoiding them.