PWE – Chapter 11 The Bleeding Child’s Curse

After speaking, Xiao Wange took the child’s hand and left.

Shi Jinzhu shot He Xiaokui a disappointed glance, then hurried to follow Xiao Wange.

He Xiuyan sneered at He Xiaokui and mocked coldly:
“Truly brought this on yourself… you won’t live long.”

“You…” He Xiaokui wanted to curse him out, but before she could, He Xiuyan gave a cold snort and turned to leave.

Watching their figures go, He Xiaokui was so furious her face flushed red and her neck swelled.

If she hadn’t had to stay at her post, she would have chased after them to give them a beating.

Grinding her teeth hard, she pulled her gaze back and marked the matter down in her heart.

That village wench had humiliated her today. One day, she would make her pay for it. She would make her suffer the price!

The onlookers, seeing there was no more drama, dispersed. But their impression of He Xiaokui as a shop clerk had worsened. In the future, unless necessary, they probably wouldn’t buy from her again.

After recording the debt in her heart, He Xiaokui lifted her enamel mug to take a sip of water.

Only…

As soon as she raised the cup, she felt something tugging at her pant leg.

She looked down. A child of about one year old was squatting by her feet. His face was pale with a bluish tint, blood flowing from his eyes and nose, his little hands dripping with blood.

The child clutched her pants, tilted up his bloodied eyes at her, and smiled.

He Xiaokui’s breath froze. She felt all the blood in her body rushing backward.

She screamed “Ah—!” and the cup slipped from her hands uncontrollably.

The mug clattered hard against the counter with a bang.

Her scream and the crash were so abrupt that everyone turned their heads to look.

Startled again by the sound of the cup falling, He Xiaokui’s already terrified heart clenched tighter.

The child was still smiling at her—his grin was horribly eerie, making her scalp crawl.

“He Xiaokui, what are you doing?!” an angry voice rang out just then.

He Xiaokui looked up in shock. It was the supply store director, striding toward her.

Standing before her, he scolded impatiently:
“What are you screaming for? This is working time! Can’t you keep a proper attitude at your post? Just now you quarreled with customers here—already completely inappropriate. And now you’re shouting again. Do you not want this job anymore?”

He Xiaokui had gotten in through connections. If not for that, the director would have kicked her out long ago.

Still trembling, she swallowed hard and pointed at her feet:
“Director, there’s something… something at my feet!”

“Something? What something?” The director craned his neck to look behind the counter.

There was nothing there—just her own two feet.

His face darkened further, his tone sharpening:
“He Xiaokui! Show me—where exactly is this thing by your feet?!”

She lowered her gaze.

But the strange little child that had just been crouching there was gone.

She froze. Where did it go?

“Director, there really was something just now, a little—” she tried to explain.

The director snorted, voice thick with disgust:
“Fix your attitude! If you keep this up again, I won’t be polite!”

With that, he turned on his heel and left, unwilling to waste another word.

He Xiaokui stood rooted, wanting to chase after him to explain. But with the child gone, she had no idea how to explain it.

She frowned tightly, staring at the floor by her feet.

She hadn’t imagined it. There really had been a child just now.

That child’s entire body had been bleeding, his skin that unnatural corpse-like pallor.

Clearly… a ghost.

But why could she see ghosts? Would this one cling to her?

She brooded over it for a while, then stooped to pick up the mug from the counter and used a cloth to wipe away the spilled water.

And as she bent, by her feet the little blood-soaked child’s figure slowly emerged again.

Looking up at her, his mouth curved in an eerily twisted smile.

…

After leaving the supply store, Xiao Wange took her child toward a nearby clothing shop.

Now the state was encouraging private businesses. Unlike in some years past, it wasn’t only the supply store where things could be bought.

She had earned quite a lot today and wanted to buy herself some clothes. Her old ones were worn out, jackets so thin from washing they no longer kept her warm. She wanted something new.

She had planned to shop at the supply store—buy clothes and pick up some treats. Little Zhaozhao hadn’t tasted any sweets in three months. Now she could finally afford some.

But after that salesperson’s vile attitude, she didn’t even want to set foot there again.

She’d rather walk a bit farther to another shop.

Shi Jinzhu caught up, guilt in her voice:
“Comrade Xiao, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect Xiaokui to be like that. Since she lost the 50 yuan bet, I’ll pay it on her behalf. Please don’t be angry.”

She reached for her money.

Xiao Wange quickly stopped her:
“What she owes is her debt. It’s not right for you to pay it. Besides, I’ll get that 50 yuan sooner or later—plus interest.”

Shi Jinzhu blinked:
“Really?”

He Xiuyan, following close, caught her meaning. He frowned, disapproving:
“Master, why bother with that woman? Her money isn’t worth it. Better to let her suffer more.”

He despised He Xiaokui. To him, her money was tainted.

Xiao Wange’s eyes glimmered faintly as she said, coolly:
“I’m not helping her. I’m helping that poor little one.”

Then she shot him a cold glare:
“And I told you—don’t call me Master!”

He Xiuyan: “Yes, Master.”

Xiao Wange: “!…”

Shi Jinzhu more or less understood what Xiao Wange meant.

She frowned and asked hesitantly:
“Comrade Xiao, is Xiaokui really in trouble? Could it… threaten her life?”

Xiao Wange had said she’d get the money back with interest. That meant Xiaokui would eventually seek her out.

Though she no longer wished to be Xiaokui’s friend, she still couldn’t stomach the thought of her dying.

Xiao Wange arched a brow and said simply:
“Yes.”

She didn’t want to talk about He Xiaokui anymore and walked into the clothing shop.

Shi Jinzhu stood troubled, digesting her words. Did that mean Xiaokui’s life truly was at risk?

She wanted to follow and ask more, but He Xiuyan said,
“That woman is suffering the consequences of her own sins. She must reap what she sowed. Worrying about her is useless. People like her won’t appreciate your help anyway. Why trouble yourself?”

“I…” Shi Jinzhu bit her lip, silenced by his words.

Still, she couldn’t help but wonder—just what kind of disaster was about to befall He Xiaokui?

…

Xiao Wange bought herself two sets of clothes and a pair of shoes.

She also bought meat and treats for Zhaozhao.

The boy needed nutrition—and so did she.

Her original body had been overworked and underfed, left thin and sallow. Even after three months in the Zhan household, she was still skin and bone.

Yet despite her frailty, her features were naturally beautiful. With some care and nourishment, she could surely bloom even brighter.

Women liked to look beautiful, after all.

So from now on, she would raise her and Zhaozhao’s standard of living. She’d feed them both until they grew healthy and strong.

After shopping, she prepared to head back.

But she still had two “tails” following her.

She looked at Shi Jinzhu and said:
“You can head home now. No need to follow me.”

Realizing Xiao Wange was returning to the village, Shi Jinzhu nodded:
“Then, Comrade Xiao, next time you’re in town, come find us. There’s always someone home.”

“Mm.” Xiao Wange acknowledged with a sound.

Just as Shi Jinzhu turned to leave, Xiao Wange frowned and called her back:
“That person harming your family—he’s no ordinary one. You and your parents must be careful dealing with him.”

She had already warned them once, but since Jinzhu had accompanied her all day, she repeated it.

Shi Jinzhu paused, then smiled gratefully:
“Thank you, Comrade Xiao. I’ll remember.”

“Mm.” Xiao Wange said no more. Instead, she turned to He Xiuyan.

He was all smiles, blinking mischievously:
“Master, that basket on your back looks heavy. Let me carry it for you!” He reached out toward it.

Xiao Wange stepped aside, avoiding his hand.

Her expression hardened, her voice cold:
“Do you not understand human speech? I said I don’t take disciples. Don’t call me Master!”

“But I—”

“I’m married. My husband happens to be away. If you, a grown man, follow me around, what will people say? They’ll gossip! Comrade, if you stick to me like this, you’re only harming me. Do you understand?!”

She laid it bare.

If, after that, he still clung to her, then his intentions were truly vile—and for the vile, she would show no mercy.