PWE – Chapter 16 I only want children, not men

The warehouse door suddenly swung open, and a large group of people came out — among them were Urara and many others.

Leading them were the village chief and the party branch secretary.

The chief glared at Bai Caixuan with great displeasure and shouted, “You actually tried to poison Jin Zhao to death! How could you do such a thing to a child?!”

The chief was furious; his face had gone red with anger.

The party branch secretary was equally enraged. “I’ve never seen a girl as vicious as you. Is your heart made of snakes and scorpions?!” he cried.

A lot of villagers followed behind them — it seemed most of the village had come.

Zhao Lijuan was in the crowd as well.

She panted in anger, pointing at Bai Caixuan as she spat, “I think you’re a poisonous snake! How could you be this vicious?! Just because you want to marry Zeyan, you’d try to kill Jin Zhao? Poison him? I’d like to feed you poison right now!”

Whenever Zhao Lijuan remembered what Bai Caixuan had said earlier, her teeth itched with anger. If she weren’t holding back some reason, she would have struck her.

The villagers looked at Bai Caixuan with disappointment and indiscriminately blamed her.

Bai Caixuan’s face suddenly went pale; she felt she could hardly breathe.

Her body trembled and she forced her mouth open to protest, “You’re mistaken — what I said just now… it was all a joke. I was joking.”

She glanced at Xiao Wange beside her. “Wange, we were just joking earlier, right? We were only kidding.”

Xiao Wange snorted lightly. Joke? She couldn’t afford to joke like that.

Before she could speak, the village chief said, “A joke? Do you think one word — a joke — will let you off? Bai Caixuan, stop using ‘jokes’ to fool us. We are not fools!”

“Chief…” Bai Caixuan felt more and more panicked. She opened her mouth weakly, still trying to defend herself.

The party branch secretary glared at her. “So vicious! You’re so vicious! How could our village have someone like you!”

Bai Caixuan was mortified by their denunciation. She clenched her hands; her face turned even paler.

“So it was you who encouraged Zeyan’s wife to treat Jin Zhao that way! I always said Zeyan’s wife seemed kind — she was a good girl at her parents’ home. How did she change after marrying into Zeyan’s family? It’s all your fault — you’re the one stirring trouble beside her!”

Zhao Lijuan furrowed her brow and ground her teeth as she spoke.

She truly hadn’t expected that the gentle, meek Bai Caixuan would be so vicious and treacherous behind people’s backs.

Bai Caixuan shook her head in a panic. “No, it’s not like that…”

“Still making excuses? Even now you keep making excuses! Bai Caixuan, do you really think we’re idiots? Do you think saying ‘it’s not true’ twice will make us believe you?!” Zhao Lijuan cut her off, tone full of displeasure.

Xiao Wange watched from the side, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.

Bai Caixuan’s composure was impressive — caught red-handed and still denying everything. Most people would have fainted from fear.

Many villagers now switched on their flashlights; the light brightened the threshing ground considerably.

Bai Caixuan glanced at Xiao Wange. Seeing the scornful, mocking smile on Xiao Wange’s face, she ground her teeth, full of both anger and hatred.

Suddenly she pointed at Xiao Wange and shouted angrily, “It’s you! You framed me! Xiao Wange, why did you do this — why would you frame me like this!”

Then she continued, “No wonder you suddenly invited me here, even to the threshing ground. You had already called the secretary and the others, right? Those things you said earlier were to lure me — you deliberately led me on!”

She turned to the chief and the party branch secretary. “Chief, Secretary — it was Xiao Wange who coerced me into saying those things. She set me up. You must believe me — don’t be fooled by her, I…”

“You tempted her? It seemed like you were the one who claimed Jin Zhao wasn’t mine. Even if I treated him well, what good would it do? You were the one who brought up that stepmother from your grandmother’s side to make me give up taking care of Zhao Zhao. Later, you urged me to sell Zhao Zhao — that was your impatience. How could you say I coerced you? Bai Caixuan, you are the vicious one; why do you shift the blame onto others?” Xiao Wange said coldly, looking down at Bai Caixuan with contempt.

Even now Bai Caixuan wanted to pass the blame onto Xiao Wange. She must be dreaming.

“I…” Bai Caixuan started to speak, but Zhao Lijuan glared at her and snapped, “Enough, stop making a scene! You were the one who invited Zeyan’s wife here — we all heard it. Now you turn it around and accuse her. Even if she did invite you, it doesn’t change the fact you tried to harm someone! Bai Caixuan, this cannot go unpunished.”

She turned to the secretary and the chief. “We should call Bai Caixuan’s parents. Let’s make them come and settle this face to face.”

The party branch secretary agreed. “Yes, call her parents. I’d like to ask them how they raised such a rotten child!”

“Secretary, please don’t call my parents… don’t call them,” Bai Caixuan panicked. Her body trembled; her voice shook. “Please don’t call my parents.”

Her parents were very strict. If they found out what she had done behind people’s backs, they would never spare her.

But even if they didn’t call them tonight, her parents would find out tomorrow. This matter couldn’t be hidden.

The chief’s face hardened. “This can’t be swept under the rug. We must call your parents!” He immediately ordered someone to fetch Bai Caixuan’s parents.

Bai Caixuan froze and sank onto the ground in despair.

If her parents came, they might beat her to death — or at least leave her severely wounded.

All of this was Xiao Wange’s doing — Xiao Wange that bitch, who set a trap for her.

She stared at Xiao Wange, eyes full of hatred.

Xiao Wange curled the corners of her mouth and smiled faintly at her — a smile that was clearly part mockery, part malicious delight.

Bai Caixuan’s heart clenched with a burning resentment.

Unable to contain it, she grabbed a rock from the ground, leapt up, and swung at Xiao Wange’s head. “Xiao Wange, die! You bitch, die!”

Everyone was shocked — no one expected Bai Caixuan to suddenly go berserk and try to smash Xiao Wange.

The chief and the branch secretary both breathed sharply and shouted in unison, “Stop!”

Zhao Lijuan also shouted, “Bai Caixuan, don’t do anything rash!”

Others moved to stop her.

But Bai Caixuan acted so abruptly and was so close to Xiao Wange that it was too late to block her.

Just as everyone thought the rock would strike Xiao Wange, Xiao Wange sidestepped lightly and avoided it.

She glanced coolly at Bai Caixuan and said sarcastically, “You’d dare try to murder someone in front of everyone — you truly are vicious to the extreme!”

People rushed forward and restrained Bai Caixuan, fearing she might strike again.

Her pupils contracted; she woke from the frenzy. Earlier she had felt as if her rational mind had been carried away by rage, as if something else had taken control.

She had been acting wildly and picked up the rock, driven by something like possessed fury.

Seeing Xiao Wange’s mocking look and the contemptuous eyes of the villagers, she realized what she had done.

“You can’t be this evil! You’d try to kill someone before everyone! I originally wanted to call your parents to have them discipline you, but now — now you tried to kill someone. That’s a crime. You should be sent to the police. You must face legal consequences!” the chief stated righteously, disappointment in his eyes.

Just a moment earlier he’d thought she might have felt remorse, but she still had the intent to murder — an unforgivable crime.

When Bai Caixuan heard they would take her to the police, she was completely terrified.

She pleaded and begged the chief, “Please don’t send me to the police station. If I go there it’s all over — my life is ruined. Please, Chief, don’t send me.” Her eyes were frantic and pleading.

But the chief wouldn’t be swayed. He had her bound and said they would take her to town to hand her over to the local police that very night.

Bai Caixuan screamed and begged, but no one listened.

Everyone thought sending her to the station was the proper punishment. She had committed a crime and deserved to be punished.

Seeing her pleas go nowhere, Bai Caixuan’s face darkened with fear.

She suddenly turned to Xiao Wange and begged, “Wange, please help me. Please speak to the village chief for me. I didn’t mean to hit you — I don’t know what happened. It was as if something possessed me, like I was possessed. Please, Wange, help me…”

Although she hated Xiao Wange, she knew only Xiao Wange could help her now. If Xiao Wange pleaded on her behalf, the chief might let her go.

She vowed to repay this humiliation and framing later — she would make Xiao Wange pay double.

Xiao Wange saw the malice and calculation in Bai Caixuan’s eyes.

Although Bai Caixuan pretended to be wronged, she was scheming. Xiao Wange smiled faintly and said, “Sorry, I won’t help you. You tried to kill me — why would I help someone like you? Do you think I’m that stupid?”

“Exactly — don’t help her! She tried to kill you and wanted to kill Zhao Zhao too! If she’s helped, she’ll just find other ways to harm you later,” a villager warned, casting a cautious glance at Xiao Wange as if worried she might be swayed.

Xiao Wange nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t help.”

Bai Caixuan had gone berserk because she had surreptitiously used a talisman on herself.

That talisman seized her, making her unable to contain her anger, which boiled like seething water.

When someone loses control of their temper, they act rashly — which is why Bai Caixuan had picked up the rock and struck at her.

She was no saint; she had plotted against the original owner (the woman Xiao Wange had replaced) and had attempted to kill Zhao Zhao. Xiao Wange had vowed to bring her to account. The “gu” insect — mysterious and supernatural — might be difficult to prosecute in court, but attempted murder could definitely be handled by the law.

Xiao Wange intended to make Bai Caixuan serve time.

Bai Caixuan was tied up. After she was bound, the chief and the party branch secretary, along with a few villagers, prepared to take her to town and hand her over to the police.

She struggled and wailed, but no one paid any attention now. They escorted her toward the town, eager to hand her over to the police.

Her cries in the night sounded like a ghostly wail and gave everyone chills.

After Bai Caixuan was taken away, Zhao Lijuan shot Xiao Wange a glance and said, “You’ll probably have to go to town tomorrow. You’re a victim — you should tell the police how Bai Caixuan harmed you and Jin Zhao.”

Xiao Wange nodded. “Yes, I know.”

Zhao Lijuan squeezed her arm and added, “Luckily you were clever tonight and lured Bai Caixuan here. Otherwise no one would know her true face.”

Others nodded. If Xiao Wange hadn’t brought them here and let them hear Bai Caixuan’s words, they’d never have known what she was truly like.

Xiao Wange smiled. “After taking so many losses, it’s good to get a bit clever for once.”

The original woman had indeed suffered at Bai Caixuan’s hands, but today she’d exacted revenge.

“Hopefully the police will keep her locked up for a while so she can suffer a bit,” Zhao Lijuan said viciously. The thought of Bai Caixuan trying to kill Jin Zhao and attacking Xiao Wange filled her with rage.

Xiao Wange smirked slightly. Since Bai Caixuan had attempted murder, she’d probably be in custody for some time.

Thinking she wouldn’t have to see Bai Caixuan for a while made Xiao Wange happy.

“By the way, Zeyan’s wife, you mentioned the gu insect earlier — what is that? Sounds like something harmful,” Zhao Lijuan asked with curiosity.

Xiao Wange nodded. “Yes, it’s harmful. It’s an insect from Miaojiang. If it enters a person’s body, the person will feel like they’re ill and suffer terribly. Ordinary doctors can’t detect it; even big hospitals can’t help. Once someone is afflicted, unless a person who knows how to deal with gu insects helps, the person’s only fate is death.”

At that, Zhao Lijuan and the others gasped.

So the gu insect was that dangerous. Where had Bai Caixuan gotten it?

Xiao Wange answered, “I don’t know where she got it, but if she could get one, she’s not simple.”

That made everyone uneasy. A woman in their own village with such means was frightening — all the more reason they hoped the police would keep her away longer.

“Aren’t Jin Zhao’s gu insects the ones you removed yourself? You’re so skilled,” someone said, looking at Xiao Wange.

Xiao Wange smiled faintly. “It was just a coincidence — my grandfather taught me a bit. He taught me these things.”

People praised Xiao Wange’s grandfather; he had been a famous Taoist in the region who solved ghost issues and funerary rites. They assumed he only dealt with exorcisms and funerals — who knew he would also know how to deal with gu insects? They complimented him and Xiao Wange, saying she might inherit his craft.

Xiao Wange smiled quietly and said nothing. Her soul was old enough to be her original owner’s grandfather’s ancestor; if anything, the original owner’s grandfather might inherit from her — but she wouldn’t say that; it might terrify them.

“Zeyan’s wife, come with me — Jin Zhao is at my house. Take him home to sleep,” Zhao Lijuan said.

Xiao Wange had left Jin Zhao at the secretary’s home because she worried about leaving him alone. He was waiting there.

She nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”

On the way back to the secretary’s house, Zhao Lijuan chatted on about how Bai Caixuan was too sinister, planning to harm a child — she wasn’t like a hard-working, decent person of Danshui village at all.

She also warned Xiao Wange that Zhan Zeyan might blame her when he returned because Zhao Zhao had been mistreated. Even if the mistreatment was spurred by Bai Caixuan, the child’s harm was real. Zhao Lijuan promised to help persuade Zhan Zeyan not to be angry.

Xiao Wange listened and fell into thought.

She hadn’t thought about how Zhan Zeyan would react upon his return — whether he’d divorce her. She had been focused on living with Jin Zhao and making money to support him. It never occurred to her that Zhan Zeyan might return.

Now she had to prepare. If he did want to divorce because of the abuse, she would lose Jin Zhao.

But she truly loved Jin Zhao — she wanted to give him a good life. If Zhan Zeyan divorced her, what could she do?

She hoped he would not return for a long time — best if it was years — but this was wishful thinking, and it would probably be dashed.

…not long after, he did return from the army — but that’s a later story.

…

At the secretary’s house, Xiao Wange saw Zhao Zhao sitting in a chair, head bowed, dozing.

When he saw his mother, he smiled, sleepy: “Mom, you’re finally back. You finally came to get me.”

He had waited for her. He had fallen asleep while waiting; he was a naughty child.

Xiao Wange thanked Zhao Lijuan’s daughter-in-law for watching him, then walked to Zhao Zhao and gently lifted him up.

He blinked and slowly opened his eyes. Seeing his “mom,” he smiled and said happily, “Mom, you finally came to pick me up.”

She turned on her flashlight and headed out. The little one buried his head in her neck and snuggled. “It’s so good to go home with you,” he murmured.

Xiao Wange felt her whole heart soften. She loved the child and couldn’t bear to leave him. If Zhan Zeyan wanted a divorce and took Zhao Zhao away, she would fight for him.

Zhao Lijuan and her daughter-in-law smiled approvingly. Children could detect kindness, they said — Zhao Zhao’s affection proved Xiao Wange’s goodness. They wouldn’t agree if Zhan Zeyan tried to drive her out.

On the way home, Zhao Zhao rubbed his sleepy eyes and wanted to get down. “Mom, put me down — I can walk.”

Xiao Wange smiled and hugged him tighter. “You’re so sleepy and want to walk? No — be good, let Mom carry you home. It’s not far.”

He nestled against her neck. “Mom…”

“Sleep on my shoulder if you’re tired,” she soothed, patting his back with the free hand holding the flashlight.

He felt warm inside and hugged her neck, nuzzling again. “Mom, you’re so good. I like you a lot.”

He’d never had a mother before. Now he had one who loved him.

Xiao Wange’s steps slowed, and she looked at him tenderly. “I like you too, Zhao Zhao, very much.”

She kissed his soft cheek and kept walking.

She wanted to protect this lovely child and work harder to give him a better life.

…

After they returned, Xiao Wange put the child to bed. They had to go to the town police station early the next morning, so she wanted to sleep early.

At dawn she and the child left. The village chief and the party branch secretary waited at the village entrance; Bai Caixuan’s case had become a major village matter, and as village officials they should handle it.

They accompanied Xiao Wange to ensure she wouldn’t be intimidated at the police station and that Bai Caixuan would be prosecuted.

At the station, Xiao Wange was questioned and then came out with the child.

Outside, they heard Bai Caixuan’s cries. She had been detained and her screams echoed through the station — calling Xiao Wange a bitch and claiming she’d been framed, insisting she was innocent.

But who would believe her? She had been seen throwing a rock at someone in front of many villagers who could testify. Her denial was just a lie.

The chief and the party branch secretary stepped out with them.

Xiao Wange wanted to treat them to a meal, since they hadn’t slept and had accompanied her to town, but they politely declined. They needed to return to the village to rest.

She let it go and said she’d make it up later.

Before parting, the party branch secretary told her, “Bai Caixuan’s crime is certain — she’ll be sentenced for sure. I asked the police — at least three years.”

Three years…

It wasn’t short but not terribly long either. Xiao Wange smiled, “Three years is deserved.”

The chief and the secretary agreed. If you add in the gu insect incident, three years might even be too light, though the gu insect case was hard to prove legally.

After they separated, Xiao Wange went to a restaurant to celebrate with the child. Just as the dishes arrived, two figures appeared — Shi Jinzhu and Shi Xiaohong.

They had been going to Danshui village to look for Xiao Wange and happened to find her at the restaurant.

“Xiao Tong, this is a coincidence. Can you come to my place? My father is in trouble,” Shi Jinzhu said anxiously.

Shi Xiaohong added, “Please, Xiao Tong, my brother’s problem is thorny, we can’t handle it. Please help.”

Xiao Wange saw their anxious faces and stopped eating. She packed the food and left with them.

On the way, Shi Jinzhu explained succinctly: after her father went to the county and tried to find an excuse to get You Bifang to leave their inn, You Bifang produced a black box and from it came a black smoke that entered her father’s nose. At first he felt nothing, but that night he started acting strangely.

At around ten he got up, ate raw pork from the kitchen, and then walked through the wall. He was an ordinary man — how could he pass through walls? They looked for him all night and he returned at about five in the morning as if nothing had happened. But he was clearly possessed.

Shi Jinzhu’s eyes filled with tears. If that “dirty thing” harmed her father, the family would be devastated.

Xiao Wange narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment. “Walking through walls? Eating raw pork? It does sound like he’s possessed.”

Shi Jinzhu and Shi Xiaohong’s faces grew more tense, and then they led Xiao Wange home.

Upon entering the house, Xiao Wange felt a heavy sense of yin energy. She touched Zhao Zhao’s forehead lightly — not wanting him to see the unclean things. Every time she touched him, things seemed brighter to him as if her touch made the world nicer. He wondered if his mother had magic.

She asked Shi Jinzhu to watch the child and entered the room where the father lay. The room felt like a graveyard.

Xiao Wange frowned slightly and scanned the sleeping man. He seemed normal, breathing evenly, but she sensed something strange in his spirit — another presence.

Suddenly the man snapped awake, leapt up, and ran toward the wall, passing through it as if using magic.

Shi Jinzhu and Shi Xiaohong screamed. Xiao Wange cast a hand seal and followed through the wall.

Outside the wall was a garden with a small pond. She watched the man dart into the pond and dive deep into it.

Xiao Wange’s expression darkened and she rushed to the pond, diving in after him.