PWE – Chapter 70 Midnight Ambush

Hearing those words, Zhan Songbai’s body swayed, and his face suddenly turned deathly pale.

His mind buzzed wildly—only those two words echoed in his head: “Execution!”

He didn’t even dare imagine the scene of being executed by shooting. Execution was far too terrifying. He had never once thought that he would end up facing such a fate!

He suddenly began struggling violently again, shouting at the top of his lungs, “I didn’t commit a crime! I didn’t commit a crime! You can’t arrest me… You’ve got the wrong person!”

An old man glared at him in disgust and spat, “You filthy thing who refuses to repent! The Public Security Bureau already has evidence of your crimes, yet you’re still trying to deny it with that stubborn mouth! Zhan Songbai, if you ask me, execution is too good for you. Someone like you should be given the ancient tortures instead!”

Many people echoed the sentiment. Indeed, for the crimes Zhan Songbai committed, even the most severe punishment wouldn’t be excessive. It was only a pity that such punishments no longer existed in this era.

Zhan Songbai gritted his teeth, wanting to talk back to the old man, but the police quickly pushed him into the vehicle.

The officers were expressionless, showing not a shred of sympathy for this murderer just because he was an elderly man.

Coldly, one officer said, “No matter how much you try to argue now, it’s useless. Before the evidence, all your excuses are powerless! Just accept the severe punishment of the law and stop struggling meaninglessly!”

With that, the car door slammed shut. The sound felt like the gate of a prison closing on him. Zhan Songbai’s heart sank; the despair and defeat on his pale face deepened.

…

The police car holding Zhan Songbai sped away, with the other police vehicles following behind.

Just as the cars were about to disappear from sight, Zhan Hongxin suddenly came running over.

She had been beaten by the Hu family ever since she returned, and after the beating, they ordered her to cook pig slop.

She had been busy cooking and had no idea what had happened at her parents’ home.

It wasn’t until Hu Laizi’s nephew mentioned that the police had gone to her family that she learned something had happened.

The moment she heard something was wrong, she rushed out.

But it seemed she was still too late—those police cars had already driven away.

She stared at them and ran after them, shouting, “Don’t go… don’t go! My dad didn’t commit a crime, he’s innocent!”

Of course, the police cars wouldn’t respond to her, nor would they stop because she was chasing after them.

The vehicles drove farther and farther, disappearing from sight within moments, leaving no chance of catching up.

Zhan Hongxin’s face turned hopeless. She ran back toward the village entrance, where she spotted Zhan Hongteng standing by the roadside. She gritted her teeth and rushed forward, intending to slap him—but someone stopped her.

An Fulan caught her hand and coldly pushed her away. “Still want to hit my son? What do you think you are?!”

Zhan Hongxin staggered backward, almost falling onto the ground.

She steadied herself and glared viciously at An Fulan. “So you’re Zhan Hongteng’s biological mother! You heartless people—our family raised your son for so many years. Even if you don’t feel grateful, how could you bring the police to arrest my dad?! You wicked, ungrateful creatures—you’ll get retribution, you definitely will!”

To her, even if her father committed a crime, their family had raised Zhan Hongteng. They had “done him a favor.”

So if Zhan Hongteng didn’t repay their “kindness,” fine—but to bring his biological mother back and cause trouble for them was unforgivable.

She thought Zhan Hongteng deserved death. To her, he was an ungrateful beast.

These words angered not only An Fulan but also the surrounding villagers.

One hot-tempered villager snapped, “Oh, give it a rest! What kindness?! Your dad killed his real father, making him lose his family. And then your dad brought him back and tortured him for over twenty years—he lived worse than a dog! If he had stayed with his real family, he would’ve lived as a young master! Think about it—if you were supposed to grow up as a rich young lady but instead suffered here in this backward village, would you endure it? Wouldn’t you hate it? And you dare call someone else heartless? Who’s really heartless here?!”

“Exactly! No shame at all! To even say such disgusting things… Truly the daughter of Zhan Songbai—shameless!” another villager spat at her with contempt.

Zhan Hongxin frowned, wanting to argue, but Hu Mother and her nephews came rushing over.

The moment Hu Mother saw her, she shouted, “You lazy woman! I go to the vegetable plot for a minute and you run out to slack off! I’ll break your legs when we get home—you useless thing!”

Seeing Hu Mother, Zhan Hongxin instinctively shuddered.

She trembled and quickly hid behind Zhan Hongteng.

She looked at him with a crying face, pleading, “No matter what, you’re still my second brother! Second brother, help me! Help me drive that old witch away! If she drags me back, she’ll beat me to death. Look at my face—it’s already like this. If she keeps hitting me, I’ll be disfigured! Second brother, hurry and drive her away!”

Everyone watching was speechless.

How ridiculous—just a moment ago she was insulting him and trying to slap him. Now she wanted him to save her. Just like earlier when she helped others bully Zeyán’s wife, then later turned around and begged Zeyán for help.

Truly shameless to the extreme.

Even An Fulan was amazed at how thick-skinned she was. She looked at Zhan Hongteng. “Son, you mustn’t help her! She just tried to hit you and insulted you. Someone like her doesn’t deserve help!”

“You old witch too! Can’t you see how badly I was beaten?! If I go back with them, I’ll die!” Zhan Hongxin cursed loudly at An Fulan.

Zhan Hongteng’s expression darkened immediately. He grabbed her shoulder and pushed her toward Hu Mother. “She’s my real mother! And you dare call her an old witch? And you still want my help? Keep dreaming!”

He looked at Hu Mother and her nephews. “Take her back. Someone like her shouldn’t be allowed out to embarrass herself.”

Hu Mother noticed his fine clothing and his wealthy-looking birth mother, and her thoughts shifted—this was someone she must not offend. Wealthy people could easily make life miserable for poor folks like them.

So she smiled sycophantically. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep her under control. I won’t let her run around or talk nonsense again. I’ll take her back right now and teach her properly.”

With that, she and her nephews grabbed Zhan Hongxin and dragged her away.

She struggled violently. “Let go of me! I’m not going back! Second brother, you heartless bastard! We grew up together—we’re siblings no matter what! How can you watch your sister suffer?! Take me to the city! I beg you, take me to the city!”

If she could reach the city, she could escape the Hu family and cling to him for an easy life.

But who would indulge such shameless fantasies? Zhan Hongteng didn’t even look at her. Looking at her only disgusted him.

Hu Mother slapped Zhan Hongxin. “Stop dreaming about the city! You’ll never go there in your life!”

Zhan Hongxin still looked back at Zhan Hongteng, hoping he would pity her and take her with him. But that hope was destined to fail.

She was dragged away. And none of the villagers pitied her—someone like her didn’t deserve sympathy.

…

Once the commotion died down at the village entrance, Zhan Hongteng suddenly looked into the distance.

Not far away, Zhan Zeyán was standing there holding Zhao Zhao.

His gaze softened slightly, and he walked toward them quickly.

When Xiaowan’ge finished preparing lunch, Zhan Zeyán came home carrying Zhao Zhao.

Setting the last dish on the table, she asked, “The commotion at the village entrance is over?”

“The police were there,” she knew, but she wasn’t interested in watching more drama.

“Mm.” Zhan Zeyán set Zhao Zhao on the stool and said, “It’s over. Zhan Songbai has been taken away. Zhan Hongteng has gone back to the provincial capital with his mother.”

Since his biological mother lived there, Zhan Hongteng would likely settle there from now on.

Xiaowan’ge smiled, sat beside Zhao Zhao, and picked up her chopsticks. “He’s finally getting the good life he deserves. But the Zhan Songbai family wronged him too deeply. All those years of torment can never be repaid.”

Zhan Zeyán nodded. “Exactly. That family doesn’t deserve forgiveness.”

Just then, Zhao Zhao took out 200 yuan from his pocket and handed it to her. “Mom, this is from Second Uncle. He told me to buy something tasty. But we already have lots of good food at home. So you can take it—if you want to buy something, use this money.”

Xiaowan’ge blinked in surprise. She never expected Zhan Hongteng to be so generous—or Zhao Zhao to be so filial.

She accepted the money, patted Zhao Zhao’s head, and said, “Our Zhao Zhao is so filial. You’re so young, and already you think of giving money to Mom. But I won’t spend it. I’ll save it for you until you want to use it.”

Her son was truly impossibly sweet—many biological sons probably weren’t this sensible.

She kissed him several times on the cheek.

Zhao Zhao flushed, happy and shy. He wanted to kiss her back, but his father warned him not to, or he’d get his butt smacked.

Zhan Zeyán frowned as he watched his son receive kiss after kiss. He wanted to move closer for a kiss too—but didn’t dare, afraid she’d slap him.

Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and said, “Speaking of filial piety, those two sons next door are so ironic. I thought they’d at least go to the police station. But they didn’t even show up at the village entrance. I wonder if they’re too ashamed to come out.”

Xiaowan’ge wasn’t surprised at all.

Serving Zhao Zhao some food, she said, “They’re just two useless cowards. With both Zhan Songbai and Xu Meifeng taken away, their family has no backbone left. Who knows what kind of miserable state those two will end up in.”

“It’s not our concern. We just live our lives well,” Zhan Zeyán said as he put a rib in her bowl.

She felt a little moved as she ate it. “Mm. As long as our life is good, that’s enough.”

That night, after dinner and washing up, it was time for bed.

Xiaowan’ge was about to take Zhao Zhao to his room when Zhan Zeyán stopped her. “Wan’ge, I’ll sleep with him tonight.”

Zhao Zhao’s little face instantly fell. He wanted to sleep with Mom, not Dad—but didn’t dare argue.

She gave Zhan Zeyán a look. “Why the sudden change? Forget it, I’ll sleep with him—he’s used to it these days.”

She reached for Zhao Zhao, but Zhan Zeyán picked him up and carried him over the threshold. “I’m rarely home. It’s rare for me to sleep with my son. Starting tonight, he sleeps with me.”

“…Fine.” She couldn’t find a reason to argue. “Then make sure he doesn’t kick the quilt off.”

“I know.”

She watched father and son go inside. Though uneasy, she let them be.

She returned to her own room, lay on the bed staring at the canopy, feeling a little unused to sleeping alone—but she had to adapt.

After zoning out for a moment, she closed her eyes and slowly drifted off.

But in the middle of the night, she suddenly felt someone hug her.

She frowned and prepared to strike—

—when the person whispered, “Wan’ge, it’s me.”