RYEY – Chapter 126 Xu Laidi Is Pregnant

After confirming that Liu Yong was dead, Zhao Hui carefully wiped away all traces of his presence, not leaving behind a single footprint or fingerprint. Taking advantage of the dark, windy night, he slipped away.

He didn’t take the long-distance bus. Instead, he rode the bicycle that Cheng Qiao had given him, pedaling through the night. It took him nearly twenty hours before he finally reached the railway station in Chuncheng, where he bought a ticket bound for the Northwest.

While waiting for the train, Zhao Hui sold the bicycle cheaply. In exchange, he got a good amount of national grain coupons and other ration tickets. He also bought plenty of food and drinks to take with him for the long journey.

It turned out that his father, wife, and child had already been secretly sent to a farm in the Northwest overnight. The reason it was done secretly was, of course, so that Zhao Hui would have no chance to save them.

He touched the money and tickets safely tucked inside his undershirt pocket. Only then did he feel a bit of security. Once he reached the Northwest, he planned to first observe the situation and then find a way to approach his father and family.

The only pity was that Liu Yong had stubbornly refused to reveal the name of the mastermind behind everything. If he betrayed that person, his own parents and brothers in the capital would suffer miserably. It was a gamble he didn’t dare take.

Liu Yong knew he couldn’t escape his fate. Facing death, his final words were a warning for Zhao Hui not to return to the capital. That person still harbored deep hatred against the Zhao family. As for why, even Liu Yong didn’t know.

Zhao Hui hesitated for a few seconds but still drew his blade across Liu Yong’s throat. If it hadn’t been for Liu Yong’s betrayal, the Zhao family would never have collapsed so quickly.

On the train, Zhao Hui picked up pen and paper to write a letter to Cheng Qiao. But after only writing two characters, he tore the sheet into pieces and threw it out the window.

For her safety, he decided never to contact her again. With Liu Yong dead, the person behind the scenes in the capital would never let the matter rest.

These past few days, Cheng Qiao had neither eaten nor slept well. She was clearly haggard. Seeing this, Li Huan’s heart ached. He decided to take her to the house in the county to have a look.

Everything in the house was neatly in place, just as before. Except for the missing bicycle, Zhao Hui hadn’t taken even a towel. It was as though the man had never existed.

“Uncle must have left safely.”

Seeing the bicycle gone and the house spotlessly clean, Cheng Qiao knew Zhao Hui had left in safety. No one fleeing in panic would still think to tidy up the house.

Once Li Huan saw that Cheng Qiao was reassured, he also felt relieved. He took her to the state-owned restaurant for a hearty meal and bought several lunch boxes full of meat dishes to take home.

They then went to the supply and marketing cooperative. Since Li Bing would return to the army tomorrow, they needed to buy some items for him to bring back, especially snacks and candies to share with his comrades.

On the way, Cheng Qiao pulled out several packs of cigarettes, bottles of liquor, and a large bundle of beef shanks—things meant as gifts for Li Bing. A trip back home always called for bringing something to give to others.

At the village entrance, Xu Laidi stood shivering in the cold wind. She waited there, knowing that when Li Huan and Cheng Qiao came back, they would surely have good things with them.

Sure enough, she spotted them from afar: Li Huan pedaled the bicycle, the handlebars loaded with tightly wrapped parcels, while Cheng Qiao sat at the back, clutching a large bundle in her arms.

“Cheng Qiao, Cheng Qiao, stop for a moment!”

Xu Laidi stood in the middle of the path with her arms outstretched, trying to block them. Li Huan narrowed his eyes, his legs pressing harder on the pedals. If she didn’t move, then she deserved to be run over.

“I’m pregnant…”

Frightened by his momentum, Xu Laidi blurted out the words in panic. Li Huan instantly gripped the brakes hard. Because of the sudden stop, Cheng Qiao’s head bumped heavily into his back.

Feeling the pain in his back, Li Huan quickly got off the bike, supporting it with his body while reaching to touch Cheng Qiao’s head. “Where did it hit? Are you alright?”

Cheng Qiao’s hands were full holding the packages, so she couldn’t feel her own injury. She could only let Li Huan fumble through her hair like he was searching for lice.

Watching how tenderly Li Huan treated Cheng Qiao, Xu Laidi’s heart twisted with bitterness. In Chen Dazhu’s hands, she lived a life of hunger, ragged clothes, and constant beatings. Compared to them, her days were miserable beyond words.

She wanted to spit out something sharp in anger, but remembering her purpose, she clenched her fists tightly and bit her lip nearly to bleeding.

“Cheng Qiao, I’m pregnant. There’s nothing to eat at home. Could you give me some food?”

She couldn’t hold back any longer. The couple before her were bundled in thick cotton-padded coats, hats, gloves, and scarves, while she wore nothing more than a worn-out cotton jacket, not even a scarf.

“You’re pregnant? Congratulations.”

Cheng Qiao’s gaze fell on Xu Laidi’s belly. She felt her chance for revenge was drawing near. When the time came, she would drown that child in the river—one life for one life.

Noticing the shadow in Cheng Qiao’s eyes, Xu Laidi felt a bad premonition. But hunger gnawed at her. At that moment, she was willing to kneel as long as she could get a bite to eat.

“Xu Laidi, what does your pregnancy have to do with my wife? It’s not her child. If you’re hungry, go to the father of your baby. What’s the point of pestering Cheng Qiao?”

Seeing that Cheng Qiao was fine, Li Huan got back on the bicycle. Once she was seated, he pressed hard on the pedals and rode right past Xu Laidi.

Xu Laidi’s eyes flashed with venom. She nearly raised her hand to push Cheng Qiao off the bike. If I starve to death, you won’t live either.

“Xu Laidi…”

A furious roar came from behind her. She quickly dropped her half-raised hand. Chen Dazhu rushed over in long strides, ready to slap her across the face.

Terrified, Xu Laidi crouched down with her hands over her cheeks. Chen Dazhu restrained himself, remembering she was carrying his child, and held back his blow.

“If you dare hurt someone again, I won’t spare you.”

“Chen Dazhu, I know what’s in your heart—you like—”

Smack!

Though he hadn’t planned to hit her, Chen Dazhu’s hand still struck her face. Then, touching her swollen cheek, he shook his head in grief. “So ignorant… you’re just too ignorant.”

Tears welled in Xu Laidi’s eyes as she desperately buried her hatred deep inside. Chen Dazhu grabbed her shoulder and pulled her home. If she couldn’t get food, then she’d just have to stay hungry.

At home, Mother Li was busy cooking. Tomorrow, her eldest son would leave again, and who knew when they’d meet next. She wanted to prepare everything well.

There was no need to pack clothes, shoes, or socks—the army would provide those. What mattered was food: meat sauce, chili sauce, peanut butter, cured meat, smoked chicken, and beef jerky.

All these had been sourced from the black market by Cheng Qiao and Li Huan. They insisted on packing them for Big Brother. Cheng Qiao also asked Mother Li to roast fine white flour. Later, when hungry, he could just scoop a few spoonfuls of roasted flour, add hot water, and fill his stomach.

Li Huan also visited Ye Jun to collect plenty of medicines for bruises and inflammation. Don’t underestimate these remedies—at critical moments, they could save a life.