RYEY -Chapter 297 Da Mao’s Madness

Standing at the back, Chen Weidang furrowed his brows. Could it really have been Da Mao who set the fire? But then, why couldn’t even the Public Security Bureau find any evidence? Right, Huanzi had mentioned the homemade gun—Da Mao was familiar with it.

Glancing at Da Mao, who was sneering, Chen Weidang decided he would have a proper talk with him tomorrow. If Da Mao had really started the fire, he would have to turn himself in at the police station.

Li Huan left, followed silently by Wang Xiangyang, who didn’t know what to say. Words of comfort felt empty and inadequate.

“Xiangyang, I need to find my homemade gun. Whoever has it is the one who set the fire.”

“Brother Huan, the culprit is strange… why use that gun? Isn’t that just asking for trouble?”

Li Huan sneered. That homemade gun was incredibly powerful. He couldn’t even count how many people had coveted it. With it, even wild boars could be handled. Any man would want it.

Da Mao closed the door, his eyes fixed on Gao Xiaohui. In the dim room, Gao Xiaohui’s face was pale, her hands cradling her large belly as she nervously looked at him.

“You saw it.”

“Saw… saw what?”

“Someone went to the Li family’s house to set a fire.”

“I… I didn’t see anything. I haven’t left the house these past couple of days.”

Da Mao thought for a moment. Indeed, Gao Xiaohui hadn’t gone out. He looked at her with a gentle smile. “Can you make me a bowl of noodles? I’m hungry.”

Gao Xiaohui quickly held her belly and walked to the kitchen. This man was getting scarier by the minute. She worried that he might kill her while she slept at night.

After eating a fragrant bowl of noodles, Da Mao washed his face and comfortably lay down on the kang. Soon, he fell asleep. Listening to his snoring, Gao Xiaohui finally relaxed a bit.

She cooked a bowl of noodles for herself as well. Looking at the dwindling grain in the rice bin, her head began to ache. The child would be born in a month—what would she feed the baby with?

After eating and cleaning the dishes, she boiled another pot of water and cleaned herself, but didn’t dare return to the bedroom. She draped a cotton coat over herself and pretended to nap near the stove.

While dozing off, Gao Xiaohui was suddenly woken by cold. Opening her eyes, she saw Da Mao standing in front of her, holding a wooden basin.

Feeling wet all over, Gao Xiaohui looked at him in disbelief. He was pouring cold water over her. In this freezing weather—was he trying to kill her?

“Da Mao, you… ah…”

Before she could finish, Da Mao stomped on her belly. He hated Li Huan, hated Chen Daniu, and hated this shameless woman even more.

If it weren’t for her seducing him, how could he have divorced Zhang Yuefang? If he hadn’t divorced Zhang Yuefang, they would have both graduated from prestigious schools—a glorious life.

Gao Xiaohui used all her strength to push Da Mao’s foot away, then struggled to her feet to run. Da Mao regained his senses and immediately grabbed her, dragging her back inside.

The room was warm, but Gao Xiaohui shivered even more. Da Mao had gone mad. How could she defend herself against a madman?

He first stuffed a towel into her mouth, then tore off her wet clothes. Seeing her swollen belly, he punched it hard.

Gao Xiaohui gasped in pain, then felt wetness down below. She knew her baby might be miscarrying, and shook her head desperately.

Da Mao smiled, found her clothes, and helped her dress. Then he whispered ominously in her ear: “Don’t scream or shout. I’ll find someone to take you to the hospital.”

Chen Tiezhu’s door was knocked open. His family had a flatbed cart. Hearing that Gao Xiaohui was about to give birth, he hurriedly pushed the cart out.

Juhua sensed that Da Mao’s expression was wrong. There was no joy of becoming a father, no panic over a baby being born early—he seemed… calm.

Juhua put on her clothes and dragged Chen Tiezhu to Chen Weidang’s house. Chen Weidang thought for a moment and woke Ermao.

“Ride your bicycle to your eldest sister’s house.”

“To my eldest sister’s house? Why?”

“I have a feeling Da Mao started the fire. And your eldest sister… she ruined Da Mao’s plan. He will definitely seek revenge.”

Ermao remembered how vengeful Da Mao had been as a child, quickly put on his clothes, wore his hat, and pedaled toward the county town.

Chen Weidang also dressed, leaning on his cane with Cuihua, and went to Da Mao’s house. Perhaps Da Mao was too hasty; he hadn’t even locked the door. A gentle push from Cuihua opened it.

Da Mao didn’t go into his own room—he knew Da Mao too well. Good things were never left there; they were hidden where no one would think to look.

He went to the backyard, where a pigpen had been built. Shining his flashlight inside, the pen was clean, but in the corner lay a pile of firewood.

Chen Weidang sneered. Stubborn as ever. Pushing aside the wood, Li Huan’s homemade gun was revealed. Seeing it, Cuihua’s legs went weak. Indeed, Da Mao had set the fire.

“Wife, go borrow a bicycle from Xiangyang.”

“For what?”

“My eldest daughter-in-law is about to give birth. Of course, I need to go see her.”

Cuihua hesitated. Something felt off, but seeing Chen Weidang’s serious face, she finally went.

Xiangyang rode his bicycle to Da Mao’s house. When he saw the homemade gun in Chen Weidang’s hand, his eyes widened. Brother Huan had guessed correctly—Da Mao had set the fire.

“Uncle, where’s Da Mao?”

“Pushing her wife to the county. She’s about to give birth.”

“I’ll go find Brother Huan. Wait here.”

Chen Weidang nodded, letting Cuihua return first. She was reluctant, but when Chen Weidang mentioned little Chen Xiaoniu, she finally left, constantly looking back—leaving the little girl alone at home was unsafe.

Li Huan, learning that Chen Weidang had found the homemade gun, immediately pedaled to the village entrance. Chen Weidang didn’t speak; he just waved for them to take him to the county town.

The two bicycles sped toward the county. Halfway there, they saw someone struggling to push a flatbed cart. The flashlight illuminated—Ermao.

“Ermao, what are you doing?”

“Father, I rode all the way here and saw this cart stopped in the middle of the road. Sister-in-law—no, Gao Xiaohui—is calling for help.”

“Gao Xiaohui… where’s Da Mao?”

Gao Xiaohui’s tears had frozen. She was cold to the point that inhaling was hard, exhaling easy, and she was bleeding below. She felt she wouldn’t make it through the night.

“Quick, take her to the hospital!”

Wang Xiangyang grabbed the cart and ran ahead. Ermao hesitated, then pedaled after, cursing Da Mao under his breath—where had he gone?

Li Huan suddenly understood. Da Mao was using his wife’s labor as a cover to escape. But Chen Weidang grew anxious—he knew exactly what Da Mao intended.