RYEY – Chapter 57 The Crying in the Grove

When the villagers saw the smile appear on Chai Jianmin’s face, they all instinctively took a step back. They began to suspect whether Comrade Chai was already dead.

Standing in front of them now might not even be a human—it could well be some spirit possessed by a yellow weasel. But no one dared to say such words aloud. Otherwise, they would be accused of feudal superstition.

“Village Head, Xu Laidi said she ran out of rations and went to find Chen Dazhu. As for where to find him, I don’t know.”

Hearing Chai Jianmin call out to him, every hair on Chen Weidang’s body stood on end. But as the village head, he couldn’t show fear. He lightly coughed and spat out three words: “Let’s go.”

Everyone quickly followed the head out of the educated youth camp. Auntie Wang ran over to Cheng Qiao’s side, patted her hand, and said: “Cheng Qiao, lucky you married that rascal—no, I mean Li Huan—otherwise this place…”

Cheng Qiao fully agreed. Having lived one life already, she could immediately see that Chai Jianmin was on the verge of going dark. She just didn’t know who he would strike at first once he snapped.

Li Huan squeezed Cheng Qiao’s hand tightly. As someone who had lived in the black market, he had seen plenty. Chai Jianmin’s change did not escape his notice. Based on his experience, Xu Laidi would be the first target of Jianmin’s revenge.

And after that? Cheng Qiao would surely also be in his scope, along with Qian Longkun, Zhao Xiaobao, and perhaps even the other female educated youths. This man needed to be dealt with.

As for Xu Laidi seeking food from Chen Dazhu, Cheng Qiao recalled during the autumn harvest when Xu Laidi had been tightly held in Dazhu’s arms.

At that time, Xu Laidi had been terrified, dragging Chai Jianmin forward as her shield. Who would have thought her “shield” would fall in just one round—for ten jin of cornmeal. That lesson had been seared into Jianmin’s heart.

“Erlizi, do you know where Chen Dazhu is?”

“Village Head, I don’t have clairvoyant eyes. How would I know where Chen Dazhu is?”

Hearing that, Chen Weidang gave Li Huan a fierce glare. Li Huan rubbed his nose—he wasn’t the one who sent Xu Laidi out there, so what did that look mean?

Cheng Qiao couldn’t help but laugh. Her laughter made everyone understand why the head had glared at Li Huan—if he hadn’t taken the lead in marrying Cheng Qiao, none of these messy things would be happening now.

“Does anyone know where Chen Dazhu is?”

Since he was sure Chen Dazhu wasn’t at home, Chen Weidang asked the crowd.

“Head, just a few days ago I saw Chen Dazhu building a house in the grove by the village entrance. Maybe he’s still working there.”

Li Huan suddenly remembered seeing Chen Dazhu with a hoe, clearing land in the grove, and quickly spoke up.

Everyone hurried toward the grove. Cheng Qiao secretly pulled a high-powered flashlight from her space and handed it to Li Huan. She had a feeling tonight Xu Laidi might not make it out whole.

Night had already fallen. But the villagers were too familiar with this road, so their pace wasn’t slow. When they arrived at the grove, faint cries could be heard from within.

“Who’s in there?”

Just as the head’s words fell, Li Huan had already switched on the flashlight, shining it into the grove. The powerful beam swept back and forth before locking onto a tree.

They saw Xu Laidi clinging tightly to the tree, sobbing, while Chen Dazhu pressed up against her back, grinding his body against hers, his hands groping all over.

“Chen Dazhu! What do you think you’re doing?”

Seeing Chen Dazhu’s deranged appearance, the village head was so angry his head nearly split open. Ever since Cheng Qiao stopped being a silly, naïve girl, the whole village had felt like it was changing.

Chen Dazhu hadn’t expected anyone to come looking for him. Startled, he quickly released Xu Laidi, all lust scattered to the wind.

“Village Head, save me!”

Xu Laidi saw the flashlight shining on her and quickly shielded her eyes, running toward the head.

“Xu Laidi, why did you come here?”

“I… it was Chai Jianmin. He said he hid grain in the grove at the village entrance and that if I found it, it would be mine. So I came… I didn’t know Chen Dazhu would be here. Wuu… Head, please save me.”

“Chai Jianmin told you to come here for grain?”

To Chen Weidang, it sounded like a colossal joke. He wanted to laugh, but couldn’t—the eerie aura Chai Jianmin had exuded earlier still left him uneasy.

The villagers looked at one another. Everyone knew the head had granted this land to Chen Dazhu to build a house. Even a fool wouldn’t hide food on someone else’s homestead.

Xu Laidi seemed to realize it too. But at this point, her mind contained only food and money. She had completely forgotten Chen Dazhu was building a house here. Clearly, she had fallen into Chai Jianmin’s trap.

Xu Laidi knew Jianmin hated her. But she hadn’t expected his hatred to run this deep. Now, her only options were either to marry Chen Dazhu or to have money—otherwise she would never escape Jianmin’s revenge.

With that thought, Xu Laidi turned toward Chen Dazhu. Dazhu nervously looked at her—if she accused him of molesting her, his future would be finished.

“Chen Dazhu, should I report you to the police? Everyone just saw you harassing me.”

Noticing how Xu Laidi deliberately lowered her voice, Dazhu understood immediately. He knew exactly what she wanted.

“I’ll give you money. I’ll give you food.”

“Within three days, give me 200 yuan, or I’ll report you for molestation.”

“200 yuan? I don’t have that.”

“How much do you have then?”

Xu Laidi knew she was asking for the moon, but she couldn’t bear to give up such a chunk of meat, so she quickly pressed him further.

“I only have 20 yuan. I can give you another 20 jin of fine grain. No more.”

Chen Dazhu took a deep breath, telling himself not to rush. He had to slowly find a way to get this woman.

“20 yuan… fine. Remember—within three days.”

Xu Laidi also knew Dazhu’s financial state. Still, no matter how small, meat was meat. Better to take the benefits now—once the money and grain were gone, she could come back for more.

Wiping at her tearless eyes, Xu Laidi feigned the look of a humiliated victim, covered her face, and ran off.

Chen Weidang inhaled deeply, forcing himself to stay calm. He had to stay calm.

“Everyone, go back. Tomorrow those going to work on the riverbank repair, meet at the village entrance at five in the morning. Once you get to the county, there will be people to take you over.”

Though the crowd didn’t know what exactly had been said between Xu Laidi and Dazhu, seeing his tense expression relax, they knew she must have named her price.

Cheng Qiao narrowed her eyes. Whether it was because of her space or something else, her hearing was sharp—every word Xu Laidi had said had been crystal clear to her.