Free Web NovelChapter 440: Chapter 435: No Escape
There was a reason Zhou Fugui had resorted to such extreme measures. After returning from the army, he’d wanted to build a career for himself in the city so he could lord it over the other villagers and show them just how impressive the Old Zhou Family was.
But when he returned to the village, he heard that Sun Jiaming was doing very well in the city. The villagers all sang his praises. Anyone on good terms with the Sun Family had struck it rich. To make matters worse, Sun Jiaming had rejected the Zhou family’s marriage proposal, chosen Zhou Gu’er, and grown increasingly distant from them—even actively suppressing them. This left a bitter taste in Zhou Fugui’s mouth. He felt that Sun Jiaming had stolen the glory that was rightfully his.
The first time he’d approached Sun Jiaming, his plan had been to drive a wedge between him and Gu’er. Once they were at odds, he would swoop in and act like Sun Jiaming’s sworn brother, get Sun Jiaming to help him out, and make some good money. Then, once he was successful enough, he’d crush Sun Jiaming and show the villagers who the most capable man in the village truly was.
He hadn’t expected Sun Jiaming to completely ignore him—in fact, he’d been threatened. Sun Jiaming even sent people to sabotage his business, making it impossible for him to earn any money.
During the village re-election, his father’s position as village chief had been a sure thing, but it was snatched away by a candidate backed by Sun Jiaming. Now, the village chief was one of the Sun Family’s cronies. The village only followed the Sun Family’s lead, completely ignoring the Zhous. Just like that, the Zhou family lost all their influence.
His business was a failure, his father had lost his position as village chief, and the villagers looked down on the Zhou family. How could Zhou Fugui take that lying down? On top of it all, Zhou Mei was being mistreated by her in-laws and came crying to him every day. Zhou Fugui could no longer contain his anger and jealousy. He was going to make the Sun Family pay.
But he was no match for Sun Jiaming, and he was even less of a match for Li Zhi and his crew. Their mall business had the attention of city leadership, was firmly established, and had a great reputation among the public. There was simply nothing he could do.
Even if he wanted to pull some dirty tricks, the mall had security guards on patrol. He never got an opportunity.
He racked his brains and came up with an idea: he would get rid of the baby in Gu’er’s belly. ’If Gu’er loses her baby, the Sun Family will be devastated,’ he thought. ’It might even cause problems between her and Sun Jiaming. That would finally satisfy my hatred.’ But he’d been lurking around for a long time and had yet to find a moment when Gu’er was alone.
Though he hadn’t found an opportunity, he had found Feng Ling.
He tailed Feng Ling a few times and did some asking around. He was surprised to discover that her relationship with the Sun Family was poor. So, he had Zhou Mei try to get close to her.
The first time, Zhou Mei picked a time when Xinghua was out to visit the knitting shop and ask Feng Ling if she was hiring.
Feng Ling said they weren’t. As Zhou Mei was leaving, she nearly fainted. Feng Ling had her rest in the shop for a bit, and that’s how Zhou Mei struck up a conversation with her.
Later, Zhou Mei found Feng Ling twice more, claiming she was starving and had nothing to eat. Feng Ling bought her food. Then, as if just looking for someone to confide in, Zhou Mei poured out her fabricated sob story to Feng Ling.
He hadn’t expected Feng Ling to be so soft-hearted; she had actually fallen for Zhou Mei’s fabricated tale.
Once she saw Feng Ling was taken in, Zhou Mei pretended to ’accidentally’ discover Feng Ling’s connection to the Sun Family. She then acted terrified, begged Feng Ling to spare her, and ran off.
He himself went to find Feng Ling once. He begged her to ask the Sun Family to spare his sister, to leave them a way to survive. Feng Ling refused, saying she couldn’t interfere. He then begged her to help arrange a meeting with Gu’er, claiming they just wanted to ask her some questions, to get an explanation, to plead with Gu’er to give them a chance to live.
Feng Ling still refused, telling them to approach the Sun Family directly. But how could they do that? Their only option was to keep pleading with Feng Ling. Zhou Mei knelt and begged her for a long time, but she wouldn’t budge. He had thought it was a lost cause. But then, unexpectedly, Feng Ling had called them today. She told them to wait in the small garden, that she would bring Gu’er down. She urged them to ask their questions calmly and talk things over, hoping they could resolve the issue.
’He had come on a motorcycle he’d borrowed from a friend. The plan was to hit Gu’er, grab Zhou Mei, and speed off. No one would know it was them. Even if Feng Ling snitched, she was the one who brought Gu’er down, so she couldn’t escape blame. He figured she’d keep her mouth shut. The Sun Family wouldn’t be able to find the culprit; they’d assume it was just a random accident. Gu’er would lose her baby, and best-case scenario, she’d become infertile or paralyzed. Then, they would finally have their revenge.’
But he hadn’t expected Feng Ling to shield Gu’er. On top of that, being an inexperienced rider, he’d lost control and crashed. Then Feng Ling had started attacking Zhou Mei. Now that their cover was blown, he couldn’t be bothered with the details. The only thing that mattered was getting rid of that baby.
But Feng Ling was clinging to his leg, biting him. He had no choice but to punch and kick her hard, but no matter what, she wouldn’t let go.
He saw people approaching, and Zhou Mei couldn’t pry Feng Ling off. By the time Gu’er’s brick came flying at him, it was too late to dodge. It smashed into his shoulder with searing pain, and Zhou Mei took a blow to her lower back as well.
"Run!"
Zhou Fugui yelled to Zhou Mei. ’Her legs aren’t being held, she should be able to get away,’ he thought.
Zhou Mei froze for a second. Instead of running, she grabbed Feng Ling’s arm and yanked hard, trying to pull her off and free Zhou Fugui’s leg.
Gu’er tried to stand, but a heavy, pulling sensation in her belly kept her down. Her legs felt weak. All she could do was grab things to throw at the pair, but her aim wasn’t always true.
"What the hell is going on? A grown man beating a woman! He’s going to kill her! Everybody, come quick! Help!"
The first two people to arrive were a man and a woman. The man took one look, let out a roar without a second’s hesitation, and charged in. The woman didn’t stand idly by either; she went straight for Zhou Mei and started pulling her away.
Their shouts drew more people, who came running toward the commotion.
At this point, even if Feng Ling hadn’t been clinging to his leg, Zhou Fugui couldn’t have escaped.
The people here were a tough sort. Several men had already started laying into Zhou Fugui, while a few women had grabbed ahold of Zhou Mei.
Someone helped Feng Ling to her feet. She was badly injured—blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, her forehead was cut open, and her clothes were covered in dirt. She was a complete mess. But ignoring her own injuries, she told everyone to check on Gu’er first.
Others went to help Gu’er.
"Please," Gu’er said, "can someone go to apartment 402 in that building up ahead? Tell the people there we’re going to the maternity ward at Yonghong Hospital. Tell them I’m going into labor. Have them call my husband and tell him to meet us there. And please, help me and my sister get to a car. Get me to the hospital. As for those two... they tried to run us down with their motorcycle and they beat my sister. Please take them to the police station. The authorities will handle it from there. Thank you all so much."
Gu’er gave her instructions, grimacing through the pain.
"Alright, alright, don’t talk anymore. We know what to do," an older woman said urgently, seeing the bloodstain spreading on Gu’er’s pants. "You’re bleeding! Everyone, let’s give a hand! Hurry!"
And so, someone ran off to inform the Sun Family, two or three people frog-marched Zhou Fugui and Zhou Mei to the police station, and others helped Gu’er and Feng Ling find a car to take them to the hospital.
