Before leaving, Xia Mian took out their household registration books and held Xiao Feng in her arms, “Auntie and your second great-aunt are going to your grandmother’s to pick up your mom. We’re afraid your grandmother will try to take you back, so Xiao Feng stays home and waits for us, okay?”
Xiao Feng tightly grasped the household registration book, obediently nodding, “Auntie, I’ll be good. I won’t cry.”
He didn’t cry, but Xia Mian felt like crying. She hugged the boy and softly said, “Auntie will be back soon. Play with Brother Qiangqiang, and sleep with him tonight too.”
Qiangqiang said from the side, “Aunt Mian, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of my little brother.”
Xia Mian patted Xiao Feng’s head, steeled herself, and got in the car. Through the rear-view mirror, she saw Xiao Feng run two steps after the car before Qiangqiang pulled him back. Eldest Aunt-in-law brought out some snacks, calling both boys back inside.
Xiao Feng didn’t seem to cry, which relieved Xia Mian a bit.
They set out early in the morning and bumped along until reaching the small village around noon. Xia Wenyue had Wang Tao park at the village entrance, and they all got out. Xia Wenyue stopped a passing villager to ask directions, “Which one is Zhang Qiming’s home?”
The villager carrying a hoe looked at the van behind them, his wrinkled face blooming into a smile as he pointed to the most prominent brick courtyard nearby, “You see that grandest courtyard? That’s their home. I’m his cousin, what business do you all have with Qiming?”
“That kid is the most accomplished one in our village!” The villager sighed with pride.
It was clear that no one in the village had known about Zhang Qiming’s arrest. In such a remote small village, it was possible for Zhang Qiming’s family to conceal the scandal forever—that is, if the Xia family didn’t come.
Of course, the Xia Mian and the others wouldn’t let them get their wish.
Xia Wenyue was the first to take action. She inhaled, then started wailing loudly, “Oh, my poor niece, you were still so young when that bastard Zhang Qiming killed you~!”
Her piercing voice carried her distinct accent, instantly spreading through the mountain-enclosed village. Even without a loudspeaker, the whole village could hear it.
The villager’s face changed, “Who are you people? What nonsense are you spouting?”
Second Aunt-in-law immediately joined in the loud wailing, “Our pitiful niece, a university graduate, the pride of our family~! That beast Zhang Qiming killed her just for 40,000 yuan compensation~!”
“So what if he got caught by the police? Our niece still can’t come back~!”
Xia Wenyue quickly chimed in, “The Zhang family has been punished~! Zhang Qiming deserves execution~ My pitiful niece, your aunt has come to take you home…!!!”
Second Aunt-in-law sang out again, “A beast who would kill even his own son for money~ he deserves to die alone, his lineage cut off~!!”
The two were true masters, their voices carrying far in the small mountain village, echoing endlessly.
Soon, people who had heard the cries came rushing over, the leading men wielding sticks and hoes, clearly intent on driving these outsiders away. The three Xia brothers took hoes from the trunk to block in front of Xia Wenyue and Second Aunt-in-law.
Xia Mian stared fixedly at one old lady, who hurried over with small steps. The weather-beaten elderly woman, clearly not one to trifle with despite her old age, glared at the Xia family as if they were her nemesis. “Who are you people? How dare you wrongfully accuse our Qiming!”
“We’re wrongfully accusing him?!” Xia Wenyue exploded, “That beast has already been thrown into prison! Are we wrongfully accusing him? Why don’t you say the country wrongfully accused him?”
Xia Wenyue started crying again, “Our poor Chunchun was such a good girl, a university graduate. She married him without asking for anything, found him a job, and gave birth to his son~!!”
“But that beast was truly inhumane~! Not only did he fool around outside with a new woman, but he even killed our niece for money~!”
Second Aunt-in-law lay down directly at the feet of the most ferocious man and provoked, “Come on, just beat me to death! You’ve already killed one of our girls. Kill me too, and you’ll all go to prison to join that beast Zhang Qiming!” Glaring at the faltering crowd, she shouted again: “Those surnamed Zhangs have no conscience! One of them is a murderer, and yet they hid it from other villagers! Zhang Qiming is already in prison. The police said he committed murder, and he’ll definitely be executed!”
Xia Mian also stood up, blocking those who were about to make a move, “Don’t believe it? Zhang Qiming set my house on fire. He not only killed my sister for money but also wanted to kill Xiao Feng for more money.”
She looked sharply at Zhang Qiming’s mother, “You know, don’t you? Where did Zhang Qiming, a regular worker, suddenly get so much money to build you a house? Have you never doubted it?”
“Or are you fully aware! You are also Zhang Qiming’s accomplice!”
Zhang Qiming’s mother’s face turned pale, “How could I know? Our Qiming was framed!”
“So you do know Zhang Qiming has been arrested and is now in prison?” Xia Mian coolly stated.
Residents in such remote mountain villages tended to stick together, but committing a cold-blooded murder was a different matter. When Zhang Qiming’s mother saw the neighbors’ expression change, she hurriedly exclaimed, “This family is trying to extort money because they saw our Qiming has money. They are slandering us!”
Second Aunt-in-law Xia retorted, “Slandering? If I’m slandering, I’ll pay you ten thousand yuan immediately! But if I’m not, will you give me ten thousand?”
Xia Mian added, “Old lady, do you think you can hide it forever? In six months, at most a year, Zhang Qiming will be sentenced.”
“On the day of the trial, I’ll take photos and send them back to you. We’ll spread them all over the village, so everyone can see what kind of murderer your village has raised!”
Zhang Qiming’s mother’s face changed drastically, and the fiercest man suddenly turned at her, “Aunt, is what this girl said true? Did Qiming really kill Xia Chun?”
Another one asked directly, “I saw Uncle Zhang rushed off a while back. Where did he go? Did something really happen to Qiming?”
Xia Wenyue began to cry again, “Oh, our Chunchun in heaven, are you looking at us now? That beast Zhang Qiming is finally facing retribution~ He’ll be executed, and his new wife is also arrested~”
“But this old hag still defends that beastly son of hers~ you might as well take her away too…”
“They also abused your son~” Xia Wenyue cried dramatically, aiming for the best effect, “Your aunt won’t take you back, just stay here and avenge your son and yourself. When they’re all gone, we will come to take you back~”
Those who grew up in a poor mountain village were the most superstitious of all. Hearing Xia Wenyue’s cry, the crowd turned pale in an instant…
Second Aunt-in-law immediately added, “Old hag, can you sleep these days? Hasn’t our poor Chunchun knocked on your door?”
Xia Wenyue cried, “Indeed, you’re Zhang Qiming’s mother, just as black-hearted. Chunchun, you must take this old hag away first~”
The old lady fainted on the spot.
The villagers immediately rushed up to fight, but Xia Mian grabbed a hoe, wielding it fiercely, forcing them to step back three steps. Not even the burliest men could approach their group. She then planted the hoe on the ground and said, “If you have the guts, kill us. If not, I’ll expose Zhang Qiming and your village’s deeds in the newspapers for all to see.”
“By then, not only the entire province, but even the whole country will know that your Zhang Village is harboring murderers.”
Second Aunt-in-law’s next words hit them where it hurt, “Let’s see who dares to marry into your village then. Your whole village can wait for extinction!”
People in the isolated mountain villages were unruly, but they also valued their reputation. When Xia Mian used the Zhang family’s phone on speaker to confirm Zhang Qiming’s arrest at the police station, the Zhang family could not withstand the pressure from the villagers.
Three days later, Xia Chun’s remains were brought back to Mingxi County.
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