"Oh my god!"
Li Fengzhi, who ca closely behind, saw the pig and staggered back two steps, too scared to move forward.
What was once a pig had beco a heap of shredded at, with only the pig’s head intact, as if the whole pig had been smashed to pieces.
"How does this pig look like it fell from the mountain?"
"That’s what it looks like to too. How else could it be so smashed up?"
Zhang Shuncai heard the murmurs around him, the veins on his forehead bulging again. Swinging the sickle in his hand, he shouted, "What the hell are you all chattering about, get lost!"
Zhang Shuncai glared around, eyes fierce, "I’ve made an enemy today. Whoever did this, don’t let find out who you are!"
"Daring to do it but not to show face, what a coward!" Li Fengzhi cursed along.
The small bridge was surrounded by onlookers. It wasn’t the first ti this mother and son duo had cursed in the street, so instead of anger, the people were more amused by their misfortune.
That large heap of shredded pork was inedible. Li Fengzhi picked up the pig’s head and headed back, crying and cursing along the way.
A perfectly fine big fat pig, and now only a head is left!
Li Fengzhi felt as though a big chunk of her heart had been dug out. Near her ho, she turned back and cursed into the air, as if hoping the one who stole pigs and chickens could hear.
Zhang Shuncai’s father Zhang Jiantian had so health issues and was waiting at ho, while his brothers Zhang Shungui, Zhang Shunfu, and Zhang Shunlu were in the yard. They also wanted to follow to the village entrance but were stopped by Zhang Shuncai.
This whole thing was clearly targeting the Old Zhang Family. With only a pen of sheep left at ho, if they were taken too, how could they continue living?
Zhang Lianqiao stayed with Zhang Jiantian, feeling both worried and scared. From the ti she was sensible until now, the Old Zhang Family in Kao Village had always been feared and had never encountered anything like this. She couldn’t think of anyone in the village who dared to confront them or had the ability to take chickens and pigs under the noses of the four brothers without anyone knowing.
Apart from her four biological brothers, she had eight cousins, although only three were in the village. The Old Zhang Family had seven young n in their pri, which wasn’t without reason they were village bullies.
Whoever did this, weren’t they afraid of her brothers’ revenge? If they found out who it was, they certainly wouldn’t let him off lightly!
Zhang Lianqiao thought angrily.
Hearing the gate, she quickly looked outside, though she knew without looking it was Brother and Mother returning, having heard their yelling from afar.
The three brothers quickly gathered around. Zhang Shuncai’s face was livid, not in the mood to explain, while Li Fengzhi sobbingly narrated the events.
"I don’t think it’s soone from our village. Think about it, we know all the families here. None would have the guts to do this; it must be an outsider!" Zhang Shungui said.
"I agree with Second Brother’s view, no one in our village has the guts." The third brother, Zhang Shunfu, chid in.
Zhang Shunlu nodded, agreeing with their points.
Zhang Shuncai glanced at his father smoking dry tobacco and asked, "Dad, what do you think?"
Although Zhang Jiantian wasn’t physically well, his mind was sharp. On hearing his eldest son’s question, he took a drag of tobacco before asking, "Shunzi, have you offended anyone recently?"
Zhang Shuncai frowned. How to put it? If offending people were the matter, he was doing that daily, but truly wronging soone to death, not yet.
Wait, Zhang Shuncai suddenly rembered about Luo Anping a few days ago.
After discovering Beisitian’s pressure on Zhang Lianqiao to send food to their house, he got angry and decided to intimidate the kid, coincidentally seeing him on the mountain that day.
Before Luo Anping arrived, he tangled vines around his foot, and as Luo approached, he tightened the vine, tripping Luo.
Before Luo was a slope, and as he tried to scare him, he didn’t intend for him to actually fall. When attempting to grab him, he was tripped by the vine and failed to hold on, letting the kid roll down.
Shocked, Zhang Shuncai, though overbearing, never intended to harm anyone fatally. Panicked, he hurried down the mountain without daring a glance, running ho instead.
Later, the village spread the news of Luo Anping being carried back, first feeling relieved. Then rumors spread he might not survive, causing him to beco anxious, fearing the incident on the mountain would be revealed.
This matter shouldn’t have been known. Even if the kid knew it was him, what could he do? Would he dare speak out! Even if so, without evidence, what could Luo Er’s family do? A bunch of useless wastes!
Despite feeling anxious, Zhang Shuncai relied on Luo Er’s family’s helplessness, feeling fearless!
This incident couldn’t have been Luo Er’s family’s doing. Comprising one useless cripple, a blind one who could only shout poverty, and a frail woman; how could they have taken ten chickens and stealthily removed a fat pig under their watch? Impossible!
Even if they tried, involving two brothers to silently remove such a big pig without alarming the owners wasn’t possible either!
At least three to five skilful n would be needed, and even then, not a soundless feat; the chickens and pigs were still alive!
Hearing Zhang Jiantian’s comnt, he hesitated a mont but shook his head; Luo Er’s family was certainly ruled out.
The entire family discussed for quite so ti without any conclusion. Zhang Shuncai had no choice but to follow Zhang Jiantian’s suggestion: take turns keeping watch at night; everyone shouldn’t sleep too deeply. If any disturbance arose, imdiately arm themselves and rush out!
The four brothers, faces fierce, awaited the night eagerly to catch and punish the thief harshly!
That night, Zhang Shuncai and Zhang Shungui sat on the steps in front of the house, one holding a sickle, the other a kitchen knife, not chatting, just waiting wide-eyed.
As the moon climbed over the treetops, the mountainous night sky was breathtaking, with a vibrant Milky Way visible, though the two brothers were in no mood to appreciate it, their heads beginning to nod like pecking chickens, gradually drowsy.
Feeling a bit puzzled, Zhang Shuncai thought he usually wouldn’t feel this sleepy at this hour. Could today’s commotion be tiring him out?
With these thoughts, he couldn’t resist Zhou Gong’s call, his head tilting to lean on Zhang Shungui beside him. As for Zhang Shungui, fighting a losing battle with his eyelids, as Zhang Shuncai leaned over, he succumbed too, head resting on his brother’s.
After they fell asleep, several large figures suddenly appeared on the wall, leaping into the courtyard.
With four or five big figures entering, the penned sheep began to stir, yet strangely, there was no reaction from within the house.
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