Chapter 6: Dare You Kill?

The Zhang family of Qingshui Town was well known in the vicinity, once regarded as unreasonable and destitute. In the current generation, the three brothers were idle every day, skulking about stealing small things, and all in their thirties without a wife.

Their ancestors had been butchers, traveling from village to village in the surrounding towns, slaughtering pigs for local farmers, earning wages and offal as payment. But this work only came around during festivals, and with the three brothers not inclined to lead steady lives, any odd jobs they took on were quickly squandered on food and drink.

Fate can be strange—when one hits rock bottom, a rebound is often near.

In 1998, the government mandated designated slaughterhouses to ensure pork safety. That was when fortune smiled upon the Zhang family. Relying on their ancestral skills, they secured a partnership with the Meat Processing Plant.

The plant set up a slaughtering point in Qingshui Town, entrusted to the three Zhang brothers. Within just two years, their pockets grew fat; each household built several large tile-roofed houses, and the second and third brothers both got married in quick succession.

Only the eldest, less handsome of the three, remained unmarried.

This time, when Liu Yue’e sought a match for Bailu, the matchmaker approached the Zhang family, presenting Bailu’s photograph. The Zhang matriarch immediately took a liking, declaring that Bailu would be the eldest son’s bride. The second and third brothers nearly came to blows, insisting they could divorce their wives and remarry.

However, the bride price demanded by Liu Yue’e—50,000 yuan—was too steep. The Zhang matriarch hesitated, urging the matchmaker to lower it to 30,000. The price crept up little by little, eventually reaching over 40,000.

Fortunately, the 50,000 yuan was precisely the amount needed for Bai’s father’s surgery, compelling Liu Yue’e to hold firm. In the end, Lu Fan stepped in and secured the deal.

That morning, when the matchmaker went to the Zhang home to back out, the Zhang family’s temperament flared instantly.

“If you didn’t want to marry, say so early on. Dragging us along, stringing us along—do you think the Zhangs are pushovers?”

The eldest son found his mother and cursed violently, uttering many harsh words.

“The second and third brothers were so straightforward when they found their wives. Why the hesitation now? Do you want to wipe out the Zhang family line?”

He even threatened, “Treat me like this and don’t be surprised if, after I’m gone, I scatter your ashes on the vegetable field as fertilizer.”

The family erupted into a fierce quarrel. Growing angrier by the minute, they gathered friends and mounted a large cart, setting off in a grand procession.

Upon arriving at the Bai residence, the eldest Zhang son kicked open the door. The women swarmed in, cornering Liu Yue’e inside.

There were shouts and struggles.

The men, finding no menfolk at home, felt useless and lingered smoking by the door.

The Zhang matriarch, leaning on her cane, pointed at Liu Yue’e: “Have you even looked at your family’s situation? If it weren’t for the Wang sisters coming to my house again and again, telling me how pitiful you are, do you think a family like yours can marry into the Zhangs?”

“Bah! You’re from a small household. It’s a blessing from your ancestors that my son even looks at your daughter. Your ancestral tombs must be smoking green! You don’t know your place, teasing me like this.”

“Where is your daughter hiding? We came today to take her home to marry. I’ve brought the money—50,000 yuan. The Zhangs aren’t short of such a sum.”

“We’ll pay exactly what you first asked. The money’s here. I’m taking her today.”

The matchmaker Wang stood between them, trying to mediate. “Miss Bai, don’t blame me. It was all going well. Who would have expected this?”

“Your family’s situation is difficult, and your eldest brother is still bedridden. The Zhangs are considered wealthy around here; no ordinary family dares to bully them. If the girl marries in, she’ll just wait to live a good life.”

“There’s a saying: better to tear down a temple than to ruin a marriage. The children’s futures are clear—why back out now? I came with sincerity, and the 50,000 yuan is right here. If you agree, we can set the date today.”

Liu Yue’e wiped tears ceaselessly.

So many people suddenly invading her home terrified her to the point she dared not resist or argue. Letting some women pinch and tug at her, she crouched in the corner, clutching Bai Shuang, weeping.

Now, she was filled with regret, blinded by greed. Why had she used her eldest daughter to exchange for money? If she truly married into such a family, it would ruin her daughter’s life.

Even without Lu Fan, she would never have agreed to such a match.

Bai Shuang was frightened, too. A child, she had never witnessed such a scene before, hiding in Liu Yue’e’s arms, not daring to raise her head.

...

On the bicycle.

After a meal of beef noodles, Bailu grew bolder.

Back astride the bicycle’s top tube, she dared to whisper to Lu Fan.

At times, when their bodies brushed, she blushed, ears and neck flushed with shyness.

Lu Fan pedaled swiftly. Approaching the urban-rural fringe, he noticed some people pointing and whispering about him.

He was puzzled but soon understood upon reaching the lane where the Bai family lived.

Bailu saw the crowd blocking her home and tried to run inside but was pulled back by Lu Fan.

“Bailu, do you trust me?”

Her expression was anxious, but she nodded firmly.

“Since you do, ride your bike to the village entrance and stop a jeep with license plate Jiang A95823, army green. My parents are on their way—should be arriving soon. Once you pick them up, come back. Leave your family matters to me.”

Bailu’s nervous heart steadied as she met Lu Fan’s gaze.

“You must promise me one thing—don’t act rashly, don’t get hurt.”

“Okay! I promise.”

Lu Fan smiled. Though Bailu was inexperienced, her resolve was rare among women.

They parted ways—one pedaling to the village entrance, the other heading into the lane.

Lu Fan pushed through the outer crowd, squeezed inside, and approached the Bai family home.

Several burly men in sleeveless shirts stood there, their greasy arms exposed, cigarettes dangling from their fingers, cursing in local dialect.

One man wore a cow-ear pointed knife at his waist.

Lu Fan sized them up and, from their expressions, recognized that the man with the knife was the very one who would later be flattened by a cart.

That would indeed be one large pancake.

“You’re all pig slaughterers?”

His question stunned them. Before they could answer, Lu Fan stepped forward and drew the cow-ear knife right from the man’s waist.

“Dare you kill someone?”