Chapter 135 - 134: Third Master’s Gun
"Mom, Sister-in-law, don’t just stand here staring at each other. Let’s go inside to talk!"
"Oh, right, right! It’s cold out here. Come on, come on, let’s go inside!"
Zhao Wendong, holding the big brown horse’s reins, looked at Lin Zhiyin.
"I’m going to return the horse and sleigh first. Do you want to come with me or wait for me at home?"
Lin Zhiyin replied immediately without hesitation.
"I’ll go with you!"
Then, she smiled politely at Chen Yanmei and the others.
"Auntie, Sister-in-law, I’m going with Wendong to return the sleigh. We’ll be back in a little while."
"Okay, okay, you two go on. Be careful!"
Chen Yanmei’s smile was so wide her eyes nearly disappeared, her face filled with loving affection.
Song Xiaoyu also nodded in satisfaction. ’The third brother really found a perfect one!’
Lin Zhiyin wrapped her face up again, and the two of them led the horse and sleigh toward Third Master Zhao’s house.
’Ah, I’m finally going home.’
The big brown horse had also had a rough few days. Seeing that it was going home, it let out a happy thought. Zhao Wendong patted its rump. Man and horse were getting along well now; the big brown horse had grown much more familiar and comfortable with him.
"Why did you come with me to return the horse? You could have just gone home to wait!"
Zhao Wendong deliberately teased Lin Zhiyin. She shot him a look and snorted coldly.
"I was afraid you’d get lost on your own."
"Oh, so I should be thanking you, then?"
"Don’t mention it!"
After their brief spat, Lin Zhiyin suddenly looked at Zhao Wendong.
"Zhao Wendong, I’m sorry!"
Zhao Wendong slowed his pace, a look of surprise on his face.
"Why are you apologizing to me?"
"I should have kept my scarf on today, then I wouldn’t have caused this trouble. That fatty’s family is powerful and influential. If it comes to it, just don’t worry about me. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make their whole family..."
Lin Zhiyin trailed off, tears already welling in her eyes. She had already given up on her past and just wanted her parents to be healthy and to live a peaceful life. ’Why is that so hard!’
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Zhao Wendong cut her off, feeling both pained and moved. ’It took so much effort to stabilize the situation with Lin Zhiyin’s parents and keep her from going down the same path as her last life. But now Fatty Li’s family has shown up and pushed her to these desperate thoughts again.’
"Lin Zhiyin, you remember this: being beautiful is not your fault. If being beautiful means you can’t even be safe, then that’s everyone else’s fault!"
"Since I’m your man, I get to enjoy the envy and pride that comes with your excellence. That means I also have to bear the risks and troubles it brings. This is men’s business, you don’t need to worry about it. If the sky falls, I’ll be here to hold it up!"
As Zhao Wendong spoke, murderous intent flared in his heart again. ’I’ve been thinking for a long time about how to deal with the Li Family. After all this time, a clean sweep still seems like the only permanent solution. How would I do it? What arrangements would I need to make afterward to ensure my family gets through the next few years? And where would I go after that?’
For a moment, his mind was a mess. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice they had arrived at Third Master Zhao’s house and was about to walk right past it when the big brown horse stopped dead in its tracks.
’Where are you going? We’re home.’
The thought jolted Zhao Wendong back to reality. Pushing the matter to the back of his mind, he guided the horse and sleigh into Third Master Zhao’s courtyard. Hearing the noise, Third Master Zhao came out to check. When he saw it was Zhao Wendong, a smile broke out on his face.
"So it’s you, you little rascal, you’re back."
"Yeah. Third Master, you should go back inside. It’s cold out. I can unhitch the sleigh myself."
Once the big brown horse was settled back in Third Master’s shed, Zhao Wendong and Lin Zhiyin didn’t leave right away. They stayed to chat with Third Master Zhao. Old folks always enjoy a bit of company, especially an old bachelor like him.
"Well, I’ll be! This girl is gorgeous! I used to think you weren’t good enough for Dongzi, but now I think Dongzi’s not nearly good enough for you!"
Seeing Lin Zhiyin with her scarf off, Third Master Zhao slapped his thigh with a look of great pity. Zhao Wendong glared at the old man, who paid him no mind.
"What are you looking at? With Lin Zhiqing’s looks, couldn’t she be an official’s wife and live a life of luxury? Being stuck here with a stinky brat like you, isn’t that a total waste of her potential?"
Those words made Zhao Wendong’s blood boil.
"Don’t even start. We ran into a pair of dumbass father and son today. Fucking hell!"
"What happened? Tell me everything."
Third Master Zhao’s expression turned serious as he listened carefully to Zhao Wendong recount the day’s events.
After hearing the whole story, he fell silent in thought for a long moment. He glanced first at Lin Zhiyin’s expression, then knocked his long-stemmed pipe.
"Lin Zhiqing, this has nothing to do with you. Don’t take it to heart. In life, how can you not run into some bumps in the road? Happiness feels like happiness because you have to experience hardship to truly appreciate it."
After speaking, he turned to Zhao Wendong, his expression grave.
"Dongzi, since you’ve chosen Lin Zhiqing, she’s already a daughter-in-law of our Dragon King Pond. Since ancient times, there’s no tradition of a man handing his wife over to someone else. Not even if the Heavenly King himself came knocking!"
"This isn’t the old society anymore. That Li Guangming can’t stir up that much trouble. I’ll go find your Uncle Weiguo in a bit and we’ll help you figure out a plan. I always knew he was a piece of work, but I didn’t expect his son to be just as rotten!"
Zhao Wendong was taken aback by his words.
"Third Master, you know him?"
"Heh, Li Dalian? Everyone from the older generation knows him. When he was young, he married the daughter of a high-ranking Japanese official. Later, when the winds changed, he acted fast, had both the Japanese official and his wife arrested, and got himself an ’activist’ title. Then he married his current wife. Some relative of this wife is an Old Comrade, which is how he’s been able to keep eating and drinking well. In the past few years, he’s been the one leading the home raids in the county. The way he’s gotten fat and rich, he must be corrupt as hell. A guy like that deserves to be shot a hundred times over."
Zhao Wendong’s heart sank even further. ’No wonder he’s so brazen. Turns out he’s a professional at marrying into powerful families and living off his wives. Looks like I have to prepare for the worst.’ Zhao Wendong’s eyes narrowed slightly once more.
They say with age comes wisdom. Third Master Zhao easily saw what Zhao Wendong was thinking. He patted his hand, signaling for him to stay calm.
"Don’t be rash, Dongzi. The more trouble you’re in, the calmer you need to be. And don’t you worry. Li Dalian might have some pull in the county, but here in Dragon King Pond, he’s nothing. If someone really wanted to put a bullet in him, it wouldn’t be your turn. These old bones of mine have lived long enough. Trading my life for his whole family wouldn’t be a loss. You remember that, Dongzi!"
Third Master Zhao gripped Zhao Wendong’s hand tightly, his expression more solemn than ever before.
"You have a bright future now. You are the future of Dragon King Pond. You carry the lives of your whole family, Lin Zhiqing’s family, Er Gouzi’s family, Zhao Lao Nian’s family, and all the men, women, and children of this village on your shoulders! Anyone can help you solve this problem, but you can’t be the one to do it yourself."
"I’m still waiting for you to lead everyone in the village to a good life, free from hunger and cold!"
Zhao Wendong’s body trembled slightly, and his eyes reddened. He was too choked up to speak, and could only nod forcefully, a heavy sound escaping his nose.
"Mhm!"
Seeing this, Third Master Zhao smiled.
"Heh, that’s more like it. The sky won’t fall! Back then, even the Japanese couldn’t do anything to our Dragon King Pond. What the hell is one Li Dalian?"
"Go on home. Live your good life with Lin Zhiqing. And over the next couple of days, give the militia a good training. It’s time to drill our Dragon King Pond’s own unit."
"Got it!"
After Zhao Wendong left with Lin Zhiyin, Third Master Zhao slowly got off his heated brick-bed. From a worn-out cabinet, he took out a wooden box. He opened it to reveal a Mauser pistol. His hand stroked the gun lightly as a cold sneer crossed his face. ’This gun has taken the lives of several Japanese. What’s a few more?’ He took the pistol out and tucked it inside his coat. First, Third Master Zhao added some more feed for the big brown horse, then he set off with short steps towards Zhao Weiguo’s house.
On the way home, Zhao Wendong’s mind was heavy.
Even though this was his second life, he had spent his entire previous life stuck in the village, learning about the outside world only through limited means. ’Third Master Zhao said I can lead the whole village through the lean years and to a better life... can I really do that?’ But analyzing the situation, he could hear the thoughts of animals, and he had the experience of two lifetimes. ’Third Master Zhao isn’t wrong. I am the one most likely to be able to lead the village through the lean years and to a better life.’
He had never considered himself a saint, nor did he want to be some great hero. He had no desire to meddle in the affairs of others. All he wanted was to take good care of his family, to provide for them, to make sure they wouldn’t suffer the same tragic end as in his last life, but could live happily for their entire lives instead.
To say his character was one to "repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring" would be an exaggeration. Zhao Wendong had summed it up himself: he would simply help those who had been kind to him, within his abilities. But there was one thing he was very sure of: ’I will not attack unless I am attacked. But if I am attacked, I will tear them out by the roots!’
If the Li father and son behaved themselves and didn’t provoke him again, he could consider letting them off the hook. But from the looks of it now, they clearly didn’t take him seriously in the slightest. It was inevitable they would come looking for trouble again. Zhao Wendong remained silent as various plans flashed through his mind.
Lin Zhiyin suddenly drew near, looping her arm through Zhao Wendong’s and resting her head on his shoulder.
"No matter what you do or where you go... can you take me with you, Zhao Wendong."