Jin Ping, who was guarding the door, was startled and instinctively ran. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, her leg was grabbed. She looked back in horror and saw Qi Zhenzhen staring at her with a half-smile in the moonlight. Her wrist was held by Qi Zhenzhen, and pain shot through it intermittently.
Zhang Er Niu came out of the east room with a fire starter. "Miss Qi, they've all been tied up."
Qi Zhenzhen pushed Jin Ping forward. Jin Ping stumbled a few steps and fell face-first.
"Brother Zhang Er, tie up another one. I have one more in my room, I knocked her down," Qi Zhenzhen said without hesitation.
Zhang Er Niu picked up Jin Ping as if she were a chick. "Alright, I'll tie this one up and then deal with the other."
All five people were tied up securely. Qi Zhenzhen yawned and said, "It's so late today, let's throw them in the storage room for now. Tomorrow morning, we'll invite the village head to resolve this matter."
It was unrealistic to make a scene late at night, and resolving it tomorrow morning would be the same.
Although the five people were tied tightly and gagged, Madam Yu and her husband, fearing an accident, suggested staying at the Qi family's house.
Qi Yi followed Qi Zhenzhen to her room. Madam Yu slept with Madam Yun, and the two men slept in Qi Yi's room.
As soon as dawn broke, Qi Zhenzhen got up to cook. Rice porridge, steamed buns, and pickled cabbage were served. After everyone ate, Madam Yu and her husband went to invite the village head and elders. Zhang Er Niu, meanwhile, dragged the five people into the yard.
The stench of excrement and urine was overwhelming and disgusting.
The five people's faces were all grim, and Jin Ping still had vomit on her.
Indeed, being tied up, they had to hold it in if they needed to relieve themselves. If they couldn't hold it, they had to do it on the spot. Five people, how could the smell be light? When Zhang Er Niu opened the storage room door just now, he almost gagged.
Uncle Song Er and Aunt Song Er twisted their bodies with all their might, their faces filled with fear.
It was over, all over. Not only did they fail to achieve their goal, but they were also tied up. They could almost foresee what would happen next. They would become objects of scorn in the village, and they might not even be able to stay in the village. At their age, with a foolish son, where could they go?
Jin Ping was also scared. What she thought was a sure thing, now...
Jin Ping suddenly remembered her husband. He was honest and upright, and he always went along with her. But why wasn't she content? Why didn't she live her life properly with him? If this incident were to be known by him, Jin Ping dared not imagine...
People were quickly summoned, led by the village head and several elders. Among them, the village head's uncle was accompanied by Song Yan.
Madam Yu and her husband had already explained the whole story in detail. Village Head Song's face was grim. He couldn't believe these people had such audacity. If it weren't for the Qi family girl's good luck in encountering Jin Ping stealthily administering the drug, wouldn't all this have been ruined? The Qi family mother and daughter would have been ruined, and the future of Xinghua Village that everyone looked forward to would also have been ruined.
Zhang Er Niu pulled out the gags from the mouths of the five people. Song Dongsheng cried out, "Dad, Mom, where's the pretty wife? I want a pretty wife, I want to get naked, I want to kiss..."
The wives who came to work also arrived one after another. Seeing a crowd gathered at the Qi family's house, they dared not make a sound. Madam Yu called them to work in the side rooms and briefly mentioned that Jin Ping had played a dirty trick and done something indecent. Several women looked relieved, feeling fortunate that their relationship with Jin Ping was not close, otherwise, they might have been implicated.
"Dongsheng, elder brother asks you, why are you here?" Village Head Song looked at his mentally deranged cousin and, suppressing some of his anger, asked calmly.
"You're foolish, I already said there's a pretty wife."
His daughter-in-law had told him that morning that his good second uncle's family was caught in Madam Yun's room. Therefore, the pretty wife was Madam Yun. This was to make his foolish cousin defile Madam Yun and then threaten Zhenzhen. The motive? Naturally, it was the pickled cabbage business that was too eye-catching. They were envious and wanted to control it.
"Nephew Qingcheng, listen to me. We were just momentarily confused, just momentarily confused. It was that little vixen who had ill intentions and came to instigate your second uncle. If she hadn't instigated him, why would your second uncle have done this?" Aunt Song Er cried with a runny nose and tears, glaring fiercely at Jin Ping. If it weren't for her, how could their family have suffered this?
Uncle Song Er also knew that if he confessed his mistakes properly now and pushed all the blame onto Jin Ping, their punishment would be less.
"Qingcheng, your second aunt is right. I was just momentarily blinded and let Jin Ping take advantage of the situation. She came to my door a few days ago and proposed this plan. I was truly confused and did this. Please beg for mercy for your second uncle and let us go. We will definitely be honest from now on," Uncle Song Er also pleaded.
Jin Ping glanced at the Song couple, a mocking smile curling her lips. "Did I hold a knife to your necks, or did I drug you? This aphrodisiac was given to me by Elder Song. Why is it all my fault when something goes wrong? Your ability to speak nonsense with your eyes open is superb. Do you really think I, Jin Ping, am easy to bully?"
The dogs biting each other, with fur flying. Caught red-handed, they would instinctively shift the blame. All five of them had come to the Qi family, so no one could escape.
"Where is Da Hei?" Village Head Song swept his gaze over Da Hei, who looked like a dead dog, and asked with a frown. Da Hei was usually involved in petty theft. Village Head Song wasn't surprised that Da Hei was involved in the Qi family's affair. What was strange was that Da Hei had always been a troublemaker. Even when caught doing bad deeds, he was defiant. Why was he so obedient today? His mouth wasn't gagged, and he hadn't even made a sound.
Da Hei's eyes were vacant. When the village head called his name, a flicker of spirit appeared in his eyes. "Where's my mother?"
"What mother? I'm asking you, why did you come to the Qi family?"
"Come to the Qi family?" Da Hei repeated. "Qi Zhenzhen bullied my mother and my younger brother, so I came to sleep with her to vent my anger for my mother and brother. Unfortunately, I didn't succeed, and I won't be able to sleep anymore. I've failed my mother, and I've failed my ancestors of the Ding family..."
Da Hei started crying.
Everyone present changed their expressions. The Qi family girl was still a child, and Ding Da Hei was so shameless. Thinking of Da Hei's past actions, everyone present despised him.
"My lower body is numb, my equipment doesn't work anymore, I've become a cripple..." Ding Da Hei wailed.
Become a cripple?
Village Head Song finally realized something was wrong. The other four people were twisting and trying to break free from the ropes, but only Da Hei remained still.
Song Yan stepped forward and kicked Da Hei's leg. Da Hei glared at him with fierce eyes. His lower body was indeed motionless.
"Grandpa Village Head, I hit him," Qi Zhenzhen said timidly. "He broke into my room last night..."
The young girl hesitated, her face filled with lingering fear, making people feel sympathetic.
Madam Yu stepped forward and pulled her into her arms. "Don't be afraid, Zhenzhen. Your Grandpa Village Head is here. He will uphold justice for you. No one who tries to bully your family will get away with it."