Wang Lingling’s crazed behavior scared quite a few people, even making some of the children cry.
Zhao Jun opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end, he remained silent. His whole demeanor became somber. Such silence was understandable—after all, it was shocking anywhere in the world for one’s wife to push their own mother to death.
The brigade leader sent someone to fetch the militia, intending to send Wang Lingling directly to the township police. They also needed to take care of Old Madam Zhao’s body and wait for the authorities to arrive the next day.
Perhaps sensing her inevitable fate, Wang Lingling, before being taken away, still made sure to drop a bomb on Zhao Jun.
“Eldest brother, second brother, don’t think it was all my idea to split the family. Your third brother was the one who said it to me over the phone.”
Her eyes were filled with malice: “He said you two are useless, that you can’t even provide for your own wives and children. And that he has no obligation to feed your kids. If he hadn’t said that, why would I have insisted on dividing the household? Think about it—he only chose not to split up before because no one was there to take care of his kids. Then he married me and figured I could watch the children, so he stopped tolerating you all.”
Zhao Jun’s voice was icy: “Wang Lingling, even now, you’re still trying to stir things up?”
Wang Lingling laughed heartily. Why shouldn’t she? She was never one to swallow grievances. After two lifetimes, the greatest injustice she had suffered was with Zhao Jun—taking care of his kids and running his household, only to be guarded against, bullied by his mother, and constantly at odds with her sisters-in-law.
Zhao Jun only knew how to walk away. He never dealt with family matters. When the children were wronged, he didn’t help smooth things over but instead told them to come to him—their biological father—for comfort.
Wang Lingling said, “Zhao Jun, now I finally understand why Wang Ying didn’t want you. You’re the type that looks perfect on the surface but is actually the most disgusting.”
Wang Lingling was taken away by the militia. She shed tears. She didn’t know what the road ahead would bring, but she felt she had once again made the wrong choice.
Though Wang Lingling was gone, the words she left behind planted a seed of discord among the Zhao brothers.
Zhao Jun opened his mouth to explain but didn’t know where to begin.
What Wang Lingling had said was, of course, untrue. Zhao Jun might have had selfish thoughts, but he still cared deeply for his brothers and parents. Otherwise, in his previous life, he wouldn’t have avoided splitting the household, and even after becoming successful, he still supported his brothers.
But… but…
Zhao Jun thought back to his past life. The reason they hadn’t split the household back then was because there had been no conflict.
When Wang Ying married into the family, she managed everything neatly and never said a word about the kids or Zhao’s mother, nor did she complain about her sisters-in-law. Zhao Jun had also told the children, just like in this life, that if their stepmother mistreated them, they could call their dad.
Wang Ying must have known about this, because Zhao Jun once overheard their son mention it to her. But Wang Ying didn’t argue with him about it. Instead, she treated the children even better.
Because everything at home was harmonious, Zhao Jun had been able to focus entirely on his career. Naturally, he had no resentment or selfishness. He had worked hard in the army, and after transitioning back to civilian life, he was diligent in his new job.
The only time Wang Ying had ever raised an issue was after he returned to the county and took a small managerial position at the supply and marketing cooperative. She asked him when he would bring her and the children to the county to live with him.
He couldn’t recall how he had answered her back then—just that she hadn’t gotten her wish.
He had never thought much of it. For him, it was natural: the man worked outside, and the woman stayed home to raise the children. Wasn’t that how it was supposed to be?
Zhao Jun had always believed that he was the perfect man.
He never cheated, never raised his hand to hit anyone, and sent Wang Ying her living expenses on time every month. In the beginning, people said Wang Ying had married down—she was a high school graduate, beautiful, and had been sold to Zhao Jun by her cruel uncle and aunt.
But later, people changed their tune and said Wang Ying was lucky. She had married a capable man and was living a good life.
Plenty of young wives in the village regretted missing out on Zhao Jun.
Then Zhao Jun thought of what Wang Lingling had said earlier—how Wang Ying had married Xu Shuang, and that Wang Ying, like her, had been reborn…
Zhao Jun was completely bewildered. He couldn’t make sense of it.
If Wang Ying had really been reborn, then why would she marry someone else?
The more Zhao Jun thought about it, the more his mind drifted. And so, the explanation he should have given never came out. In the eyes of his brothers, this silence only made Wang Lingling’s claims seem more credible.
Just as Zhao Jun came to his senses and was about to speak, his brothers cut him off.
“Third Brother, Dad just passed out from rage. I’m going back to take care of him. You should go home and look after the kids. Tomorrow we’ll discuss how to arrange Mom’s funeral.”
Zhao Jun had just opened his mouth to say he wanted to see their father, but his eldest and second brothers had already turned away, leading their families off to get settled.
Zhao Jun knew all too well—his bond with his brothers was likely beyond repair now.
Zhao Dong was sniffling, while Zhao Xi had cried himself to sleep and was nodding off like a little pecking chick.
Left with no choice, Zhao Jun carried the two children home. Zhao Dong squirmed uncomfortably in his arms. Even though he often talked about his dad, he was very unfamiliar with him. Since birth, Zhao Dong had spent no more than three months total with his father.
Zhao Jun carried the two children into the house, and the moment he entered, he was shocked.
There were several grain sacks scattered across the room, with corn kernels and wheat grains spilled everywhere. There were even two bags of refined flour.
Zhao Jun placed his young daughter on the bed and grabbed his son to ask, “Where did this grain come from?”
Zhao Dong looked a little scared. He shrank his shoulders before replying, “Stepmom bought it.”
Zhao Jun frowned deeply. He had given Wang Lingling a set amount of money. Even if she used it all to buy food, with grain prices skyrocketing these days, there was no way she could have bought this much!
Zhao Dong said softly, “Stepmom also hid some in the kang hole and the cellar. She wouldn’t let me or little sister eat any.”
Zhao Jun went down to the cellar and then uncovered the kang hole. He was utterly stunned.
The grain altogether looked to be at least over 400 jin (about 200 kg).
One must know, even a fully contributing commune member wouldn’t receive this much grain in a year. Let alone now, during a famine.
Zhao Jun felt like his brain was going to explode. What was Wang Lingling trying to do—blow up his life?
Zhao Dong squeezed close to his father’s side and said, “Stepmom said she was going to sell it for money and buy candy for me and little sister.”
Of course, this wasn’t something said recently. It was something Wang Lingling had let slip a few days ago when she still treated Zhao Dong and Zhao Xi like treasures.
Zhao Jun easily pieced everything together.
Of course—only that foolish reincarnator Wang Lingling would do something like this. She had clearly intended to hoard grain during the famine to sell it at high prices later.
Zhao Jun pulled his son aside and carefully questioned him for every detail about Wang Lingling’s actions, fearing there might be other serious things besides the hoarding.
Zhao Dong recounted everything honestly, and Zhao Jun quickly grasped the situation.
It was true Wang Lingling had hoarded grain. She had stored about 300 jin, which matched the money Zhao Jun had given her. The extra portion she brought back was from her parents’ home.
From Zhao Dong, Zhao Jun also learned that Wang Lingling’s family had problems too. Though Wang Lingling never spoke about it, the issues with Wang Yongshun and Li Chunjuan were quite scandalous, and Wang Yaozong’s grave-robbing case was a major one known across several communes. So Zhao Dong knew some of it.
Zhao Jun put aside thoughts of her family and turned his attention back to the grain.
Zhao Dong said that Wang Lingling had brought the grain back only recently. But Zhao Jun knew that couldn’t be true. Even though he wasn’t in the business, he understood that to profit from grain hoarding, one had to buy early and cheap.
That meant Wang Lingling must have started hoarding two to three months ago.
Zhao Jun’s brow furrowed into deep creases.
If Wang Lingling had just hoarded the grain, that was one thing. According to what the child said, she hadn’t sold any yet. If it was just buying and not selling, then it didn’t count as speculation or illegal profiteering.
But if she had partners, or if she was careless and got found out…
Then the matter was serious.
The more Zhao Jun thought, the more uneasy he felt. He kept questioning his son until he was certain—Wang Lingling must have had accomplices.
While Zhao Jun was still lost in thought, Zhao Dong was already feeling wronged.
Dad had come back, the evil stepmother was gone, but Dad didn’t bring him any presents, or candy, or toys. All he did was question him over and over.
Overwhelmed by emotion, the child began to cry.
Zhao Dong sobbed, “Daddy’s mean! I’m hungry and you won’t feed me. Little sister hasn’t eaten since the afternoon either. We’re both just abandoned kids!”
Only then did Zhao Jun realize it was already evening. The oil lamp wasn’t lit, grain was scattered everywhere, and the children hadn’t eaten.
“Stop crying, Daddy will make food.”
Zhao Jun felt ashamed, but he wasn’t the type to apologize to his son. He just stiffly said it and went off to the kitchen.
Cooking by oil lamp, Zhao Jun had no idea where anything was in the house. Just lighting the stove took him a long time. There was only one egg at home, which he boiled and split between the two kids.
The stove was filthy too. Wang Lingling had eaten noodles and hadn’t washed the pot. Zhao Jun scrambled around, doing this and that.
After much effort, he finally made two bowls of mixed grain porridge. The kids found it disgusting and refused to eat.
Zhao Jun tasted it too—and found it terrible. But it was still food, so he forced down over a bowl’s worth. Then he added a bit of sesame oil to the rest and coaxed the kids to finish.
After that chaotic dinner, he shoved the kids into bed without even washing them and spent the night on the kang himself.
