A Divine Farmer

Chapter 202 - All the Workers Are Sick

Zheng Hong's words were spoken in a fit of anger, but as she turned to leave, Wang Fugui's rage was ignited.

He didn't take her words lightly. To him, it seemed she had fallen under Zhang Xiaolong's spell. Having uttered such a statement, she was surely intent on betraying him.

Many wrongdoings are committed in the heat of the moment, and Wang Fugui was no exception.

“What do you think you're doing?” Zheng Hong exclaimed, startled by the sight of the knife in his hand.

Wang Fugui paused, but then the memory of her calling out that man's name in bed reignited his fury.

“What?” he retorted, glancing from the knife to her face. “You want to cheat on me? I'll disfigure your face, then see if he still wants you!”

“Have you lost your mind, Wang Fugui?” Zheng Hong couldn't believe the man before her, feeling as if she didn't recognize him anymore. “Fine, I won't seek anyone out. I'm leaving, okay? The village chief said nobody can stop me if I decide to go!”

?With that, she turned to gather her belongings, expecting him to relent. But she had forgotten how anger can cloud judgment.

“Don't kid yourself. Leaving just means you're unfaithful to me. I'll mar that seductive face of yours now, and we'll see how you fare then!” With those words, Wang Fugui lunged at her.

Terrified, Zheng Hong tried to scream, but it was too late. The sharp fruit knife slashed across her face, leaving trails of blood.

“Ah…”

Her scream echoed through the village, reaching the ears of Wang Jiutou and his wife.

Fugui's mother was alarmed and prodded her husband urgently. “Something's wrong. We need to check it out now!”

Wang Jiutou was dismissive. “A little noise from a couple is nothing to worry about. We've heard it before. And it wouldn't be proper for me, a father-in-law, to enter my daughter-in-law's room, would it?”

“Are you deaf? Did that sound like what you think it was? It sounded like someone was about to be murdered! Go check it out quickly, or we'll have a disaster on our hands!” Fugui's mother hastily threw on her clothes and dashed out.

She and her husband lived in the east house, while Wang Fugui and his wife occupied the main house to the north. As she burst in, the sight that greeted her nearly made her faint.

“Oh, the horror! Fugui, what have you done? You're going to be the death of us!” Fugui's mother collapsed to the ground, weeping.

Wang Jiutou eventually arrived, alerted by his wife's sobs. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he glanced at the bed. Though he couldn't make out much, the sight of Zheng Hong's bloodied face was unmistakable, leaving him utterly bewildered.

“Red, this is all Fugui's fault. Don't worry, we'll do whatever it takes, even if we have to pawn everything, to get you the treatment you need,” Fugui's mother, realizing the urgency to resolve the issue lest her son face jail time, said. “And we will take care of you for life. If Fugui ever wrongs you again, his father and I will break his legs as penance. Please… please don't report him. He's our only child…”

Zheng Hong seemed to be in a stupor, her eyes blankly staring into the distance. It took her a while to snap back to reality, and then she began to sob uncontrollably.

“You despicable beast, won't you apologize to your wife?” Fugui's mother, seeing her son still stunned, slapped him across the face.

At that moment, Wang Fugui's bravado had faded. Looking at his wife's marred face, he realized the enormity of his mistake. He knelt down, slapping himself on each cheek, “Red, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to… I… From now on, I'll do whatever you say…”

“Get out…” The woman pushed his hand away and spoke with an icy tone, “Get out—all of you, get out!”

…

The following day, Zheng Hong didn't show up for work at the market. Come evening, Lee Xiulian made a special trip to Fugui's house.

“Why didn't Zheng Hong go to work today? Is she feeling unwell or something?” Lee Xiulian asked immediately upon seeing Fugui's mother.

“No…” Fugui's mother evaded the question with an awkward air.

“What's the matter?” Lee Xiulian, with her keen perception, instantly sensed that something was off.

After much hesitation, Fugui's mother finally stammered, “She's gone…”

“Gone? But she was doing so well. Just yesterday, she seemed really happy when I spoke to her, and she appeared eager to settle down in Clear River Village permanently. Why would she just up and leave?” Lee Xiulian expressed her disbelief. “Did Fugui get into another argument with her?”

Fugui's mother faltered, “Yes, Fugui didn't want to farm, and they ended up fighting. In a fit of anger, he lashed out… and his wife was driven away by the beating…”

Lee Xiulian was livid, “You really know how to create a mess. Xiaolong had such a hard time bringing her back, and to ensure her comfort, he even forked over 50,000 yuan. And now, in less than a month, you've chased her away. What are you even thinking? Now that Xiaohong is gone, where will you find such a capable and attractive wife again?”

“I know, I've already scolded him…” Fugui's mother quickly tried to appease her.

“Scolding doesn't help now,” Lee Xiulian retorted, heading for the door. “It seems Fugui really needs to be set straight. Fine, I'm done meddling in your family affairs from now on. You all need to figure it out on your own!”

Once she had left, Fugui's mother went back inside and faced her son and husband with a deep sigh, “What are we going to do now?”

Lee Xiulian didn't waste time sharing the news with Wang Tiehzhu, who also had a few harsh words to say, but with the wife already gone, what could be done?

They decided it wasn't necessary to bother Zhang Xiaolong with such a trivial issue. And as for the 50,000 yuan, they never even considered asking for it back. The matter was over and done with.

Since nobody else brought it up, Zhang Xiaolong wouldn't naturally think about it either. The market was bustling, and with Zheng Hong absent, hardly anyone would notice.

Some time later, when Zhang Xiaolong returned to the orchard, he was delighted to see that the trees were nearly in full bloom. However, his mood changed when he observed the workers. They seemed lethargic, and he could sense that something was off with their health, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

“Ms. Lianzi, have you noticed anything amiss with the folks at the market?” Zhang Xiaolong shared his concerns with Lee Xiulian, wondering if the market workers were experiencing the same issues as those in the orchard.

“I haven't noticed anything unusual,” Lee Xiulian replied, puzzled by the question. “What did you find?”

Zhang Xiaolong realized that his divine powers made him particularly sensitive to people's ailments and their overall well-being, an ability Lee Xiulian lacked.

“I'm not certain yet. I'll check the market later and get everyone together,” he resolved. With the situation at a critical juncture, Zhang Xiaolong had to act fast. If everyone was sick, could it be the onset of an epidemic in the village?