Lin Wanning, on her way to the supply and marketing cooperative, never imagined that there were several pairs of eager eyes watching her from the corners.
She just strode forward. At the crossroads, Lin Wanning cautiously stopped to take a look around.
But just as she took a step forward, a speeding bicycle rushed towards her head - on.
Just as it was about to hit her, her hand was suddenly grabbed back by a thick and fleshy palm.
It took her a while to steady herself. When she looked back, she saw a middle - aged plump aunt.
Before she could say a word, the plump aunt started scolding, "Little girl, you're only concerned about looking good, right? Don't you know to watch out for cars?"
"Watch where you're going. Such a beautiful face would be such a pity if it got disfigured."
Although the plump aunt was scolding, her eyes were full of concern. She bent down to check if Lin Wanning's legs were injured.
"Ouch, my goodness, it's bleeding."
"Come on, someone, come on! You young men over there, come and help quickly. Someone's injured."
Lin Wanning, who had just recovered from the excessive shock, only then realized that her calf was cut.
Blood was slowly dripping down her calf. A piercing pain spread from the wound bit by bit.
The pain was so intense that Lin Wanning plopped down on the ground. The plump aunt beside her shouted at the top of her voice to the young men across the street.
But those young men not only didn't come to help but also cursed and spat before leaving directly.
Seeing this, Lin Wanning had a bad feeling.
The plump aunt was also puzzled. "What are these people doing? They see someone injured but don't come to help. Instead, they curse. How could there be such scoundrels?"
"A bunch of parasites of socialism. I'd better not find out which street they're from. If I do, I'll break their legs."
After saying that, the plump aunt immediately put Lin Wanning's arm on her shoulder. "Girl, bear with it."
"The hospital is just ahead. Auntie will help you walk there. Bite your lip and bear it."
With great difficulty, Lin Wanning got to the hospital. The plump aunt took out a handkerchief and handed it to her. "Wipe the sweat off. I'll go register for you first and then contact your family."
Lin Wanning nodded in agreement, enduring the pain.
Thankfully, the doctor came quickly. They deftly disinfected Lin Wanning's wound and gave her a tetanus shot.
Just as Lin Wanning was being stung by the disinfectant and tightly clutching the plump aunt, shouting in pain, Zhou Huaian rushed in, out of breath.
Sweating profusely, he squatted down. When he saw the wound, the anger in his eyes was almost overflowing.
"Riding a bike and hitting someone, and even cutting their leg. This was obviously on purpose."
"Yes, I also felt something was off about those people. There were about four or five young men across the street at that time. I called them over to help, thinking we could take turns carrying the girl to the hospital."
"But those young men not only didn't help but also cursed at me and spat at me. At that time, I was only worried about the girl's wound and didn't think that those people were deliberately trying to harm her."
The plump aunt stamped her feet angrily as she spoke. "I'll go back and ask later. These good - for - nothing hooligans, I'll definitely catch them and give them a good education."
After some conversation, Lin Wanning learned that this plump aunt was the director of the Women's Federation of that street.
She was quite grateful in her heart. She didn't even dare to think about what would have happened if the plump aunt hadn't grabbed her back. Maybe it would have been a different part of her body that was injured.
"Based on the position when you were hit by the bike, it's very likely that the knife would have cut your neck. But the cyclist didn't expect that the plump aunt would suddenly pull you back, which is why the knife cut your leg."
"The reason those people cursed the plump aunt was that she disrupted their plan."
"And they had so many people standing by, which clearly shows that they were trying to disrupt the scene."
Zhou Huaian was a former scout. He could see through such petty tricks at a glance.
After saying that, he ordered Xiao Zhao, who was following him, "You arrange for people to arrest them. I'll stay here and take care of things for now."
The plump aunt also quickly offered to help. Since the incident happened in the street under her jurisdiction, she must get rid of this cancer.
After everyone left, Zhou Huaian lovingly placed Lin Wanning's leg on his own.
"Does it hurt?"
Seeing the overwhelming concern in Zhou Huaian's eyes, Lin Wanning bit her lip and shook her head repeatedly.
"It doesn't hurt. The wound isn't serious enough to need stitches. Don't worry too much."
"How can I not worry? If it weren't for that aunt..."
He didn't dare to say the rest of the sentence.
"It's okay. I'll be fine in a few days. I just find it very strange. I've never seen those people before."
"The Gu family owes a huge debt, and they don't know where I am now. So it definitely wasn't them who sent those people to harm me."
Lin Wanning could tell that those people weren't after her bag or money. Coupled with Zhou Huaian's analysis just now.
She was certain that it was very likely that someone had paid those people to take her life.
"I know they must have been instructed by someone. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so united." Zhou Huaian had already keenly sensed that something was very wrong with this matter.
But like Lin Wanning, he couldn't figure out who Lin Wanning had offended.
And who would have the audacity to openly pay to buy a life?
"Don't worry about this. I'll definitely find out the truth and give you an explanation."
Zhou Huaian touched the back of Lin Wanning's head with lingering fear. "We won't go out these days. Just stay at home."
"I must ensure that you see your parents safely."
"Okay." Lin Wanning nodded, still a bit scared.
"I was going to buy some cotton - padded clothes..."
Before Lin Wanning could finish her sentence, a shrill scolding voice came from the corridor.
"You good - for - nothing. You eat your parents' food but are reluctant to abort the seed of the 'black element', right?"
"I'm telling you today. You have to abort this baby today. I've already accepted the Liu family's betrothal gifts. This bastard can't stay."
"If it weren't for the fact that you're my own daughter, I would have stepped on your belly at home. I wouldn't have wasted this money on an abortion."
"Mom... Mom, I'm begging you, I'm begging you. Don't do this..."
"Don't... This is Zhiyuan's child. I won't abort it. Mom, let go of me. I'm begging you..."
One scolding after another was mixed with heart - rending cries for help.
At first, Lin Wanning didn't feel much, because in this era, as long as one was associated with the "black element", it was like being nailed to the pillar of shame.
This phenomenon was normal in this era. After all, no one wanted to be associated with such a despised identity.
But just now, Lin Wanning heard the name "Zhiyuan".
Her heart suddenly tightened. "Did that woman just say it was Zhiyuan's child?"
"Yes. I was just about to say that Zhiyuan is your elder brother, right? Didn't your sister - in - law go to the countryside with him? It must be someone with the same name."
"My elder brother and sister - in - law got a fake divorce so that my sister - in - law could come back early. Because my sister - in - law is in poor health and pregnant, they had no choice but to use a fake divorce to draw a clear line and arranged for her to stay at her parents' house."