Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 75 Schemed Against by the Closest Person

Zhai Qingming saw them from afar, came over to greet them, and said in a low voice.

"What's wrong with Qingming? When did you start talking like that?"

Zhang Changyao, finding it inconvenient to carry the package, bumped into Zhai Qingming with his body.

"Changyao, there are some things I can't tell you. You'll find out when you get home."

Zhai Qingming looked around furtively, then shouldered his four-pronged rake and left.

No wonder the old folks say that a man forgets his mother after he marries a wife.

Zhai Qingming's personality has completely changed since he got married.

That guy used to be like a hothead, always yelling at the top of his lungs if he had something on his mind.

Now look at her again, she's like a woman, all pretentious and afraid to speak, hiding everything behind her back.

Zhang Changyao glanced at Zhai Qingming's retreating figure with his lips and complained about his change.

"Zhang Changyao, I have a feeling something terrible has happened to our family."

Normally, Zhai Qingming wouldn't speak like that.

"Hurry back, something might have happened to your father and Zhao Xiulan!"

Yang Wuni, being a woman, had a strong premonition.

Ignoring Zhang Changyao, she jogged over, pushed open the wooden gate, and entered her own yard.

"Zhang Changyao, Dad, Aunt Xiulan, where are my chestnut horse and foal?"

Yang Wuni looked at the entrance to her little house, which was clean and tidy, without a single blade of grass.

He didn't know who to ask as he searched for his chestnut horse and foal.

"Wu Ni, don't worry, maybe your father is taking her for a walk."

Zhang Changyao entered the courtyard and placed the things on the kang (a heated brick bed) inside the house.

He pulled Yang Wuni into the house to prevent her from getting angry before she had asked clearly what had happened.

"Zhang Changyao, I feel something's not right. Even if Dad is just taking a walk, he shouldn't have tidied up the grass in the yard so thoroughly, right?"

No, I have to go ask your father and Zhao Xiulan.

"These two have somehow taken my chestnut horse somewhere."

Yang Wuni shook off Zhang Changyao's hand and walked a few steps to the door of the main house.

Looking at the locked door and the three-roller cart in the yard, he leaned against the wall, at a loss.

"Wu Ni, don't worry, Dad and Aunt Xiulan haven't gone out. Look, the three-wheeled cart is still at home."

You go back to your room and lie down for a while. I'll go wander around the village and see where they are.

I'll bring the chestnut horse back as soon as I see it. Don't rush, be good.

"We've walked so far, my son is tired. Let him sleep for a while."

Zhang Changyao stroked Yang Wuni's belly, coaxing and cajoling her to go inside and rest.

He wandered around the house for a while but didn't see Zhang Kaiju and Zhao Xiulan, so he had to go into the village to ask.

Since there were none in the village, Zhang Changyao had no choice but to go to Zhang Changguang's house to look for them.

Before even entering the courtyard, laughter could be heard coming from inside the house; it was the voices of Sui Yumi and Zhao Xiulan.

Zhang Changyao's heart tightened. He didn't go inside, but instead searched for the chestnut horse in the yard.

"Changguang, Yumi, you two need to keep your mouths shut."

Father is doing all this for your own good, so don't betray your father.

Changyao and his wife are going to get treatment and will be back in a few days.

We need to keep our stories consistent and avoid making mistakes.

Nobody in the village knows about this, as long as we keep it to ourselves.

"Even if the Heavenly King himself came, there would be no way to stop him." Zhang Kaiju's voice came from inside the house.

"Dad, don't worry! Changguang and I aren't stupid."

You and Aunt Xiulan did this for me and Zhang Changguang.

"We can't take advantage and then act innocent, would that even make us human?" Zhang Kaiju responded with a cheeky grin.

"Corn, your dad protects your family, so you can't abandon us when you get old."

It's not that we're biased; it's just that Changyao's wife's illness is difficult to cure.

If she doesn't come back alive, Changyao will be left with no one to marry after his divorce.

"When that time comes, we'll send him out to earn money to help support your family."

Zhao Xiulan's words chilled Zhang Changyao, who was outside the house.

He never imagined that the people closest to him in the house were conspiring to scheme against him.

He didn't want to listen anymore; he just wanted to find the chestnut horse quickly, lead it back, and then make further plans.

However, there was no chestnut horse or foal in the yard, only two donkeys grazing with their heads down.

"Father, elder brother, where are our chestnut horse and foal?"

Left with no other option, Zhang Changyao had to bite the bullet and go inside to ask.

"Hey! Changyao, when did you get back? Where's Wuni?"

"Hurry up and eat some donkey meat dumplings, they're still hot."

Feeling guilty, Zhao Xiulan quickly got up and made room for Zhang Changyao.

"Changyao, I'll go wash the dishes for you right away. You, Dad, and your older brother can have a drink to warm up."

After checking that no one was behind Zhang Changyao, Sui Yumi put the child down and went to wash the dishes for Zhang Changyao.

"My son, eat first, and I'll explain everything to you in detail later."

Zhang Kaiju took a sip of wine, his brows furrowed and his face full of worry.

Only Zhang Changguang remained silent, his gaze darting away, avoiding Zhang Changyao's eyes.

"I won't eat, Dad. Where's the chestnut horse? I want to take it back to feed it."

Zhang Changyao stubbornly leaned against the door frame, refusing to sit at the table to eat.

"My son, don't be anxious. This matter can't be explained in just a few words."

"Eat your food first, I'll tell you what happened in a bit."

Zhang Kaiju took the bowl and chopsticks from Sui Yumi's hand and placed them on the table for Zhang Changyao to eat first.

"Dad, what's wrong? Tell me first, how can I eat if you don't tell me?"

Zhang Changyao sat on the edge of the kang at the end of the kang, staring at Zhang Kaiju, waiting for him to speak.

Zhang Kaiju took another sip of wine, put down the wine cup, picked up a dumpling, and took a bite.

He smacked his lips slowly, but showed no intention of speaking.

"Dad, are you trying to drive me crazy? Why can't you just say what's on your mind?"

Zhang Changyao sat up straight, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Changyao, don't pressure your father. He feels guilty towards you but doesn't know how to bring it up."

You and Wu Ni went to the hospital, and your father and I drove a horse-drawn carriage to visit some neighbors. You know that.

When I got back, everything was fine, and it wasn't too late.

We went to Pengsheng's house for dinner, and after dinner, we played cards for a while.

When your dad and I got home, guess what happened?

Zhao Xiulan paused for a moment, then slapped her thigh and asked Zhang Changyao.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Changyao sensed that something was amiss.

"Our front door was wide open, but the chestnut horse and the foal were gone."

Zhao Xiulan clapped her hands, looking helpless.

"Dad, Aunt Xiulan, do you mean the chestnut horse and the foal ran away?" Zhang Changyao didn't believe it.

"My dear son, I don't know if he ran away or was stolen."

Your Aunt Xiulan and I searched all night, but we couldn't find a trace of it.

If you ask me, it must have been stolen. Otherwise, how could it have run away when I tied it up so securely?

Someone must have had their eye on your chestnut horse for a long time.

They took advantage of the fact that you and Wu Ni weren't home this time to make their move.