Dahe Village had a total of three wells.
One was at the head of the village, one at the end, and the Li Zheng's house also had one.
But now, only the well at the head of the village still had water, and no one knew when it would dry up.
Most people in the village came to fetch water during the day, but a few households also came at night. There were no rules about how much water each family could take, nor were there any rules stating that if you fetched water at night, you couldn't come again the next day.
Everyone understood that Zhang Wulai clearly wanted to cause trouble for the two Zhao family boys.
Zhao Ergou gritted his teeth and said, "Li Zheng hasn't said anything yet, what right do you have to stop us from fetching water?"
Zhang Wulai sneered, lifting his foot to kick the water bucket next to Zhao Ergou's feet, sending it rolling. "What right? Just the right that your family uses too much water and delays me, your great master."
The water bucket clattered as it rolled away.
Zhao Sanniu, like a young calf, charged towards Zhang Wulai.
Zhang Wulai grabbed his collar, raising a hand to strike him.
"Stop!"
Cheng Luanluan's cold yet clear voice rang out.
The crowd parted, forming a path for Cheng Luanluan to pass through.
With one hand, she pulled Zhao Sanniu back, shielding him behind her. "Is your important business to bully us, orphans and widows?"
"Who could bully you?" Zhang Wulai scoffed. "You damn well snatched my three- or four-catty rabbit! You dared to take something from my hands, so don't blame me for not letting your family use water."
Cheng Luanluan gave a cold laugh. "Are your Zhang family children the only ones allowed to snatch things from others, and others aren't allowed to take them back? That rabbit was found and caught by my Sidan, but your Zhang Dagang snatched it away, injuring Sidan's wrist and tearing his clothes. I haven't even settled that score properly with your Zhang family yet, and you dare to kick over my family's water bucket?"
Zhang Wulai was idle and lazy, and not well-liked in the village.
As soon as Cheng Luanluan spoke, someone chimed in to agree.
"It's not just that! A few days ago, Zhang Dagang snatched wild vegetables from my grandson's hands."
"Last year, Zhang Dagang and his friends secretly stole radish plants, and I caught them several times. That child is just like his father, only knows how to cause trouble for the village."
"Before, Sister-in-law Zhao just cursed loudly and wailed, I never expected her to be able to speak such a long, coherent sentence fluently today."
"Sister-in-law Zhao is absolutely right. After all, she's a mother; what mother wouldn't protect her children?"
"..."
Pointed at by the villagers, Zhang Wulai turned red with anger. "Zhao Chengshi, don't think that just because you're a woman, I wouldn't dare hit you."
Cheng Luanluan thrust her head forward. "Here, come hit me! The other day, my elder brother hit me and split my head open. I made him compensate me with a chicken and a few catties of meat. I know your Zhang family is poor, so just give me a few catties of rice. Hurry up, hit me! Once there's a record, just pay a few catties of rice and it'll be over."
She took a few steps forward, and Zhang Wulai uncontrollably retreated.
In the village, his reputation was very poor, but Sister-in-law Zhao's reputation wasn't much better, which was why he dared to openly pick a fight.
As long as the villagers didn't help Elder Sister Zhao, he was sure he could carve a piece of flesh off this woman. He didn't expect her to play her cards unconventionally; first, she reasoned, then she suddenly went mad and offered up her own head. If he really smashed this woman's head, being cursed behind his back by the villagers would be a small matter, but what about compensation for grain? His family didn't have any surplus grain.
But the woman was extremely ruthless. If she habitually cried and made a ruckus, and then hanged herself on a rope in front of his house, then it would all be completely over for him.
"Zhang Wulai, you've gone too far! You've bullied children, and now you're bullying women. You really are... do you even deserve what's between your legs?"
Among the crowd, Zhao Fugui spoke up.