“The child needs care, why don't you stay home?”
Chen Lishu shook her head. “How can I sit still after such a big incident? I brought back formula, I’ll just tell Mom later.”
Their hands moved quickly, and soon they were dressed, put on hats and scarves. Outside, Gu Shoufu had also dressed and, after informing Li Xiulan, the group got into a horse-drawn carriage and headed towards the town.
Chen Baozhu and Liu Xiaobao fled down the mountain. They parted ways at the foot of the mountain.
It was impossible to stay in the village, so Chen Baozhu planned to go home first to pack some things, take some money, and then hide at a relative's house for a while.
Anyway, it was pitch dark, and no one knew who did it. It would be best if that Lin fellow died, then there would be no witnesses.
Upon returning from Chen Mantun's house and finding Chen Baozhu missing, they assumed he had sneaked out to gamble again. Chen Mancang and Zhang Chunhua had a huge argument.
Unexpectedly, they heard movement in the house in the middle of the night. Thinking it was a thief, the couple quickly got up to check.
When they turned on the light and saw Chen Baozhu, Chen Mancang was furious.
“You little bastard, where have you been again? You still think the family has enough money for you to lose? Do you have any heart?”
Chen Mancang made a move to strike, but the next second, the scene he saw made him freeze in place.
“Baozhu!” Zhang Chunhua exclaimed and rushed forward to check. “What happened to you? Why so much blood?”
Chen Baozhu impatiently pushed her away, then adjusted and tied the bundle in his hand. “It’s not my blood. I killed someone and I’m going to my uncle’s house to hide for a couple of days. If anyone asks, you just say I left in the evening.”
“Killed, killed someone? Who did you kill? Don't joke with Mom, is there anything that would lead to killing someone?”
The couple felt their heads buzz. Zhang Chunhua’s vision went black, and she even lost the strength to stand.
“Liu Xiaobao and I went up the mountain to steal a pig. Lin Dazhong, that bastard, wouldn't let it go. So I stabbed him twice. Stop dawdling and give me some money.”
“Is that Baozhu back?” Chen Laotai heard the noise and came out wearing a coat. Seeing her eldest grandson, she immediately walked over happily.
“Why are you coming back so late, child? Are you hungry?” When she got closer and saw the bloodstains on him, she was startled and quickly grabbed him to examine him. “What happened? Who dared to touch my eldest grandson? I’ll fight them to the death!”
“Enough!” Chen Baozhu pushed her away. “I’m annoyed. Give me some money.”
“Yes, Grandma still has some money. Wait here, I’ll get it for you.” Chen Laotai dared not say more seeing him like this, so she quickly turned and went back into the house to retrieve over a hundred yuan hidden in her pillow. This was her savings for old age, and she would never touch it unless absolutely necessary. Now, seeing the situation, helping her eldest grandson was more important.
“What exactly is going on? If you’re injured, we need to go to the hospital immediately. We can’t delay this. What a disaster, for no reason…”
As she was feeling distressed, Chen Baozhu snatched the money from her hand and strode out of the house without looking back.
“How can you not care about your child like this? What’s going on?” Unable to do anything about her eldest grandson, Chen Laotai turned to look at Chen Mancang and his wife.
After a pause, Chen Mancang said with difficulty, “Mom, Baozhu, he… he killed someone.”
Killed, killed someone?
Chen Laotai’s eyes went black, and she fainted.
When Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong and the others arrived at the town’s People’s Hospital, Lin Dazhong had already been rushed to the emergency room.
Hu Si’er and another person from the mountain were anxiously waiting outside the operating room.
“How long has he been in there? What did the doctor say?” Chen Lishu spoke first.
She had a general understanding of the situation along the way, but the most urgent matter now was to save the person.
Hu Si’er looked up and said hoarsely, “He was stabbed three times. The doctor said he lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion.”
Chen Lishu nodded. “As long as he can be saved, I’ll pay whatever it takes.”
Gu Xingdong asked, “Has anyone reported it?”
Hu Si’er shook her head. “Everyone was in a hurry to send the person to the hospital. But the village head already knows about this. When we arrived, he had already sent people to find the public security director and said that the person should be controlled first.”
Gu Xingdong turned to Chen Lishu. “You and Dad stay here and watch. I’ll go to the Public Security Bureau. If too much time is delayed, I’m afraid the person will escape.”
Chen Lishu nodded. “Go ahead.”
Due to the severity of the injuries, Lin Dazhong was not pushed out of the operating room until dawn, his face pale.
“Fortunately, the winter clothes were thick. If the stab wounds had been deeper, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything. Now, although there is no danger to his life, the patient has lost a lot of blood and still needs to be well looked after.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
After thanking the doctor, Chen Lishu turned to Hu Si’er and the other person. “For the next few days, Uncle Si’er, please take good care of Uncle Lin. I have young children at home and can’t leave for too long. I’ve already paid for the surgery and hospitalization fees. Here is also 200 yuan. Buy whatever you need. Ask the doctor often, and don’t be stingy with anything that’s good for his health. I’ll come back after I’ve dealt with things in my village.”
“It’s alright, you go ahead and do your thing. We’ll take care of Dazhong. Sigh, those two ungrateful brats, living in the same village and yet they could strike so viciously. Truly…”
Hu Si’er didn’t finish what she wanted to say, but everyone harbored a sense of indignation in their hearts. Chen Baozhu and Liu Xiaobao must be severely punished.
In the village, Zhang Changhe was furious when he learned of the matter. He summoned the public security director and militia overnight to surround the two families.
Liu Xiaobao was caught as he was trying to sneak out of the village, but unfortunately, Chen Baozhu had already disappeared without a trace.
“Our Baozhu is a good child. He’s always been obedient and sensible since he was young. How could he possibly do something like murder and arson? You must be mistaken. Besides, he left early this morning and wasn’t even in the village. Don’t slander good people.”
Chen Laotai adamantly insisted that Chen Baozhu would not commit murder, and the family refused to cooperate in answering where he was hiding.
Seeing her like this, Chen Mantun felt both anxious and angry. His tone involuntarily became harsher. “Mom, at this point, if you continue to protect Baozhu, you’re harming him. Do you understand?”
“I don’t understand!” Chen Laotai screamed. “It’s all your fault, you useless brat. If you hadn’t refused to lend him money, would he have been pushed to this point? My Baozhu, such a good child, you’ve ruined him.”
Chen Lifei frowned. “Grandma, who exactly is responsible for him reaching this point? Even now, don’t you reflect on yourself? It’s you and my uncle. If you hadn’t doted on him so much, would he have ended up like this?”
“So what if we dote on our eldest grandson? What right do you have to speak here, you little girl!”
Chen Laotai said, then turned to look at the village head Zhang Changhe and the few police officers, and said defiantly, “This matter has nothing to do with my eldest grandson. You can’t wrongly accuse good people.”