CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: ZHENG AQIANG’S WIFE

"What should we do next?" Lin Qin hesitated upon seeing the bloodstains, reluctant to enter the cabin, but she knew they couldn’t avoid it forever and had to resolve this hidden danger.

She remembered that in her previous life, Zheng Aqiang was a compulsive gambler who, when drunk, would beat and scold his wife and children and talk nonsense. His wife couldn’t take it anymore and left with their child. Without his wife to clean up his mess, his life got even harder, and in the end, he gambled until the mob broke his limbs and left him at home to fend for himself.

No one cared for him, and it wasn’t until his death that he was discovered.

There were still a few years before his incident now!

Chen Wenjun looked toward the port, "I’ll go and check things out later."

He deliberately rowed the boat to the area where Chen Yongding’s fishing boat often operated.

As they got close, they heard Zhou Shuifang shouting, "Wenjun, you’re not fishing today?"

Chen Wenjun kept pushing the bamboo pole, "I’m going to, but first I’ll check over by Lishui Port to see if I can catch something else."

Zhou Shuifang enthusiastically waved at him, "Come over here, Auntie wants to ask you something."

Feigning curiosity, Chen Wenjun steered the boat over, "What’s up, Auntie?"

Zhou Shuifang quickly jumped over and exchanged a greeting with Lin Qin before sidling up to Chen Wenjun, speaking at a volume just right so Lin Qin could also hear.

"Did you hear about Zheng Aqiang’s accident?"

Chen Wenjun shook his head wildly, "Lost money and got beaten again?"

"No way! This is even worse! He did something nobody knows about and is now blind in one eye, I heard."

Chen Wenjun’s grip tightened, quickly changing his expression to one of concern, "Auntie, you can’t spread rumors like that! How could he be blinded just like that? I need to go see him..."

Zhou Shuifang immediately stopped him, "See him for what? Are you tired of living well? Everyone wants to steer clear of that kind of scoundrel, so why do you want to get involved? I heard his wife is desperately trying to borrow money to get his treatment, even sending the child back to her parents’ place.

Zheng Aqiang’s father-in-law cursed him, saying he might as well be dead and didn’t lend a dime, but took the child in to care for instead.

I’m telling you, building your house is already a burden, don’t go looking for trouble by tangling with that kind of leech; it’s impossible to shake off!"

After finishing, Zhou Shuifang chatted a bit more with Lin Qin before contentedly returning to her fishing boat.

As she left, Chen Wenjun immediately rowed the fishing boat away.

Lin Qin chuckled, "Impressive, Chen Wenjun! You’re getting better at reading people. I thought I’d have to intervene, but she told you everything without holding back.

With Zheng Aqiang so injured, he probably won’t dare come near our fishing boat again. We can dismantle the stuff in there, and make a trip to Shanglin Village in the afternoon, as we’ll start working tomorrow."

Earlier this morning, she saw truckloads of rebar being delivered and took the opportunity to speak with Huang Wenlong about purchasing some.

Huang Wenlong readily agreed, mentioning that several trucks of materials were coming to his site tomorrow, and he’ll send a few trucks their way too.

Chen Wenjun nodded and indeed rowed the boat to Lishui Port.

Lishui Port is downstream from Qingyun Temple; the water here is broader and not as deep, with more bamboo fish and stone snails but fewer big fish.

It was Lin Qin’s first time here, and rather than fishing from the boat, she decided to search for stone snails. To her surprise, she found several eel nests too.

Fishing for eels requires meat, but all the pickle jars were taken by Lin Yi to Nanyu, so there was no bait to use.

Luckily, the water here was clear, and there were plenty of stone snails. With one handful, she quickly filled a bucket by scooping them out.

Seeing her excitement, Chen Wenjun handed her a small fish cage, "Here, you can place this to catch small fish too."

Lin Qin took the fish cage ashore, planning to dig up two worms to use as bait. As she walked a few steps, she noticed frogs hidden in the paddy fields by the riverbank.

The hot weather kept the frogs nestled beneath the fields, their rapid rhythmic croaks echoing like a wave, growing bothersome with extended listening.

She crouched down to peer into the fields and immediately spotted several of them.

She hastily sped up, digging up the worms and placing the fish cage before running to the boat for a big bucket.

She entered the paddy fields and began catching the frogs.

The frogs were actually tiger frogs, with green or brown bodies covered in black and orange patterns, and particularly strong front legs; their meat is tender and tasty – a sauerkraut frog dish tomorrow would surely be a hit.

The only thought in her mind was to catch as many frogs as possible.

After crossing field after field, she snapped back to reality with the bucket already half full.

She quickly brought these frogs onto the fishing boat and called for Chen Wenjun to return.

Chen Wenjun lit up with joy when he saw them, "Where did you find so many! The supply and marketing cooperative pays a buck and sixty per pound; these could sell for over ten bucks."

Lin Qin nodded excitedly, "You take them to Boss Zheng’s place, and then head to Shanglin Village; leave me two buckets so I can catch more, ensuring food for the construction tomorrow."

Following her instructions, Chen Wenjun rowed the boat back and hurried to the city pushing a cart.

Just as he left, Zheng Aqiang’s wife, Zhou Meili, arrived.

Seeing no one on the fishing boat, she felt particularly disappointed and was about to leave when she unexpectedly noticed the dried bloodstains beside the boat, turning pale and heading home heavy-hearted.

Upon seeing her, Zheng Aqiang eagerly asked, "Did you borrow the money?"

Zhou Meili didn’t answer directly, only saying, "We’re close, just a little more and we’ll have enough for your treatment."

Zheng Aqiang became agitated, glaring fiercely, "How much money do you have on you?"

Zhou Meili continued not to answer.

Zheng Aqiang grabbed her neck, his expression maniacal, "Hand over the money! I said hand over the money, do you hear me?"

Zhou Meili, gasping for air and turning beet-red, could only take out the five one-yuan notes from her pocket.

"So little? Worthless!" Zheng Aqiang released her, cursing as he pocketed the money.

Zhou Meili pleaded while coughing, "This was for your treatment; the doctor said your eye needs surgery, or it’ll be beyond saving."

But Zheng Aqiang didn’t care; having secured the money, he dashed out, "Mind your own business and get out of my sight."

Zhou Meili stamped her foot in frustration, clapping her hands to her thighs, sobbing without the ability to stop him.

As dusk approached, Zheng Aqiang still hadn’t returned, leaving Zhou Meili anxious. Recalling the bloodstains on Chen Wenjun’s boat, she couldn’t resist heading back again.

This time she encountered Lin Qin washing clothes on the deck.

She quickly called, "Sister-in-law, is Brother Wenjun here?"

Lin Qin looked up, recognizing Zhou Meili, then yelled, asking Chen Wenjun to bring the boat closer.

Boarding the boat, Zhou Meili hesitated with her words.

Chen Wenjun prodded, "Is something wrong? Is Ah Qiang in trouble again?"

"No... no!" Zhou Meili shook her head vigorously, hands waving, her eyes reddening.

She wanted to ask but didn’t know how to start.