Chapter 008: Killing the Child

Since moving into the new house, Zhang Lianyi has noticed that the people around him are changing in subtle ways. Not only has his wife's charm become increasingly pronounced, but even his young daughter—who is only seven or eight years old—has gradually begun to exhibit this allure. Her every gesture is full of grace, yet there is also an occasional hint of spirited vigor in her brows.

The door was not bolted. Zhang Lianyi pushed it open with his hand, and the two large doors slowly parted without a sound. He did not turn back to close the door, but walked into the courtyard as if in a trance. The light in the main room was still on, and his wife was clearly not asleep: through the door, he could hear the sound of water, indicating that his cleanliness-loving wife was once again boiling water for a bath in the middle of the night. Zhang Lianyi's gaze swept across the courtyard, and he noticed a figure at the window. The light in the main room was still on, and his wife was clearly not asleep: through the door, he could hear the sound of water, indicating that his cleanliness-loving wife was once again boiling water for a bath in the middle of the night. Zhang Lianyi's gaze swept across the courtyard, and he noticed a figure at the window. Moreover, it was clearly a man!

A sudden cold wind blew, causing him to shiver and awaken from his stupor, the alcohol quickly dissipating from his senses.

Thus, Zhang Lianyi, on one hand, repeatedly hinted to his wife to intentionally distance themselves from their eldest son, while on the other hand, he began to ask others to introduce potential matches for his son. However, due to their family's high social status, most girls chose to refuse without even meeting him. Occasionally, there were a few who were willing to meet, but the eldest son was always absent-minded, never willing to look them in the eye, and whenever there was an opportunity, his gaze would be glued to his mother. This led several young women who came for matchmaking to complain to the matchmaker in unison: "That young man is still weaning! What kind of wife is he looking for? His eyes can't leave his mother for a moment!"

Extreme shock and regret rendered Zhang Lianyi speechless, his gaze vacantly drifting between his son and wife, as if all his vitality had been suddenly drained away, leaving him to slump weakly beside his son

This is the first winter for the Zhang family in their new home, and it may also be the most difficult winter they have ever experienced. Having grown accustomed to a life of affluence, they faced the turmoil of property confiscation, the loss of their ancestral home, and the division of their land. Ultimately, the little wealth they had left was nearly depleted during the house construction process. For rural people in northern China, winter is a season of expenses without income, and the Zhang family, used to living extravagantly, finally tasted the bitter experience of financial strain during this winter. The reason this winter is particularly hard to endure is also due to a significant factor: their eldest son has died. For rural people in northern China, winter is a season of expenses without income, and the Zhang family, used to living extravagantly, finally tasted the bitter experience of financial strain during this winter. The reason this winter is particularly hard to endure is also due to a significant factor: their eldest son has died.

Winter has arrived

Before the words had left his mouth, a woman's light laughter rang exceptionally clear in his ear, and he could even feel the breath that escaped her lips! He suddenly raised his head, only to find the entrance of his home deserted, where was the shadow of his wife?

The wife in the hall let out a startled cry, and after a rustling sound of clothing, the door opened. A graceful figure leaned over the man lying on the ground. Crimson blood was slowly spreading beneath the man's head, and the familiar features of his brows and eyes were unmistakable—this was clearly his eldest son!

On that night, Zhang Lianyi was invited to a banquet in a neighboring village, and by the time he was heading home, it was nearly midnight. As he staggered around the corner, he noticed what seemed to be a white figure in front of his house. His heart warmed, thinking to himself that his wife was worried about him. Even at this late hour, she was waiting at the door for him. With this thought in mind, he quickened his pace. Unexpectedly, his legs felt weak from the alcohol, and as he slipped, he fell to the ground.

The woman did not cry, nor did she let out another scream. She simply walked step by step to her son, bent down, and gently stroked his slightly immature face with her hand. Then she raised her head and, in a hollow voice that was chilling to the heart, said word by word: "It was you who killed him! Remember! It was you who killed him!"

What Zhang Lianyi found most difficult to accept was that his two sons seemed to be increasingly attached to their mother. The younger son was somewhat acceptable, but the older son, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, a young man, spent all day clinging to his mother, which felt rather inappropriate. Moreover, as a middle-aged man with considerable life experience, Zhang Lianyi keenly sensed a kind of admiration in his older son's gaze towards his mother, not the kind of admiration a son has for his mother, but rather the kind that is mixed with desire, akin to that between lovers. But as a father, how could he address such matters? He could only suppress it in his heart. He consoled himself internally: perhaps his son had grown up and was ready to marry, or perhaps it was the increasingly alluring charm of his wife that made her appear entirely different from the loud, coarse village women in his son's eyes. Perhaps in a year or two, when his son found someone he truly liked, these feelings would naturally shift.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lianyi felt embarrassed and fidgeted with his hands, but the mother was secretly delighted. Therefore, not only did she not heed Zhang Lianyi's advice to distance herself from her eldest son, but she also became even more affectionate towards him.

He hurriedly got up, brushing the dirt off his body while awkwardly laughing: "I drank too much! I drank too much! Come over and help me a little..."

A surge of adrenaline suddenly rushed to his head. He casually picked up a shovel from the wall, stealthily approached the person from behind, and with all his might, struck down with the shovel. A loud crash echoed. The person's forehead smashed through the window frame, and then, without a word, he slowly collapsed to the ground with a thud.