It was not only Liu Yuzhu; even the marriage between Liu Hongjun and Zhao Wenfang was likely a scheme orchestrated by Liu Hongjun. After all, Liu Tiezhu and his wife had been down on their luck for years, their home so destitute that even a mouse would leave in tears; no one in the surrounding villages wanted to marry into their family. Liu Tiezhu had once even proposed a bride swap, but no one paid him any mind. Liu Hongjun was twenty-one this year; if he did not marry soon, he would remain a bachelor for life. Thus, it was suspected that Liu Hongjun had compromised Zhao Wenfang’s virtue, forcing her into the marriage. When the educated youths had first arrived in Xiaxi Village, everyone had noticed that Zhao Wenfang was fond of Lanchen. It was hard to believe that, in less than a month, she would end up in bed with the lazy, good-for-nothing Liu Hongjun without some kind of scheme. However, since the parties involved were willing, the villagers saw no reason to gossip.
It was the same with the affair between Liu Yuzhu and Lanchen. The villagers guessed that Lanchen had been framed, but no one was foolish enough to stand up for an educated youth and offend the Liu Tiezhu family. Just when the villagers assumed Lanchen would have to marry Liu Yuzhu, several public security officers arrived in the village. The entire family of four, the Lius, were arrested. The person who reported the crime was Lanchen. The villagers were shocked and terrified, and their attitude toward the e…
Chapter 85