Ch 149: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Hearing that Li Jiaofeng had come, Shen Qing frowned in displeasure. “What is she looking for me for? What does she have to do with me? I’m not seeing her.”

If anyone from the old Shen family tried to shamelessly stick to him, Shen Qing might have to spare some effort to deal with them. But of all people, it wasn’t Li Jiaofeng’s place to come knocking. What right did she have?

Miao Yu was also stunned. Ever since hearing Li Jiaofeng’s words, his mind had been in chaos. Wasn’t Shen Zhang drowned while playing in the water? Every year, children drowning while playing wasn’t unheard of in the village. If not every year, then every two or three years, a case would appear in the nearby villages. It wasn’t anything new. But since Li Jiaofeng had said this, he didn’t dare to make the decision to keep it from Shen Qing. He could only relay the message: “That woman said Shen Zhang was murdered. She asked if you wanted to know who did it…”

Shen Qing stood still, feeling as if a thunderbolt had exploded in his ears, leaving his mind completely blank. Inside the house, a loud crash echoed as a table and chair overturned, and Miao Shi came stumbling out in a frenzy. “Who? Who did she say it was? Let her in!”

Seeing Miao Shi like this, Shen Qing immediately understood—she had probably long harbored suspicions about Shen Zhang’s death. He quickly supported Miao Shi and, after a brief moment of thought, said, “Don’t let her into our home. Find an empty room in the workshop and put her there. We’ll go over soon.”

Miao Yu immediately responded and went to carry out the order. Only then did Shen Qing turn to Miao Shi and ask, “Mother, what is going on?”

Miao Shi’s tears fell in streams as she choked out her doubts about her past miscarriage, along with her suspicions regarding Li Jiaofeng’s fall. “I always thought someone had harmed me back then, but I never imagined that even little Zhang’s death…” Losing that unborn child had been painful, but it was nothing compared to losing a child she had raised for six or seven years, a child who had played at her feet every day.

“It might not be true. Li Jiaofeng might just be scheming again, making things up,” Shen Qing said, trying to comfort her. But he wasn’t sure if this counted as comfort—whether finding out the truth, whether it was an accident or a murder, would bring Miao Shi any real relief. “Let’s go over and hear what she has to say.”

Although Miao Shi and Li Jiaofeng were entangled in many ways, in reality, they had rarely met face-to-face. This was the first time they had been this close. Li Jiaofeng, holding her child, had been placed in an empty room in the workshop by Miao Yu. She was already extremely anxious, and the moment Shen Qing and Miao Shi entered, she made a move to kneel. “Shen Qing, please save your little brother! No matter what, he shares half the same blood as you!”

Shen Qing shot her a look of disgust and gestured for Miao Yu to hold her up. “Just talk.”

The child in her arms did look unwell. Miao Shi, fearing the child might die and cause Li Jiaofeng to break down completely and refuse to speak, discreetly tugged at Shen Qing’s sleeve. Shen Qing suppressed his revulsion, poured a bowl of spiritual spring water, and mixed in a little honey. “Give this to the child.”

Li Jiaofeng fed the water to her son while sobbing. “Can’t you get a doctor to take a look at him…”

“Are you done?” Shen Qing’s face darkened. “Say it or get out. Do you really think a piece of information from ten years ago is enough to control me? Whatever happened at the Shen household tonight, if I want to know, I can find out. It’ll just take a bit more effort.”

Li Jiaofeng shivered. She had indeed been counting on this, believing that, as a mother, Miao Shi would be desperate to know the truth about Shen Zhang’s death. She had hoped to use this to force Shen Qing into calling for a doctor, maybe even curing her child. But now that Shen Qing had exposed her scheme, she felt a wave of disappointment. Fortunately, the child in her arms seemed to be improving—his cries had grown louder, and his once bluish complexion was turning a healthier shade of red. Li Jiaofeng sighed in relief before finally speaking.

She recounted everything that had happened at the Shen house that night. Her expression was both fearful and filled with hatred, her back teeth nearly breaking from how hard she was clenching them.

Selling Shen Xiaojian had saved her child, but she felt no comfort. Not out of sympathy for Shen Xiaojian or Zhao Aiye, but because an overwhelming sense of crisis had taken root in her heart. The Shen family was a place without any human decency. They had discarded Shen Qing, and they had discarded Shen Xiaojian. If one day something happened, she and her son would surely be discarded just as easily.

This realization left her unable to feel any joy.

Shen Zhigao, however, didn’t share her concerns. He had happily taken the silver and gone to the county town to buy medicine for their child. Not long after, Old Lady Shen began yelling in the courtyard, ordering Li Jiaofeng to come out and wash the child’s cloth diapers.

“You’re lazing around all day—who do you think will wash them? It’s your own child! Are you expecting me to do it?” Old Lady Shen cursed. Having sold Shen Xiaojian today, she was in an excellent mood. Watching Zhao Aiye and Shen Zhiwei kneeling before her, she felt as if she had regained her authority in the house. These unruly daughters-in-law needed to be put in their place so they would remember who was truly in charge.

“Because of your useless womb, you birthed a sickly child. I even sold off Second son’s girl to save him—haven’t I done enough for you? If you had even a shred of conscience, if you were even human, you wouldn’t be putting on airs with me!”

Li Jiaofeng had long grown accustomed to Old Lady Shen’s scolding. Ever since she gave birth, Shen Zhigao had stopped protecting her like before, often urging her to be more filial and to take on more of the household chores for Old Lady Shen. If she dared to pretend she didn’t hear, Old Lady Shen would scold her endlessly. Li Jiaofeng didn’t care much for herself, but the child would wake up crying, and he was already weak—she couldn’t bear it.

“Mother, I’m coming now. Please stop yelling. Let me soothe the child to sleep first,” Li Jiaofeng quickly responded. Hearing her submit, Old Lady Shen became even more pleased, puffing up like a victorious rooster. “I’ll be sitting right at the kitchen door—I dare you not to come!”

With no other choice, Li Jiaofeng soothed the child and went to wash the diapers. The night air was still chilly, and she wanted to use some warm water, but Old Lady Shen scolded her for being too pampered. She got nothing out of it but another round of verbal abuse. As she left the kitchen, Li Jiaofeng suddenly felt something was off in her room.

There was a shadow flickering through the window—it looked like someone was inside. But Shen Zhigao had gone to the county to get medicine. Who could be in her room?

Her heart instantly leapt to her throat. She recalled the time she had slipped, remembered Miao Shi’s miscarriage, and Shen Zhang’s death. Right after she gave birth, she had barely dared to leave the child’s side, convinced that everyone in the house had sinister intentions. Now, she no longer cared about Old Lady Shen’s yelling. In just a few steps, she rushed into her room—only to see a figure hunched over, pressing a bundle of blankets against the child’s face, trying to smother him to death!

Li Jiaofeng let out a piercing scream—the very one that had first startled Shen Qing and Miao Shi inside their home.

“…Then we fought. He had a knife on him—he tried to stab me. Your father…” Li Jiaofeng sneaked a glance at Shen Qing’s dark expression and quickly corrected herself. “…Shen Zhigao wasn’t home, and I wasn’t his match at all. I barely managed to escape with the child…”

“So, who was it?” Miao Shi asked in a trembling voice.

“It was Shen Zhiwei!” Li Jiaofeng gritted her teeth in fury. “A truly dangerous dog never barks! I… Sister Miao, I won’t lie to you! Before I married into the family, I already suspected that you and your child were harmed. But I only thought it was Zhao Aiye, so I was always on guard against him. I never imagined that it was actually Shen Zhiwei, that silent coward!”

Suddenly, she got up, holding her child, and with a loud thud, knelt before Miao Shi. “Sister Miao, I was blind before. It was all my fault, in every possible way. I’ve already suffered my retribution… but this child is innocent! He was nearly murdered, just like your child! Shen Zhigao isn’t home, and I don’t know where else to go. I’m terrified they’ll kill both me and my son. I had no other choice—I came to beg for your protection…”

“I can’t stay in the Shen household any longer—it’s not a place for human beings to live. I deserve whatever happens to me, but please, save the child. He’s Shen Qing’s blood brother. Shen Qing now has a big household and a growing business, but at the end of the day, he’s still a ger. Without a man in the house, many things will be inconvenient. We don’t dare ask for anything—we only beg Shen Qing to take pity on the child and let him… let him be like those puppet heirs in the operas…”

Li Jiaofeng was somewhat clever. At this moment, she was speaking the truth—she truly regretted everything. She knew Shen Qing had a hardened heart, but Miao Shi was softer, easier to persuade. She could only use the child to try and awaken Miao Shi’s sympathy. For her son’s sake, she was willing to kneel and beg for forgiveness!

Miao Shi’s face was already streaked with tears. She was so choked with emotion that she couldn’t even speak. Shen Qing, however, remained utterly unmoved by Li Jiaofeng’s performance. “You’re not out of options. You could still go to the village chief. This is a serious matter—why didn’t you seek him out to mediate? What authority do I have?” She was clearly just trying to use this information to bargain for benefits. “You’ve talked all this time about how Shen Zhiwei tried to kill your child, but what proof do you have that he also killed Shen Zhang? That’s not what you said when you asked to see me.”

“Would the village chief protect me? He grew up playing together with Shen Zhigao and Shen Zhiwei…” Li Jiaofeng had indeed hoped to trade this information for benefits, or at the very least, for a way to escape. She stammered, “I… this… if he tried to kill my child, then he must have killed Shen Zhang! It has to be him!”

Shen Qing knew in his heart that Li Jiaofeng’s guess was correct. But the matter couldn’t be judged on mere speculation—there was no direct evidence regarding Shen Zhang’s death. However, the villagers likely didn’t care much about evidence. He might be able to try and force a confession from Shen Zhiwei himself.

If that didn’t work, there were other ways. Shen Zhiwei had been able to disguise Shen Zhang’s murder as an accident and deceive everyone for years—did Shen Qing really lack the ability to turn things around?

“Miao Yu, go to the village chief’s house and ask him to go to the Shen family’s home,” Shen Qing ordered.

Miao Yu immediately nodded but hesitated. “Ge, should I also call my father and uncle? In these village disputes, having more people on your side matters. I listened to everything just now—it’s clear as day that Shen Zhiwei tried to kill Shen Qiang. But when it comes to Shen Zhang’s death, things aren’t as certain. In a situation like this, the side with more people and the stronger backing will have the advantage when the village chief makes a decision!”

Shen Qing, however, shook his head. “No need to trouble them. It’s late—no need to drag them into this.” At this point, he no longer needed to rely on anyone else’s influence.

He turned to Li Jiaofeng and bluntly exposed her true intentions. “If you’re thinking of using this child to latch onto me, forget it. I don’t even acknowledge Shen Zhigao—this child has nothing to do with me. But if you cooperate fully and help me pin this on Shen Zhiwei, I might spare you a path forward. Not because of any sentimental ties—don’t even think about that—but as payment for the service you provide me.”

Li Jiaofeng clenched her teeth. The gap between this and what she had hoped for was enormous. But at this point, she had no other way out. There was no returning to the Shen household—she was too terrified to go back. She could only take things one step at a time. After a long pause, she nodded. “Alright!”

Shen Qing stood up and dusted off his sleeves. “Let’s go. Time to visit the old Shen family and see what this deeply hidden Shen Zhiwei is really about.”

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