Chapter Forty-Two: You Are My Target

Hearing Wang Qiutou speak in such a manner, Zhou Zhi suddenly felt as though he had come prepared, as if he already knew that the official horse had developed diarrhea.

But the horse’s illness had only begun yesterday morning, and Zhou Zhi hadn’t mentioned it to anyone—not even his mother or his elder sister, Zhou Lüyun. How, then, could Wang Qiutou have found out?

Strange! There was something suspicious about all this.

Drawing on his experiences from another life, Zhou Zhi had learned to analyze matters from every possible angle. The more he pondered, the more he sensed something was amiss. Wang Qiutou had come even earlier than usual today, and unlike before, he wasn’t carrying his little cloth sack. Clearly, he had no intention of accepting the usual small bribes—eggs or the like—this time.

When things depart from the norm, there’s always a reason.

While Zhou Zhi was lost in thought, his mother, Madam He, and his sister, Zhou Lüyun, emerged from the house one after the other. That morning, Zhou Shaocheng had managed to get out of bed and walk about the yard, filling mother and daughter with joy. Little Cheng was finally getting better; this was happiness for the Zhou family.

They decided to make a proper breakfast to celebrate—though “proper” simply meant pulling up a head of cabbage from the yard, frying it with a scant bit of lard, and baking a few cakes of yellow millet and pumpkin.

Hearing that Wang Qiutou had arrived so early, Madam He hurriedly told Zhou Lüyun to prepare five eggs, to be offered to the headman in hopes he would leave quickly.

In her mind, there was no difference between this visit and the last. Wang Qiutou was only a petty official; five eggs would see him off and secure the family’s peace—a bargain, all things considered.

But when they entered the yard, they found Wang Qiutou’s face as dark as storm clouds, while Zhou Zhi stood grim and unyielding. Madam He’s heart skipped a beat.

Alas! Little Zhi’s stubborn streak was flaring up again. What good could come of defying the headman? She would have to admonish him later.

Madam He forced a smile and said, “Headman, please don’t take my son’s words to heart. Here are five eggs for you—please accept them. We look to you for your continued protection.”

Wang Qiutou didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Protection? Nonsense! I am here strictly on official business. How could I accept your eggs? The official horse is ill—there’s a fine of five taels of silver. I’m here today to collect them from your Zhou family.”

Wang Qiutou’s rudeness toward Madam He, even cursing, made Zhou Zhi’s anger flare. His fists clenched, his eyes blazed as he glared at the official, barely restraining himself from acting.

Hearing Wang Qiutou’s words, Madam He realized something was wrong and hurried to the stable. Upon seeing the horse and the mess on the ground, she understood everything.

Heavens! The official horse truly was sick. Now Wang Qiutou would never let the Zhou family off lightly. What were they to do?

Her head swam, and she nearly collapsed. Zhou Lüyun, at her side, quickly steadied her with the eggs still in hand, saying, “Mother, don’t panic. It’s all right—let’s see what Little Zhi will do.”

“What can he do? The official horse is ill, and the fine is set by the authorities; we have no choice but to pay. Oh, what are we to do? With his father away, nothing goes right at home.” At this, Madam He thought of her husband Zhou Tie, tears welling in her eyes, heavy with sorrow.

Zhou Zhi had made up his mind: today he would be stubborn to the end. After all, the horse hadn’t died—the fine was Wang Qiutou’s decision alone, not the government’s. And since this man was a petty, unscrupulous official who had insulted his mother, he deserved a lesson.

“Wang Qi, ten days ago you tried to make things difficult for me, and I let you go. Now you return, your appetite growing—demanding five taels of silver at a word. You’re going too far.” As Zhou Zhi spoke, he advanced, his presence forceful and intimidating.

But today Wang Qiutou was not as he had been ten days earlier. Then, the horse was healthy; now, it was not. As the official responsible for the horses, he had the authority to set the fine and felt fully justified.

“I am merely enforcing the law as set by the authorities—where is the injustice in that? Enough talk. Go sell your land and hand over the silver. Don’t keep me waiting; I haven’t time to waste on you.” Wang Qiutou puffed out his chest, his tone angry.

Hearing that Wang Qi wanted them to sell their land, Madam He’s heart turned to ice. Those eight mu of land were the family’s lifeblood; without them, the Zhos would be reduced to servants or slaves.

The thought brought tears streaming down her face as she pleaded, “Headman, we are terribly poor and have no silver—only those eight mu of land, our only means of survival. If we sell the land, we have nothing left. And you know my youngest has been ill for days and needs nourishing food; even our eggs are nearly gone. Please, take all the eggs we have and show us some mercy.”

Her words, humble and heartfelt, would have moved anyone.

But Wang Qiutou was unmoved. He glanced at Madam He and said coldly, “I am only carrying out my duty—your family’s fate is none of my concern. And as for your child, whether he’s sick or not, that has nothing to do with me.”

He paused, then looked at little Zhou Shaocheng, who was glaring at him with angry eyes, and sneered, “A sick child? What does it matter if he dies? He’s not as important as an official horse.”

Zhou Zhi’s eyes blazed with fury. His clenched fist whistled through the air and struck Wang Qi’s face.

Wang Qiutou never expected Zhou Zhi to dare hit him. He was too slow to dodge and took the punch square on the mouth.

His teeth remained intact, but blood instantly trickled from the corner of his lips. Flustered, he stammered, “You…how dare you strike me?”

“Strike you I did, you scoundrel! Now get out!” Zhou Zhi shouted, following up with a solid kick.

With that, Wang Qiutou staggered forward, landing face-first in the fresh mess Zhou Zhi had just cleaned from the stable.

He struggled to his feet, filthy and speechless, and fled. Only when he’d put a good distance between himself and the Zhou house did he turn to shout viciously, “Zhou brat, just you wait! I’ll bring the village chief—let’s see if he’ll let you off!”