Chapter Eight: Ruthlessness

After Fa Cai and Wang Hongbing left, Han Xiuxia felt a wave of anxiety and confusion. She did not know when Wang Hongbing had arrived, nor whether her husband had overheard their conversation. She regretted having spoken so closely with Fa Cai, and even more so regretted wiping Fa Cai’s face—if Wang Hongbing had seen that, he would only believe the lies her sister-in-law had told him even more.

With a heavy heart, Han Xiuxia gathered the freshly washed clothes into a basket, carrying the three little ones on her back. She walked slowly, stopping and starting repeatedly, until she finally reached the doorstep of their home. Her trembling hand gently pushed open the door, and she saw Wang Hongbing sitting with his head bowed at the table in the main room, smoking. Fearful yet compelled, she stepped inside.

Wang Hongbing had just returned from the well, flinging a basket of manure into the backyard, scattering its contents across the ground. After closing both the front and back doors, he isolated himself inside to smoke. He did not want to see anyone; after lighting a cigarette, he took just a few puffs before crushing it out. He lit another, his anger burning fiercely, barely able to contain it.

Every word of Han Xiuxia’s conversation with Chen Fa Cai echoed relentlessly in his mind. Especially the phrase, “I like a man like you,” which struck him like a thunderclap. The rumors and doubts that had haunted him now found their answers: the three little ones were indeed the product of those two.

He had clearly heard Fa Cai ask if the children were his, and how she responded. What infuriated him even more was her praising his looks and declaring her affection for him in front of Fa Cai. Worse still, she had the audacity to cling to Chen Fa Cai tightly in front of him.

Suddenly, memories of his sister-in-law’s vivid descriptions of the illicit lovers flooded his mind. He had seen with his own eyes her wiping Fa Cai’s face and him reciprocating, their closeness undeniable. He was certain his wife was nothing but a shameless woman. Images of her and Chen Fa Cai on the moonlit banks of Beihewan, engaged in shameful acts, tormented him.

Unable to suppress his fury any longer, he barred the back door, waiting for this little vixen to return.

When Han Xiuxia entered, Wang Hongbing rose and locked the main door. Panicked, she asked, “Why are you locking the door?” Fear gripped her.

“Now it’s just the two of us. Be honest and tell me everything you whispered with Chen Fa Cai. If you tell me the truth, I’ll spare you.”

“We didn’t say anything else. We only talked about his wife’s difficult labor, blaming me for not helping,” Han Xiuxia lowered her head and recited the rehearsed words.

Wang Hongbing grabbed a handful of her hair, yanking her head up. “Look at me. What exactly did you say to him?”

“I said I didn’t know about her difficult labor; at that time, I truly didn’t know,” she stammered.

“And what else did you say?” he pressed relentlessly.

“Later... later... just about his youngest son,” she faltered, overwhelmed and trembling.

“Seems like you don’t want to tell. Then stay here and think it over. When you’re ready, tell me.”

He seized a rope, twisted her hands behind her back, and bound them tightly despite her struggles. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Chen Fa Cai,” she said, knowing he wouldn’t dare.

At the mention of Chen Fa Cai, Wang Hongbing flared up. “Chen Fa Cai, Chen Fa Cai—you only ever care about him. Let’s see how your wild man saves you today.”

“Watch your mouth. Don’t insult us,” Han Xiuxia blurted, realizing her words were unwise.

“Us? Looks like you and Chen Fa Cai really are inseparable. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson.”

He took another rope and bound her legs together, then hoisted her by her wrists—tied with coarse hemp rope—to the ceiling beam.

Slapping her face, he snarled, “I’m giving you one last chance. Tell me truthfully what you two said and did today, or I won’t spare you.”

“Wang Hongbing, I tell you again, we didn’t say anything else. Don’t be paranoid. I have never done anything to betray you...”

“You shameless woman! You think I don’t know? I heard everything you two said, and you still dare to deny it!”

Before she could finish, he swung the hemp rope, lashing her mercilessly, cursing, “Today, I’ll beat you to death, you little harlot, harlot, harlot...”

“Your mother’s the harlot, you...”

In the sweltering August heat, with little clothing on, Han Xiuxia began to curse back, unable to endure the beating any longer. Wang Hongbing immediately stuffed a towel into her mouth to silence her.

His rage overtook reason. He soaked the rope in water, tore open her clothes, and beat her with the wet rope, more frenzied and cruel than before.

Seeing the three little ones crying loudly, he kicked the youngest’s backside, sending the child flying over a foot away, cursing, “You little bastard.”

After returning from the well, Chen Fa Cai felt satisfied that Wang Hongbing had been angered by him today, a sort of revenge. But he worried about Xiuxia, knowing Wang Hongbing had probably overheard their conversation and witnessed her wiping his face.

Chen Fa Cai quietly observed Wang Hongbing’s house from the doorstep. Finding nothing unusual, he left.

After dinner, Fa Cai took Dog Egg for a walk but felt uneasy. He returned to Wang Hongbing’s doorstep to watch more carefully.

He heard a child crying inside, mixed with the sharp sound of lashes. Pushing the door, it wouldn’t budge.

He poked a finger through the papered window, peering in. Han Xiuxia was nearly stripped, hanging from the ceiling beam. Wang Hongbing was swinging the rope, lashing her exposed back and thighs. Her head was wrapped in lifted clothing; her legs, covered only by pants, struggled and twitched below.

“Stop! Wang Hongbing, you’re mad!” Chen Fa Cai shouted furiously, tearing the paper from the window to confront Wang Hongbing.

Hearing Chen Fa Cai’s command, Wang Hongbing’s fury blazed through his body. Dropping the rope, he raised a laundry bat and struck Han Xiuxia fiercely, yelling, “You filthy b***h! Your wild man’s here—call him to save you or I’ll beat you to death!”

Amid the terrifying crackling and Wang Hongbing’s roars, only faint, pained pleas from Han Xiuxia could be heard. Chen Fa Cai feared a tragedy and rushed to find Wang Hongbing’s elder brother, Wang Hongkui, knowing Wang Hongbing feared him.

Wang Hongkui arrived, seeing Wang Hongbing still swinging the bat, cursing and hitting. He shouted, “Hongbing, stop right now!”

At his brother’s voice, Wang Hongbing slowly lowered the bat and dropped it.

“Put Xiuxia down immediately!” Wang Hongbing reluctantly complied, removing the towel from her mouth.

Han Xiuxia twitched slightly, emitting a faint moan. Seeing her barely able to move, Wang Hongbing carried her to the bed but did not open the door.

Suddenly, lightning tore through the night sky, followed by rumbling thunder rolling overhead, culminating in a terrifying explosion that sent shivers through the heart.

Fa Cai clutched Dog Egg tightly and hurried home, quickly closing doors and windows.

Lightning flashed in jagged streaks, illuminating the dark sky. Fierce winds whipped branches back and forth, heavy rain pounded the windows with a crackling roar, and the roof echoed with strange noises.

Concerned, Fa Cai donned a raincoat and stepped outside. He saw that some thatch was swirling in the air; the roof’s straw was being mercilessly torn and lifted by the wild wind, drifting away.

Fa Cai’s house was a mud-and-thatch construction, framed with wood and sorghum stalks, with a straw-covered roof. Over time, the straw had rotted and decayed, making it vulnerable to strong winds.

Fortunately, the storm was brief, and the damage limited. After the rain, Fa Cai patched the roof with fresh straw, making the house livable again. Neighbor Wang Hongbing’s roof was of better quality, only partially loosened, but still underwent major repairs.

After Wang Hongbing’s brutal beating, Han Xiuxia remained bedridden, which filled Chen Fa Cai with guilt. He had only intended to anger Wang Hongbing, never imagining it would lead to such severe consequences.

Feeling remorseful, he wanted his wife, Zhang Caiyun, to visit her.

Caiyun was puzzled. “Why do you suddenly want to visit her?”

“They say Wang Hongbing beat her so badly she’s crippled. Poor thing. Go and comfort her.”

“Is her being beaten related to you?”

“How would it be? She probably offended her in-laws again.”

Reluctant, Caiyun disliked visiting Xiuxia because she always made cutting remarks whenever Caiyun sought advice from Wang Hongbing, which was unpleasant to hear.

Yet, for the sake of neighborly relations, Caiyun agreed and brought some eggs to visit Han Xiuxia.

Wang Hongbing was smoking at home when Caiyun arrived. He stood and greeted her coldly, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see Xiuxia and brought some eggs to help her recover.”

“If you’re coming, why bring things?”

“A little token from me.”

“Xiuxia has been unconscious all this time. Has she woken up yet?” Caiyun and Wang Hongbing approached the west wing where Han Xiuxia lay, but she still had her eyes closed.

“Xiuxia, wake up. Caiyun’s here to see you,” Wang Hongbing called out.

No response. Caiyun asked again, “Xiuxia, are you feeling any better?”

Still no response. Wang Hongbing pulled Caiyun aside. “Forget it, let her sleep. When she wakes, I’ll tell her you came.”

“Why did you beat her like this?”

“If you knew what she and Fa Cai talked about, you’d understand why I beat her.”

“What exactly did they say?”

Wang Hongbing shared the bits he had overheard with Caiyun.