Chapter 85 - Too Cowardly
Lee Xiulian arrived at the glass greenhouse early in the morning, only to be astonished by the scene before her.
The once magnificent glass structure, the talk of the town, was riddled with large holes. Particularly, the northern wall lay shattered into fragments.
In her dismay, she rushed back to the village to summon Zhang Xiaoloong and inform Wang Tiezhu of the incident.
Upon hearing the news, villagers hurried to the vegetable patch, witnessing the havoc strewn across the ground.
It appeared that the perpetrator not only shattered the glass but also deliberately trampled the vegetable patch. Though the vegetables weren't entirely destroyed, the scene was undoubtedly distressing.
“Who could it be? This malicious individual, aren't they afraid of retribution?” Zhang Daniu lamented, attempting to salvage a fallen vegetable plant to no avail.
Liu Mei glanced at her son's pained expression, wiping her eyes. She approached and consoled, “Xiaoloong, don't dwell on it. What's broken is broken. We'll let it be…”
She understood the effort her son had invested in this land, now destroyed in an instant. Witnessing his distress, she feared his rage might drive him to madness again.
“No,” he objected. Yet Zhang Daniu erupted, “Why not? We finally found a path to prosperity. Xiaoloong, these vegetables may be ruined, but from now on, your father will guard this place with his life. Let's see if they dare to trespass again. I'll fight them to the end!”
Initially opposed to his son's greenhouse venture, especially considering the hefty debt of over 100,000 yuan, Zhang Daniu had doubted its profitability.
However, upon seeing Zhang Xiaoloong's display of over 80,000 yuan, along with phones and computers, Zhang Daniu realized his son's foresight. His perspective had been narrow.
A traditional farmer, he'd never contemplated alternative paths until his son enlightened him. Recognizing the stable income potential, his stubborn nature wouldn't allow others to ruin it.
“Indeed, why not continue planting? In fact, we should expand…” Wang Tiezhu encouraged Zhang Xiaoloong. “Son, you're onto something significant here. Don't fret over this setback. I'll uncover the truth.”
“Perhaps… we should involve the authorities,” Lee Xiulian proposed, feeling a sense of belonging to the greenhouse. “What good would it do? Besides, we lack surveillance cameras,” she reasoned.
With everyone brainstorming, Zhang Xiaoloong finally spoke up. “No need. What's the point of finding out? Demand compensation?”
Could the perpetrator afford it? Glass wasn't the priciest item; what about the damaged produce? How many villagers could reimburse that?
“We can't let it slide,” Lee Xiulian insisted. “Identify the culprit. It'll deter them from such immoral acts in the future. If we don't address this today, who's to say they won't return tomorrow? We can't remain passive. We must assert our strength.”
As she spoke, a snowball suddenly rolled in—a little wolf that had been recuperating in the greenhouse.
Fully healed, its fur gleamed with newfound vitality. Though resembling a puppy, it possessed far more energy.
Upon emerging, the pup leaped at Zhang Xiaoloong's legs, affectionately nuzzling them.
Zhang Xiaoloong noticed a cloth scrap in the little wolf's mouth. Retrieving it, he examined it closely. “Is this from the shattered glass?” he inquired.
The little wolf vigorously nodded, almost as if laughing.
“This little creature is incredibly clever!” Wang Tiezhu exclaimed in surprise as he observed the small white “dog.”
Typically, one might jest with such a tiny dog, yet this one comprehended human language and could discern friend from foe, displaying astonishing intelligence.
Moreover, the little wolf suddenly seized Zhang Xiaoloong's pants and tugged him in a specific direction.
“Where are you leading us?” Zhang Xiaoloong's curiosity was piqued. “You claim you can locate that individual?”
The little wolf nodded affirmatively once more.
“I see.” Wang Tiezhu inspected the fabric scrap, noting traces of blood. “This person likely hails from the village. Even if our furry friend can't pinpoint him, we can identify someone treated for a bite. They couldn't have absconded!”
“Indeed, damaging such valuable property constitutes a crime, right? They ought to be handed over to the authorities!” For the first time, Lee Xiulian backed a decision made by a man.
“Let it go. I have no intention of pursuing this matter,” Zhang Xiaoloong murmured, gazing down at the disarrayed vegetable patch. “Everyone, assist me in salvaging the unspoiled vegetables. Sister Yan's representatives will likely arrive soon to collect them. We shouldn't keep them waiting.”
Although Zhang Daniu and Wang Tiezhu wished to interject, their wives intervened.
The women discerned Zhang Xiaoloong's genuine distress. They likely couldn't fathom that relatives from Qinghe Village could perpetrate such an act.
Zhang Xiaoloong possessed keen insight, often attributing fault to himself. Even in dire straits, he refrained from pushing his hometown's folk toward ruin.
Should this incident come to light, bankruptcy would be the least of their worries. The perpetrator might remain oblivious to the magnitude of their transgression, dismissing it as a mere disruption to a commonplace vegetable farm.
Zhang Daniu and Wang Tiezhu couldn't harbor resentment. As the adage goes, Zhang Xiaoloong's current demeanor might seem timid, yet the seasoned farmer, when provoked, would stand his ground resolutely. It was time to wield their hoes, prepared to defend their honor at any cost.
Nevertheless, the two wives held sway. Reluctantly, they quashed their ire and followed Zhang Xiaoloong's lead, bowing their heads to salvage the vegetables.
Though the scene appeared chaotic, the damage was less severe than anticipated. In a short span, they had salvaged no fewer than 100 kilograms of vegetables.
At that moment, a small vehicle pulled up outside the vegetable field. Chen Yaru and Hong Yan, both striking women, disembarked.
“You're here.” Zhang Xiaoloong emerged to greet them.
“Elder Sister Yan wished to inspect your vegetable field. Since I knew the precise location and had nothing else to do, I brought her along,” Chen Yaru explained, her smile fading as she surveyed the wreckage. “This… What happened here? Who's responsible?”
Hong Yan mirrored her concern. Clearly, this was deliberate sabotage—a despicable act. “Have you contacted the authorities? I'll do it for you!”
“There's no need. I've prepared the meal. Please, Elder Sister Yan, don't let this delay your plans,” Zhang Xiaoloong assured her before being drawn to the commotion outside.
All eyes turned to behold a group of over a dozen individuals, some wielding iron rods, others brandishing hoes, advancing menacingly.
“This isn't over. Do they think I'm just going to roll over and die?” Wang Tiezhu seethed, steam practically billowing from his ears as he strode forth to confront them.
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