Chapter 200 Intentional Homicide
Everyone was picking plums with laughter and chatter, but near the edge of the field, one plum tree had become skewed due to the recent heavy rain that had washed away a lot of the soil, meaning that the majority of the branches were drooping down. To pick from it, one had to go down below.
However, there was a narrow path below, which, being little used, was overgrown with grass. No one wanted to go down for fear of snakes in the grass. Luo Qiao thought of her own agility and decided that if no one else would go, she might as well do it herself since she had to pick plums either way.
Zhang Qiaoyan, who was herding cattle at the slope below, looked up at the crowd picking plums and wanted to ask for a few to taste. But seeing the women’s team leader there, she felt too shy to ask.
Just as she was about to drive the cattle away, she saw Luo Qiao descend the slope, standing on that narrow path to pick plums from that skewed tree. Now, she wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
Standing there, staring at Luo Qiao, Zhang Qiaoyan seemed lost in thought. The others in the field who were picking plums noticed Zhang Qiaoyan always standing there, looking in this direction, and someone even commented, "Who’s that Qiaoyan from the secretary’s home staring at?"
Auntie Caifeng from the accountant’s home said, "Looks like she’s eyeing Luo Qiao. That girl is too narrow-minded, can’t stand to see anyone doing better than her."
After Luo Qiao had picked a large amount, someone on top dropped down a rope with a hook to pull up the basket. She then switched to a backpack and resumed picking at the edge of the trail.
Suddenly, a young girl asked, "What is Zhang Qiaoyan doing?"
The adults looked up and were all startled; the secretary’s daughter was hitting the cow’s rear with a stone while clearly holding something else in her other hand.
In pain, the cow bolted towards where Luo Qiao stood, but since that spot was quite narrow, she had no room to dodge. The only way to avoid being hit by the cow was to jump down the cliff, which was at least seven or eight meters high.