Qiao Mei and Xia Zhe fell asleep in each other's arms. In the latter half of the night, Qiao Mei slept very well and peacefully. She had never slept so soundly before. With Xia Zhe around, it was as if all the other problems would disappear.
The next day, Xu Lan kept hugging the children and refused to let go. Even when she was tired, she did not want to let go of them. Xia Zhe could not dissuade her, so he let her do whatever she wanted. If there was really no other way, he would just do as Qiao Mei said and make her drink some medicinal wine.
"Qiao Mei, that group of people from the Zhao Family Village has been clamoring for you to pay for the medical fees," Xia He said disdainfully.
"If you haven't mentioned it, I have already forgotten about this group of people. Now that we've gotten the hostage back, they don't have any bargaining chips to negotiate with us," Qiao Mei said with a smile.
"Two days ago, Zhao Fei woke up and insisted on going home to see his wife. In the end, he found out that those beasts from the Zhao Family Village had abducted his wife. I hear that that woman is currently pregnant with Zhao Fei's child and still in the very early stages. When Zhao Fei returned to the Zhao Family Village to reason with them, he was also captured," Xia He said angrily.
It would have been less worrisome if they had only kidnapped Zhao Fei. They would not really do anything to Zhao Fei. However, now that Zhao Fei's wife and child were also involved, the Xia family could not leave him in the lurch. After all, Zhao Fei was Li Gui's savior.
As the saying went, a cornered dog would even jump over a wall. Who knew what those people from the Zhao Family Village might do.
Qiao Mei turned around and looked at the children. She really could not bear to leave them now. In the past, she used to think that as long as there was someone by their side, they would be safe. However, it was now proven that even if there was someone accompanying them, the bad guys were still pervasive and unscrupulous enough to do all kinds of things in order to achieve their goals. Liu Fen still lying in the hospital was proof of that.
"Xia Zhe, can you stay at home and take good care of the children?" Qiao Mei looked at Xia Zhe and pleaded.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely protect them well," Xia Zhe promised.
Qiao Mei hugged the children and kissed them on their cheeks. "Mom's going out to run an errand. Dad will stay with you! Don't be afraid! Mom will be back soon."
After saying that, she left the house reluctantly. The safest she ever felt was when the children were still inside her. She looked at her slightly bulging stomach and swore to herself that she must eradicate all these people. What Tuan Yuan and Yuan Yuan had experienced could not happen to this child.
The road at the entrance of the Zhao Family Village was scattered with nails to prevent cars from driving in. Qiao Mei and Xia He had no choice but to walk to Zhao Kai's house.
Zhao Fei and Ding Xiang were tied to the pillars in the courtyard. Those people had even spread thatch under the couple's feet. So long as there was a slightest fire spark, the couple would be burned to ashes.
"You guys are really crazy," Qiao Mei said disdainfully.
"Qiao Mei? Why are you here! Go back quickly!" Zhao Fei said agitatedly.
"We're crazy? How about you're a vicious woman! If not for you! We won't be living such a miserable life! Stop all your pretenses! Hurry up and give me money to treat my father's illness! Otherwise, I'll burn them to death!" Zhao Kai said angrily.
"If you set them on fire, don't even think about leaving here alive," Xia He said with a slight frown.
"Hmph, do I still care about those things? We don't even have food! It's already a problem for us to survive! Why do we care about the rules of society! It's even better if I die. One of me for three of them. I still make a profit! It's such a good deal to have someone accompanying me on the road to the underworld!" Zhao Kai said.
Qiao Mei looked at Ding Xiang. She had lost so much weight that she was only skin and bones and her wrists were bleeding from being tied with hemp rope. There was no color on her face at all. Zhao Fei was no better than her.
"Name your price," Qiao Mei said calmly.
"You… you have to pay 100,000 dollars for my father's medical fees! And you have to give us the planting seeds!" Zhao Kai said.
"You're really too demanding. How dare you even say that!" Xia He gritted her teeth in anger. How could there be such a shameless person?
Qiao Mei felt that it made sense for Zhao Kai to say that. After all, when she came to collect the seeds from the Zhao Family Village the last time, she had paid them about 150,000 dollars. Zhao Kai would be able to deduce that she was rich, which was why he dared to say what he said. It looked like he had some brains, but not much.