Zhan Bei Jue received the call at one in the afternoon. Even if he booked a ticket now, the earliest he could land would be eight in the evening.
He couldn't wait and immediately summoned his private jet, requesting a route from air traffic control, and rushed off.
However, no matter how urgent, it would still take him three hours to reach the small town and meet with Engineer Zhang.
Jiang Nan Fang had disappeared since she woke up that morning.
By four in the afternoon, a full eight hours had passed.
Zhan Bei Jue was beyond commenting on Engineer Zhang's efficiency.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"If they have even more barbaric ways, and they snatch Jiang Nan Fang away and immediately force a marriage..."
He didn't know what he would do.
Engineer Zhang's legs were trembling with fear, his voice quivering.
"At first, we didn't expect it to be a forced marriage. We are outsiders and don't have to follow their customs."
"Besides, Engineer Jiang said she was returning to Nan Cheng this morning. I thought the matter was resolved and she had already left."
"If the cleaner hadn't found her phone while tidying the room and asked me, I still wouldn't know."
"Alright, alright," Zhan Bei Jue interrupted him impatiently.
"Where is she now? Hurry and take me there."
"Is it just us?"
Seeing his urgency, Engineer Zhang couldn't help but worry.
"The people here are very united. For a piece of land, the entire village can rush us and fight, and they've already injured several of our brothers."
"Now, because of a bride... should we call for more people?"
Zhan Bei Jue certainly knew that this group was not enough.
Moreover, he already knew about the custom of forced marriage before coming, and the police did not interfere in local affairs.
He had already contacted higher authorities.
"I can't wait any longer. Just take me there first."
Jiang Nan Fang had been in the bridal chamber with the "groom" for over two hours.
As noon approached, there was still no movement in the room.
Curious villagers gathered again to eavesdrop.
Someone, through a tiny gap under the window, saw that the "groom" seemed to be sitting on the ground.
He quickly reported to the eldest brother: "It seems the matter hasn't been settled. This woman is quite formidable."
"I see Old Fifth sitting on the ground, and the quilt hasn't been tidied."
The eldest brother said: "No matter how formidable she is, she's already entered our family's door. What can she do? Can she rebel? It's only a matter of time before she's dealt with!"
The family busied themselves setting up tables and cooking dishes, preparing for a grand banquet.
"Don't worry about her. Once she bows to heaven and earth, she'll naturally be obedient tonight."
"Call Old Fifth out. I need to speak with him."
Soon, the door was opened from the outside.
A person ran in and whispered a few words into Old Fifth's ear. Clutching his stomach in discomfort, he followed the person out.
Seeing the door about to be closed again, Jiang Nan Fang hurriedly rushed to the doorway.
"Where are you going? Let me out, I want to go out too!"
How could they let her out?
The ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth was about to begin. What if she ran away?
The person pushed her and reached out to close the door again.
Jiang Nan Fang, in a moment of inspiration, said:
"My stomach hurts, and I can't hold it. If you don't let me out soon, I'll soil myself! Let me out!"
They didn't understand what she was saying.
But seeing her frowning, clutching her stomach, and looking very pained.
The person turned to look at Old Fifth.
Old Fifth was clutching his stomach.
He couldn't help but complain: "The ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth is about to begin, and you two are both in a hurry to go to the toilet. How pathetic!"
"Go on, go on, hurry and go! Come back quickly!"
It would have been better if she hadn't come out. The moment she did, Jiang Nan Fang was startled by the scene before her.
Everyone in the entire village had gathered at their house.
At this moment, she was standing on the second floor of the wooden house.
In the courtyard below, wooden tables and benches were set up.
The villagers, young and old, were happily seated, waiting for the meal.
The eldest, second, third, and fourth brothers, as if marrying off their own bride, were enthusiastically weaving through the crowd.
The joy of their younger brother marrying a wife was visibly apparent.
Looking further into the distance, there were towering mountains and winding mountain paths everywhere.
Jiang Nan Fang secretly thought, "This is big trouble."
But this wouldn't stop her from escaping.
In the direction of the village entrance, a dark green pickup truck was parked.
If she remembered correctly, that was the eldest brother's car.
It was the one he drove in a hurry to take his mother to the hospital yesterday.
If she could get the keys, why would she worry about not being able to leave this place?
Fearing that Jiang Nan Fang might sneak away, the man found two women to watch her and accompany her to the toilet.
Jiang Nan Fang, sandwiched between them, slowly descended the stairs.
Seeing her come down, everyone who had been making noise suddenly fell silent.
They all looked at her with heightened vigilance.
The eldest brother ran over to ask the women what was happening, and they explained.
Then he said, "Keep a close eye on her, don't let her run. Come back quickly after using the toilet, and close the door."
Jiang Nan Fang took the opportunity to observe him.
Perhaps he felt proud of owning a pickup truck.
He very proudly hung the keys on his belt for everyone to see.
The keys were within easy reach, but because everyone was watching, they now seemed impossibly far away.
As Jiang Nan Fang walked towards the outhouse behind the house, she pondered in her mind how to get the keys.
After squatting inside for a while, she came up with an idea.
When she came out, the two women immediately grabbed her arms to pull her back. She said to the women:
"Don't go back yet, wait. I have something to say to the eldest brother. Ask him to come over."
She jabbered, and the women couldn't understand.
Jiang Nan Fang pointed to the eldest brother and then to herself, "Ask him to come and talk to me."
The women still didn't understand.
Jiang Nan Fang suddenly became angry, reached out, and twisted the woman's arm behind her back with a forceful move.
The two women were instantly flustered, letting out chaotic cries. Soon, everyone's attention was drawn to them.
The brothers, thinking she was trying to escape, rushed over immediately.
Jiang Nan Fang released the women and looked at the eldest brother with affectionate eyes.
"I don't want to talk to them. You come over alone. I have something to tell you."
"..." Everyone turned their gaze to the eldest brother.
The eldest brother couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and asked her what she meant in broken Mandarin.
"I've taken a liking to you. I don't want anyone else but you. You're not married yet, are you?"
Jiang Nan Fang continued to look at him affectionately, "Come over, let's discuss getting married."
"..." The other brothers were clearly stunned.
Facing the beautiful and extraordinary Jiang Nan Fang, who suddenly wanted to marry him, it was impossible not to be excited. However, the eldest brother still had his senses.
"You are the woman my fifth brother has taken a liking to..."
"I don't care, I just want to talk to you. Otherwise, I won't get married today, even if you beat me to death! Come over, have them step aside, and I'll get a good look at you."
"Eldest Brother..."
The eldest brother looked thoughtful. After a two-second pause, he finally decided it was best to have a proper talk with Jiang Nan Fang.
He instructed his brothers to leave first, saying he would persuade his sister-in-law.
The brothers left, looking back repeatedly, while Jiang Nan Fang turned and headed towards the back of the house.
The eldest brother hesitated, feeling it was improper, but couldn't resist following her.