Zhan Jingchun's world had collapsed.
If before her feelings towards Peng Fei were simply hatred, now disgust was added, and she could barely look at him.
Even though he was exceptionally attentive, not needing her to help him use the restroom or bathe, and requiring nothing from her except to open her mouth to eat, she still rejected his advances.
Now, she no longer knew what she was living for.
For her parents?
Peng Fei guarded her at all times, and she saw no hope of escape.
For herself?
She was like a walking corpse, with no motivation to live.
Yet, she didn't even have the right to die.
The days passed in a daze, her temper becoming extremely bad, treating Peng Fei almost like a slave. She expected everything to be done for her, and if anything displeased her, she would hit and scold him, refuse to eat, or even overturn the meals he painstakingly prepared.
But no matter how ill-behaved she was, Peng Fei bore it all without complaint.
Sometimes, watching him humbly clean up the mess she made, she wanted to call him a pig, like worthless trash with no dignity. Yet, even then, Peng Fei still cherished her.
Another month passed in the blink of an eye.
In that month, Zhan Jingchun had eaten all the chickens and eggs from Peng's household. Besides farming, they had no other income, and the debts incurred from buying things for Zhan Jingchun had not yet been repaid. Unable to provide her with a better life, Peng Fei felt frustrated.
That day, he brought only a bowl of vegetable noodles. Zhan Jingchun glanced at it and refused to eat.
"Am I not carrying your precious son? And you give me this? Aren't you afraid of malnutrition?"
She wasn't craving anything specific, and in fact, she was tired of eating meat and soup every day.
But she knew this would touch a nerve with Peng Fei and make him unhappy, so she was as sharp and sarcastic as she could be, as if only then could she feel a little better.
As expected, Peng Fei's heart was pierced. After a moment of silence, he coaxed her.
"Eat first, and I'll go catch a wild chicken for you later. From now on, you'll have meat every meal."
"Hah! Catch a wild chicken for me? You're so poor you can't even afford meat, yet you want to have a child? What's the point of bringing him into this world to inherit your ignorance and suffering?"
Her hair had grown out a bit and was unkempt, resembling a messy black hat, giving her a peculiar charm.
For the tenth thousand time, Peng Fei was captivated by her stunning beauty and couldn't bring himself to get angry.
"It will get better. I'll go find work in a while, and everything will be alright."
Work?
Zhan Jingchun had never expected him to have such an idea before.
Yes, in this day and age, everyone was leaving the mountain villages to find work. Even delivering food in big cities or working in factories, the money earned in a year was much better than farming.
Zhan Jingchun suddenly saw a glimmer of hope.
"Where will you go to work? What will you do? Are you leaving here?"
Peng Fei could see the anticipation in her eyes. Her anticipation was precisely what he feared, and he felt disappointed once again.
She seemed to never be satisfied with him, no matter how wholeheartedly he devoted himself.
"I'll tell you when the time comes. I'll let you know when I leave. Eat first."
To please him and accompany him on a long journey, hoping for an opportunity to escape, Zhan Jingchun began to eat properly.
After the meal, she even gently suggested going out for a walk with him.
"I've never seen anyone catch a wild chicken. Lying around at home all day is making me lazy. Can I go with you?"
"I promise not to cause trouble, nor will I run off. I just want to get out and change my mood."
Peng Fei dared not let her go. It wasn't that he feared she would escape into the mountains; he knew she was incapable of that.
It was because the mountains were too harsh, the paths difficult, and she was pregnant.
"No, there's nothing to see. You won't be able to walk, and I'll only be gone one night, returning tomorrow."
To stay out for another night? Zhan Jingchun became even more eager.
"I'm going! Didn't you always say you would treat me well, not anger me, and do whatever I say? You can't even agree to this small request?"
"It's not that I don't agree..."
"Smash!"
Zhan Jingchun threw the porcelain bowl she was drinking from onto the ground.
"If you don't let me go, I'll cause trouble here myself! I'll hit my stomach! I won't eat or drink, and I'll lose your son!"
Peng Fei: "..."
After a moment of stalemate, he sighed softly and bent down to pick up the porcelain bowl.
"I'll go tell Mom. Don't be angry, you can't get angry right now."
Peng Fei went to the yard, and as expected, soon heard Peng's mother's dissatisfied curses.
Although Peng Fei was usually a man of few words, he held a key position in the family.
Whenever something happened, even if his mother made a big fuss, she could never ultimately get her way against him.
After a brief argument, the door was pushed open. Peng Fei, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and pants and carrying a large bag on his back, came in to call Zhan Jingchun.
"Get up, let's go."
Peng's mother had been defeated again, and Zhan Jingchun felt a wicked sense of triumph.
Helped up by him, Peng Fei found a set of his own thick clothes for her to change into.
"The road is long, and we might not return tonight. It gets cold in the mountains in the morning and evening, so wear something warm."
He cared for her like a child, tying her up from head to toe to ensure she was safe before squatting down to put on her shoes.
As the two of them walked out hand in hand, they were surprised to see Fangfang waiting for them, carrying a large thermos and a bulging schoolbag on her right shoulder.
Zhan Jingchun didn't know what day of the week it was and was a little surprised.
"Why aren't you at school?"
"It's Sunday. Mom asked me to go with you."
"Didn't your brother say the mountain paths are difficult? Can you keep up?"
Peng Fei pulled her along, unconcerned. "It's fine, she's used to it. She walks like this to school every day."
Since that was the case, Zhan Jingchun said no more, and the three of them set off.
It was already autumn. After lunch, although the sun was bright, it no longer felt scorching on the skin. Coupled with a gentle breeze, it was quite pleasant.
Zhan Jingchun hadn't been out for so long that her mood improved slightly.
As they walked, she chatted with Peng Fei, asking how far it was and what they would catch.
Peng Fei didn't answer, but Fangfang chimed in.
"In the past, when autumn and winter arrived, my brother and other young men from the village would go up the mountain to hunt wild game. But it was cold then, and most of the leaves had fallen. There were many pheasants, rabbits, wild boars, and weasels. We're out early this year, and the leaves are still green. I don't know if it will be easy to catch anything."
Zhan Jingchun hadn't realized that there were so many treasures in such a barren and desolate mountain.
Originally, they should have set off in the morning and reached their destination by noon, giving them time to set traps.
To please Zhan Jingchun, they had set off today on impulse, and she didn't know when they would arrive.
Peng Fei didn't say anything, but he was anxious.
However, Zhan Jingchun was delicate and weak and couldn't walk fast. He dared not urge her, so he could only accompany her slowly.
Even so, after walking for only an hour, Zhan Jingchun couldn't go on.
Vines and branches surrounded them. She didn't know how deep into the mountains they were going. Looking at the expanse of green forest ahead, she became angry again.
"What kind of place is this? To go through all this trouble for a mouthful of food, I'm exhausted. I can't walk anymore, I need to rest."