Zhan Jingchun was full, but she needed to use the restroom.
She found it difficult to speak to a stranger, and after much thought, could only nod awkwardly.
Since she had eaten, Peng Fei saw no reason to stay any longer; he had to go to work in the fields.
He pulled the clothes covering her a little further, "Then you sleep well and rest. I'll go work in the fields first."
Zhan Jingchun lacked the strength to say much, and could only watch him leave.
After a rustling sound, the door closed, leaving her alone.
Although she wanted to use the restroom, she couldn't fight off her sleepiness, and soon fell into a deep slumber.
In her dreams, her daddy, mommy, older brothers, and sisters, everyone was looking for her, including her classmates who were on the same trip.
The scenes were so real, everyone was frantic, and her daddy was furious, almost tearing South City apart.
She desperately wanted to tell them where she was, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Her agitation woke her up.
Opening her eyes, she looked outside. Only a faint light was visible. She didn't know if it was dark outside or if the window had been covered.
She couldn't call out and lacked the strength to get up, so she could only resign herself to fate and wait for Peng Fei to find her.
But a long, long time passed, and Peng Fei didn't come in.
Feeling extremely uncomfortable, she tried to get off the bed.
Coincidentally, just as she pushed herself up, dizzy and disoriented, someone arrived outside the door.
Peng Fei opened the door and saw her weakly trying to get up. He quickly walked in.
"Why are you awake? Are you hungry? I saved dinner for you. I saw you sleeping soundly when I returned this afternoon, so I didn't dare to wake you. I'll bring it to you."
Zhan Jingchun wasn't hungry, and she couldn't afford to be shy anymore. Her stomach felt very uncomfortable.
"I need to use the restroom."
This was the first sentence she had spoken since he met her.
Her voice was beautiful, just like her, sweet and clear. Peng Fei felt his ears tingle.
"I'll go get a basin for you."
With that, he ran out quickly, not forgetting to close the door behind him.
Zhan Jingchun didn't understand what he meant. She said she needed to use the restroom, so why was he getting a basin?
Finally managing to sit up weakly, there wasn't even a headboard to lean against. She tried to steady herself and waited for Peng Fei to return.
Soon, he came back with a green plastic basin, holding a flashlight.
"Go ahead, I'll wait outside for you."
He gently placed the basin by the bed.
Zhan Jingchun was greatly surprised. In this day and age, she was expected to use a basin for her toilet needs? Did they not have a toilet in their house?
"How can this be? I need to use the restroom."
Normally, new brides in the village were not allowed to go out, for fear they might run off.
But this wife was truly different from others; she was so weak she seemed like she might faint at any moment. Moreover, she wasn't crying or making a fuss. Peng Fei couldn't bear to argue with her.
After a moment of stunned silence, he asked, "Can you get down? Can you walk?"
"But I can't relieve myself on the bed, can I? I can manage."
"Let me help you."
Peng Fei supported her by the arm and helped her off the bed.
The two of them, holding the flashlight, walked outside together.
In the summer countryside, a cool breeze blew, cicadas and frogs chirped, and the moonlight was bright. The mixed sounds provided a wonderful visual and auditory experience for her, an art student.
Unfortunately, Zhan Jingchun was in no mood to appreciate it.
In the lower-left corner of the yard, a small toilet was built with bricks, covered with corn stalks, and a dark curtain hung at the entrance.
Peng Fei helped her over and handed her the flashlight.
"I'll wait outside for you. Just put the flashlight on the ground."
As she approached the entrance, she was hit by a foul odor, almost making her vomit.
She knew their family was poor, but she hadn't expected them to be this poor...
It was her first time seeing a rural pit latrine. If she hadn't been desperate, she truly wouldn't have wanted to go in.
She couldn't bring herself to reach for the dark curtain. Zhan Jingchun looked at the ground, saw a fallen branch, picked one up, and used it to lift the curtain.
Shining the flashlight on the ground, she was so startled that she screamed, took two steps back, and fell into Peng Fei's arms.
"Ah, there are bugs! Bugs!"
It was hot in the summer, and the rural pit latrines, if not cleaned for a few days, would have layers of maggots crawling out. Even the places to step were covered, making one's scalp tingle.
Zhan Jingchun was truly disgusted. Without time to push Peng Fei away, she leaned on his arm and vomited again.
Peng Fei, having grown up in the countryside, was accustomed to such scenes. Honestly, he found them unpleasant too.
He knew she was fair and tender, like someone from the city, but he hadn't expected her to be so easily disgusted.
Men were inherently proud. At this moment, he felt his own inadequacy.
He gently patted Zhan Jingchun's back, and only spoke after she had vomited everything from her stomach.
"I told you to use the basin... Let me help you back."
Fangfang heard the scream and rushed out from the inner room.
Seeing her sister-in-law vomiting again, she obediently fetched a bowl of water.
Zhan Jingchun rinsed her mouth and looked at the girl with large eyes, delicate features, but dry, yellow hair.
"What about the ground?"
Fangfang said, "It's okay, I'll sweep it."
"Let's go, let's go back."
Her body, which had started to feel a little better in the afternoon, was now exhausted after the ordeal and she couldn't walk.
Peng Fei saw her staggering and practically lifted her, carrying her into the room.
The flashlight beam swayed on the ground, making her dizzy.
Zhan Jingchun couldn't help but ask him, "Don't you have electricity here? Why aren't you turning on the lights?"
Actually, they did have electricity, and some families in better conditions had even bought televisions.
But their father had died early, and it was difficult for their mother to raise the three siblings. They saved every penny they could, so they had never connected to electricity.
"Can't you see clearly? I'll light the lamp for you."
Peng Fei's voice was hesitant. He helped her to the bedside, then strode to the table, rummaged through it, and lit a kerosene lamp.
Zhan Jingchun never imagined that at her age, she would have the chance to see an antique like a kerosene lamp.
The tiny flame flickered around the room, and she sighed.
"Alright, you can go out now."
Peng Fei obediently turned off the flashlight and withdrew from the room, standing guard outside.
"If you need anything, call me. I won't go far."
What kind of situation was it for him to guard outside while a woman used the toilet?
Originally feeling awkward about the basin, even with Zhan Jingchun's good temper, she became impatient by now.
"I can't go with you here. Go back to sleep. Oh, by the way, what time is it, and what's the date?"
"I don't know. I'll go and check for you."
Peng Fei's footsteps gradually faded away.
She squatted down, trying hard to position herself over the basin, exerting a lot of effort, but she still couldn't go.
Feeling so defeated, Zhan Jingchun couldn't help but feel like crying again.
Soon, Peng Fei came running back, telling her from outside the door.
"07:48. We don't have a calendar at home."
It was only past seven in the morning?
Looking at the quiet surroundings, she had thought it was the middle of the night.
Zhan Jingchun's priority was to recover her health, so she called Peng Fei to come in.
"What about dinner? Didn't you say you'd bring it to me?"