Zhan Jingchun struggled desperately, but the power imbalance was too great. In the end, Peng Fei succeeded.
Afterward, she lay there with a dead heart as Peng Fei helped her clean up. Tears slid down silently.
Perhaps heaven had been too kind to her before she turned twenty-two, giving her too many good things. That was why she encountered such a thing just before her twenty-third birthday.
She was no longer pure.
Whether she could return to Nancheng smoothly or not, there was no future for her and her boyfriend.
Recalling their past, her boyfriend's gentle and gentlemanly demeanor, her hatred for Peng Fei reached its peak.
After it was over, hearing him promise to treat her well and give her everything she wanted, she just wanted to find a needle and sew his mouth shut.
Peng Fei slept soundly that night, but Zhan Jingchun was sleepless.
Tossing and turning with mixed emotions until dawn, Fangfang changed into clean clothes and excitedly came to find her.
"Sister-in-law, can I go with you to the feast? You'll bring me along, right?"
She had been looking forward to the feast yesterday, but now she didn't want to see anyone.
It seemed like others could tell what she had been through just by looking at her face; it was so shameful.
Zhan Jingchun couldn't help but ask the heavens again, why did heaven treat her this way? Why torment her to the point of wishing she were dead?
Seeing her pale face and her ignoring him, Fangfang wisely went out again.
After making breakfast, Peng Fei also knew he had upset her yesterday. He hesitantly brought breakfast to coax her.
"Don't be unhappy anymore. Isn't this how everyone goes through it? I'll be gentler in the future..."
"You're still talking? Get lost!"
"I won't say anymore. Hurry up and change your clothes, we need to go. I have to go early to help."
"Who cares about going with you? I'm not going!"
Peng Fei's expectant eyes dimmed. He stared at her for two seconds and sighed silently.
"Alright then, if you don't want to go, forget it. I'll bring you something delicious back."
Zhan Jingchun was so angry she didn't want to eat breakfast. Wrapped in the bedsheet, she lay there like a wooden plank, lost in thought.
After breakfast, seeing no movement from her room, Fangfang sneaked over again.
Seeing that her food had gone cold and she hadn't touched it, she couldn't help but cautiously lean over the bed.
"Sister-in-law, why are you unhappy? Did my brother upset you? He probably didn't mean to. He's usually a very good person. Please don't be angry with him anymore, okay?"
"Today is really lively. Every family in the village will go. I really want to go with you. Please get up."
Zhan Jingchun still ignored her. Fangfang chattered on, saying which family's sister-in-law and which family's aunt would go, and that everyone would wear their prettiest clothes at such times. It was a rare grand event for the village.
However, no matter how they dressed up, they wouldn't be a tenth as beautiful as Zhan Jingchun. Everyone knew her brother had married a sister-in-law, but they hadn't seen her yet. If the sister-in-law appeared today, she would surely amaze everyone.
Zhan Jingchun didn't want to amaze anyone. What was the point of competing for beauty with these rustic village women, even if she won?
However, she got a piece of useful information from Fangfang's words.
Other families' wives would also go? They were all around her age, some even younger than her. Did this mean she had a chance to make friends?
She finally perked up a bit and asked Fangfang about which family's sister-in-law and which family's aunt came from where.
Fangfang wasn't too clear either, listing a few addresses.
It turned out they were all bought from all over the country.
How could they willingly stay, have children, and live their lives?
Zhan Jingchun didn't understand. She was curious about what had happened to them. More importantly, after what happened last night, she was afraid of getting pregnant and needed to get some medicine quickly to prevent it.
So, she finally got out of bed.
Fangfang helped her boil hot water, and she washed her hair in the room.
When Peng Fei returned from outside with a shoulder pole, Zhan Jingchun, who had just washed her hair, was drying it in the sun.
The simple pink t-shirt that looked ordinary on others was so fitting and radiant on her.
Paired with slightly oversized denim shorts and the white sneakers she had brought herself, she looked as beautiful as a fairy.
Recalling what he had grabbed yesterday, her smooth skin, her uncontrollable expression, in broad daylight, Peng Fei actually...
Sensing someone watching her, Zhan Jingchun turned to look and met Peng Fei's dazed gaze. Angered, she rolled her eyes again, dropped the towel, and turned to the other side.
Even the way she threw the towel was so playful and cute; Peng Fei was smitten.
Her hair was half-dry. Peng Fei had organized his things and called them to go out.
His mother had privately instructed Fangfang to keep an eye on Zhan Jingchun and not to run away in the confusion.
The sisters-in-law held hands, with Peng Fei a step ahead. The three of them quietly arrived at the house where the feast was to be held.
This is how feasts are held in the countryside; every family contributes labor to help. Wives who don't have to look after children also help pick vegetables and wash dishes.
Although it was still early, many people had already gathered.
They chatted and laughed, coming and going, making for a lively scene.
As soon as Peng Fei appeared, a few of his childhood friends, with cigarettes in their mouths, came over.
While talking to him, they looked behind him.
Seeing Zhan Jingchun, they all stared.
"A few days ago, we heard Old Man Li say you married a beautiful wife. We were all wondering how beautiful she could be. We never expected her to be this beautiful. You, kid, are truly blessed!"
"Yeah, damn, she's like a movie star. What kind of luck do you have? Where did you get her from?"
"So beautiful? She must be difficult to handle, right? Did she put up a big fight? Did you get her? You have a bad temper, you have to be gentle with her. Even scaring her has its limits, otherwise with her small frame..."
Peng Fei was always fierce and to the point with his friends, and they all feared him.
Hearing them, he didn't say anything. He swept them a cold glance, and they immediately straightened up and went about their business.
He turned back and instructed Fangfang, "Take your sister-in-law inside to find a seat. She didn't eat breakfast, find something for her to eat."
Then, he cast a reluctant glance at Zhan Jingchun. "I'm going to work. Stay with Fangfang. If you need anything, call her to call me."
Fangfang led Zhan Jingchun inside with familiarity. As soon as they reached a group of women, everyone cast admiring glances at them.
Zhan Jingchun also stared at them.
Each person held a baby, and some had a toddler next to them.
The children all had rosy cheeks, tanned by the sun, wearing rustic clothes and sandals, eating candy in their hands.
Those women didn't look very old, dressed similarly to her, their faces sallow and dark.
But one of them was exceptionally different from the rest.
She was tall and slender, with delicate skin. Even though she was pregnant, she looked very elegant in a man's oversized t-shirt.
Zhan Jingchun's gaze was involuntarily drawn to her. They exchanged glances for a few seconds. She smiled first, and the woman smiled back at her.
Someone asked Fangfang, "Who is this, your sister-in-law?"