Zhao Xiaohua glanced around, saw no one was paying attention to her, then got up and walked towards Zhao Dexing.
"Uncle Dexing, why didn't you bring a bowl to eat? Go back and get one. You'll have to grab it with your hands later."
When the Zhao family held banquets, they borrowed tables and chairs, but guests brought their own bowls and chopsticks. Everyone brought their own from home, and took them back to wash after eating. The host only needed to prepare large serving bowls for the dishes.
Zhao Dexing was extremely lazy. He had forgotten to bring his own bowls and chopsticks when he went out today. When he arrived at the Shen family's house and saw the bowls and chopsticks laid out on the tables, he only then remembered. But he was too lazy to leave. He was afraid that if he left, others would start eating and finish all the good food. So he stood there rigidly, not moving at all, just waiting for the dishes to be served.
Zhao Hai'e's words naturally couldn't move him.
"Uncle Dexing, there surely aren't any extra bowls and chopsticks at Dashan's house. Your home is at the end of the village, too far away, you won't make it in time. Since it hasn't started eating yet, why don't you quickly go borrow one from the Shen family next door? I just saw Sister-in-law Shen go back. Hurry up."
Zhao Hai'e's words seemed innocent, but they played on Zhao Dexing's pre-existing lustful thoughts.
"What did you say? Shen Yun, that young lady from the city, went back alone?"
Zhao Dexing's mind raced, and he rubbed his hands together impatiently. Zhao Hai'e, hearing that this tomcat was even more eager for mischief than she imagined, immediately nodded and urged him on, "Yes, yes, hurry and follow her, lest she comes back in a flash."
After saying this, Zhao Hai'e pretended nothing had happened and returned to Zhao Xiaohua's side. The two sisters exchanged a look no one could understand and then lowered their heads to drink the bitter buckwheat tea brewed by Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi put the extra pig offal in the kitchen, covered it with a lid, went to the privy to change her menstrual pad. However, her lower abdomen still ached intermittently, so she drew hot water to apply to her stomach. She untied her clothes and had just lain down on the bed when she heard noises from the yard.
Su Xiaoqi peered through the crack in the door and saw that it was Zhao Dexing, the village's old bachelor. She was startled and thought, "Why is he running to my house? Is he stealing something?" This Zhao bachelor already had a reputation in the village, but it was a notorious one.
Just as she was considering whether to cry out a warning, she saw Zhao bachelor kick open all three doors. Soon, it was the turn of the room where Su Xiaoqi was. She was thrown back three steps by the sudden force, falling to the ground.
Zhao bachelor saw Su Xiaoqi lying on the ground in her undergarments. Her figure was lithe, with a prominent front and back, which made him extremely excited. He rubbed his hands and cackled sinisterly as he lunged forward.
Su Xiaoqi was in a panic. By the time she reacted, Zhao bachelor's pockmarked face was already close. The pustule-covered lips spewed a foul breath, and the yellowish-black teeth were disgusting to behold. Su Xiaoqi moved backward, clutching her abdomen. Zhao bachelor licked his lips and let out a lewd shout, "Damn, she truly is a young lady from the city. Even her scent is fragrant. Today, I am blessed."
As he spoke, he reached out to press Su Xiaoqi's bulging abdomen. Just then, Su Xiaoqi kicked towards his crotch.
"Oh, damn it, you crazy bitch, you dare to kick me. I'm going to fuck you to death, you goddamn slut..." Zhao bachelor clutched his groin, hopping in pain. When he recovered, he no longer had any tender feelings for Su Xiaoqi, his only thought was to pounce and have his way with her.
Su Xiaoqi wouldn't give him the chance. She rolled over and sat up, grabbing the footstool from under the bed and smashing it at Zhao bachelor.
"Motherfucker, you crazy bitch, you're still so fierce." Zhao bachelor cursed as he dodged. He had truly underestimated her. He thought that as a pampered young lady from the city, she would be delicate and fragile, like a willow in the wind. He thought all he had to do was make a small move, and she would be easily taken. If he had known it would be this difficult, he should have brought some sleeping powder to knock her out before doing anything. Now he not only failed to achieve his goal but also got kicked.
When her blow missed, Su Xiaoqi rolled up her clothes and ferociously charged forward. She grabbed Zhao bachelor's arms and slammed him onto the ground, making him cry out in pain. Su Xiaoqi showed no mercy, stomping on his ankle with the intention of crippling him if not killing him.
At this moment, light footsteps could be heard from the yard. The person was deliberately keeping their sound down; if Su Xiaoqi's hearing hadn't been so good, she wouldn't have heard them. Su Xiaoqi stretched out her neck to look and was so shocked her heart almost leaped out of her chest. It was Shen Yun, Shen Yun had returned.
She looked at her clothes and the dazed Zhao bachelor she had beaten. The scene looked awkward, and also somewhat familiar, as if she were back to the day she had first transmigrated. In a moment of inspiration, she wrapped herself in a quilt and huddled in a corner, crying "Wuwu."
Zhao bachelor recovered and wondered why this woman, who had been fierce moments ago, was now crying like a frightened quail. However, this was a good opportunity for him. He pounced on Su Xiaoqi, unwilling to give up. But before he could even touch Su Xiaoqi's clothes, he was knocked unconscious from behind.
Hearing the commotion, Su Xiaoqi threw off the quilt and rushed into Shen Yun's arms, wiping away her tears and sobbing heartbrokenly, "Husband..." Shen Yun held her, his embrace gentle as the person in his arms trembled as if terrified. He deliberately softened his voice, "It's alright, it's alright."
"Husband, I'm scared. He almost bullied me just now," Su Xiaoqi said, half crying, half explaining. She made it clear that although Zhao bachelor had the intention, he hadn't succeeded. Shen Yun, of course, knew this, and he was glad he had returned in time. The couple embraced, one crying, the other comforting.
Unexpectedly, a large crowd was now heading towards the Shen family's house, instigated by someone with ulterior motives. Su Xiaoqi's ears buzzed. She pushed Shen Yun away, wiped her tears, and said, "Oh no, someone's coming." Zhao bachelor was lying there. Even if he hadn't succeeded, if someone saw this, her reputation would be ruined.
Shen Yun vigorously patted Zhao bachelor, trying to wake him up and get him out. But in his anger, he had hit him a bit too hard, and after several pats, he still couldn't wake him. Shen Yun reluctantly stood up and walked towards the door, "You rest, I'll go out to deal with it."
Su Xiaoqi put on her clothes as she responded. Then she looked around the room for a place to hide. Unfortunately, there wasn't any. Their room was very cramped, with only a simple wooden bed, a double-doored old wardrobe, and a small side table with a missing corner. From the outside, it was obvious that not only a person but even a needle could be found quickly.
Su Xiaoqi felt a little panicked. She heard Shen Yun negotiating outside and felt it wasn't going well. It was clear he wouldn't be able to stop them for long. This was because the person leading the group was Madam Qian, who was most skilled at causing trouble. According to reliable information from Zhao Hai'e, Madam Qian suspected that Su Xiaoqi had returned midway because she had hidden some of the wild boar meat that Shen Yun had promised to share.
"Eldest Aunt, you can't go in. My wife is not feeling well." Shen Yun was trying to block Liu Cuixiang, but he didn't expect Madam Qian to circle around his defense from the other side. Being elders, Shen Yun dared not lay hands on them. Otherwise, being branded as disrespectful to elders would be enough trouble for him. But the scene inside the room was not something they should see.
Shen Yun dodged to block Madam Qian, but Liu Cuixiang tripped him, causing him to be a step behind, allowing Madam Qian to push the door open. He followed behind Madam Qian, turned, and closed the door. He had already decided that if only Madam Qian saw, he would bribe her with money. He nervously looked at the spot where Zhao bachelor was lying. Where was anyone there? It was empty, and even the footstool that had been knocked over was neatly placed, as if nothing had happened.