The villagers stood above, smiling insincerely at the panicked female students. "Come up quickly. Since you're all here, don't think about leaving."
The male passengers didn't move. Firstly, Ning Wei had spoken to them, and secondly, this mission seemed harmless.
One woman became distraught and shouted, "I want to go home! I want to go home!"
Her outburst made the village chief's face turn extremely unpleasant.
"Drag her up!" the village chief said sternly.
At this moment, the village chief's eldest son punched the woman directly in the stomach. He was very strong, and the woman clutched her stomach and fell to the ground, after which she was forcibly dragged upstairs by the eldest son.
A group of dumbfounded female students remained standing. The village chief thought he had intimidated them.
"Do you want to come up yourselves, or shall I invite you?" the village chief threatened.
Yuan Yuan was so scared she clung to Ning Wei. Even Zhu Yilian, who was usually sharp-tongued, moved closer to Ning Wei.
Ning Wei held one person in each hand. Zhu Yilian was surprised but very cooperative.
"Don't hit us. We'll come up now," Ning Wei said first.
Hearing this, Mei Nan's eyes twitched.
Ning Wei pulled Yuan Yuan and Zhu Yilian onto the platform in the center of the drying ground, followed by a string of others.
Due to limited space, the village chief was forced to stand aside and preside.
He first looked at all the female students as if appraising goods, then pointed at Ning Wei and said, "Let's start with you."
Ning Wei smiled and agreed, "Alright."
Since Wang Shunli had already set his sights on Ning Wei, this was just a formality. Although the people below admired Ning Wei's appearance, they hesitated to bid.
At this moment, Li Bai was eager to try, but his parents stood by, especially Old Man Li, who had already warned him once.
Li Bai had courage but was held back by unsupportive parents.
He blamed everything on his parents. If not for them, Ning Wei, with their shared feelings, would have become his wife, and they would have lived happily ever after. Ning Wei would have given him three or five children.
Looking at Ning Wei's ample chest, the milk supply for the children would surely be enough!
Li Bai was full of regret. The old woman beside him kept tugging at his clothes, reminding him.
Because Li Bai's gaze was too audacious, Wang Shunli, who was on the drying ground, became very displeased and stared intently at him, his gaze like a venomous snake.
Old Man Li took out his pipe from his back and hit Li Bai hard on the head.
Li Bai was stunned and clutched his head, turning back to look at Old Man Li with disbelief.
The people around them covered their mouths and laughed, enjoying the spectacle.
Li Bai wanted to lash out, but he always felt inferior to Old Man Li, perhaps due to the suppression from their bloodline.
Li Bai finally behaved, and Wang Shunli withdrew his gaze.
Wang Jianye, Wang Shunli's elder brother, noticed his younger brother's unusual mood. He had just returned that morning and wasn't aware of the events of the past few days.
"What's wrong?" Wang Jianye asked in a low voice.
Wang Shunli shook his head. "Just someone who doesn't know their place fancies something that doesn't belong to them."
Wang Jianye knew his younger brother was stubborn and ruthless, no less than himself.
The family had long wanted to find a wife for him to change his temperament, but Wang Shunli was too picky. He hadn't liked any of the batches of goods that had arrived in the village.
This batch was exceptionally good. If he already had a wife and children, he would have wanted one himself.
Wang Jianye tentatively asked Wang Shunli, "Is there anyone in this batch that catches your eye?"
Wang Shunli nodded but didn't say who it was.
Ning Wei, who was the most outstanding among the women on the platform, had no bids. Wang Jianye was very puzzled.
The next moment, the village chief explained the mystery.
The village chief was a hypocrite. Even though his son had already decided on the best "item," he wouldn't say it directly.
"Since no one fancies her, I'll have my son Wang Shunli reluctantly take her," the village chief said. Listen to him, he got the benefit but acted like he was doing a favor!
"Shunli, do you want this woman as your wife?" the village chief turned to ask his son.
Wang Shunli had learned all his father's hypocrisy. He replied with some reluctance, "Since no one has bid, I'll take her."
Wang Shunli's behavior was twofold: first, to emulate his village chief father, and second, to control Ning Wei.
He wanted to make Ning Wei realize that she was unwanted merchandise. If he didn't take her, she would be sold to a more remote and desolate mountain, perhaps never to see familiar faces again.
Staying in the village, at least she would have her classmates for company.
After receiving Wang Shunli's affirmative answer, the village chief smiled and announced to everyone, "Then the Wang family will also celebrate a wedding tonight. Everyone is invited to my house for a drink."
The people below naturally flattered him with many words, making the village chief beam with joy.
Next was Yuan Yuan.
As expected, the man Yuan Yuan had seen before offered the best price for her.
If Ning Wei hadn't been by her side, she would have been so scared her legs would have gone weak.
Next was Zhu Yilian. She was also good-looking, and apart from Ning Wei, she was one of the more outstanding ones.
Li Bai's mother somehow learned that Zhu Yilian's family was also well-off. So when it was Zhu Yilian's turn to be bid on, she immediately whispered in Old Man Li's ear.
Old Man Li readily agreed. He wouldn't refuse such a distinguished in-law.
To people in this mountain village, working in the government, even in a minor official position, was equivalent to being an ancient mandarin.
Being able to form a family tie with such a family was a blessing from eight lifetimes.
Although Li Bai was somewhat unwilling, he couldn't go against his parents. After all, he was penniless, and today everyone was having wedding feasts. He couldn't remain alone until dawn.
Looking at Zhu Yilian again, she was quite attractive. She looked slightly taller than Ning Wei, but her skin wasn't as smooth and fair as Ning Wei's.
However, her chest was just as full, and her rounded hips, accentuated by her jeans, clearly indicated a body suited for bearing sons!
Li Bai felt a surge of heat, and his gaze became bolder.
Seeing his reaction, the old woman beside him understood immediately and exchanged a look with Old Man Li.
Old Man Li had previously agreed with Wang Shunli that as long as he took a puff from his pipe, it would signify that his family was interested in the "item" currently being bid on.