At dusk.
Chu Dazhuang drank himself into a slight stupor, and at this moment, looking at his sister-in-law Wang Guiqin, with a flushed face before him, his heart was exceptionally fond of her.
"If my parents were still alive, sister-in-law, you and I would be family by now!"
"Aren't we now?"
Wang Guiqin got up to start clearing the bowls and chopsticks.
"It's not the same. My uncle and auntie played dirty, marrying you off to my good-for-nothing elder brother. Humph, it turned you into a widow, and they're still not letting you go!"
Chu Dazhuang grew angrier as he thought about it, and just then, his uncle Chu Jun and aunt Xu Fengjiao walked in from outside.
Seeing Chu Dazhuang sitting at the table with both alcohol and meat, Chu Jun glared at him with displeasure and headed to his own room.
But Xu Fengjiao rolled her eyes at Chu Dazhuang, "My, aren't you something, little man? Where did you get the money to buy wine and meat? Don't tell me you stole it from the family!"
Chu Dazhuang took out five hundred Yuan from his pocket and slammed it onto the table, "I earned this money myself, what about it!"
Seeing the stack of cash on the table, Xu Fengjiao was taken aback. She quickly snatched the money, "Where did you get this? Let me tell you, if I find out this money was stolen from the family, you're in big trouble with me!"
She said and turned to walk out.
"That's my money!" Chu Dazhuang chased after her anxiously, but Xu Fengjiao slammed the door of the room shut with a bang.
"Let's see if there's anything missing from the house first!"
Chu Dazhuang was furious, but he couldn't do much about his money-grubbing aunt. He couldn't help but vow inwardly: when I make even more money, I'll make you kneel and apologize, and I'll deal with you harshly!
Wang Guiqin, hiding in the kitchen and sneaking a glance at him, felt helpless.
Chu Dazhuang had hoped to roll in the sheets with her, but now that was out of the question.
Xu Fengjiao was a troublemaker through and through. He would have to deal with her sooner or later, making her obediently listen.
At this moment, Chu Dazhuang glanced at the clock hanging on the wall—it was almost time to meet Ma Xiaoqin. He left the yard and headed towards the back of the village under the cover of night.
In the moonlight, Chu Dazhuang saw from afar Ma Xiaoqin's figure under the willow tree next to the dilapidated temple.
He quietly approached and wrapped his arms around Ma Xiaoqin, whispering in her ear, "Coming so early, did you miss me?"
Ma Xiaoqin nodded continuously. She turned around and said to Chu Dazhuang solemnly, "Dazhuang brother, I'm yours for life, even if I marry someone else, I still am!"
"Don't make such pledges and vows. Being with me is all that matters, nothing else is important," Chu Dazhuang didn't want his mood ruined by anything else.
At this moment, he couldn't care less about whether Ma Xiaoqin was going to marry someone. The facts couldn't be changed, and Ma Decai and Xu Cunshu were not easy opponents.
To prevent Ma Decai from really causing trouble, Ma Xiaoqin had already accepted her fate.
Chu Dazhuang was clear in his heart that Ma Decai's tactics were the classic 'cry, make trouble, and threaten suicide.'
But Ma Xiaoqin was his daughter, and he naturally had to consider for her. Chu Dazhuang was very clear about this, so tonight's theme was not about whether Ma Xiaoqin would marry, but whether he, Chu Dazhuang, could satisfy Ma Xiaoqin well.
Just as the two of them approached the ruined temple, they suddenly heard voices from inside.
Chu Dazhuang frowned slightly. He recognized the voices, and Ma Xiaoqin stood frozen in place because the man inside was her father, Ma Decai.
And the woman was none other than Zhang Shuhui, head of the spring chorus and the wife of the security director Zhaxi Dele.
These two being together didn't surprise Chu Dazhuang at all. In fact, people in the village had been gossiping about them for a while.
After all, being an outsider in Peach Blossom Village, Zhaxi Dele had climbed up to the position of security director entirely thanks to Ma Decai's care.
But there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Ma Decai had also gained benefits; in reality, he did it all for the sake of Zhang Shuhui. Otherwise, how could an outsider like Zhaxi Dele end up with that position?
"Then why are you still seeking me out?"
"Isn't it just because I fancy you?"
"Fancy me and you can do it, huh!"
"I..."
Chu Dazhuang and Ma Xiaoqin stood awkwardly outside the temple, painfully listening to the conversation inside.
Ma Xiaoqin clenched her fists but then released them; after all, barging in wouldn't do her any good, and she wouldn't know what to say anyway.
The thought alone was cringe-worthy.
But Chu Dazhuang was enjoying the spectacle. With Ma Decai and Zhang Shuhui's affair discovered by him, he could use this revelation to his advantage later.
A few more minutes passed, and Zhang Shuhui, clearly unsatisfied, yelled in frustration, "You're such a limp noodle, can't even do this properly. You've completely killed my mood today, just get lost!"
Ma Decai, clearly unsuccessful, watched as the temple doors opened, and the village chief could only slink away into the night.
Inside the temple, Zhang Shuhui cursed at Ma Decai's incompetence.
Outside, Ma Xiaoqin could no longer bear it and stamped her feet in frustration, but accidentally kicked something, making a noise.
"Who's there, who's outside!"
Zhang Shuhui shouted from inside.
No longer willing to hold back upon hearing her call, Ma Xiaoqin was ready to confront and harshly scold this woman who seduced men.
Ma Xiaoqin's temperament was fiery. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to charge in when Chu Dazhuang grabbed her, whispering, "Aren't you afraid she'll tell others that we're here together in the dead of night?"
Chu Dazhuang's words made Ma Xiaoqin pause; after all, the news getting out wouldn't look good for her as someone about to be married.
Yet, the very thing she feared might happen already began, as Zhang Shuhui had stepped out of the temple. She was fixing her clothes while eyeing the two at the corner of the building.
"So it's you guys!"
"What are you two doing together in the middle of the night?"
Zhang Shuhui, an experienced woman, immediately understood the situation and sneered at Ma Xiaoqin, "You little harlot, couldn't stand the loneliness and came out to hook up with someone?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaoqin's anger flared, and pointing at her, she retorted, "Just now you were fucked with another man, and you have the nerve to talk about me!"