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Chu Dazhuang knew it was the moment of truth just as he was about to make his move when he suddenly heard knocking at the door.
Just as good things were about to happen, unexpectedly, a "Cheng Yiaojin" emerged out of nowhere.
Ma Xiaoqin was clearly more nervous than Chu Dazhuang.
She timidly asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me! Xiao Qin, what are you doing in there? Let's talk." The newcomer was Ma Xiaoqin's stepmother, but Chu Dazhuang couldn't help but smile inwardly when he heard her voice.
The one outside was Zhuang Yufen, the village head's wife, who managed to spoil his good time. In truth, this was a bit of tit for tat, considering he had previously caused trouble for Zhuang Yufen during her own clandestine affair.
Upon hearing it was her, Ma Xiaoqin hurriedly pulled Chu Dazhuang up from the bed, where he was still not fully dressed. She glanced around, and the only place in the room big enough to hide a man of Chu Dazhuang's stature was the wardrobe.
She opened the wardrobe door and, feeling a bit embarrassed, stuffed Chu Dazhuang inside.
She closed the door and whispered, "Dazhuang brother, please bear with it for a bit."
Chu Dazhuang had no choice; what else could he do?
But it was clear that Ma Xiaoqin cared, frightened that Zhuang Yufen would see—a consideration that perhaps made sense to her.
Women, they want to hold on yet fear losing.
Just moments ago, she was desperate enough to ask him to elope with her, and now the sight of her stepmother scared her half to death.
Chu Dazhuang could only wait patiently inside the wardrobe for now; after all, once Ma Xiaoqin dealt with Zhuang Yufen, they could continue.
At that moment, Ma Xiaoqin opened the door to see Zhuang Yufen's face tight with tension, as if someone owed her money.
She glared at Ma Xiaoqin discontentedly, "Why are you locking the door in broad daylight?"
"I... I was just changing my clothes."
Ma Xiaoqin said this and instinctively glanced at the wardrobe.
"What's the need to change clothes so suddenly?"
"Oh, it's hot and I was sweating a lot, right, why did you come?"
Ma Xiaoqin didn't usually interact much with her stepmother—they each lived their own lives. Zhuang Yufen let out a cold laugh, then sat down on the bed with a flop: "If it weren't for your father sending me, I wouldn't bother about your affairs. I know you have your views about your stepmother, so really, I didn't want to meddle."
"What exactly do you want?" Ma Xiaoqin frowned deeply, not giving her a pleasant look.
Zhuang Yufen glanced at Ma Xiaoqin, "It's your life-long affair. Your father said, what do you think about the marriage with the son of the Xu Village Secretary?"
"I disagree!"
As soon as Ma Xiaoqin heard it was about this matter, her face fell even more: "You tell my father to forget it. If he wants to marry, let him marry that good-for-nothing himself!"
"Look at you, child!"
Zhuang Yufen rolled her eyes at her: "Do you see yourself as some celestial being? The Xu Village Secretary is an official with money, and Xu Gen'er isn't so bad either. What good-for-nothing are you talking about? Don't talk nonsense. Let me tell you, your father said, whether you agree or not, you have to marry him!"
Ma Xiaoqin was also hot-tempered and said through clenched teeth, "I won't marry him, not even if I die. I won't marry him!"
Zhuang Yufen could tell that Ma Xiaoqin seemed to have someone in her heart, and with a smug smile, she said, "Xiao Qin, do you already have someone else?"
"I..."
When Ma Xiaoqin heard her probing question, she decided to go all in and defiantly said, "That's right, I've already got someone."
"Who is it?"
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Zhuang Yufen was also curious; she knew all the old masters from Peach Blossom Village, and there was nothing to write home about them. She was dying to find out what sort of man Ma Xiaoqin had fallen for.
"Chu Dazhuang, my beloved Dazhuang, I won't marry anyone but him!"
Once Ma Xiaoqin uttered that name, Zhuang Yufen couldn't help but be taken aback.
Why him of all people!
Zhuang Yufen recalled the scene that had just taken place not long ago with him in the cornfield, and she couldn't help feeling a tingling sensation.
There was no denying that Chu Dazhuang's physique was impressive, strong like one of her farm animals. It would definitely be satisfying to have a go with him.
The more Zhuang Yufen thought about it, the itchier she got, and she couldn't help but salivate at the thought, whispering to herself, "Sooner or later, I'm going to have you, and I'll have a taste, one way or another."
However, pressing matters were at hand. Ma Xiaoqin was not agreeing, Zhuang Yufen's face darkened, "Xiaoqin, you might as well drop it. Chu Dazhuang is just a poor nobody; how could you possibly…"
"Not to mention your father, even I disapprove!"
I haven't had my turn, and yet this little hussy dares to beat me to him? No way.
Just then, Ma Decai's voice came from the outer room. Zhuang Yufen was already unaccepted in his heart, and now here she was meddling in his affairs.
Agitated, Ma Xiaoqin stomped her foot and ran out to seek justice with Ma Decai.
"Dad, are you going to deal with that Zhuang woman or not!"
Ma Xiaoqin was shouting and calling out in the outer room.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Yufen just lay down on the bed directly. She was in no hurry; Ma Decai would never side with Ma Xiaoqin on this matter.
He wouldn't dare to.
In the outer room, once Ma Decai asked what was going on and found out it was about Ma Xiaoqin's marriage, he naturally shared Zhuang Yufen's viewpoint.
Ma Xiaoqin was throwing a tantrum, threatening to end her own life with extreme words.
But Ma Decai had his own set of rules, no matter what, the marriage must go on; as for someone poor like Chu Dazhuang, he was out of the question.
Lying on the bed, Zhuang Yufen listened with a growing sense of schadenfreude. Ma Xiaoqin might be Ma Decai's daughter, but she wasn't as close to him as Zhuang Yufen was.
Ma Decai was a pushover now, having to consider Zhuang Yufen's feelings. That little minx dared to compete with her? She was way out of her league.
Feeling smug,
Zhuang Yufen then heard some noise coming from the wardrobe in the corner of the room.
After all, there was a living person inside. Chu Dazhuang, who had been standing for a while, wanted to move a little.
But he hadn't expected Zhuang Yufen to still be in the room. At that moment, Zhuang Yufen walked straight to the wardrobe and yanked the doors wide open.
Chu Dazhuang glanced at the door and then sniggered awkwardly as he stepped out.
Her eyes darted sharply, and her face turned cold as she said, "Why are you here? Oh, you came to seduce Xiaoqin, didn't you?"
Zhuang Yufen put extra emphasis on the word "seduce," knowing she was effectively smearing Chu Dazhuang. If Ma Decai found out, he'd definitely break his legs.
And yet he was genuinely innocent; after all, it was Ma Xiaoqin who had initiated everything.
He was about to explain, but Zhuang Yufen followed up with a licentious chuckle and said, "You young man, if I keep silent, it's also fine. But today, let's make up for that favor you promised me in the cornfield."
Upon hearing that, Chu Dazhuang realized she was waiting here for him. Seeing the opportunity for pleasure without the risk of being discovered by Ma Decai, he took Zhuang Yufen into his arms in an instant.