In 1985, everywhere was chanting the praises of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which brought about reform and opening-up. The faces of the common people were naive and self-sufficient, their lives more promising than in the past.
In Flower County's Huangtian Village, the Qi family was bustling with extraordinary excitement. The fragrance of wine wafted through the air, and there wasn't a single empty seat. Old Man Qi, as the head of the household, wore a beaming smile as he went around toasting; when he occasionally heard some bawdy jokes, he would just give a hearty laugh and not take offense.
Because today was the auspicious day when his eldest son, Taiguo, was getting married.
As the evening deepened, the Qi household gradually returned to calm, falling into silence.
In a room adorned with celebratory red, Cheng Su was jolted awake by an intense, tearing pain, but then she froze.
In front of her was a close-up view of a square face, firm and serious with sweat on the forehead, a dark complexion tinged with red, furrowed brows, and slightly thick lips pursed as if enduring some great pain.
Cheng Su stared blankly, her eyes locking with his. Her pupils contracted and then dilated, suddenly feeling that something was amiss.
Her body stiff, she moved slightly only to feel an unfamiliar sensation lower on her body. It was like someone had plucked the strings in her mind, sending a buzzing noise, and all the blood in her veins rushed to her head.
Stimulation, ah, she, she had actually had an erotic dream?
The man before her exuded a tough and authoritative air, not the type of youthful idol, but rather a hard, rugged man of iron—the kind of man she admired.
But who was he? How did he end up in her dream? Even if this was an erotic dream, wasn't she not supposed to see the person's face? Especially not such a stranger.
"Cheng Su, can't you relax a little?" The man squeezed out the words through clenched teeth and moved slightly; sweat dripped from him, landing on her chest.
Cheng Su, however, widened her eyes. This feeling...
So vivid and clear, it wasn't a dream!
Not a dream!
If it wasn't a dream, then that meant...
It was real?
"Aaaah!" Realizing what was happening, Cheng Su screamed and forcefully pushed the man on top of her off.
The man, who was positioned above her and unprepared for her reaction, tumbled off the bed and rolled onto the floor.
While the person in the bed was screaming shrilly, the person on the floor was dazed, wondering what had happened.
Quickly, the man regained his composure and barked, "Cheng Su, shut up!"
What a mess, it was only them having intercourse, was she overreacting?
Soon the noise would wake up the rest of the household and they would come knocking. Wouldn't that be embarrassing?
Startled by his shout, Cheng Su pointed at him and blurted out, "Qi Taiguo, you pervert, despicable and indecent, taking advantage of someone!"
Once the words left her mouth, she became stupefied. Qi Taiguo? How did she know his name so well to call out spontaneously? She didn't recognize the man before her!
Yet her own reaction was as if on instinct, the name as though it had been etched into her mind countless times, ingrained within her as if seeping into her very bones. What was going on here? Could someone tell her?
Qi Taiguo had already stood up from the floor, his face stern. "What are you freaking out about now?" he said.
It was absurd. Wasn't she the one who had been insisting on getting married? Now putting on an act as if she had been violated, what did that mean?
Cheng Su, infuriated, pointed at him, then at herself, "You… I…"
What was all this about? She'd been slept with, but what kind of situation was this? How could this have happened?
A jumble of memories flooded toward Cheng Su like a tide—belonging to her, not belonging to her—all rushing in.
"Ah!" Cheng Su clutched her head in agony and collapsed onto the bed.