Chapter 8 : Break off an engagement

Today, Wang Yulian had just returned from the town.

No sooner had she stepped into the yard than Li Jianye sneaked in during broad daylight!

She was terrified!

This village was bustling with people during the day—what if someone caught them?

She tried to shoo Li Jianye away, but he refused to leave.

The more she pushed, the more excited he became.

Men are slaves to those two ounces of flesh; once aroused, they’re like dogs on the street, eager to mate with anyone, unstoppable.

Wang Yulian had no choice but to drag him back into the Zahua Room.

The Zahua Room was cluttered with all sorts of items, dominated by a rattan chair.

Inevitably, people collapsed onto it, turning the chair into a small boat rocking on turbulent waves, their bodies slowly sinking into the dark sea of desire, with only the skin beneath Wang Yulian’s neck remaining pale.

Afterwards, they slumped together on the rattan chair, their closeness seemingly infinite.

Sex is the shortcut to intimacy; once it happens between a man and a woman, everything else—parents, siblings, wives, children—fades into the background.

In that moment, they become secret, unshakable accomplices.

Wang Yulian had achieved something major today—she solved the troubles between her and her daughter, and she was gentler with Li Jianye now.

She asked, “What about the money? How do you plan to explain it to Shi Meilan? Or maybe I’ll pay you back monthly once I get my salary, and you can quietly cover the gap.”

They looked like a genuinely loving couple, each considerate of the other.

“No need.” Li Jianye kissed her, full of confidence. “I’ve already thought of a plan. Don’t come out no matter what commotion you hear later.”

While speaking, Li Jianye got up and began dressing to leave the Zahua Room.

Just as he was about to step out, sounds came from outside—Lin Xinran was approaching.

Both Li Jianye and Wang Yulian were startled.

Without opening the door, Li Jianye climbed out through the Zahua Room window—carefully avoiding the front door—and dashed behind the yard wall to escape.

The village was laid out symmetrically in two rows, like a pair of chopsticks, with over fifty households on each side.

The front doors faced each other, while the back was mostly private yards used for small gardens.

Beyond those lay cornfields, then mountain paths.

Li Jianye slipped over the yard wall and disappeared into the cornfield.

He fled silently while Wang Yulian watched, heart pounding.

Once he was safely gone, she emerged from the Zahua Room, brushing dust off herself before hurriedly heading into the kitchen.

She was still holding a broken hoe when Lin Xinran came out from the neighboring Xiwū, clutching a melon, and asked, “Mom, where did you go just now?”

“Mom went to the Zahua Room to get something,” Wang Yulian covered. “Where did you get that melon?”

She still had to cook for her daughter! It was almost time for Lin Xinran to get home from school.

Why wasn’t the girl back yet?

Lin Xinran smiled sweetly. “On my way back from school, Li Tianfu gave me a watermelon. We chatted for a bit, so I was a little late.”

“That’s fine.” Wang Yulian looked up from the stove and smiled at her daughter. “Mom’s just cooking too. You go rest in the front room.”

Lin Xinran replied with a soft “Okay,” but didn’t go to rest.

Instead, she took out a kitchen knife and began slicing the watermelon.

The red flesh was neatly arranged in an iron basin, and the sweet scent of the fruit spread throughout the kitchen.

As she cut, she heard her mother’s gentle voice behind the stove: “Daughter, your dad has made some connections for me.

If you don’t pass this time, we’ll go work in the town together.”

Wang Yulian was a good mother.

She refused to share with her daughter the bitterness, resentment, and sadness she carried inside.

She wanted her daughter to be happy forever.

So she said, “If you don’t pass, then you don’t pass. Your dad will figure something out. Someday, you’ll return home to your grandparents and live a good life.”

Lin Xinran was puzzled by her mother’s words, hesitating before asking, “Did Dad really help? Does Dad think I’m bad at studying?”

“Of course not.” Wang Yulian lowered her head, fiddling with the broken hoe. “Your dad loves you. He wouldn’t say that.”

Her mouth tasted bitter as she spoke.

For whom does the lotus heart suffer?

For her daughter.

This was her life.

She lacked the ability to keep her man, but she would, without fail, ensure her daughter’s happiness.

Lin Xinran, completely unaware, cheered, hugging the watermelon as she ran back to the neighboring Xiwū to do her homework.

She had to study hard!

When she opened her schoolbag, Wang Yulian clenched the broken hoe tightly in her hand.

She had to hold onto Li Jianye.

This man was useful—he could give her a better life.

So she must maintain good relations with him.

As for Shi Meilan’s fate… she didn’t care.

At the same time, the neighboring Li family’s stove was also lit.

Smoke billowed steadily from the chimney as Shi Meilan and Hu Honghua cooked together inside the kitchen.

Fresh vegetables sizzled in the oil with a “shhh” as smoke rose, followed by the aroma of cured meat, making mouths water.

Returning to the village just in time for dinner, Shi Meilan decided to keep Hu Honghua there to eat with her.

Hu Honghua’s uncle was busy in town, often gone for ten or fifteen days at a stretch, so she usually ate alone.

Today, she was staying.

Hu Honghua liked being with her aunt and eagerly helped with the cooking.

Li Tianfu was a rough, clumsy man who never lingered in the kitchen.

When Li Tianci came home from school and saw Hu Honghua, he immediately frowned.

Hu Honghua looked good today, but Li Tianci didn’t like it.

Shi Meilan had chosen a style that suited her, making her look much brighter.

The style from Xiangjiang was bold and fiery, but dressed like this, Hu Honghua no longer seemed like a simple girl.

This eye-catching woman was his fiancée!

If he took her out like this, how embarrassing it would be.

His fiancée should be gentle and soft like water—not wearing such strange clothes.

Besides, Hu Honghua was so eager to serve his mother now, probably trying to curry favor early in hopes of marrying in.

He was a prized catch, and these women would stop at nothing to marry him.

Thinking of all the ways Hu Honghua threw herself at him, Li Tianci felt annoyed and turned back into the Dongwū to do his homework.

Only Shi Meilan and Hu Honghua remained in the kitchen.

Shi Meilan had killed a chicken, retrieved some dried cured meat, and simmered a pot of old chicken soup, sprinkling in a handful of vermicelli.

She also stir-fried a plate of cured meat with chili peppers, and finally cooked a pot of rice.

The aroma of rice and meat filled the kitchen.

When dinner was ready, the two sons from Xiwū and Dongwū came out and sat by the table, waiting for the bowls and chopsticks to fly into their hands.

But not today.

Because Shi Meilan did not use her usual magic to serve them automatically.

She only took her own and Hu Honghua’s bowls and chopsticks and sat down to eat.

Deprived of their mother’s magic, the two sons stared at each other wide-eyed.

Li Tianci first asked, “Mom, why didn’t you get me chopsticks?”

Shi Meilan glared at him. “Didn’t you grow hands?”

Li Tianci didn’t understand what made his mother angry, but when she spoke, he could only get up and fetch his own bowls and chopsticks—he didn’t get any for Li Tianfu.

Li Tianfu had to get up and go fetch his own.

In the emptiness of the kitchen, Shi Meilan suddenly said to Li Tianci, “I’ve discussed with Little Hu. You two aren’t right for each other—one’s too good, the other too bad. You’re not meant to live together. We’ve talked it over today, and the engagement is off.”

Li Tianci had been unhappy about Shi Meilan bringing Hu Honghua over, but upon hearing this, his displeasure vanished instantly. He blurted, “Mom, really?”

In the countryside, engagements were a big deal.

Breaking one was no small matter.

Li Tianci never expected Shi Meilan to end it so casually—and he certainly didn’t expect Hu Honghua to agree!

He stared at Hu Honghua in shock.

Hu Honghua had sent him clothes during the day, shoes at night, brought him all sorts of delicious food, and came by every day without fail.

Today, she even stayed to cook for him.

That showed how much she liked him.

How could she agree to break the engagement so easily?

He thought Hu Honghua would keep pestering him.

Shi Meilan nodded, glanced at silent Hu Honghua, and asked, “Honghua, do you agree?”

With her mouth full of chicken, Hu Honghua nodded fervently. “I do.”

Auntie’s cooking was so fragrant!

She agreed so quickly, seemingly without regret.

By all rights, Li Tianci should feel happy to be rid of such a problem, but Hu Honghua’s casual agreement made him uneasy.

This woman always said she liked him, was willing to help him, but now so easily gave up, without a hint of struggle—how could she be so fickle?

He was practically guaranteed to get into university.

He’d be a college student! Hu Hunter had gotten drunk with his father all night just to secure this engagement! Life would be good once he was married to him, but without him, what good life could Hu Honghua have?

Li Tianci didn’t like Hu Honghua, but he liked being chased.

He always acted high and mighty, annoyed to death, but no matter how many times he put on that face, Hu Honghua wouldn’t leave.

That gave him a sense of pride—who wouldn’t want such a devoted admirer, always coming when called and never giving up?

The more Li Tianci thought, the worse he felt.

Used to Hu Honghua’s constant attention, he was unhappy now that she wasn’t serving him.

He didn’t like Hu Honghua, but her easily giving up on him felt like she was treating the engagement like a joke.

Why was she so willing to break it off?

The thought gnawed at him, spoiling his appetite.

Meanwhile, Hu Honghua ate heartily and finished all the food.

Auntie said, “Go rest early. Come find me if you need anything.”

Hu Honghua got up, wiped her mouth, and headed out.

Li Tianci still felt unsettled. After thinking for a while, he put down his chopsticks and said, “I’ll see her off.”

Before Shi Meilan could blink, Li Tianci had followed Hu Honghua outside.

“You don’t have to see me off.” Hu Honghua said as they left Shi’s yard. “Auntie will tell my uncle.”

Li Tianci couldn’t say things like “We can’t break the engagement.” He just fell silent for a moment, then awkwardly asked, “What exactly did my mom say to make you agree to break it off so easily?”

“Not much.” Hu Honghua blinked. “Auntie said we’re not suitable and that you’re going to college.”

“You’re afraid it’ll affect my exam?” Li Tianci understood, nodding. He cleared his throat. “I’ll get in, so don’t worry. My mom’s just overreacting and worried about my college entrance exam.”

He thought Hu Honghua couldn’t really give up on him.

She was only scared off by Shi Meilan, but deep down, she still liked him.

When he looked at Hu Honghua again, he saw her tilt her head in confusion.

It was already dusk.

The setting sun shone behind Hu Honghua, casting a soft glow on her small, delicate face.

Her almond-shaped eyes stared steadily at him, the evening light tangled in her hair, with colors flowing over her cheeks and body, strangely making her look beautiful.

Li Tianci softened his tone. “Breaking the engagement is my fault, but you can still come visit me. If you need anything, just ask.”

Though he couldn’t marry Hu Honghua, he wouldn’t stop her from liking him. He’d fulfill those small wishes of hers.

After all, she liked him so much!

Hu Honghua didn’t understand why Li Tianci said all this.

After the engagement was broken, they shouldn’t know each other. If she wanted to visit, it would only be to see Auntie.

But she was shy, said nothing, just nodded and turned to leave.

Li Tianci stood there watching her go.

This man was just pathetic—when you walked away, he chased; when you chased, he left; when you stopped caring, suddenly he cared.

But it wasn’t love—it was a game of wins and losses.

Being liked made him feel important.

With constant flattery, he seemed outstanding.

He only wanted that. Others’ true feelings were worthless.

In poor places, those who rise like phoenixes usually have such traits: selfish, arrogant, insecure, vain, mixed with some talent, a good face, and a clever mind.

They appear gentle and refined on the surface, but underneath? Who knows what’s inside?

Li Tianci watched Hu Honghua grow more distant and was about to turn back when he suddenly heard someone calling him.

He looked back and saw two uncles from the village running toward him, shouting, “Bad news, Tianci! Your dad Li Jianye’s in trouble!”