Chapter 20 — The Scoundrel at Night

“Right?” Feng Mian felt a bit embarrassed and quickly tried to slip away. “I have to go back and cook. Sister Lan, we’ll chat another day.”

Lu Lan, acting like an experienced older sister, urged her, “Then hurry up and go. People who work get hungry easily — don’t let them starve.”

Though this era wasn’t as open as it would be thirty or forty years later, many couples were already living together before marriage.

In the city, it was quite normal for betrothed couples to hang out before marriage — watch movies, hike, or visit temples.

Rural boys and girls weren’t that romantic, but in families who had some sense, they’d have their sons often go help out at the future father-in-law’s place.

Feng Mian’s situation with Gu Yuelin was special, but she felt that since Gu Yuelin was coming over to work on the bed he’d eventually sleep in, it made sense.

“That big piece of wood is already sawed through. Want to take a break?”

“No need. Today I have to get the four bed legs ready.”

“Alright then, take your time. I’ll go cook.”

With mantou and buns available, she planned to make some porridge and stir-fried a couple of simple dishes — one bowl of twice-cooked pork.

The teapot on the stove was almost empty, so Feng Mian brewed more. Once it was ready, she poured a bowl for Gu Yuelin and brought it out.

In the freezing cold, it was good to drink something warm.

Half a day passed quickly. By around five in the afternoon, Feng Mian had finished preparing dinner and called Gu Yuelin over to eat.

Since the days were short and it got dark early, she hoped he would eat quickly and leave while it was still light out.

After the snow, traveling at night was dangerous.

Gu Yuelin, finishing up his work, looked at the rich spread on the table: one meat dish, two vegetable dishes, tasty soft porridge, and buns with thin skin and thick filling…

At his home, he wouldn’t get to eat such things even during the New Year.

If he wanted to eat well, he had to sneak over to friends’ houses.

Wasn’t she supposed to be a poor orphan girl? Her meals were way too good.

Looks like her parents really left her some property, and quite a bit of it.

Oh, and she could write calligraphy — and quite well, too.

She also did business on the black market to earn money.

After dinner, Gu Yuelin said to Feng Mian, “We have to finish laying the floor before the New Year. I can’t do it alone. Tomorrow I’ll bring some friends to help. How’s that?”

Feng Mian nodded, “Sounds good. I’ll cook more food tomorrow.”

“Great, thanks a lot.”

Feng Mian smiled, “Why do you have to thank me? You’re helping me work, I’m just providing the food.”

Gu Yuelin said, “That bed is being made for me.”

“Oh, then I should be the one thanking you.”

Gu Yuelin: “…”

Feng Mian saw him out and reminded him to be careful on the road.

He pulled out a flashlight from his coat and waved it, showing he could see just fine.

The snow hadn’t melted much — actually, he didn’t really need the flashlight.

Once he was gone a good distance, Feng Mian closed the door and jammed a stick to secure it tightly.

Security in rural areas wasn’t great in those days; it was too dangerous for a young girl alone.

She stayed up scrolling on her phone till midnight when strange noises came from the back door.

Feng Mian cursed under her breath and quietly got out of bed, holding an electric baton.

According to the product description she checked, this thing could shock a person numb but wouldn’t cause death.

The noise at the kitchen back door stopped after a while.

Then the kitchen window rattled.

People in the countryside usually slept early. It was past eleven now and completely silent. Anyone still awake besides Feng Mian at this hour couldn’t be up to anything good.

Silently, she hid behind the window, waiting for the thief to climb in through the window.

Don’t say this thief wasn’t skilled—she clearly locked the window, yet the other person managed to open it in just a few tries.

After a moment, someone climbed in through the window.

The instant he landed, Feng Mian, hidden in the shadows, raised her electric baton and shocked him.

The man let out a miserable cry, then fell straight down.

Feng Mian was startled; the shock was stronger than she had expected.

She quickly turned on her flashlight to check him out, testing if he was alive or dead.

Luckily, he was just unconscious.

This wasn’t Feng Gang from last time, but Zhou Mazi—the guy who had done two years in prison.

Well then, this time he fell into my hands; I’ll send him back to jail for a few more years.

Feng Mian found some hemp rope and tied him up tightly.

Then she poured a bowl of cold water on his face to wake him up.

Zhou Mazi jolted awake and saw Feng Mian.

Two years gone, and she had blossomed into a beauty, making his heart itch.

He hadn’t just thought about her for a day or two—he’d accepted prison time for her.

But what he hadn’t expected was that after serving two years for her, she was now going to marry someone else.

He couldn’t stand that. He wanted to, before she got married, make things official with her.

If she wanted to marry into the family, fine—he was willing, he wanted to become the son-in-law.

Zhou Mazi raged madly inside.

Realizing he was tied up, he grew both angry and desperate. “Mianmian, what are you doing? Let me go!”

Feng Mian sneered, grabbed a knife, and tapped it against his face.

“Speak. What are you doing sneaking into my house in the middle of the night?”

The cold touch made Zhou Mazi a little scared.

She was so timid—would she dare? But he wasn’t completely sure.

“I’m not doing anything. I just wanted to see you. I haven’t seen you for two years. Girl, what was that thing you jabbed me with? It made me numb—let me go.”

His words disgusted Feng Mian. She took the knife and slapped his face a few times with force.

“Speak clearly, or I’ll kill you, you bastard.”

“No! Knives aren’t toys! I’m telling the truth—keep it away from me.”

“Hmph, dealing with scum like you calls for a knife.”

“Don’t! I’m a good guy. I just wanted to see you.”

“Pfft! Sneaking in through a window at midnight, and you say you’re a good guy? Do I look like a fool?”

“Then what do you want?”

Feng Mian said coldly, “You haven’t had enough of prison food? I’ll send you back for a few more years.”

“Ah! No, no! I really am a good guy. I only wanted to see you,” Zhou Mazi panicked, trying to defend himself.

“Are you going to tell the truth or not?”

“I… I will.” Zhou Mazi sighed and looked at the blade near his face nervously. “It was Feng Gang who told me you were going to marry a stepmother-raised guy, someone willing to marry into the family. I’m not stepmother-raised, but I’m willing to marry in. I can do it. I can treat you better than that stepmother-raised guy. I’m sincere. You caused me to spend two years in jail, but I don’t blame you.”

Feng Mian was completely disgusted by Zhou Mazi’s pockmarked face and shifty expression.

“How did Feng Gang tell you this?”

“He said if I really liked you, I should try to steal you before you got married. I… I like you and don’t want to hurt you, so I came at midnight to talk to you.”

“Pfft! I don’t buy your nonsense. You just want to make things official before she’s married.”

Being called out, Zhou Mazi felt a little guilty.

But now he was like meat on a chopping block—he wouldn’t admit it no matter what.