Chapter 35: Already Engaged to Live Together

Chang Meili was burning with anxiety. She ran all the way straight to the village chief’s house. Seeing the main door slightly ajar, she walked in without hesitation. What she didn’t know was that the moment she stepped inside the village chief’s gate, a shadow quietly slipped away.

As she walked, she softly called out a few times, “Brother Jianguo, are you home?” Her voice carried a hint of nervousness and unease.

She took a few steps into the courtyard when she heard Jianguo’s slightly surprised voice from inside, “Is that you, Meili? Come on in.”

Chang Meili pushed the door open and immediately saw Jianguo sitting on the bed. His face was the same, but he looked a bit tired. Especially under his eyes, there were dark circles, as if he hadn’t rested well.

“Brother Jianguo, I heard from the sent-down youths that… you’re going to marry my cousin?” Meili’s voice trembled slightly, with a hint of accusation.

Jianguo frowned upon hearing this, his eyes flashing with irritation. But soon he calmed down and sighed, “That’s all my dad’s idea. He’s very traditional. Since your family sent the letter about swapping engagements, he agreed.”

He added, “But… Meili, in my heart, there’s only you!”

Hearing this, Meili bit her lip hard. What good was it if she was there?! What she wanted was to marry him! In her previous life, she blindly chose Zhao Hang; this time, she chose Jianguo because she didn’t want to miss out on such a good man. But unexpectedly, the village chief had messed up the matchmaking!

Meili clenched her teeth, wishing she could just go tell the village chief that she and Jianguo had already slept together! Then, even if the chief was unwilling, he’d have to accept it! But she couldn’t do that now.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at Jianguo and choked out, “Brother Jianguo, I’m already yours. If you really want to marry someone else, what am I supposed to do?”

There were a few tear stains on her face, her red swollen eyes like flowers wet with night dew—fragile and pitiful.

Seeing this, Jianguo immediately hugged her tenderly, “Meili, don’t cry. You crying breaks my heart…”

After all, Meili was his first woman, and he cherished her, definitely not comparable to Chang Suisui.

Seeing Jianguo soften, Meili deliberately pressed her chest closer, “Brother Jianguo, I don’t care, I’m already yours. Maybe I’m even carrying your child. Can you bear to abandon the two of us?”

She grabbed his hand, pressing it to her body.

Such an active seduction was deadly for a man who just started his sexual life.

Jianguo didn’t even think twice; he pulled her onto the bed and started touching her up and down.

“Meili, don’t worry. How could I possibly wrong you? I’ll marry you, only you!”

Meili half-pushed, half-accepted, her eyes flashing with a bit of shyness. Then she coquettishly whispered, “Brother Jianguo, it’s still daytime…”

Jianguo’s head was already buried completely on Meili’s body, no longer caring about day or night.

“Doing it during the day is even more thrilling,” Jianguo chuckled lowly. “I want everyone to know you’re mine!”

He reached out to tear Meili’s clothes. Just as he was about to start in earnest, a loud angry shout came through:

“Xie Jianguo! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

The village chief had just heard someone say there was a burglary at their house and rushed back in a panic, only to see his proud eldest son bullying a young lady!

His anger flared instantly. Seeing a belt on the bed, he grabbed it and whipped Jianguo.

“Ah!!!” “Ah!!!” Screams of a man and a woman rang through the room.

Jianguo, who had just been heated up, immediately cowered.

Then the belt slapped repeatedly, mixed with loud cracks, echoing in the room.

Jianguo’s cries, comparable to a slaughtered pig, rose continuously!

“Uncle Xie, stop hitting him!” Meili hurriedly hugged the belt in the village chief’s hand when she saw Jianguo’s back bleeding.

She cried with tears streaming down, looking fragile and weak, “I and Brother Jianguo truly love each other! Uncle Xie, please bless us! Besides, we’re already engaged…”

Jianguo’s face darkened. He recalled just a few days ago being locked in a cattle shed because of the trouble between Meili and Zhao Hang. Now they were truly in love with his son?

The village chief’s head was buzzing, especially thinking about the scene he’d just witnessed. What family’s good daughter would just casually be with a man… with a man like that? His old face felt embarrassed!

Jianguo, dizzy from the beating, regained some clarity, “Dad, I want to marry Meili. I don’t want to marry Chang Suisui.”

Although Suisui was pretty, he had been caught by his father with Meili. If he didn’t take responsibility, he might get beaten to death.

The village chief was furious to the point of pain. Hearing Jianguo say that, he lost all restraint and kicked him in the chest.

“Even if you want to marry a sent-down youth, you’re not worthy of her!”

Previously, Jianguo’s misconduct with Suisui had already damaged her reputation. The chief had hoped Jianguo marrying Suisui would atone for that.

But Jianguo pulled a stunt like this?! The chief wished he could beat this unfilial son to death!

Growing angrier, the chief kicked Jianguo several more times.

Just then, Zhao Xiulan came in and saw the scene.

She immediately rushed over, feeling sorry for Jianguo, shielding him, “Child’s father, what are you doing? Jianguo hasn’t been well these days, why are you still hitting him? What if you hurt him badly?”

“If he’s hurt badly, we’ll just drag him up the mountain and bury him! Saves trouble! Won’t ruin the Xie family’s reputation!” The chief snarled, as if he thought the beating was too light.

Zhao Xiulan had never seen the chief so furious. She frowned and asked, “What exactly did Jianguo do to make you so mad?”

She glanced at Meili and felt this matter couldn’t be separated from her. Every time her son met Meili, there was trouble!

The village chief opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t say anything. Finally, he sat down angrily on the bed, pointed at Jianguo, and growled, “You say it yourself! What exactly did you do?!”

Jianguo pursed his lips, unsure what to say.

In the end, Meili spoke up first, “Auntie, Jianguo and I love each other. We’re already mutually engaged…