Chapter 8: There’s an Old Pervert in the Village

“Ah? But… I… this is way too fast. I don’t even know him…”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t know him. If you’re okay with this, I’ll just go back and tell them. You’ll meet the young man another day, and I’m sure you’ll like him.” At this, she lowered her voice and leaned close to Feng Mian’s ear, saying, “If you judge just by looks, this guy is even better than that live-in son-in-law from the Feng family over in Shangyuzi.”

Feng Mian was both amused and exasperated. What on earth was going on?

“Actually, I think I’m still young. I want to wait a few more years before thinking about marriage.”

“You’re not young anymore. This village’s chances don’t come again and again. The earlier you agree, the sooner you’ll enjoy life. How about this — tomorrow, I’ll arrange for you to meet him, okay?”

What?

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow. Girl, dress up nicely, tidy up the house.” She glanced around and said, “Though honestly, no need to tidy up; the three thatched rooms are already clean and bright. You’ll definitely catch his eye.”

“No, auntie…”

“I have things to do — I need to go to your uncle’s house to discuss your cousin’s marriage — so I’ll leave now. Take your time getting ready.”

Feng Mian: “…”

The matchmaker just kept talking like a machine gun, rattling off everything by herself.

Feng Mian tried a few times to speak, but the marriage matter was already settled.

Lu Lan from next door overheard, and as soon as the matchmaker left, she came over.

“I just saw Aunt Xu come by to find you someone willing to live in with you — is it true?”

Feng Mian didn’t even know how to reply.

Lu Lan said happily, “Oh, if you really can find someone willing to live in with you, that’s great. I was really worried you’d get married off, and then I’d have no one to talk to.”

Lu Lan was a marginal figure in the village, a doctor had told her she couldn’t have children anymore, and without a son, she was isolated.

Feng Mian, an orphan girl, a “heavenly unlucky star,” was also a social outcast. Usually, only the two of them could talk to each other.

Feng Mian gave a bitter smile. “I don’t even know if he’d like me.”

Lu Lan laughed, “If he’s coming in as a live-in son-in-law, don’t be picky about his family. If they were well-off, they wouldn’t send their son out. You just need to look at the guy — hardworking, honest, diligent. Though on the other hand, he might expect your family, your house, your furniture, your food, and so on. Hey, I’ve got two slabs of cured meat — want me to hang them in your kitchen?”

Feng Mian: “Why?”

“You’re silly! If he sees you have two slabs of cured meat, doesn’t that increase your chances of being chosen?”

Feng Mian: “…”

“No need, I have three thatched rooms.” She said awkwardly.

“Oh yeah, mainly it depends on the house.”

Lu Lan looked around, then exclaimed, “Hey, I wonder why you’ve been so busy lately — pulling weeds and tidying the house? So that you’re prepared to invite a live-in son-in-law?”

Feng Mian: “…” This… is a big fog.

…

Feng Mian felt complicated. After dinner, she washed up, put on a face mask and night cream, then lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Could it be… could it be that she really was going to bring a live-in son-in-law home?

Then how would she use her phone at night?

A night without a phone… no way…

Feng Mian thought and thought but still felt something was wrong. She couldn’t fall asleep even in the middle of the night.

She glanced at her phone — it was already midnight. She’d probably be too tired to get up in the morning.

Just then, she heard a strange noise coming from the kitchen.

At first, she thought she misheard it, but listening carefully, it sounded like someone knocking on her door.

The kitchen had a small back door — a broken wooden door typical in the countryside, secured with just a wooden latch.

Listening carefully, the wooden latch was pried a few times and then popped open.

They’d been broken into.

Feng Mian grew tense. She heard footsteps—someone was coming toward the bedroom.

She quickly grabbed her phone and found a can of pepper spray for self-defense.

As the footsteps drew closer, right beside her bed, she suddenly threw off the covers and sprayed directly at the shadowy figure.

A painful scream from a middle-aged man immediately filled the room.

Feng Mian recognized the voice—it was Feng Gang, the village’s notorious old bachelor.

Years ago, he had married, but due to his violent temper and frequent domestic abuse, his wife couldn’t take it and drank pesticide to kill herself. Since then, he’d remained single.

Feng Gang screamed in agony and fled, stumbling and knocking over a stool outside her door. By the time Feng Mian chased out, he had already escaped through the back door.

Soon after, Lu Lan and her husband came over from next door.

“Mian Mian, Mian Mian, what happened? Are you okay?”

Feng Mian took a deep breath, put on a thick cotton jacket, and opened the door.

Standing outside were Lu Lan and her husband Feng Feng. The Feng family in the village was all related by ancestry. Feng Feng was the second eldest in his family, and Feng Mian called him Second Brother Feng.

Worried, Feng Feng asked, “Why do I hear Feng Gang’s voice? Mian Mian, did he come to bother you again? Are you alright?”

Feng Mian shook her head, “I’m fine. I was ready for him and sprayed him with pepper spray. He ran off.”

Feng Feng clenched his fists in anger. “We have to tell Fourth Grandfather about this. The rabbit won’t eat grass by its own nest. That beast is worse than an animal.”

“Ah, can’t say anything,” Lu Lan stopped him. “We didn’t catch him, and even if we said something, he wouldn’t admit it. He didn’t admit it last time either. Besides, Mian Mian is about to be set up for marriage soon. If this gets out, it won’t be good for her reputation.”

From Feng Mian’s memories, Feng Gang hadn’t come to her house just this once.

About a year ago, he had come once, and Feng Mian had fiercely resisted. It was only after Lu Lan and Feng Feng rushed over that she was saved.

They hadn’t caught Feng Gang then either, and he refused to admit anything.

After that incident, Feng Mian’s grandmother was very worried and kept trying to arrange a marriage for her.

An orphan girl, growing older without marrying, naturally attracted the attention of the village’s old bachelors — it was an unavoidable situation.

Feng Feng didn’t know what to do and asked Feng Mian, “Mian Mian, what do you think we should do?”

Feng Mian shook her head, “Forget it.”

Lu Lan sighed in relief. “That’s all you can do. There’s a saying: don’t corner a dog in a dead end. Feng Gang is a shameless old pervert, and all he has is his life. There’s no need for you to risk yourself because of someone like him. Besides, you’re getting married soon. Once your man moves in, he won’t dare come around.”

Feng Mian silently nodded.

Lu Lan comforted her a bit, and the couple went back home.

Their daughter was still home alone, sleeping.

Feng Mian closed the door and fell into deep thought.

What would happen to a lonely girl staying in the countryside if she didn’t marry?

How likely was she to move to the city now?

At this time, it was still a planned economy. Rural people wanting to work in the city was basically impossible. There were too many formalities to handle: from the township, county, public offices…

Most importantly, there were no urban work units to accept her, so she couldn’t complete any of those procedures.

At least for two years, she had no way of leaving the village.

But as for marriage… she wasn’t even sure if that person the matchmaker mentioned was reliable.

Thinking that, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly again.

Without a birth mother, raised by a stepmother, would he even be able to study?

Probably wouldn’t even know how to write his own name. Feng Mian was a modern educated intellectual youth and the family’s chosen heir, with a clear head.