Chapter 31

“It’s because you care about me that you did it, I know. But I also worry about you.

What if you went too far? What if something tragic happened?

Chen Dashan isn’t worth us risking our lives over.

But honestly, when I heard he got taught a lesson, I felt really happy inside.”

“Well, then that’s all that matters, isn’t it?” Qin Feng chuckled softly, pulling his little wife into his arms. “Don’t overthink it. Chen Dashan is a coward who bullies the weak but fears the strong.

He doesn’t dare mess with you and your mother because of me. Notice how he hasn’t even dared mention my name since this all started?

I doubt he’ll ever show up at our house again. You can visit your mother as often as you like.

If there are still marks on her from his beatings, you just let me know. I’ll teach him another lesson for you and your mother.”

“Really?” Taohua snuggled tightly into Qin Feng’s warm chest, her voice soft and sweet. “Big Brother Qin, you’re so good to me. I… I really like you!”

Although they had already consummated their marriage, this was the first time Taohua openly confessed her feelings to Qin Feng.

She was so shy that her face turned bright red.

Feeling the heat on her cheeks, Qin Feng couldn’t resist lowering his head to kiss her lips.

Taohua eagerly responded, wrapping her soft arms around his neck like a vine.

Her pale legs also curled around his waist.

Taohua embraced the moment, overwhelmed with joy. Even when she was too weak to keep her legs wrapped around him, his strong hands held her firmly…

Taohua thought her Big Brother Qin was perfect today.

But even though she had confessed her feelings, she didn’t hear him say it back.

Still, he must feel the same, right?

Otherwise, why would he be so tender when she cried out in pain?

The next morning, despite Qin Feng telling her to sleep in, Taohua got up early with him.

In the village, every man had a wife who prepared breakfast before they went to work. Taohua didn’t want her husband to be the one man without a caring wife.

However, since she had gotten up so early—and given how late they stayed up the previous night—Taohua started feeling drowsy after lunch.

Thinking she had already done most of the chores, she decided to crawl back into bed for a nap.

She quickly fell asleep and began to dream.

In her dream, she and Big Brother Qin were doing intimate things in their room. The sensations felt so real that she couldn’t help but cry out in ecstasy.

But suddenly, her dream shifted!

She dreamed that the county magistrate was forcing Qin Feng and his group to go into the river to move a massive boulder.

Then a strange gust of wind blew through, and a whirlpool suddenly appeared in the river. In an instant, her Big Brother Qin and the other villagers were all sucked in, disappearing without a trace!

No matter how loudly she screamed, no one answered.

“Big Brother Qin! Big Brother Qin!!!” Taohua cried out desperately and suddenly jolted awake, sitting upright in bed!

Once awake, she realized it had just been a dream.

But the dream felt far too real!

Even after waking up, her heart continued to pound wildly.

Unable to bear the lingering fear, she leapt out of bed, put on her shoes, and rushed outside.

Bang, bang, bang! Taohua furiously knocked on the Sun family’s door.

Auntie Sun quickly came out of the house. “Eh? Isn’t this Taohua? What brings you here today? It’s so cold out—come in and warm yourself by the fire.”

“No, Auntie Sun, I’m here to find Xiaolan. Is she home?!”

“What’s the rush? Look at you—your face is pale. She just went to the outhouse and should be back soon. Why don’t you come in and wait?”

Taohua was anxious. “I’ll go find her myself; I need to speak with her urgently.”

Taohua often visited the Sun family, so she knew where their outhouse was.

Before she could get there, Sun Xiaolan had already come out.

“What’s wrong, Taohua? I could hear you calling for me even in the outhouse. Did something happen?”

Taohua quickly pulled Sun Xiaolan aside and recounted the nightmare she had during her nap.

After hearing it, Sun Xiaolan immediately understood Taohua’s concern. “So, you’re planning to go find your husband now?”

“Yes!” Taohua nodded. “I’ve never had such a vivid dream before—this is the first time in my life. And you know how my luck has changed since marrying him.

If I want bamboo shoots, I find them. If I want to sell pelts at a good price, they sell well. What if this nightmare comes true too?”

Sun Xiaolan frowned. “When you put it that way, it does seem possible. Some things are better believed than dismissed. What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

“Do you know where they’re working on the riverbank? I don’t.”

“No worries, I know. I’ll take you there!”

“Alright.”

With that, Sun Xiaolan shouted into the house, “Mom! Taohua needs to bring something to her husband but doesn’t know the way. I’m taking her there!”

“What?” Auntie Sun poked her head out of the house. “In this freezing weather, what are you delivering?”