In Zhang-Li village, the adults were many and invariably caused a commotion that would draw a throng of spectators, three layers deep.
Before long, the cry of Yu Xiaoying from Zhang Yuan's house at the edge of the village attracted a crowd.
"Quick, gather around and see, in the broad daylight, they were hugging and embracing. What a sight! I wouldn't dare to accept such a daughter-in-law, she's shameless!"
Yu Xiaoying's sobs grew louder, as though deeply aggrieved.
Lu QiQi, pale and wilted, her forehead smeared with blood and her face dotted with multiple scratches, felt her head buzzing. Yet, she was inwardly struck with a realization - she had been reborn.
Would she be able to see her father again?
Suffering from excruciating pain, she clung tightly to the hem of her clothes, as if holding on to a lifeline.
"Captain," Upon seeing the crowd growing, the excitement in Yu Xiaoying's eyes multiplied. With red-rimmed eyes, she turned to Zhang Laichun and called out, "They are about to get married, but Lu QiQi is still embracing other men. The whole village saw it, how will my brother Ah Qiang face everyone?"
The scene before him made Captain Zhang Laichun furrow his brows.
"Who are you, and why are you in Zhang-Li village?"
Unable to break free from the tight grip on his clothes and conscious of the person's injuries, Fu Yaoguang did not dare to move.
He could tell that the person in his arms was in great pain.
Responding to the challenge, he looked up at Zhang Laichun and said, "I am Lin Ke's comrade, I just arrived at Zhang-Li village today!"
"Why did you go to the mountains?"
Fuyao Guang pursed his lips and said, "When I went to Lin Ke's house, I didn't find anyone there. The old lady next door told me that they all went to the mountain. So I went looking for them. Halfway up the mountain, I came across this girl who had fallen into a bush. Seeing her in danger, I had to help and carried her down."
"Don't you know she's a young woman? You hold and hug her, what's your intention?" Yu Xiaoying chided vehemently, not grateful at all.
The accused, Fu Yaoguang, was left speechless.
In his haste to save her, he had overlooked this.
"Captain, you've seen this, we can't possibly accommodate Lu Qiqi at our home like this!"
This final phrase was something Yu Xiaoying had been itching to say.
Because Yu Xiaoying was raging mad, nobody dared to intercede, leaving this dilemma to Zhang Laichun.
"No matter what, she's still a child, we can't just abandon her when she's injured!"
Yu Xiaoying, barely concealing her satisfaction, contended righteously, "Well, what can we do? My daughter is still unmarried. Captain, surely you wouldn't want her to be implicated in this?"
Zhang Laichun was torn over how to persuade Yu Xiaoying, but the resigned Lu Qiqi beat him to it.
Once the headache ebbed, Lu Qiqi, assisted by Fu Yaoguang, stood up.
She looked at Yu Xiaoying, swaying from her wobbly stance, and sneered, "Do you want to drive me away?"
"Qiqi, don't blame Aunt Yu for being heartless. I have to consider Ah Qiang too!" Yu Xiaoying said helplessly.
Lu Qiqi laughed, a hint of a ghastly sneer on her face.
"The ones who should leave, are you. This house you're living in, is mine!"
Ten years ago, her father left with Zhang Yuan to run some village errands, but only Zhang Yuan returned.
"Zhang Yuan claimed that her father was taken away and probably wouldn't return.
He also told her that her father entrusted her to him.
At that time, she was young and frightened, hence, believed Zhang Yuan's words.
His family decided to take care of her and moved into her home promptly.
In her previous life, it’s not like others didn't envy the Lu family's property and wanted to "care for" Lu Qiqi too.
However, Zhang Yuan was clever. He asserted that Zhang Qiang and Lu Qiqi have a marriage promise, thereby justifying their care for her.
After all, Lu's father couldn't return. Little Lu Qiqi didn't understand the world. Whether there was a marriage commitment or not didn't matter to Zhang Yuan's fabrications."