A man standing in the crowd shouted at the woman whose name contained the character "Fang." "Fang, stay. Can't you just live well with me? What's so good out there—why do you have to leave? You're my wife, I'm your man, and we have an adorable son. Can you really bear to give all this up?"
"Fangzi, stay. We all need you—this family can't be without you." A white-haired old woman gripped Fangzi's hand, eyes brimming with tears, looking pitiful. "Pity my dear grandson—not even weaned, and his mother's about to harden her heart and abandon him. Oh my son, oh my grandson, why is your fate so bitter?"
The old woman clung to Fangzi, wailing loudly, looking wretched and pitiable, and Fangzi's once-firm resolve wavered just like that. But her eyes still stayed on the cars at the village entrance, their doors open, several young girls seated inside, expressions of relief and joy on their faces—which made her terribly envious.
She wanted to go, but she really couldn't bear to part with the child born not long ago. That child she'd carried ten months and given birth to, flesh fallen from her own body—how could she bear it?
"Were all the books you read fed to the dogs?"
Ji Xinyue couldn't stand it and stepped forward. "If you can't bear to part with the child, then take the child away with you. What's so good about this place? You want your child to grow up to be like the men in this village, buying and selling girls for wives, while you become that ugly, sickening old crone beside you! Decades from now, another girl just like you will be bought to be your son's wife."
Fangzi was startled by Ji Xinyue's words.
She instinctively glanced at the white-haired old woman standing beside her, an ugly burn scar branded on her face. Ji Xinyue's words made her recall how it had been two years ago, when she'd first come to this village. Twenty years old—the prime of a girl's life.
Because she'd quarreled with her family, she'd run away from home and was ultimately tricked into the little mountain village. She hadn't forgotten—she still wanted out even now. Nor had she forgotten the feeling of being locked in the dark room for a week, so starved her eyes spun and she couldn't even lift a finger. Still less would she forget that back then she'd already been a sophomore in college—she should have had a different life. Why should she be locked forever in this little mountain village for the sake of a child?
And spend her whole life with that old, ugly man who often beat and cursed her, who had even raped her? Hadn't the bitter days she'd suffered these two years been enough? If she stayed here, her son would grow up to be exactly like the men of the village—no, she didn't want that.
While Fangzi was still standing there in a daze thinking these things, a woman freshly out of her postpartum confinement had already handed the child in her arms to the old woman beside her.
"Xiaolan, you're leaving?" The old woman clutched the swaddled infant tightly, likewise gazing pitifully at the woman about to leave.
The woman gave a low laugh and turned to glance back at her, and at a certain man in the men's crowd. "My name isn't Xiaolan. I have a name—my name is Duan Meiqi. Old crone, rest easy; no need to hug that little spawn so tightly. I don't want him in the slightest. The mere sight of him reminds me of my past humiliation. I'm leaving—the little spawn I'll leave to you. I've got no confidence I could raise a little spawn carrying that cursed bloodline into a proper person. Better to leave him in the little mountain village—at least the harm he does will be smaller. Take him to the big city, let him learn too much, and I'd really be afraid he'd use everything he learned to take revenge on society. Rather than have him go out and hurt people, I'd sooner he be a coarse mountain lout, a beast who understands nothing."
"You... you..." The old woman was nearly enraged into a faint.
Duan Meiqi paid her no mind, letting down her pinned-up hair. She touched her rough face, lowered her head, and glanced at her own coarse hands. "My original dream was to be a model—and you all ruined it, you pack of inhuman beasts."
"A model's out of the question now." Duan Meiqi laughed softly. The scorching sun shone on her face, and she narrowed her eyes in enjoyment. "Luckily, I'm fairly interested in the profession of journalist. From now on, I'll be a journalist."
After she said this, even with rough fingers, dull skin, and looks that couldn't compare to her former beauty, there was still a singular grace in the way she walked. She came to Ji Xinyue's side, smiled, and bowed to her. "Thank you. Thank you for coming here, my redeemer."
"Miss Ji, once I'm out, I'll become a social journalist. You've done this kind of thing more than once, haven't you? In the future, whenever something like this comes up, please notify me." Duan Meiqi said, "Netizens may be forgetful, but I won't give up on exposing every last place like this."
"All right." Ji Xinyue said, a little stirred too. She admired a woman like this. Even tormented here until covered in wounds, the edge in her hadn't dulled in the slightest—on the contrary, the more it was honed, the sharper it grew.
A-Xin held Ji Xinyue's hand and could feel the other's excitement. This soul was a bit foolish, a bit adorable, and a bit kind. As a human, she'd done a fairly creditable job.
"Miss Ji, see you later. I'll get in the car first—the air here makes me sick." Duan Meiqi's mouth gave no quarter; every sentence she spoke made the people of Song Family Village especially miserable. But with so many police around, they didn't dare do anything, only watch helplessly as Duan Meiqi, swaying her hips, walked out smugly, saying things along the way that left them seething.
On the way, Duan Meiqi even picked up a battered basin, asked an officer for a lighter, and lit herself a fire basin, which she set down by the entrance. She beamed with a happy smile; even dressed in dowdy clothes, the singular air about her was impossible to overlook.
The villagers all stared wide-eyed, dumbly watching as Duan Meiqi said, "Step over the fire basin. Step across, and it's like casting off the past. Ahead is the sunlit road; behind is a filthy, wretched manure pit—the kind that, once it touches you, brings you bad luck for life. Sisters in the cars, come down quick and step over the fire basin."
"Come, come, come—step over the fire basin. Everyone down. I hear this one's especially effective."
Yun Shao: "..."
Ji Xinyue: "..."
The villagers, nearly enraged to death: "..." Is there anyone this infuriating?
And believe it or not, the women who'd boarded the cars were pulled back down one by one by Duan Meiqi to step over the fire basin. Each time one stepped across, she'd say a line about a manure pit behind and brightness ahead. Anyone with a weak heart would surely have been enraged to death long ago.
The officers looking on didn't stop her. Duan Meiqi was just sore at heart, wanting to vent the suffering of these past years. They'd seen plenty of this. Given the chance, they wouldn't show these savage beasts any mercy either. But most of the time, they could do nothing about these villagers. Duan Meiqi's approach made them feel vindicated too. It was just moving the lips—no one could find fault with it, it broke no law, it enraged people to death, and it felt pretty satisfying.
Watching Duan Meiqi's actions, Fangzi finally made up her mind. It wasn't that she couldn't part with her own flesh and blood like Duan Meiqi—she wanted out. From now on she wouldn't marry; she'd pour all her energy into educating her child, resolutely refusing to let him become a bad person, a scum of society.
She snatched the child from the old woman's hands and ran fast, paying no mind to the old woman wailing behind her with a face full of tears and snot, or to the man who tried to rush out and was finally stopped by the officers. She came to the fire basin and looked at the child in her arms. "Son, we're leaving together. From now on, you absolutely must not turn bad. If you dare turn bad, I'll end you with my own hands—we'll perish together, mother and son."
A smile rose at the corner of Duan Meiqi's mouth as she helped the mother and child across. She stayed by the fire basin; for every woman willing to come out, she'd mutter her line as they stepped over. That line was sure to make the villagers especially miserable, while she herself found it immensely satisfying.
She still meant to be a social journalist, so she had to abide by the law and be a proper citizen. Otherwise, she really would have wanted to grab a cleaver and hack down everyone in this village.
Not all women were Duan Meiqi or Fangzi; not all women had the courage to step across that low fire basin that could ward off ill fortune; and not all women dared to face the bright life outside.
The old crones wouldn't go; those whose sons were already in their teens or twenties would go even less. They all hung their heads, terrified of being seen and given scornful looks.
Among them was a woman who'd originally wanted to leave, but then three children came crying and rushed at her, hugging her legs and waist, calling out "Mama," saying they couldn't bear to lose her.
"Then I'll take you out with me, all right?" The woman wiped away her tears. "Eldest, second, third—come with Mama, all right? Mama will take good care of you."
"No, Mama, our family has to stay together."
"Mama, Mama, please don't go?"
"Mama, don't leave."
The three children's cries rang out loud, saying they couldn't bear to lose their mama, couldn't bear to lose their papa, and least of all could bear to lose their grandpa and grandma. They wanted the whole family to be reunited forever.
"A-Xin, she won't be leaving," Ji Xinyue said with some regret. "The moment the three children rushed up and hugged her, and she didn't push them away right away, she could no longer leave. Children that big simply can't be taken out."
"I suddenly find it a little tragic." Ji Xinyue stared at the three boys—the eldest looked about sixteen, the youngest only five. "Three boys again. Decades from now, who knows what'll happen here."
A-Xin gripped Ji Xinyue's hand tight, a trace of warmth in her placid gaze. "Nothing more will happen. Trust me."
"A-Xin?" Ji Xinyue blinked, leaned close to A-Xin's ear, and said, "Have you thought of a way? You're not really going to turn them all into eunuchs, are you?" Picturing A-Xin possibly doing such a thing personally made her a little glum. Could she refuse? These men were so ugly—they'd defile A-Xin's eyes.
A-Xin gave a low laugh. "What are you imagining?"
Aside from the old crones, the main reason the women didn't leave was that they'd borne children here and couldn't bear to part with them. Under the persuasion of children, men, and old crones, they chose to stay. There were also a few who couldn't face the new world outside, fear rising in their hearts, having long since despaired of getting out, unwilling to leave.
"Anyone else leaving?"
"I'll wait another half hour. Remember—your chance comes only once." Yun Shao felt helpless at heart, and a little pained too.
For that half hour, Yun Shao stood baking under the blazing sun without moving an inch. His eyes fixed on the crowd of women, his ears listening to the sounds around him, terrified of missing a single voice that wanted to leave. The scorching sun had already left him drenched in sweat, bean-sized beads sliding down from his forehead along his cheeks, dripping one by one onto the ground, scattering a little before being instantly evaporated by the heat.
"There's no one left, is there?"
Yun Shao's voice had grown a bit hoarse. In fact, he'd stood under the blazing sun for an hour. He hadn't had a single sip of water; his lips were terribly parched.
He waved his hand with regret. "Move out."
Those who didn't want to leave—it was a great pity, but he couldn't take them away.
A-Xin took Ji Xinyue's hand and walked out of Song Family Village. This place was called Song Family Village, but when Mei Ya introduced it, she'd say Mei Family Village—this was to indicate to the girls that she was from this village, making it easier to deceive them.
Ji Xinyue looked back every few steps, watching that group of women numbly seeing them off, both hands hugging A-Xin's arm. Only by holding A-Xin did she feel this world was still warm.
Ji Xinyue was taken straight home. Back home, she collapsed heavily and limply onto the bed. She felt utterly listless; thinking of what she'd just been through, her heart was still very low.
Smelling the fragrance drifting from the kitchen, Ji Xinyue swallowed. This foodie A-Xin not only ate but cooked too. She really was too blessed.
Just as the two were about to enjoy the delicious food, the doorbell rang.
Ji Xinyue was gnawing on a chicken drumstick. A-Xin said, "You eat. I'll get the door."
"Mm-hm." Ji Xinyue didn't stand on ceremony at all—did she need to with her wife? She was really so hungry; it had been ages since she'd eaten food her wife made. So happy.
A-Xin opened the door, and a handsome face came into view. She raised her delicate brows slightly. "Officer Yun."
"Miss Shen." Yun Shao was all smiles. "Is Xinyue in? She must be in a bad mood right now. I bought her some desserts and brought lunch along too. May I come in?"
A-Xin stepped aside a bit. After changing his shoes, Yun Shao walked in and saw Ji Xinyue gnawing on a drumstick, mouth slick with grease—his expression utterly stunned. In all the time he'd known her, he'd never seen Ji Xinyue eat so unreservedly.
"Xinyue."
"Oh, Yun Shao—sit. You came at just the right time. A-Xin cooked for me today. Come eat, it's so good."
In a good mood, it seemed?
Yun Shao sat down and looked at the delicacies on the table, and the pretty desserts. Whether in presentation or fragrance, they all seemed better than what he'd brought.
A-Xin went to the kitchen and brought Yun Shao a bowl and chopsticks, set them in front of him, and said blandly, "No need to be polite. Eat."
She eyed the desserts and takeout Yun Shao had set aside, the corner of her mouth curving slightly. When it came to making delicious food, could these things compare to what she made?
This one called Yun Shao, though, seemed to have some designs on Xinyue.
Yun Shao was hungry too. Despite A-Xin's especially strange gaze, he steeled himself and ate. The moment he took a bite, he nearly bit off his own tongue and ate that too.
No wonder Ji Xinyue, who always cared about her image, had cast table manners aside.
It turned out—it really was too delicious!!
"Good, isn't it?" Ji Xinyue asked with a grin.
Yun Shao nodded hurriedly. "Delicious. Miss Shen is really amazing."
"Of course—she's the most amazing of all." Ji Xinyue praised her to no end. "In this whole world, there's nothing that can stump her. A-Xin can do anything, and do it all to perfection."
Yun Shao thought this praise was perhaps a bit over the top. But the food was too good; he couldn't afford to dwell on it.
After Ji Xinyue finished eating, she said she was a little sleepy and wanted a nap.
So in the living room there remained only the casually dressed Yun Shao and the still-all-white-clad A-Xin. Yun Shao's gaze swept over A-Xin. "Miss Shen, are you a Hanfu enthusiast?"
"Hanfu?" A-Xin caught on quickly. "A white-clothes enthusiast."
Yun Shao: "..."
"Miss Shen, I'd like to ask something."
"What is it?"
"That day—what did you mean when you told me to give up on Xinyue sooner? Could it be that Miss Shen also knows Xinyue has someone she especially likes, and that I really have no chance?"
Ji Xinyue was the only girl he'd ever felt his heart move for. He'd even sworn that if he married in this life, he'd marry Ji Xinyue.
"Yes, Xinyue has someone she likes very much."
"Is that so. Have you met that person, Miss Shen? Is he good—I mean, is he good to Xinyue?"
A-Xin's smile deepened. "Very good."
"Xinyue mentioned before that they seemed not to have seen each other in a long time."
"They've met now." A-Xin continued, "Officer Yun, don't harbor any more thoughts about Xinyue. You can't succeed."
"Miss Shen, I've never met that person. Who's to say you two aren't in cahoots to deceive me?" Yun Shao refused to give up. "How about this, Miss Shen—I want to meet that person. Since Xinyue likes him, if that person is good enough, I'll absolutely never bother Xinyue again. But if the other doesn't much like Xinyue, then no matter what, I won't give up."
A-Xin nodded. "All right."
The two were silent for five minutes. Yun Shao thought A-Xin would contact that person right away. Who'd have known that after five minutes, A-Xin was actually slicing fruit and arranging it on a plate—quite prettily, too.
He couldn't hold back. "Miss Shen, when can I meet that person?"
A-Xin lifted her eyes. "Haven't you already met?"
Yun Shao: ?