The Spring Festival Gala was still playing on the TV, but Lin Wanyi took Wang Keke outside to set off fireworks.
She didn't want to see the Wang family; she was thinking about her own family.
Her eyes grew moist.
Her father was no longer with them this year. She could only imagine how heartbroken her mother and younger brother must be right now.
She wished she could fly back home immediately, but they were thousands of miles apart.
All she could do was gaze at the moon and listen to the crackling of firecrackers all around her.
Remembering the words her father had said, her heart throbbed with pain.
Then, she thought of Chen Daniu's wife.
She unlocked her phone and scrutinized the woman's photo, only then noticing the faint scars just below her neck.
Her heart ached even more.
She had deliberately picked a fight and made a scene with Liu Chunlan tonight just to create an excuse to visit Chen Daniu's house.
If she really got divorced and left, no one in this village would ever spare a second glance at that poor girl.
She wanted to call the police, but Chen Guanshan's vicious glare kept swirling in her mind, along with his ominous words.
These surrounding villages are quite short of girls.
She made up her mind. Once she sent Keke away to safety, she wouldn't be afraid of anything anymore.
Wang Hao looked a bit nervous when he saw the photo on her phone.
He said, Don't meddle in other people's business. Stop bringing trouble upon yourself.
It took Daniu so many years to finally find a wife. Don't go ruining it for him.
Lin Wanyi's heart plummeted.
A cold sweat broke out all over her body.
She thought Wang Hao would at least be indignant, but to her surprise, he thought it was perfectly natural.
It turned out he also believed there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.
Lin Wanyi couldn't help but ask him,
Don't you find the girl's origins suspicious?
Wang Hao replied carelessly,
What's there to be suspicious about? Like I said, stay out of other people's business.
Wang Keke was tired.
She couldn't stay awake to ring in the new year and fell asleep early.
Lin Wanyi, however, couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
Her mind was full of that poor girl, as well as the girl's parents, who were surely also lying awake at this very moment.
How much pain they must be in!
Wang Hao had a few drinks with Wang Jianguo.
He suddenly lunged at Lin Wanyi, reeking of alcohol, and tried to kiss her.
Disgusting.
Lin Wanyi felt incredibly nauseated.
She forcefully pushed Wang Hao away.
But fueled by the alcohol, Wang Hao hugged her even tighter. Wife, we always do it every New Year's Eve. Today should be no exception.
As he spoke, he started trying to take off Lin Wanyi's clothes.
Lin Wanyi refused. She wouldn't do it, not even if she died.
They were about to get a divorce; how could they possibly do that?
Wang Hao was impatient, but he couldn't get her clothes off no matter how hard he tried. Instead, she kicked him right off the bed.
Furious and exasperated, he turned around, went downstairs, and brought up a glass of water, placing it on the bedside table.
Fine, if you don't want to do it, then forget it. Drink your water and go to sleep.
Lin Wanyi's throat was burning from the struggle.
Without overthinking it, she gulped the water down.
Less than ten minutes later, Lin Wanyi fell into a deep sleep.
Wang Hao originally wanted to press himself onto her like before, but thinking of Lin Wanyi's unusual behavior tonight and how she constantly talked about divorce, he changed his mind.
He carried Wang Keke to another room, then stripped off all of Lin Wanyi's clothes, and finally turned on his phone's video camera, pointing it at the bed.
The firecrackers popped and cracked.
The fireworks banged and boomed.
And inside Wang Hao's phone, there was also a relentless banging going on!
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Wanyi woke up once again to the sound of firecrackers.
Wang Hao, his face glowing with satisfaction, pulled at her.
I'm going out to give New Year's greetings to the elders. You should get up early and tidy yourself up. It won't look good if people come over and see you like this.
Lin Wanyi had just gotten dressed and gone downstairs when Wu Qin came looking for her with a secretive look.
She looked terrified. Did you hear about what happened last night?
What happened? Lin Wanyi asked in return.
You really don't know anything?
Wu Qin's eyes widened.
It caused such a commotion last night that every household couldn't sleep, and you actually don't know?
Lin Wanyi truly didn't know; she had slept too deeply.
Wu Qin couldn't understand it. Even if you're a heavy sleeper, it doesn't make sense. Last night, a woman from the neighboring village escaped.
The whole village came out to search for her, and they finally found her in the mountains behind our village.
That woman was crying so miserably. I didn't sleep well all night.
Wanyi, tell me, during the New Year of all times, who wouldn't feel awful hearing that?
Then why didn't you call the police!
Lin Wanyi blurted out.
Wu Qin lowered her head in shame.
You don't usually interact with the villagers, so you wouldn't know. Don't be fooled by how they bicker and argue on a normal day.
When it comes to things like this, they are incredibly united.
You didn't hear it last night, but almost all the men from the neighboring village came out.
Who would dare call the police?
Besides, I'm not like you. My in-laws and my own parents all live here. I can't do something that would offend everyone.
Otherwise, neither of our families would be able to stay here anymore. Wanyi, do you understand me?
She understood.
She understood Wu Qin's position.
But she also genuinely grieved for those girls.
Because even the local women here could only offer sympathy and didn't dare lift a finger to help.
From the moment they were brought into this village, there was never a day they would leave.
Wu Qin was still talking.
I heard that after she was dragged back, she received a terrible beating. She was punished by the men of the village one after another, and she even lost her baby. Sigh, it's a sin, and on the first day of the New Year!
What kind of world is this!
Lin Wanyi couldn't even eat her food. She made a video call to Li Suhua to offer New Year's greetings.
Then, she just sat there, staring blankly.
She wondered if, in the end, she would also be unable to escape like that.
She shuddered.
No, she had to leave no matter what.
This place was too terrifying.
Why hadn't she noticed it before? If she had, she definitely would have run away long ago.
At night, Li Suhua called her.
Wanyi, are you coming back tomorrow?
You've been married for eight years, and you've never come back to your maiden home on the second day of the New Year. Are you coming back this year?
Lin Wanyi looked at Wang Hao. Wang Hao, tomorrow is the second day of the New Year. I want to visit my family.
As always, it was Liu Chunlan who objected.
Are you out of your mind? I told you to leave last night and you didn't, and now you want to go back.
Are you playing games?
Lin Wanyi said calmly, On the second day of the New Year, daughters all over the country go back to visit their parents. Why can't I?
I said you can't, so you can't. Juan'er is coming back tomorrow, and we still have to go to your uncle's house.
We are going to be busy to death. How can you leave?
What a joke!
Lin Wanyi didn't hold back at all. Your daughter can come back, so why can't I?
I'm telling you right now, if I can't go back to my family, then your daughter can't come back either!
Liu Chunlan jumped up from the sofa.
My daughter married locally. She can be home in ten minutes and can come back whenever she wants.
How can an outsider like you compare to her?
It costs her a few bucks to come back, and it costs you thousands. Is that the same?
Besides, didn't you just go back before the New Year when your short-lived father died?
Lin Wanyi, you stay here and obediently cook for us tomorrow. Don't even think about going anywhere!
Lin Wanyi let out a cold snort.
She wouldn't be going anywhere tomorrow, because she was going to guard the front door.
Since she couldn't go back, then Wang Meijuan shouldn't even dream of coming in.
She was going to make sure that everyone in the Wang family would remember this New Year for the rest of their lives!
She would turn the Wang household completely upside down!
Thinking of this, she stared straight at Liu Chunlan.
You'll become a short-lived ghost tomorrow too, do you believe that?
