The woman's voice was rhythmic, a mix of grievance and an indescribable softness: "Chenghui, I'll be yours for the rest of my life. Please don't leave me..."
Xiao Mandong recognized the voices. They were Shao Tingting and Zhang Chenghui.
At this moment, Shao Tingting was in so much pain that she wanted to scream, but she was afraid of being heard by people outside. She could only bite her lips tightly. In the end, she couldn't hold back and let out a few suppressed sobs...
Since that day when she vaguely agreed to Zhang Chenghui's proposal, Zhang Chenghui had been looking for opportunities to get close to her. Once, when Zhang Chenghui hugged and kissed her in the logistics storage room, they almost got caught.
She was really scared at that time. She was afraid that if people found out, it would ruin her reputation. So, after that day, she started avoiding Zhang Chenghui.
Actually, there was a more important reason. Since her husband found out that the reason they couldn't have children was his own problem, his attitude towards her had improved a lot. Even when her mother - in - law scolded her, her husband would stand up for her. At that moment, Shao Tingting wavered. She thought that as long as her husband protected her, it didn't matter whether they had children or not. Anyway, she couldn't get divorced, and her parents wouldn't agree. She just wanted to live a stable life.
But unexpectedly, last night when she got home, her husband was working overtime and wasn't at home, and her sister - in - law from the exchange marriage had returned to her natal family.
Her husband, for the sake of face, didn't tell his mother about his illness. Her mother - in - law, who already disliked her, started causing trouble. She kept calling her a "hen that can't lay eggs", saying that her daughter had already given birth to two children, and it would have been better to exchange for a hen back then, at least it could lay eggs.
Shao Tingting couldn't bear it anymore and retorted. Then, her mother - in - law and sister - in - law started beating her. From their scolding, she learned that her sister - in - law had had an argument with her elder brother at home and came back to take it out on her. They also forced her to give up her temporary job at the hospital. In a fit of anger, Shao Tingting ran out. She had nowhere to go, so she planned to stay at the hospital for the night. By chance, she met Zhang Chenghui. At that time, she didn't know what she was thinking. On a whim, she went with Zhang Chenghui to this place.
"Baby, don't worry. If you can give me a son, I'll definitely find a way to get divorced and marry you." Zhang Chenghui coaxed Shao Tingting. A few days ago, Shao Tingting had been avoiding him, and he had almost given up. But today, after working an extra shift, he saw Shao Tingting running into the hospital crying. Zhang Chenghui thought his chance had come. With a stream of sweet talk, he lured Shao Tingting to the guesthouse.
He thought it was just a fling, but he never expected that during the process, Zhang Chenghui felt a little resistance. As a man in his forties, he understood everything. Combining with the situation of her husband, he instantly realized what was going on.
"Baby, I really didn't expect you to still be a virgin." Zhang Chenghui really felt like he had struck gold. He was extremely excited.
The crying next door gradually stopped. The creaking of the bed mixed with the suppressed gasps was especially harsh in the silent night. Xiao Mandong was too lazy to listen anymore. She still needed to sleep for a while and planned to go to the black market at three or four o'clock to pick up the cotton she had agreed with Xia Mingyuan.
When Xiao Mandong opened her eyes, it was already past four. She hurriedly left a note for Xiao Manxue and was about to leave. Just as she opened the door, she heard the door next door open. Xiao Mandong quickly closed the door but left a small gap to peek.
Sure enough, it was Zhang Chenghui and Shao Tingting coming out.
At this moment, Zhang Chenghui felt so exhausted that he was about to collapse, but his face was full of satisfaction. Shao Tingting followed behind, her steps unsteady and her face flushed. She had experienced being a woman for the first time. Although she knew what she had done was dishonorable, she didn't regret it at all. There was only one thought in her mind: she must have a child of her own.
Watching the two of them go downstairs, Xiao Mandong hadn't even gone out yet when she saw a woman coming out of another room. She walked to the stairs and stared directly at the backs of Shao Tingting and Zhang Chenghui going downstairs.
Xiao Mandong didn't expect that the woman was Qi Yuqing.
What was going on? Did Qi Yuqing know that Zhang Chenghui was a philanderer all along? Had she just been holding back? The interactions between the two in the hospital before had seemed so loving. There was really no sign of acting. Fortunately, she hadn't blabbed.
At this moment, Qi Yuqing clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails had dug deeply into her palms. She wiped the tears from her face forcefully, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. She really didn't want to maintain this marriage anymore. But if she got divorced, she was worried that her father wouldn't be able to hold his head up in the hospital. She didn't know what to do. She had been pretending to be in a loving relationship every day, just not to worry her father. She was really tired.
After everyone left, Xiao Mandong quietly walked out of the guesthouse and headed straight for the black market.
When she reached a deserted place, she took out a basket of apples from her space and carried them on her back. The fruits in her space were really overflowing. Since she was here, she might as well sell some.
She also hoped to buy some cloth in the black market. Xiao Manxue was going to school, and she definitely needed to make some luggage and seasonal clothes.
But when she got to the black market, the person guarding the entrance today wasn't Xia Mingyuan. She preferred to deal with familiar people. Suddenly having a different person made Xiao Mandong really not know how to communicate.
"Hello, comrade. May I ask if Brother Xia isn't here?"
Hu Liu, with a straw in his mouth, sized Xiao Mandong up and down. This woman was so beautiful. What did she want with Brother Xia? Did she have a crush on Brother Xia and want to ruin his relationship with Sister Yingzi?
"Who are you? What do you want with Brother Xia?"
Hu Liu was on high alert, looking at Xiao Mandong with hostility. Brother Xia had a girlfriend. This woman looked like a flirtatious one. Sister Ying was very nice to them. He had to protect Sister Ying from this woman.
"I agreed with Brother Xia last time to come and pick up the cotton on Wednesday. Something came up at home, so I was delayed. I'm here to pick up the cotton today." Xiao Mandong explained.
Only then did Hu Liu realize that she was the woman who had bought cotton from Brother Xia. His tone softened a bit: "Brother Xia's grandma is sick, and he has to take care of her at home for the time being. The cotton you want is already prepared for you. Come with me."
Xiao Mandong followed Hu Liu to a house not far from the black market. But she didn't dare to go in and took a few cautious steps back.
Hu Liu looked impatient at Xiao Mandong's behavior: "Hurry up. Stop being so hesitant. Let me tell you, Brother Xia prepared the cotton for you because he's a man of his word. Don't think he has other intentions towards you. Don't think you can ruin someone else's family just because you have a pretty face. Brother Xia and Sister Ying are a perfect match."
