"Huh? Is Meng Yingying not here? I thought I saw her just a moment ago." Aunt Wu glanced around in confusion, realizing Meng Yingying was indeed missing.
"Has anyone seen Meng Yingying?" Aunt Wu asked the others again.
Everyone shook their heads.
Meng Yingying had always been quiet and withdrawn, preferring to work alone in the corner without speaking to anyone. Her sudden absence had gone unnoticed.
"A-Chu, this is my fault for not paying attention. I’ll go look for her right away," Aunt Wu said apologetically.
Song Nianchu had entrusted her with overseeing the kitchen, yet she hadn’t even noticed someone was missing.
"I’ll go with you. Meng Yingying isn’t the type to slack off," Song Nianchu said, a bad feeling settling in her chest.
"Alright," Aunt Wu agreed.
The two left the village office and headed straight for Meng Yingying’s home.
The village was quiet, with most people out working, leaving only a few children playing and laughing in the streets.
But when Song Nianchu and Aunt Wu reached Meng Yingying’s doorstep, they were met with the sound of desperate sobbing and pleas for mercy from inside.
Song Nianchu’s expression darkened instantly. Without hesitation, she kicked the courtyard gate open and rushed in.
Inside the room, Third Wu had Meng Yingying by the hair, pinning her to the ground as he rained blows across her face, cursing viciously.
"You damn woman, you think you’re still some city princess? You came to our village and married me—that makes you mine!"
"I feed you and clothe you every day, and you dare refuse me? Today, I’ll teach you how a wife should serve her husband!"
As Third Wu reached to yank down Meng Yingying’s pants, Song Nianchu burst in.
The sight before her ignited her fury. She lunged forward and kicked Third Wu hard, sending him flying.
Meng Yingying quickly pulled her pants back up, clutching her collar as she curled into a trembling, weeping ball.
"What a sin!" Aunt Wu hurried over, wrapping Meng Yingying in a blanket from the bed.
Song Nianchu’s kick had been brutal. Third Wu lay sprawled on the ground, dazed and struggling to regain his senses.
After a moment, he clutched his chest and staggered to his feet, his face twisted with rage when he saw Song Nianchu.
"Song Nianchu, what the hell are you doing in my house? You dare lay hands on me? I’ll report you to the brigade for assault!"
Third Wu was a notorious troublemaker in Qinghe Fishing Village. He’d always disliked Song Nianchu, badmouthing her behind her back, but he knew better than to provoke her openly—until now.
This time, the pain had overridden his fear, and he glared at her with murderous intent.
"Go ahead and report. Let’s see who gets arrested first—you for your crimes, or me for stopping you," Song Nianchu shot back, unfazed.
"You—!" Third Wu’s chest ached with fury.
He wasn’t clean himself, and her words struck a nerve. But seeing Meng Yingying’s tearful face, his bravado returned.
"Song Nianchu, this is my family matter. Stay out of it and get the hell out of my house!"
Meng Yingying was his wife. He could beat or berate her as he pleased—who could stop him?
"Meng Yingying is a member of my team. It’s my duty to protect her," Song Nianchu stated firmly.
"She’s my wife! If I want to do what husbands do with their wives, who are you to interfere? You think you can meddle in our bedroom affairs?" Third Wu spat, crude as ever.
Song Nianchu’s brow furrowed in disgust.
Every community had its rotten apples, and Third Wu was the biggest, foulest one in Qinghe Fishing Village.
"Even if she’s your wife, forcing yourself on her against her will is a crime. You’d go to jail for it," Song Nianchu said coldly.
"Who the hell are you trying to scare? Go ask around—real men discipline their women! Only cowards don’t!" Third Wu, barely literate, had no idea her words held legal weight. He scoffed defiantly.
Song Nianchu clenched her fists, itching to smash his despicable face in. But she forced herself to stay calm and turned to Meng Yingying.
"Meng Yingying, was this consensual? Did Third Wu force you?"
As furious as she was at Third Wu’s actions, he wasn’t entirely wrong—this was between husband and wife.
If Meng Yingying didn’t speak up, Song Nianchu’s interference might backfire, leaving her in an awkward position.
Trembling violently, Meng Yingying finally mustered the courage to glare at Third Wu with pure hatred.
"He’s always forced me. Not just after we married—even before… he took me against my will."
"You lying bitch! You threw yourself at me! Say another word, and I’ll beat you senseless!" Third Wu, enraged that his usually timid wife dared expose him, raised his hand to strike her as usual.
"Touch her, and you’ll regret it!" Now that Meng Yingying had spoken, Song Nianchu no longer held back, stepping protectively in front of her.
"Song Nianchu, I’ve let you off easy because you’re a woman. Are you really picking a fight with me today?" Third Wu seethed.
"I’m not picking a fight. I just despise cowards who only dare bully defenseless women. If you’ve got the guts, fight me. Win, and I’ll steer clear of you forever," Song Nianchu challenged, eyes blazing.
Third Wu’s fists clenched at his sides. If he could beat Song Nianchu, he wouldn’t have let her dominate the village for so long.
"Aunt Wu, go get Uncle Zhengui," Song Nianchu ordered, inwardly scoffing at Third Wu’s cowardice.
If he’d attacked, she could’ve taught him a lesson. Now, she had to wait.
"Alright," Aunt Wu agreed but warned before leaving, "A-Chu, don’t do anything rash before Uncle Zhengui arrives."
"Don’t worry. I won’t lay a hand on him," Song Nianchu assured.
Satisfied, Aunt Wu hurried off. Within ten minutes, Wu Zhenggui arrived with his sons, his face darkening at the scene before him.
