"Third Wu, what exactly are you trying to do?" Wu Zhenggui glared fiercely at Third Wu.
Third Wu glanced at Wu Zhenggui and the five strong young men behind him, and his earlier arrogance immediately deflated.
"Village Chief, you’ve got it all wrong this time. I didn’t do anything—just stayed at home minding my own business, trying to have some marital relations with my wife. But then Song Nianchu barged in without a word, kicked me, and even injured me. I think my ribs might be broken. Village Chief, you have to stand up for me."
Third Wu had a knack for twisting the truth. Rubbing his chest, he put on the act of the victim.
On his way over, Wu Zhenggui had already heard Aunt Wu explain the situation. His gaze shifted to Meng Yingying, who stood nearby.
"Even between husband and wife, you can’t force someone."
"What’s this talk of forcing? It’s just a bit of fun between couples. Village Chief, you’re still young—surely you understand?" Third Wu sneered, his tone shameless.
"You—!" Wu Zhenggui’s face flushed with anger.
"Village Chief, I want to report Third Wu for rape!" Meng Yingying suddenly stood up, her voice firm as she looked at Wu Zhenggui.
"You—" Third Wu, hearing Meng Yingying’s accusation, instinctively stepped forward, but Song Nianchu raised a finger to stop him.
"If you don’t want to break another bone, go ahead and take another step."
Third Wu immediately froze in place.
"Comrade Meng, what did you say?" Wu Zhenggui turned to Meng Yingying.
Meng Yingying took a deep breath and pointed at Third Wu.
"Before, the educated youth dormitory was being repaired because of a leaking roof, so all of us were temporarily housed with villagers. I drew Third Wu’s household."
"Ever since I moved in, he’s been harassing me. I did everything I could to avoid him, just waiting for the dormitory to be fixed so I could move back."
"But the night before I was supposed to return, this beast sneaked into my room and… he raped me…" Meng Yingying’s voice choked with emotion.
Her entire body trembled, whether from fear or fury.
"What rape? You were willing!" Third Wu raised his voice, then turned to Wu Zhenggui. "Village Chief, you have to believe me. This woman’s just restless—she’s got her eyes on some other man and made up this story to ruin me."
"That’s a lie!" Meng Yingying’s eyes burned with rage.
"How is it a lie? You let me touch you before, but these past few days, you’ve been avoiding me. Isn’t it obvious you’ve found someone else?" Third Wu scoffed.
"You—!" Meng Yingying, being an educated youth, was no match for Third Wu’s shamelessness. She could only shake with helpless anger.
"Comrade Meng, is there anyone who can testify to what you’ve said?" Wu Zhenggui asked.
"It was… at night, and he covered my mouth. I…"
Wu Zhenggui understood—she had no witnesses.
"Do you have any evidence?" Wu Zhenggui pressed.
"I… don’t." Meng Yingying shook her head, her face pale.
So much time had passed—where would she find evidence now?
"After it happened, did you tell anyone? Could they testify about what you went through that night?" Wu Zhenggui frowned deeper, racking his brain for ways to help her.
If no one saw it happen, that was understandable. But if someone knew afterward, he might still be able to do something.
Yet Meng Yingying shook her head again.
How could a young woman speak of such a thing to others?
Seeing that Meng Yingying had no evidence or witnesses, Wu Zhenggui’s expression filled with pity.
"Comrade Meng, if you have no proof and no one to back you up, there’s very little I can do based on your word alone."
Especially since the two of them were now married.
Third Wu’s face twisted with smugness. He knew this woman couldn’t cause him any real trouble.
"Yingying, this is just a matter between husband and wife. If you didn’t like how rough I was, you could’ve just told me. Why make such a scene? As a man, I don’t care about shame, but how will you, a woman, face others after this? What will people think of you?" Third Wu’s words carried a veiled threat.
Meng Yingying felt as if she’d been plunged into an icy abyss. She had mustered the courage to seek justice, only to find it futile.
How laughable…
"Even if there’s no proof of what happened before, Aunt Wu and I both saw you assaulting Comrade Meng just now," Song Nianchu said coldly, her heart aching for Meng Yingying.
"Assault? Don’t you and your man do the same at home? Besides, I only pulled her pants down—didn’t even get to do anything!" Third Wu gloated.
Song Nianchu’s lips pressed into a thin line. This scoundrel had learned fast.
But the truth was, in a marriage, such matters were hard to judge. Even if they reported it to the police, they’d likely just mediate.
After all, Meng Yingying had no concrete evidence.
Song Nianchu’s mind raced. Even if they couldn’t charge Third Wu with rape, they had to find another way to lock him up—otherwise, this rotten egg might ruin all of Qinghe Fishing Village.
While she was still thinking, Meng Yingying suddenly bolted for the door.
"Comrade Meng!" Aunt Wu tried to stop her but was too late.
"Quick, follow her—she might try to harm herself!" Song Nianchu snapped out of her thoughts and sprinted after her.
Wu Zhenggui, hearing this, immediately rushed out as well.
But Third Wu remained unhurried, merely rubbing his sore chest with a look of disdain.
That woman better die, or else he’d finish her off himself.
Meng Yingying ran straight toward the sea.
Seeing the blue waters ahead, she didn’t hesitate—if anything, her steps quickened as she plunged into the waves.
At the same time, Mu Shi'an had just left a villager’s house.
A net-weaving machine had malfunctioned, and he’d been called to fix it—just a tangled thread.
He had just finished and was heading home when he spotted a figure rushing into the sea.
Without a second thought, Mu Shi'an turned and ran toward the shore.
By the time Song Nianchu and the others reached the beach, Mu Shi'an had already pulled Meng Yingying from the water.
But his face was pale, and he coughed violently.
Meng Yingying had struggled fiercely in the water, pushing him under and making him swallow several mouthfuls of seawater.
Luckily, she’d passed out—otherwise, he might not have made it back to shore.
"Shi'an, are you all right?" Song Nianchu hurried over, patting his back.
