A-chun was still young and had not yet awakened to matters of the heart, so she had no one she fancied. She simply shook her head and said, “Marriage is a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaking. I trust Father and Mother will find me a good family!”
Shitou nodded, then comforted Guo’er’s Mother, “Don’t worry too much. As long as the young man is honest, hardworking, and willing to endure hardship, and his parents are reasonable people, it will be fine. Life is built day by day, and A-chun is blessed with good fortune!”
Seeing Shitou speak this way, Guo’er’s Mother naturally deferred to the head of the household. She sighed and nodded, saying, “The young man who matches our A-chun must be the very best!”
Seeing that her mother was no longer troubled by the matter, A-chun smiled and said, “Let’s eat, let’s eat! Guo’er is already stuffed, and we’ve barely taken a few bites!”
Guo’er, who had been quietly eating with his head down, looked up in confusion when he heard his name, a grain of rice still stuck to the tip of his nose. His silly expression made the whole family burst into laughter!
A-chun laughed even harder. She patted Guo’er’s head and said, “You’re a little man now. When I’m not home, you and Father must take good care of Mother!”
Hearing this, Guo’er’s Mother felt a warmth in her heart. She hugged A-chun tightly and said, “After all, it’s the daughter who is closer, knowing how to care for her mother!”
After the meal, A-chun packed her clothes and left while it was still light. Shitou couldn’t bear to part with A-chun, so he and Guo’er walked her part of the way. Though small, Guo’er was strong and carried A-chun’s clothes the entire journey.
When they reached the edge of the village, Shitou and Guo’er wanted to accompany A-chun all the way to town. However, A-chun couldn’t bear to see her father and brother go through such trouble and refused, saying, “I walk this path often, and it’s very safe. Father, you should rest assured. If you take me to town and come back, it will be very late, and Guo’er still has to go to school tomorrow!”
Although Shitou was uneasy, he knew A-chun was right. These were peaceful times, and there was indeed little danger. After a moment’s thought, he agreed, “Alright, but be very careful on your way. In a few days, we’ll go to town for the market and visit you then!”
A-chun nodded, then took the bundle from Guo’er’s hands. “You must study hard, understand?”
Guo’er naturally agreed wholeheartedly. Reluctant to part with his sister, he hugged her tightly for a while before letting go. “I understand. I study diligently, and the teacher likes me very much. Don’t worry, Sister!”
A-chun ruffled Guo’er’s hair and turned to Shitou. “Father, I’m leaving now. Go back early and don’t keep Mother waiting at home!”
Shitou nodded. “I understand. Hurry along now!”
A-chun turned and left. After walking for a while, she looked back and saw Shitou and Guo’er still standing there. She couldn’t help but smile, waved to them, and then quickened her pace.
Shitou waited until A-chun’s figure disappeared from sight before bending down to carry Guo’er, who was already yawning, on his back and heading home.
“Guo’er must study hard, earn lots of silver when he grows up, and not let Father, Mother, and Sister work so hard!” Guo’er murmured as he leaned against Shitou’s back.
“As long as you grow up well, your mother and I will be content!” Shitou smiled, then carried the drowsy Guo’er on his back and hurried home.
By the time A-chun returned to the shop, it was already late at night. The shopkeeper and his wife usually didn’t stay in the shop, so A-chun was the only one living there. Knowing A-chun would return today, the shopkeeper had left the door unlocked for her.
After returning to her small room, A-chun tidied the bed, fetched water to wash her face, and busied herself for nearly an hour before finally slipping into the warm bedding, ready to sleep.
Just as A-chun was drifting between sleep and wakefulness, a sudden loud noise jolted her awake, leaving her with no trace of drowsiness. After a long while, when she thought nothing more would happen, someone began knocking on the door.
After hesitating for a long time, A-chun finally got up, grabbed a broom, and cautiously made her way to the back door.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” The knocking persisted.
“Who is it?” A-chun shouted, clutching the broom and mustering her courage.
There was no response from outside, but the knocking continued.
A-chun stood behind the door for a long time before finally, cautiously, opening it. “We’re already closed… Ah!”
As soon as the door opened, a large figure collapsed onto her. With her slender arms and legs, A-chun couldn’t bear the weight of such a large person and was immediately knocked to the ground. For a moment, she was dazed and disoriented from the impact.
It took a while for A-chun to regain her senses, but the man lying on top of her seemed to have fainted completely, showing no signs of movement.
With great effort, A-chun managed to roll the man off her. In the pitch darkness, she couldn’t make out his appearance, nor did she smell any blood, but he remained unconscious.
A-chun nudged him with her foot, and when he showed no reaction, she thought of going back to her room to fetch a lantern to get a better look at what was wrong with him. But just as she lifted her leg, her ankle was grabbed.
In a dizzying turn of events, A-chun found herself pinned beneath the man whose face she couldn’t see. In the darkness, all she could make out were a pair of deep, dark eyes—so dark they were terrifying—staring at her as if trying to pull her in.
“Hel—”
Before her cry for help could fully escape, the man’s hand covered her mouth. In the darkness, A-chun heard his low, hoarse voice: “I’ve been harmed by someone. Save my life, and I will repay you!”
As his words faded, A-chun suddenly felt a chill as her clothes were torn open by the man. A cool hand rested on her slender waist.
A-chun struggled with all her might, but her opponent was too strong, easily pinning down her hands and feet. With her mouth covered, she could only stare wide-eyed at the man before her, as a despairing fear seeped slowly from the depths of her heart into her entire body.
Suddenly, a tearing pain washed over her. A-chun wanted to curl up in agony, but she was powerless. Even with all her strength, she couldn’t push the man away. In despair, she felt her body trembling uncontrollably with fear, like a rag doll being torn apart by a mad dog.
Tears slowly trickled from the corners of A-chun’s eyes, just as rain began to fall from the sky. A raindrop landed on the center of her forehead, cold and chilling, forming a stark contrast with the man on top of her, whose body was scorching hot.
The man was full of energy, as if he could go on until the end of time, but A-chun was merely a girl who had not yet fully grown. How could she endure such torment? After holding on for half an hour, she gradually fainted beneath him.