Lin Dongguo stood tall in his military-green uniform, his one-meter-eight frame complemented by a square jaw, thick eyebrows, and sharp eyes—the very epitome of the most admired looks of the time. Qu Chuning stared at him, overwhelmed with hatred. During their blind date, she had been captivated by his photo.
Shi Zhenzhen shook her head at Lin Dongguo, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. He turned to Qu Chuning, then glanced at the crowd gathered outside.
One of the wives pointed at Qu Chuning and asked Lin Dongguo, "Xiao Lin, what's going on? Another woman claiming to be your wife has shown up?"
As soon as these words were spoken, someone else chimed in, "Yeah, didn't you marry Zhenzhen? How come there's another wife now?"
"Exactly! And she even has a marriage certificate and an introduction letter from the village—it doesn't seem fake!"
Lin Dongguo's face darkened, especially when he looked at Qu Chuning. His aversion was unmistakable as he coldly demanded, "Why have you come?"
Why had she come?
Qu Chuning felt a surge of hatred. For decades, he had deceived her just so she would care for his mother back in their hometown. Decades! The better part of her life had been wasted on the Lin Family!
"Why have I come?" Qu Chuning pointed at Shi Zhenzhen. "Lin Dongguo, if I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known you had another wife out here! I wondered why you hadn't returned once in three years, why you barely wrote any letters all year. So you got married here too? Tell me, who is she?"
Hearing this, Shi Zhenzhen shrank back in fear, hiding behind Lin Dongguo. Her eyes reddened as she twisted the hem of her clothes, looking aggrieved. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. If it weren't for…Before Shi Zhenzhen could finish, Lin Dongguo comforted her with evident heartache.
After reassuring Shi Zhenzhen, Lin Dongguo's gaze turned icy as he faced Qu Chuning. Word by word, he declared, "Comrade Qu Chuning, since you've found your way here, I might as well make things clear today. That marriage certificate of yours was just something I had someone scribble—it's not real! At the time, I was about to go on a mission where life and death were uncertain. I did it to keep my mother from worrying and to ease her mind, so we held a wedding banquet. But between us, there is no relationship whatsoever. I hope you understand this!"
Qu Chuning was stunned. Fake?
The marriage certificate in her hand was fake?
Unlike Qu Chuning's shock, many found Lin Dongguo's explanation quite understandable. In those circumstances, no one knew if they would return alive from the battlefield or die honorably. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been hard to balance, and Lin Dongguo's actions didn't seem entirely unreasonable!
Everyone sympathized with Lin Dongguo, but no one considered Qu Chuning's perspective. She thought of her absurd and pitiful past life, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. She laughed and cried, her body swaying unsteadily.
Qu Chuning recalled the relatives from her husband's family who visited her in-laws every year, always giving her those ambiguous, mocking smiles. She remembered her mother-in-law holding her hand each time she fell ill and was tended to at the bedside, promising to treat her like a real daughter. She remembered…
So, there had been signs all along!
Qu Chuning's eyes widened in fury. According to Lin Dongguo's words, everyone had benefited from this—everyone except her. She alone was the victim in this farce!
Even though everyone now knows that Lin Dongguo's marriage certificate with her is fake, she has lived with the Lin family for three years, and her reputation has long been ruined. Could it be that Lin Dongguo thinks she can still return to her parents' home and become a bride waiting to be married again?
Lin Dongguo himself also came from the countryside. Doesn't he understand how much importance rural communities place on a woman's reputation?
Lin Dongguo is trying to drive her to her death!
Qu Chuning could no longer hold back. She rushed forward and slapped Lin Dongguo hard across the face!
"Fake! With just one word—'fake'—you want to ruin me, or even drive me to my death? Lin Dongguo, don't be so despicable! You're a grown man—how could your mother force you? We held a wedding banquet in your hometown. In the eyes of the elders and fellow villagers, I am your wife. You think one word—'fake'—can wash your hands clean of this? Not a chance!"
"You didn't say anything three years ago. You didn't explain clearly when you married this woman. It wasn't until I came to your unit that you said our marriage certificate was fake. I've lived in your home for three years, taken care of your parents for three years—three whole years! Don't you understand? Lin Dongguo, if you think you can dismiss me today with a flippant 'it's fake,' I'm telling you, it's impossible!"
"Comrades, please, I beg you, help me! If I go back like this, I'll have no way to survive. In the countryside, reputation is everything to a woman. He, Lin Dongguo, is trying to drive me to my death! Comrades, please, I beg you, please help me!"
Qu Chuning tearfully handed her letter of introduction to the middle-aged woman standing closest to her. "Comrade, I need to see your leader here. No matter what, I deserve an explanation for this, don't I?"
It was only then that Qu Chuning remembered that her marriage certificate was still with that Regimental Commander at the gate. In her haste to come in, she had forgotten about it. But right now, retrieving the marriage certificate wasn't her priority.
The middle-aged woman quickly glanced at Lin Dongguo, then frantically waved her hands. What a joke—Lin Dongguo was the Deputy Battalion Commander, and Shi Zhenzhen was the Chief of Staff's youngest daughter. Her own husband was just a squad leader. She wouldn't dare go to the leadership about this.
Everyone stepped back, unwilling to get involved in the matter!
Qu Chuning gritted her teeth, clutching the letter of introduction tightly in her hand. Lin Dongguo stepped forward to pull Qu Chuning, trying to drag her back home.
At this moment, Qu Chuning was like a hedgehog. The moment Lin Dongguo's hand touched her, she fought back desperately. Not only that, she kept cursing Lin Dongguo and Shi Zhenzhen!
Seeing that Qu Chuning wouldn't comply, Lin Dongguo grabbed her arm. His strength was too great. Qu Chuning heard a "crack," followed by sharp pain in her shoulder. Her body was nearly lifted off the ground as he dragged her toward the house!
"Ah, it hurts! Lin Dongguo, let go of me! Are you feeling guilty? You committed marriage fraud! Your whole Lin family has bullied me! What are you trying to do now—silence me for good?"
"Lin Dongguo, this matter absolutely cannot be brushed aside as lightly as you want! I've spent three years in your family—my reputation, my everything is ruined! You think one word—'fake'—is enough to send me away? It won't work! I'm going to your leaders! You, this adulterous couple, must give me an explanation for this!"
Hearing this, Lin Dongguo felt somewhat guilty. The marriage certificate was indeed fake, but his wedding banquet with Qu Chuning was real. In their rural area, even without a marriage certificate, holding a wedding banquet meant the couple was considered legally married in the eyes of the villagers!
However, he later married Shi Zhenzhen. Though this wasn't illegal, it was morally unjustifiable. Worried others might overhear, he tightened his grip forcefully.
Enduring excruciating pain, Qu Chuning sank her teeth fiercely into Lin Dongguo's wrist!