That night, Li Qinkuai didn’t know when she had fallen asleep. She only felt the man on top of her constantly demanding more, changing positions endlessly, like a dog that had gotten a taste of meat—unwilling to let her go no matter what.
When Li Qinkuai woke up, it was already ten o’clock. She was alone in the room, and Duan Pengyue was nowhere to be seen.
At that moment, she just wanted to beat Duan Pengyue to death. Her waist was sore, and her lower body burned with pain. However, her body felt clean and dry, likely because Duan Pengyue had wiped her down.
Li Qinkuai thought to herself that next time, she must make him restrain himself. If he kept tormenting her like this, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Just as she was thinking this, Duan Pengyue pushed the door open and walked in, holding a bowl in his hand.
“You’re awake? Are you hungry? I made you a bowl of noodles. Get up and eat. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
Duan Pengyue walked over, placed the noodles on the table, and asked softly, but his face was beaming with delight, making it clear to anyone who saw him just how good his mood was.
Li Qinkuai glared at him angrily, her face flushed red. She punched him in the chest. “How dare you ask!”
Duan Pengyue wasn’t angry. Instead, the smile in his eyes deepened. He reached out and held the hand she had struck him with, asking tenderly, “Did your hand hurt from hitting me?”
After saying this, he even lowered his head and kissed her wrist, his expression as if he had obtained a treasure.
Li Qinkuai was so disgusted by his actions that goosebumps rose all over her body. She felt nauseated, and when she recalled the lewd things he had said in bed the night before—as perverted as could be—she felt even more disgusted. She quickly pulled her hand back.
Why hadn’t she realized before that Duan Pengyue was like this in private?
But upon careful reflection, in her previous life, it was always Li Qinkuai who forced herself on him, while Duan Pengyue endured it with humiliation. After it was over, he would put on a stern face, as cold and indifferent as could be, as if someone owed him something.
Yet, back then, Li Qinkuai had loved Duan Pengyue exactly like that. Sometimes, seeing his stern face would even make her itch to force herself on him again.
Duan Pengyue brought in a basin of water for Li Qinkuai to freshen up, then helped her out of bed to eat the noodles.
It was a bowl of tomato and egg noodles, with a few pieces of pork belly and chili peppers added. It looked delicious.
“Did you make these noodles yourself?”
Li Qinkuai took a bite. The flavor was excellent.
“Yes, do they taste good? If it’s not enough, I’ll make you another bowl.” Duan Pengyue sat beside her, his tone indescribably gentle.
“It’s enough. No need to make more.”
After saying this, Li Qinkuai buried her head in the bowl, slurping up the noodles until they were completely gone. She didn’t even leave a drop of the soup, drinking every last bit.
She patted her slightly bulging stomach, feeling satisfied.
“Where are my parents and my eldest brother?”
Li Qinkuai had gotten up quite late and hadn’t heard any movement from her parents or eldest brother outside the room, so she knew they weren’t home.
“They went to the fields early this morning. I’ll cook and bring them food later. In the afternoon, I’ll go buy train tickets for the day after tomorrow. You stay home and rest well.” Duan Pengyue replied to Li Qinkuai’s question.
Li Qinkuai was taken aback. “The day after tomorrow? Are we returning to the city the day after tomorrow?”
The day after tomorrow was April 1st. She had thought they wouldn’t return to the city until the 5th or 6th.
“Yes, the Educated Youth Office notified us that educated youths who can return to the city will go back together the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see. Then go cook and bring food to my parents.”
Upon hearing it was a notice from the Educated Youth Office, Li Qinkuai didn’t say anything more, silently planning to take advantage of today and tomorrow to find some wild game to exchange for items in her space.
Although there was already plenty of food in her space, there weren’t many wild animals in the city. When the time came, it would be difficult to dig some up for exchange, and the food would eventually run out. She could only make the most of the present to gather more.
Li Qinkuai took another nap. In the afternoon, Duan Pengyue rode his bicycle to buy train tickets. After applying some medicinal powder to prevent mosquitoes, insects, and snakes, she put on her tools and headed up the mountain.
She searched until the sun was nearly setting.
Wiping the sweat from her face, Li Qinkuai thought Duan Pengyue should be back soon. She needed to hurry home to avoid arousing his suspicion.
Thanks to her efforts over the past two days, there was now plenty of food in her space, enough to last four or five years.
Li Qinkuai decided not to come again tomorrow, planning to rest at home for the day. She would also secretly take some items from her space and bring them into the house. She took a rabbit from her space and carried it down the mountain.
Just as she reached the doorstep, Li Qinkuai saw smoke rising from the kitchen chimney. Her heart skipped a beat. Pushing the door open, she immediately spotted Duan Pengyue cooking in the kitchen.
Hearing the noise, Duan Pengyue looked up toward the door and saw Li Qinkuai had returned, still wearing a straw hat on her head, holding a knife, and carrying a rabbit.
He placed the chopped chicken into the pot, covered it with a lid, and walked out with a frown. “Where have you been?”
“I was bored at home alone, so I went up the mountain with Qin An to check the traps for any prey. We caught a rabbit. You can kill it later.”
Li Qinkuai spoke calmly, shoving the rabbit into his hands as she spoke.
Duan Pengyue was somewhat displeased, but since she was already back, he didn’t press the matter.
“Let’s not kill the rabbit for now. I bought a chicken to nourish you. We’ll have the rabbit tomorrow evening.” Duan Pengyue promptly placed the rabbit into the chicken coop in the yard.
“Nourish me? I’m perfectly healthy. There’s no need for any nourishment.”
Li Qinkuai looked herself over. She wasn’t injured, so why would she need nourishment for no reason?
Duan Pengyue paused as he closed the chicken coop door and said, “You’re too weak in bed. Last night, you fainted.”
He said this expressionlessly, as if discussing something entirely ordinary.
But Li Qinkuai’s face flushed bright red. Furious, she glared at him and shouted angrily, “You’re the weak one!”
Wasn’t it because of Duan Pengyue that she had fainted?
Did he really have no idea? How dare he say she was weak?
How shameless!
Seeing her anger, Duan Pengyue watched as she puffed out her cheeks, stormed back to her room, and slammed the door. He chuckled softly and returned to the kitchen to continue cooking.
It wasn’t until evening, when Li Dafu, Cheng Yun, and Li Qinfen returned from the fields, that Li Qinkuai finally opened her door and came out.
Seeing her willing to emerge, Duan Pengyue immediately approached her and said, “I set aside some chicken soup for you earlier. It’s not hot anymore. Come and eat.”
Li Qinkuai snorted coldly. Her eyes swept over her seat, where a bowl of chicken soup and a chicken leg were indeed waiting. Knowing Duan Pengyue was trying to make amends, she deliberately asked, “Then tell me, who’s weak?”
“I am. I’m the weak one.”
Duan Pengyue admitted without hesitation.
A real man never minds losing a verbal argument.
Besides, he wasn’t actually weak. As long as Li Qinkuai wasn’t angry, that was all that mattered.
Li Qinkuai listened to his answer, nodding with satisfaction as she pulled up a stool to sit down, saying, “It’s good that you understand.”
Seeing that Li Qinkuai was no longer angry, Duan Pengyue breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yun, who had been listening to the young couple’s conversation on the side, looked pale, ate her meal without much appetite, and remained distracted throughout.
At the dinner table, Duan Pengyue mentioned that he would be taking Li Qinkuai back to the city the day after tomorrow and asked Li Dafu to write a letter of introduction for Li Qinkuai.
Li Qinfen grew anxious: “Going back to the city so soon? Didn’t you just get married?”
Li Dafu also hadn’t expected it to be this soon: “Wasn’t it agreed that you’d return on the 3rd?”
“It’s a notice from the Educated Youth Office. All educated youths returning to the city must go back together,” Duan Pengyue explained.
Hearing this, Li Dafu and Li Qinfen, no matter how reluctant they were, had no choice but to accept it.
“Wife, don’t go to the fields tomorrow. Pack some things that Qinkuai and Pengyue can take back to the city.”
Li Dafu said to Cheng Yun, who responded absentmindedly, her mood clearly not good.
Li Dafu thought Cheng Yun was upset about her daughter leaving and didn’t ask further. It wasn’t until that night, after he had finished bathing and lay down on the bed, that Cheng Yun suddenly leaned over and said, “Old man, don’t go to the fields tomorrow either. Go and ask around if there’s any medicine that can make a man… capable!”
Then, as if not entirely reassured, she added, “Preferably something that guarantees having children!”
He sat up abruptly, staring at her in disbelief: “We’re this old already, and you still want children? Are you tired of living a peaceful life?!”