Li Qinkuai had been yawning nonstop since she got up. Duan Pengyue had gone crazy last night, pestering her relentlessly and refusing to let her go no matter what.
It wasn’t until she threatened not to return to the city with him if he kept it up that Duan Pengyue finally stopped.
“Take these two chickens, thirty eggs, and twenty pounds of rice with you. Bring them back to the city so you won’t have to buy them.”
Cheng Yun looked at Li Qinkuai with reluctance, her eyes reddening.
Who knew when they’d see each other again.
“Once you get to the city, be filial to your in-laws. Know your place and don’t act willful or throw tantrums like you do at home. Remember to write to us when you arrive to let us know you’re safe.”
Li Dafu instructed Li Qinkuai.
Li Qinkuai nodded. “I understand, Mom and Dad. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to live well.”
Li Qinfen, who had been silent the whole time, took out some money and stuffed it into Li Qinkuai’s hand. “Qinkuai, take this money I secretly saved. There are lots of expenses in the city—don’t let anyone look down on you.”
After saying this, he shot a glare at Duan Pengyue.
Li Qinkuai chuckled and accepted the money without hesitation. “Alright, big brother, don’t worry. If anyone dares to look down on me, I’ll write to you and have you come teach them a lesson!”
Li Qinfen nodded repeatedly. “Right, remember to write.”
After the family finished their farewells, Li Qinfen rode his bicycle to take Li Qinkuai to catch the train, while Duan Pengyue took the things prepared by the Li family and boarded the tractor specially arranged by the educated youth office to transport the youths.
“Brother, you can go back now. Take good care of Mom and Dad at home, get married soon, and give them a chubby grandson to hold.”
Li Qinkuai instructed Li Qinfen at the train station entrance.
Li Qinfen looked at Li Qinkuai with reluctance and reminded her worriedly, “Qinkuai, if anyone dares to bully you, you must write and tell us. Don’t be afraid of causing trouble—we’ll always be family!”
Hearing this, Li Qinkuai’s eyes instantly reddened, and she choked up. “I know, brother. When you get home, take Mom to the old house to look around. I left something there for you all. You must go see it—don’t forget!”
Li Qinfen nodded in agreement. Only after watching Li Qinkuai and Duan Pengyue enter the station did he get back on his bicycle and leave.
As for the “Three Rings and One Turn” that Duan Pengyue had bought for Li Qinkuai, Cheng Yun and Li Dafu had already discussed it: they would wait three months before having Li Qinfen take the train to deliver them. That way, they could find out how Li Qinkuai was doing. If she wasn’t doing well, they’d have Li Qinfen bring her back.
Duan Pengyue had originally wanted to buy two sleeper tickets, but sleeper tickets were hard to come by these days. He only managed to get one lower sleeper berth and one hard seat.
The train would take three days and three nights to reach Beijing, so Li Qinkuai naturally took the sleeper, while Duan Pengyue took the hard seat.
After boarding the train, Duan Pengyue first escorted Li Qinkuai to her spot, arranged her bedsheet, and placed some snacks on the table. “Just sleep here. Don’t wander around. If you’re hungry, eat the snacks I bought you. The restroom is over there.”
Li Qinkuai nodded and replied dismissively, “Got it. You can go now. I’m tired and want to sleep.”
Duan Pengyue didn’t say anything. Li Qinkuai had barely paid him any attention since waking up that morning, but he knew it was because he had gone too far the night before and made her angry.
After the others left, Li Qinkuai immediately lay down to sleep, but before she could even take off her shoes, a sharp voice rang in her ears.
“Li Qinkuai, what are you doing here?”
Looking up, she saw Yang Liwen.
Only then did Li Qinkuai remember that Yang Liwen was also one of the educated youth returning to the city. She just hadn’t expected them to end up sitting together.
Seeing the fierce glare Yang Liwen was giving her, Li Qinkuai leaned back, crossed her arms, and deliberately said, “Of course, it’s because I’m returning to the city with my husband.”
Who her husband was, Yang Liwen knew all too well.
Earlier, when Yang Liwen had only seen Duan Pengyue alone on the tractor, she had secretly rejoiced that this wicked woman, Li Qinkuai, hadn’t been brought back. But now, to her surprise, she had run into her on the train!
It must have been this wicked woman who forced Duan Pengyue to take her back to the city.
Everyone knew perfectly well that Li Qinkuai’s goal in marrying Duan Pengyue was to get into the city.
“Li Qinkuai, you shameless woman, all you know how to do is steal other people’s men!”
Yang Liwen spoke loudly, and the train wasn’t soundproof.
As soon as she said this, the people around turned to look, their gazes filled with disdain and contempt as they sized up Li Qinkuai.
“How shameless, stealing someone else’s man!”
“A homewrecker!”
“She looks so pretty—couldn’t she find any other man? How could she steal someone else’s?”
“Ah, you don’t understand. Pretty women just love stealing other people’s men. They’re shameless!”
“Right, there was a woman like that in our village too, always trying to steal other people’s men.”
The onlookers chattered away.
Looking at Yang Liwen’s smug expression, Li Qinkuai felt like laughing. Wasn’t this just an attempt to turn people against her and ruin her reputation?
Daring to bully her like this? Just wait!
Slap! Slap!
Li Qinkuai stepped forward and slapped Yang Liwen twice across the face, then grabbed her two braids and yanked hard.
Yang Liwen cried out in pain, “Li Qinkuai, you shameless woman, how dare you hit me?! Let go! Or I’ll report you to the police!”
Li Qinkuai wasn’t afraid of her threats. She sneered, “I hit you because you deserved it. Go ahead and report me!”
“Let the police see how you’re slandering me for stealing your man, when it’s actually you who tried to steal mine. Now you’re turning the tables on me. Did you really think I wouldn’t teach you a lesson? Even before my husband and I got married, you were trying to seduce him. Now that we’re married, you still won’t stop!”
“Don’t think I don’t know you’re deliberately saying all this in front of these people who don’t know the truth, just to ruin my reputation and make them attack me for you!”
After Li Qinkuai finished speaking, the expressions of the onlookers immediately changed. They realized what was happening and began pointing and whispering about Yang Liwen.
Yang Liwen’s eyes reddened with anger. She had never been publicly shamed like this in her life, and now it was all because Li Qinkuai had hit her, making her lose face completely. She covered her face with her hands, not wanting anyone to see.
Li Qinkuai rolled her eyes, let her go, and warned, “Don’t cause trouble for me again, or next time it won’t be just two slaps.”
Then she lay back down, pulled the blanket over herself, and went to sleep.
Seeing that the show was over, the crowd dispersed. The train attendant who had just arrived, seeing that no further commotion was happening, acted as if nothing had occurred.
Only Yang Liwen remained in place, glaring at Li Qinkuai with red, hate-filled eyes.
A malicious idea began to take shape in her mind.
Li Qinkuai, you stole my man and even dared to hit me. Now I’ll teach you a lesson!
Yang Liwen refused to believe that after Li Qinkuai was touched by another man, Duan Pengyue would still want Li Qinkuai—this unfaithful, promiscuous woman. By then, Duan Pengyue would definitely divorce Li Qinkuai!
Thinking of this, a smile spread across Yang Liwen’s face. She put down her luggage and turned to leave.
The aunt in the upper berth had been watching Yang Liwen’s reaction. Having lived a long life, she had seen all kinds of people. Just by looking at Yang Liwen’s expression, she could tell the woman was up to no good.
After hesitating for a moment, she decided to speak up. Climbing down from her berth, she said to Li Qinkuai, “Comrade, that female comrade just left, but from the look on her face, I suspect she’s planning revenge. Be careful and don’t fall into her trap.”
Reminded by her, Li Qinkuai quickly nodded. “I understand, Auntie. I’ll be careful. Thank you for warning me.”
Feeling the woman’s kindness, Li Qinkuai took out some pastries Duan Pengyue had bought and shared some with the aunt.
Not long after, Yang Liwen returned, humming a tune with a smile on her face. Gone was the pitiful look from earlier, as if something good had happened.
Li Qinkuai raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t stand seeing Yang Liwen so happy now and deliberately asked, “Yang Liwen, do you want to see my man? Should I call Duan Pengyue over for you to meet?”