“Oh my, who is it?”
“No, this is the first time I’ve heard a man also has his innocence.”
“This educated youth Duan is also a pitiful person. He came to the countryside alone, only to be deceived in both feelings and body. Now that woman won’t marry him—what is this if not the crime of hooliganism?”
“Exactly! How could there be such a woman!”
“Who do you think that woman is?”
“This woman really doesn’t know what’s good for her. Educated youth Duan is so handsome, a city person, educated, and will surely return to the city in the future. Marrying him would guarantee a good life—why wouldn’t she want him?”
Not knowing the full story, the villagers were all speaking up for Duan Pengyue.
Li Qinkuai was so angry upon hearing such words that she felt like vomiting blood.
Duan Pengyue had gone back on his word!
But what Li Qinkuai feared even more now was that Duan Pengyue might actually report her—then she would be finished.
This was the time when such matters were dealt with most strictly.
“Educated youth Duan, who is that person? We’ll help you seek justice!”
“Exactly, whatever can be said, we’ll help you seek justice. Forget about reporting or not—don’t act impulsively!”
“Educated youth Duan, my daughter isn’t married yet. If it really doesn’t work out, you can marry my daughter. She’s capable too!”
“Educated youth Duan, tell us that woman’s name. We can’t let someone who abandons others after leading them on ruin our village’s reputation!”
“Exactly, we can’t let such a person get away with it. What if everyone starts imitating her in the future?”
Listening to the villagers’ words, Li Qinkuai felt a wave of fear.
This scene was exactly the same as when she had brought people to pressure Duan Pengyue into marrying her.
Truly, fortunes change, and now it was her turn to suffer.
Li Dafu, seeing how worked up the villagers were, thought of something and turned to his daughter beside him, questioning her in a low voice, “Qinkuai, is it you?”
Cheng Yun and Li Qinfen were also looking at her, their eyes filled with doubt.
Li Qinkuai lowered her head and said nothing, feeling very guilty. After all, she had told her family it hadn’t worked out, and now Duan Pengyue was saying he would accuse her of the crime of hooliganism.
No matter how she looked at it, she was in the wrong from both sides.
Seeing her like this, Li Dafu immediately knew she was the culprit—and he was one of the accomplices!
“Didn’t you say it didn’t work out? Why didn’t you tell the truth, child? Now it’s out in the open for everyone to know. If you don’t marry him, he’ll accuse you of the crime of hooliganism!”
Cheng Yun’s eyes were full of worry, signaling Li Dafu to resolve the matter.
And it had to be Li Dafu who resolved it—he was the village’s production team leader, responsible for both big and small matters.
Li Qinfen glared fiercely at Duan Pengyue in the middle of the crowd, his heart burning with anger. “This Duan Pengyue looks upright, but he turns around and plays these little tricks behind our backs. How scheming!”
In his eyes, all the fault lay with Duan Pengyue. He could have come to their home to discuss it, but instead, he was making a scene here, as if he wanted everyone to know—it was clearly intentional.
Many people in the village knew about Li Qinkuai’s pursuit of Duan Pengyue before, and they often joked about it.
Because of this, now that Duan Pengyue was making such a fuss, many suspected Li Qinkuai, glancing at her from time to time.
Li Qinkuai wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Li Dafu told Cheng Yun to take Li Qinkuai and Li Qinfen home first—he would bring Duan Pengyue back with him.
“Everyone, disperse now. Go get to work. I’ll handle this matter properly.”
As soon as Li Dafu spoke, the villagers stopped watching the commotion and dispersed.
After all, earning work points in the fields was the most important thing.
Once everyone had left, Duan Pengyue stopped shouting and turned to look at Li Dafu, asking pointedly, “It seems the brigade leader already knows who that person is. So, brigade leader, do you think I should report this as a case of hooliganism?”
Li Dafu was seething with anger inside, but he still wore a smile on his face. “Comrade Duan, let’s go to my house first and discuss this properly. There’s no need to jump straight to hooliganism accusations.”
“Alright, you’re the brigade leader, so I’ll listen to you.”
With that, Duan Pengyue picked up the gong and drum he had been using earlier and followed Li Dafu to the Li family home.
“What’s going on with you, girl? Didn’t you say it didn’t work out? Why is Duan Pengyue now saying you took his innocence?”
Cheng Yun questioned Li Qinkuai.
She had thought her daughter was acting strangely tonight.
Turns out it had worked out, but she didn’t like the guy and didn’t want him, so she deliberately lied to them.
Li Qinkuai explained, “I didn’t know he would do this. We agreed to settle things cleanly. Who knew he’d pull this trick?”
If she had known he would act like this, Li Qinkuai wouldn’t have given him three pounds of pork and a chicken.
Li Qinfen crossed his arms and said, “I think this guy is doing it on purpose. Clearly, Qinkuai was the one taken advantage of, but now he’s acting like he’s the one who suffered a huge loss. Could it be he’s trying to blackmail us with this?!”
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Duan Pengyue was exactly that kind of person.
Cheng Yun glared at him. “Enough, don’t add to the chaos here. Go work in the fields. Your father and I will handle this. No matter what, we won’t let him report your sister.”
She then turned to ask Li Qinkuai, “What are you thinking?”
Li Qinkuai knew very well that what she thought now was no longer important. What mattered most was what Duan Pengyue wanted!
She never expected Duan Pengyue to make this matter public. Even though he didn’t name names, the others weren’t fools, and many had already guessed it was her.
If Duan Pengyue really reported her for hooliganism, it wouldn’t just affect her alone—the whole family would be dragged down because of her.
“Mom, what I think doesn’t matter now. It’s about what Duan Pengyue wants to do.”
Cheng Yun fell silent.
Before long, Li Dafu pushed the door open and returned, beaming with joy as if celebrating a great occasion, with Duan Pengyue following behind him.
Li Qinkuai immediately felt a sense of foreboding.
“Qinkuai, Duan Pengyue will be your husband from now on. We’ll hold your wedding in three days, and next month you’ll return to the city with him.”
Li Dafu’s eyes were filled with happiness.
His daughter had always wanted to move to the city, and now it was finally happening. Moreover, Duan Pengyue was educated, and he was very satisfied with this son-in-law.
Upon hearing this, Li Qinkuai was about to refuse, but then she met Duan Pengyue’s determined gaze and suddenly understood.
Duan Pengyue had done this on purpose. He deliberately made a big scene so she would have no choice but to comply with his demands.
If she disagreed, he would threaten her with the hooliganism charge!
What a scheming person.
But Li Qinkuai couldn’t understand why he was doing this.
Did he like her? Impossible!
Li Qinkuai knew very well that Duan Pengyue liked Qing Shuangyun and could never like her.
Cheng Yun was also delighted. “That’s wonderful! Qinkuai is so pretty—she should marry into the city!”
Li Qinkuai thought it over and decided she still needed to get to the bottom of this. She reached out, grabbed Duan Pengyue’s arm, and pulled him into her room.
“Why are you doing this? Just an hour ago, you agreed we were even. Why are you now saying I have to take responsibility?”
Li Qinkuai glared at him with wide eyes, her cheeks puffed out in anger as she questioned him.
“I changed my mind. Besides, you were the one who kept saying you wanted to marry me. Shouldn’t you be happy now that I’m ready to get married? Why do you look so unwilling? Have you fallen for someone else, or am I not satisfying you? Hmm?”