“Xu Xi, we’re from the same village after all. There’s no need to be so cold to me, is there?”
Wu Yong had come to the village on some business. As he reached the village entrance, he spotted a girl whose figure looked familiar. He moved closer for a better look.
Hey, it really was Xu Xi.
Only two or three months had passed, yet Xu Xi had changed so much.
With ill intentions, he sat down beside Xu Xi, his eyes fixed intently on her.
“Xu Xi, it’s been so long. I have something I want to say to you…”
The moment Wu Yong sat down, Xu Xi sprang to her feet.
“Sorry, I’m not familiar with you. There’s nothing to say.”
With that, Xu Xi tried to leave.
In this era, if she, a married woman, were seen speaking alone with a man, she might be dragged away and scolded for being unchaste.
Wu Yong was not about to let her go so easily. He quickly stood up and called out to her.
“Xu Xi, you must still be angry with me, right? I was the one who didn’t know better back then.”
Xu Xi glared at him, her pregnant belly prominent. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll call for help! I’ll report you for harassment!”
Intimidated by Xu Xi’s fierce tone, Wu Yong slunk away.
He was gone, but the rumors he left behind for Xu Xi remained.
In less than half a day, the whole village was buzzing with gossip: Xu Xi had been seen meeting a strange man at the village entrance. Some well-informed folks from neighboring villages even came to join in the gossip, claiming that Xu Xi had once pursued this man.
Xu Xi never expected that a simple walk outside would instantly ruin her reputation.
Was this fair?
…
Meanwhile, at the Zhou household, Second Sister-in-law Li Cuifen was eagerly gossiping with First Sister-in-law Zhang Xiulan.
“I always said she wasn’t a decent girl! Third Brother must have been tricked this time. The child in her belly might very well be that man’s. Otherwise, why would it be so big?”
Zhang Xiulan stole a glance toward Xu Xi’s room but didn’t dare to speak up.
Before, she had thought Xu Xi seemed honest, perhaps forced into sleeping with Zhou Yue. But with today’s rumors spreading, she began to waver.
The Zhou brothers, hearing the rumors outside, lost all interest in working. They shouldered their hoes and returned home from the fields.
“Mom, you really need to talk to that woman. Our Third Brother can’t be taken advantage of like this!”
Mother Zhou was still unaware of the situation. Listening to their chattering about Xu Xi, her anger flared up instantly.
Could it be that her son was really being made to raise another man’s child? That simply wouldn’t do!
Mother Zhou marched to Xu Xi’s room and knocked forcefully on the door.
“Xu Xi, what’s going on with that man? Whose child is in your belly? Come out right now and explain yourself to me!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Xi flung the door open with a bang.
“I have nothing to do with that man! He was harassing me. I even wanted to report him for misconduct! The child in my belly is, of course, Zhou Yue’s. The doctor said I’m carrying twins. Isn’t it natural for my belly to be big?”
“You’re my mother-in-law. We’re family. How can you not believe me?”
Xu Xi said all this in one breath, her voice tinged with a barely noticeable sob.
She felt wronged too. After Awakening, she found herself in this unfamiliar era and was now inexplicably targeted by slanderous rumors.
Seeing Xu Xi’s eyes moist with tears and her sincere expression, Mother Zhou swallowed the words she had intended to say.
Oh, right, twins were a possibility!
Back when Zhou Yue had slept with Xu Xi, he had come home and explicitly told Mother Zhou that he had taken Xu Xi’s innocence and must marry her.
Mother Zhou’s anger instantly subsided. “I… I was just asking casually. Don’t overthink it. Get some rest.”
The door closed again with a bang.
Mother Zhou paused her movements, wanting to scold her for being impolite.
But she thought better of it. What if Xu Xi, in a moment of despair, decided to jump into the river? That would be a huge loss for the Zhou family.
Leaning against the door, Xu Xi wiped the tears she had forced from the corners of her eyes, a flicker of cunning flashing in her gaze.
Indeed, sincerity was the ultimate weapon.
The village was small, but gossip was plentiful.
Xu Xi felt she could no longer stay in the village, but where could a pregnant woman like her go in these times?
Suddenly, she thought of Zhou Yue. Wasn’t he the battalion commander stationed on an island? Perhaps she could go find him.
Being with him would surely be better than staying in the village. At least he wasn’t gossipy, always cold and distant, barely paying her any attention. Just thinking about it felt liberating.
Xu Xi made up her mind: she would join him at the military base.
But she didn’t know exactly which island Zhou Yue was stationed on. He had never told her, so Xu Xi had no choice but to approach Mother Zhou and ask for the letters he had sent home.
Mother Zhou, assuming Xu Xi missed her husband, handed the letters over.
Xu Xi looked at the date on the letter—it had been sent last month. Not a single word in it mentioned her. Had he forgotten he had a wife?
Holding back her anger, she turned her attention to the address.
Pingsha Island Coastal Defense Company Base, was it? She silently repeated the address to herself, afraid she might forget it. To be safe, she tore off the corner of the letter where the island’s address was written.
Xu Xi returned to her room and quietly packed her belongings. She had no intention of telling the Zhou family about her plan to join the military base—they would surely oppose it.
Back when Zhou Yue had left for the army without a word, it was clear he hadn’t wanted to take her along.
Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, Xu Xi slipped out of the house with her bundle.
She first went to the Xu family in neighboring Laoya Village. Mother Xu and her brothers had always treated her well, and she didn’t want them to worry.
As the sky began to lighten, Mother Xu got up to prepare breakfast. Seeing a woman standing in the yard, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
“Who’s there?!” Mother Zhou squinted for a closer look. “Xixi?”
“Mom, it’s me.” Xu Xi was relieved she still had a key to her parents’ home, sparing her the trouble of climbing over the wall.
She pulled Mother Xu inside and told her about her plan to join the military base.
Mother Xu was stunned, her voice rising instantly. “What? You’re joining the military base! Does Zhou Yue know about this?”
Her loud voice successfully woke everyone in the house who had been sound asleep.
The eldest, Xu Shoushan, and his wife rushed out of their room, thinking something had happened. The second eldest, Xu Shoumin, thought a thief had broken in and came out clutching a stick.
The third eldest, Xu Shouan, had tried to bury his head under the covers, but hearing what sounded like his younger sister’s voice outside, he finally crawled out of bed.
Seeing Xu Xi suddenly return to her parents’ home, her brothers assumed something serious had happened.
“Little sister, what’s wrong? Did the Zhou family bully you?”
“Damn it, big brother will go settle things with the Zhou family right now! A good beating will teach them a lesson!”
Xu Xi shouted, “Stop!”
Though she was deeply moved by her brothers’ willingness to stand up for her, all she wanted now was to bid them farewell quickly and catch the train to the county town.
“I want to go to the island to find Zhou Yue. I’m joining the military base.”
At these words, the Xu family fell silent.
They had thought that since Xu Xi had married into the neighboring village, it was close enough for them to visit her often. But now their little sister was talking about joining the military base on an island—how could they rest easy?
Mother Xu tried to dissuade her. “Joining the military base is tough. And you’re pregnant—how can you manage?”
Xu Xi knew it would be difficult, but she had her Spatial Dimension. She could grow her own food, which was surely better than staying in the village and facing ruin.
“Mom, please don’t say anymore. I’ve already made up my mind.”
In the eyes of Mother Xu and her three older brothers, Xu Xi was a hopeless romantic. Despite knowing how tough life in the military camp would be, she insisted on going to find Zhou Yue.
Seeing that they couldn’t persuade her, they could only offer a few words of caution, telling Xu Xi to write a letter or send a telegram if anything happened.