Zhu Chunhong was cornered by him, her eyes red with anger. She bit her lip tightly to prevent Song Yaozu from getting close to her, while also looking around in panic, afraid that someone would hear what she was saying.
Although we are not as feudal as we used to be, old habits are hard to break.
Most people in the village still hold traditional views, especially regarding the oppression of women.
Although there are no explicit rules, the so-called unwritten "rules" passed down by word of mouth among the villagers contain many constraints on women's "chastity".
Even a few extra words with a man can lead to gossip and criticism.
A village is like a small society, and only those living in it know the power of rumors.
Rumors can ruin a person, and they can even kill a person.
In addition, the villagers love to gather together and gossip, and they can even comment on and speculate about an ordinary little girl who is passing by.
Even nothing can be fabricated into something, let alone the women who are falsely accused and have "explanations" against them.
If someone overhears this and spreads it around, black will turn white, flattened into round, and the truth will be completely distorted...
She could even imagine how terrible the rumors about her would eventually become.
Nobody cares about the truth.
If everyone criticizes her behind her back and makes her a "tainted woman," then she really won't be able to live the rest of her life.
If these words reach her family's ears... even if her parents believe her, explaining a thousand times won't help.
Moreover, her parents weren't the type to firmly believe in their daughter.
When the rumors start to spread, her parents might force her to marry Song Yaozu, that good-for-nothing bastard, just to save face and silence the gossip!
Zhu Chunhong became increasingly frightened the more she thought about it.
In order to avoid ending up like that, she mustered up her courage and rebuked Song Yaozu, trying her best to make sure that passersby could hear her.
"What nonsense are you spouting! So many people in the village are watching, and you still dare to lie through your teeth! There's absolutely nothing between us. If you keep smearing me for no reason, I... I'll go tell the village chief and have him uphold justice!"
"Heh heh heh, you actually told the village chief? Look at you, thinking you're so capable! Go ahead and do it if you dare!"
Song Yaozu revealed a nonchalant, indifferent smile.
"So what if you sue? You say you're right, but I say I'm right too! How many people will believe your explanation when you say something like that?"
"If you want to see the village chief, that's fine too. I'll help you spread the word and let all the men in the village come and see how you, this slut I've seen naked, will prove your innocence!"
Whether he saw it or not, only he knows. As long as he sticks to his story, nothing Zhu Chunhong says will make a difference!
"and……"
Song Yaozu smiled enigmatically: "Those two men in your family—your brother and your father—are basically never home all year round, right? Does your family not even have anyone to back you up?"
"Also, I heard that your mother cares a lot about what other people think and say. What do you think her reaction would be if she found out about these things? Would she immediately kick you out of the house and send you straight to my house?"
The more Song Yaozu spoke, the wider his smile became.
Looking at his shameless and confident smile, Zhu Chunhong suddenly felt a chill.
Coming to her senses, she stared wide-eyed in panic.
"So... you've taken advantage of the fact that my dad and brother are away from home all year round, and my mom is indecisive, so you want to take me by your side before they come back to support me, and then you'll get a wife for free without a dowry, is that right?"
As Zhu Chunhong spoke, she trembled with anger.
Seeing how angry she was, Song Yaozu laughed even harder.
"Looks like you do have some brains after all."
That's how I think, so what can you do about it?
"A good-for-nothing like you who has lost her virginity will never find a husband in the village. Forget about a dowry, you might not even be able to get married even if you paid someone else!"
"Once word gets out, even if your dad and brother come back, it won't matter. If you can't find a partner then, you'll still have to choose me in the end. Otherwise, how can your parents keep you at home forever?"
Leaving a daughter at home for life is a very shameful thing to do in this day and age. It's obviously impossible, unless the family wants to be talked about behind their backs for the rest of their lives.
Song Yaozu, smugly shaking his leg, stepped forward, grabbed Zhu Chunhong's shoulder, and gave it a lecherous squeeze.
"Zhu Chunhong, as long as I'm here, you'll never escape my grasp, and you'll never marry anyone else. Once I've set my sights on you, even if you're rotten, you'll rot in my house!"
Zhu Chunhong was angry, anxious, and annoyed. The tears that had been welling up in her eyes could no longer be held back and streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.
At first, she was just crying silently, but as she cried, she became more and more heartbroken and desperate, and it turned into a wail.
She cried as she shook her head and backed away, refusing Song Yaozu's advances.
But Song Yaozu got more and more excited and pounced on her, trying to hug her. His hands started to wander and grope her back.
Zhu Chunhong was so panicked that she had no choice but to give up. The stubbornness in her eyes just now had almost completely crumbled, and now only pleading was left in her tearful eyes.
She was like a dying fish, struggling and pleading in her final moments.
"No, I can't marry you, I really can't marry you... Song Yaozu, I beg you, please let me go... There are so many girls in the village, why are you targeting me?"
Zhu Chunhong cried with tears streaming down her face.
She has someone she likes; the person she loves is the son of the Liu family. They are in love and have grown up together since childhood.
Although the two haven't officially discussed marriage yet, they both know perfectly well that they're just one step away from getting engaged.
Moreover, this matter wasn't just known to their two families; almost everyone in the village who knew them knew about it.
As for the Song family, everyone in the village has witnessed how they treated Song Zhaodi.
They are so cruel and merciless to their own daughters, which shows that this family is not kind to women, and everyone knows that.
The reason no one stopped Song Zhaodi's affair was because so many women had been bought in the village before that everyone was used to it.
So, although everyone knew more or less about the abuse Song Zhaodi suffered at the hands of the Song family, most people turned a blind eye.
Everyone should mind their own business and not worry about what others are going through.
Moreover, this kind of thing happens too often. Those women who are abducted are disobedient and are often locked up in dog kennels or pigsties. After being disciplined and given a lot of time, they become obedient.
Many families do this, so it's become commonplace.
Watching without speaking or offering advice has become an unwritten consensus in Duanqiao Village.
However, in this huge village, there are always one or two soft-hearted people who can't stand by and watch such things happen.
Take Zhu Chunhong for example.
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