In this world, Ji Zong is probably the only one who truly treats her well, she thought to herself. She wanted Ji Zong to come and save her, but this was just her own wishful thinking. Ji Zong would not know her current situation at all.
This day felt particularly long, so long that Shumei longed for this day, for the rest of her life, and for no tomorrow.
The result still disappointed her, and tomorrow came as promised.
Her father carried her to the mirror and her mother dressed her up. Looking at the face in the mirror that she had been with day and night, the face that made men salivate, the face that always caused trouble, she felt disgusted. She bit her lips, closed her eyes, turned her head away, and didn't want to look at it again.
"My daughter Shumei is known as the village beauty for a good reason. Look at her oval face and delicate features. If you're second to her, even Xi Shi wouldn't dare claim first place."
"Beauty is a disaster." Shumei blurted out what was in her heart.
"Child, live a good life in the Ma family. Your father may have a bad temper, but he's doing it for your own good. Others can't even hope for such a good life, so just be content! Even if your mother begs you, the Kang family is counting on your brother to carry on the family line. If you're still stubborn and want to commit suicide, take your mother with you. Anyway, if your brother can't find a wife, your mother won't be able to live anymore."
A good life? Shumei was almost in tears after hearing this. She would be the mother of three children if she got married. The groom was 16 years older than her. How many couples had a happy ending when they were married? Shumei sneered and muttered to herself.
But her mother threatened to commit suicide, so what could she do? She compromised. Whatever it was, like her father said, she would die in the Ma family and would never bring trouble to her brother.
There was a sound of horns outside the door, and the crowd was noisy. Her father ran into Shumei's room excitedly, "Mother, great! The groom is already at the door. He drives a tractor, a brand new tractor. The scene is so grand and impressive. In one word, it's awesome." Her father proudly raised his thumb, as if he had found a treasure, and was so excited that he was confused.
As soon as she finished speaking, Huang Yaoniang led the groom in. The groom had a big red flower hanging on his chest and another in his hand, his face full of joy. He looked at Shumei with his mouth watering. It seemed that he was willing to spend so much money just for Shumei's face.
Huang Yaoniang took the red flower from the groom's hand and gave it to Shumei to wear. "Groom, come and carry the bride out."
The groom excitedly walked up to Shumei and looked at her obscenely. His eyes, filled with desire, made Shumei feel uncomfortable. She tried not to meet his gaze. If she could, she really wanted to slap him. Just because you have money, you think you're great! You can force someone to marry you!
"Why are you tying up my wife?"
When the groom saw Shumei was tied up, he quickly squatted down to untie her.
"Don't..." Her father, fearing the consequences of letting the tiger go back into the mountains, wanted to step forward to stop him. The words were already on his lips, but he swallowed them back. He couldn't even bring himself to tell everyone about this unspeakable thing.
Shumei took advantage of everyone's inattention and hid a pair of scissors beside her. Even if she died, she would protect Jizong's last dignity.
The groom picked up Shumei and walked out. Her father handed her the household registration booklet, presumably for them to use to get the marriage certificate. The Kang family didn't host a banquet, didn't provide a proper dowry, and didn't even bother to put up a wedding sign in the house. They just married her off like that.
As the bride and groom left, the horn outside the door blared again. The piercing sound, like a venomous snake, pierced Shumei's ears and gave her a splitting headache. Lying in the arms of this wretched and unfamiliar man, she felt like crying but had no tears.
There was a huge crowd outside. In their impoverished mountain village, a tractor wedding was a rare occasion, so the entire village had come to watch. Everyone was talking and whispering, pointing and commenting. Some praised the bride's beauty, while others accused her of being vain. The opinions were mixed. The groom finally squeezed through the crowd, stepped onto a wooden stool at the back of the carriage, and carried Shumei aboard.
“Boom boom boom…”
The driver cranked the crank a few times, and the tractor began to move slowly with a deafening roar. Shumei sat in the tractor, gazing longingly at the receding crowd behind her. If only Jizong were among them, at least she could see him again. Tears still flowed uncontrollably.
The heartless groom was only concerned with his own pride. He greeted passers-by like a leader on a rural inspection tour. He didn't even notice that Shumei was crying bitterly.
Zhang Jizong was helping Tang Boyi harvest rice in a field by the river. When he heard the sound of a trumpet, he and Tang Boyi looked up curiously at the other side of the river, and saw a tractor decorated with red and colorful ribbons on the other side of the river from afar. "Whose wedding is this? It's such a grand event! Even a tractor is used." Zhang Jizong muttered to himself.
The uncle in the field next to him continued, "You don't know yet? It's from the Kang family on the other side!"
"Kang family? Which Kang family?"
"That village beauty, her name is Kang something... Oh! Yes, Kang Shumei."
This was like a bolt from the blue. Zhang Jizong dropped the serrated scimitar in his hand, jumped into the river with a thud, and swam desperately to the other side of the river.
"Ji Zong, there's a boat over there." Tang Boyi dropped his knife and pointed at the nearby fishing boat. But Zhang Ji Zong didn't have the energy to waste time rowing; he had to race against time to save Shu Mei. Tang Boyi had no choice but to row across the river alone.
Zhang Jizong dragged his wet body and ran to the tractor, roaring, "Stop! I told you to stop!"
Seeing that he was about to hit Zhang Jizong, the driver was forced to step on the brakes. Zhang Jizong stepped on the wheel and fell into the back of the tractor.
"Ji Zong..."
Shumei stood up excitedly, bursting into laughter, and wanted to throw herself into his arms without paying any attention to the people around her. The groom, not knowing why, forcibly pulled her back.
"Who are you?"
"I am your ancestor."
Zhang Jizong punched the groom in the face, and the groom was caught off guard and almost knocked under the car.
He jumped off the tractor, reached out and carried Shumei out of the car. The two looked at each other lovingly. It had only been a few days since they last saw each other, but it felt like a long time. At this moment, they completely forgot about the dilemma in front of them, and their eyes conveyed their longing for each other.
"Who the hell are you? Let go of my wife's hand." The groom covered his face, rolled down from the car, and kicked Zhang Jizong to the ground. "Pooh..." He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. Zhang Jizong's punch was powerful enough that his big tooth might have been loosened!
Shumei helped him up distressedly, "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
The groom finally saw through the trick. This was a blatant cuckold. He pointed at Shumei and Zhang Jizong, his veins bulging with anger, "You, you..."
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