The two women chatted about old times, losing track of time until their husbands, finished with their own tasks, came to call them home.
"You forget time as soon as you step out. I think you shouldn't come out at all!"
Wang Kang scolded Zhang Wei gruffly, but his eyes couldn't help but linger on her belly.
"Did you eat anything at noon? Are you full?"
Zhang Wei honestly replied, "No, I couldn't snatch any from them."
"I knew you were slow. You're always like this."
As Wang Kang spoke, he smugly pulled a plastic bag from his pocket.
"I got you some meat from the kitchen. Let's go home and eat."
Afterward, he glanced at Zhan Jingchun again.
Originally, his wife was the prettiest and best-figured woman in the village. Sitting next to her, she seemed to fade by two shades.
This woman was truly fair and beautiful. Peng Fei was too lucky.
Peng Fei also knew how to care for his wife. His wife was even slower and less able to snatch anything from others. She also went to the kitchen to get food and even grabbed a handful of candy for Fang Fang and the others.
However, he didn't take it out to show off like Wang Kang.
"Shall we go back?"
When they first arrived, he had been watching Zhan Jingchun.
This girl, sitting with Zhang Wei, hadn't stopped talking the whole time, her face shifting through various expressions, so lively.
He knew she was having fun here and liked Zhang Wei. He didn't want to spoil Zhan Jingchun's mood, but he had to.
Zhang Wei was leaving, so why should he stay?
Zhan Jingchun glanced at him expressionlessly, unwilling to part with Zhang Wei so easily. She asked Wang Kang,
"Can I come to your house to play with Zhang Wei in the future?"
They became good friends so quickly? And she wanted to visit her at home?
Wang Kang was naturally happy to hear this, it just depended on whether Peng Fei agreed.
He smiled and looked at Peng Fei, who looked away.
"You can't just call her by her name. Wang Kang is older than me, you have to call him sister-in-law."
Zhan Jingchun became even more annoyed with him and said coldly,
"So, can I go or not?"
In front of an outsider, Peng Fei didn't want to upset her, so he paused.
"You don't even know where they live, how can you go? I'll take you to see."
The two good-looking couples walked out together.
Fearing that Peng Fei might change his mind, Zhang Wei held Zhan Jingchun's arm all the way, and the four of them ambled towards Wang Kang's house.
From the courtyard wall and the gate alone, it was evident that Wang Kang's family's conditions were much better than Peng Fei's.
Upon entering, indeed, the courtyard was twice as large as his, neatly cleaned and tidy.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard the sound of the television.
Hearing that her son and daughter-in-law had returned, Wang Kang's mother ran out wearing an apron, and her clothes were also much more stylish than Peng Fei's mother's.
"You're back? Peng Fei is here too? This must be your new daughter-in-law? Wonderful. I heard you got married long ago, but you never brought her out to see. She's really beautiful."
Although her words were warm, Zhan Jingchun didn't feel any good impression of her.
She disliked anyone with slanted eyebrows, narrow eyes, a hooked nose, and very thin lips, always feeling they were sharp and mean.
As expected, Zhang Wei whispered in her ear.
"This woman is the most two-faced. She's enthusiastic and cheerful in front of outsiders, but vicious and wicked behind their backs. It's because of her that Wang Kang hit me so many times."
With such a mother-in-law, even if the family conditions were better, it wouldn't be pleasant to stay.
Zhan Jingchun understood her even more.
No matter where they went, people praised his wife's beauty and their compatibility. Zhan Jingchun had been smiling all day, seemingly accepting this place, which made Peng Fei's mood greatly improve.
That evening, the laborers who had helped at noon were invited to another thank-you banquet by the family celebrating the confinement period, and he returned after drinking.
Knowing that Zhan Jingchun was particular about cleanliness, he didn't dare go near her with the smell of alcohol on him. He washed himself in the courtyard before returning to the room.
When he lay down beside her, he carried the scent of alcohol and warmly pulled her into his embrace.
"I'm really happy today. Everyone says we're a match and that you're beautiful. I'm so happy. Wife, won't you stay? Be good, I'll work hard, and our lives will get better and better. Have a child for me, and in the future..."
From the moment Zhan Jingchun smelled the alcohol, she was terrified, fearing he would... to her again.
She absolutely dared not get pregnant.
"You've had too much to drink. You're holding me so tightly, let go."
"I haven't had too much. I only had two drinks. Did I hurt you? I'm sorry."
Peng Fei said so, but his hands were reluctant to release her.
He pulled her onto his body, shifted to a more comfortable position, and continued to dream beautifully with her about the future.
"You're so beautiful, and if a child takes after you, they'll surely be good-looking too."
Zhan Jingchun was extremely annoyed. The scene he fantasized about was her nightmare.
"Can you stop talking for now? Put me down, I'm really uncomfortable!"
Peng Fei's enthusiasm was doused. Seeing her unhappy, he finally let go.
"What's wrong? Weren't you having a lot of fun today?"
Zhan Jingchun sat to the side. "I was having fun, but you've made me unhappy again."
"I made you unhappy? I..."
Peng Fei really didn't know what he had done to upset her. His brain spun rapidly for a few seconds, and then he suddenly realized.
"You don't like the smell of alcohol? You don't want me to drink? Then I won't drink anymore."
He was thinking too much. What did drinking or not drinking have to do with her? Zhan Jingchun wished he would drink himself to death!
She wanted to discuss that aspect with him, but it was difficult to bring up.
Seeing her complicated expression, her lips pursed, and her posture suggesting she had something to say but hesitated, Peng Fei misunderstood.
He sat up with a smile, tilted his head, and leaned towards her.
"What are you thinking about? You look mischievous, could it be that..."
Zhan Jingchun was afraid of him.
He was young and had been doing farm work for years, so his body was in excellent condition. She couldn't handle this every day.
"Stop talking nonsense. Who's thinking about that? I have something serious to tell you!"
Peng Fei was pushed by her, and he sat back with a chuckle.
"You actually have something to tell me? Okay, go ahead, I'm listening."
Zhan Jingchun thought about it, but ultimately couldn't avoid the issue, so she confessed.
"What I want to tell you is about having children. I'm still young, a child myself, and my health isn't good. Plus, I don't know you well. I don't want to have children so early. So, from now on, you need to be careful."
Peng Fei frowned as he looked at her, seemingly not fully understanding her meaning.
Zhan Jingchun thought he truly didn't understand and glared at him.
"You don't even know this? Isn't this common sense?"
"I know you won't go and buy that stuff to use, but there are doctors in the village, right? I can take medicine, or you can think of other ways, or just don't touch me! In any case, I don't want to have children so early."
"So, your meaning is, as long as you get to know me better, you'll be willing to stay and have children for me?"
That scoundrel.
She thought he hadn't understood her meaning, but he was setting a trap?
Zhan Jingchun was so angry she raised her hand to hit him. Peng Fei didn't dodge, and took a couple of hits with a smile.
"As long as you don't think of leaving, I'll take you with me to work in the fields. We'll go everywhere together, and we'll get to know each other very quickly."
"I'm not young anymore. In the village, people my age already have several children."