The kang (heated brick bed) for left-behind women

Lin Dalong slowed his pace after leaving the abandoned kiln, seemingly calming down somewhat.

His face was contorted with a mixture of immense pain, shame, and unspeakable embarrassment.

"Brother Da Chun..." Lin Dalong's voice was dry and trembling, his eyes even a little red, "Do you think I'm a coward, a weakling? I... I feel like my heart is being torn apart!"

Lin Dachun stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowed, and seeing this sudden change in his emotions, he was filled with doubt.

Lin Dalong seemed to have no other choice. He suddenly squatted down, covered his head with his hands, and growled in a low, suppressed voice, "That's my wife! Wu Yihua! She's my wife, Lin Dalong's wife!"

Lin Dalong slammed his fist on his head: "Years ago, I worked in a mine with some people. There was an accident, and my back was crushed... That part... is useless now! Completely ruined! Nobody knows about this except me! I'm too ashamed to tell anyone!"

"Yihua... she didn't say anything at first, but she's only in her early thirties! A living, breathing woman! I... I'm so sorry to her..."

Lin Dachun was shocked to hear this, never expecting such a hidden story behind it.

He looked at the man in front of him, who was usually idle and carefree, but was now trembling with pain, and didn't know what to say.

As a man, he could fully understand this unspeakable shame and powerlessness.

"So..." Lin Dachun's voice was hoarse.

"So I fucking pretended not to know!" Lin Dalong suddenly stood up, his face a mixture of resentment and despair. "As long as she doesn't go too far, as long as I don't catch her, I... I'll pretend I don't know! But she... she's getting bolder and bolder!"

"He used to at least try to avoid people, but now... now he actually comes to this abandoned kiln! And he's hanging out with that coward Chen Laosi! Even if I, Lin Dalong, am not a man, I can't let someone like Chen Laosi shit on my head!"

Lin Dalong grabbed Lin Dachun's arm, his fingers turning white from the force: "Brother Dachun, I didn't drag you here today to see a joke! I had no choice! I'm about to explode! I don't dare tell anyone, because if I did, I wouldn't be able to face anyone in this village! But if I don't say anything, I... I'm afraid one day I won't be able to hold back and will kill that despicable couple!"

A terrifying glint flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly overwhelmed by immense pain and confusion.

Lin Dachun grabbed his trembling wrist and said in a deep voice, "Dalong! Calm down! Will killing solve the problem? It will only get you killed too!"

"Then what should I do? Huh? Brother Dachun, what should I do?" Lin Dalong looked at him desperately like a child with nowhere else to turn. "Dump her? Then I won't be able to hide my problem anymore. And...and in my heart...I actually feel indebted to her...but if I don't divorce her, I can't save face...I can't save my pride as a man..."

Looking at this man tormented by both physical defects and worldly concerns, Lin Dachun felt a mix of emotions.

This matter is too thorny, involving the most private matters of dignity, marital ethics, and rural public opinion.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Da Long, outsiders can't make this decision for you. But there are a few things you need to think through."

"First of all, this problem of yours was contracted by accident; it's not your fault, nor is it Yihua's fault. You are both unfortunate people."

"Secondly, Yihua... what she did was wrong, but there are extenuating circumstances. You two, one is suffering in silence, and the other is suffering in silence, both of you are enduring it all."

"Third, Chen Laosi took advantage of the situation and is a scoundrel. But if you cause a scene now, who will get hurt the most? It will be yourself and Yihua. Chen Laosi will at most get a beating, and he can still make a living somewhere else."

"Fourth, saving face is important, but living is more important. Do you want to live your whole life in resentment and hatred, driving yourself and Yihua to the brink of despair, or... find a way to survive?"

Lin Dalong listened blankly, the violence in his eyes gradually replaced by bewilderment.

"I came to see you, Brother Dachun, today because I'm looking for a way to survive. You are my way to survive," Lin Dalong said earnestly.

"How could I be your way out?" Lin Dachun asked, puzzled.