A delicate beauty takes a place in a marriage, while a cold, rough man seduces her every night.

Shidianzi Village, 1983.

In the pitch black, amidst the haystacks, two figures were tightly entwined.

"Xiaomeng, where is that place? I can't find it."

"Ugh, you're so annoying..."

"Quickly help me untie these, my pants are too tight."

The man was breathing heavily, his breath reeking of warm alcohol, and his hands were grabbing and kneading haphazardly.

The woman couldn't help but moan softly, feigning reluctance while simultaneously welcoming the advance.

"Runsheng, is Qingyan more exciting or am I more exciting?"

"She's not as provocative as you..."

After a while, the quiet village suddenly erupted into chaos.

"Come quick, go see! Chen Xiaomeng is hooking up with Runsheng from the village chief's family!"

A woman rushed to the small bridge at the village entrance and shouted at the villagers who were chatting in a group.

"Really?" A plump woman who was chewing soybeans spat out the crumbs in her mouth, her face full of disbelief.

"Absolutely true!"

The woman, hunched over and panting, said, "The two of them were making out passionately in the haystacks in the threshing ground next door, their clothes were all off, and San Shun's mother caught them red-handed!"

"Who are you talking about?"

It was Chen Xiuying who spoke; she was Chen Xiaomeng's biological mother.

Many years ago, she remarried into the Qiao family with her young daughter Chen Xiaomeng, and married Qiao Nianshan, who was also widowed and had a daughter.

At that moment, she abruptly stood up from the bridge pier, and asked again in a trembling voice, "Runsheng? With whom?"

"The village chief's son, Jiang Runsheng, and your Chen Xiaomeng! They were naked in the haystack..."

On the other side of the bridge, Qiao Qingyan walked slowly towards them, carrying books, and every word she said reached her ears.

The books in my arms fell to the ground with a thud.

The setting sun painted half the sky red, and the stream flowed gently beneath the bridge. All eyes turned to her, and silence fell instantly.

"Teacher Qiao..." someone called out to her with an embarrassed expression.

Qiao Qingyan's heart sank.

Her fiancé, Jiang Runsheng, and her stepsister, Chen Xiaomeng, were in the haystack...

"Impossible, my Xiaomeng would never do such a thing," Chen Xiuying hurriedly defended her daughter.

Qiao Qingyan's face didn't show much expression. She was shocked for a moment, then said coldly, "Are you kidding me? We'll know once we go over there."

When the Jiang family sent a matchmaker to their door, they made it clear that Jiang Runsheng was interested in her.

How could he and Chen Xiaomeng...?

Before long, the threshing ground was packed with people.

Qiao Qingyan squeezed her way to the front with the villagers and immediately saw Chen Xiaomeng standing next to the haystack, her clothes disheveled.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she clutched Jiang Runsheng's sleeve tightly with one hand. Jiang Runsheng, on the other hand, had his head down, his white shirt stained with golden wheat straw and wrinkled beyond recognition.

It's done.

A voice suddenly entered Qiao Qingyan's mind, like someone whispering against her eardrum.

She suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at Chen Xiaomeng—

The other person's lips did not move, yet the voice was crystal clear.

[Now Jiang Runsheng has no choice but to marry me, even if he doesn't want to. What does that little bitch Qiao Qingyan have to compete with me?]

Qiao Qingyan's pupils suddenly contracted.

That voice...is it my sister's? Is it what's in her heart?

In the crowd, San Shun's mother was still describing the scene with spittle flying: "I led Shun'er from the west, and we saw this haystack shaking, and we heard a woman's soft moaning... I was so embarrassed, but when I went to take a look, it turned out to be these two young men!"

"Not only me, Sister Qiao saw it too." She pulled Sister Qiao aside. "Don't you think so?"

Sister Qiao looked embarrassed: "I came to collect some wheat straw to take home for firewood after dinner, and I just happened to run into them... At first, I thought it was some young couple looking for fun outside."

She never expected to catch the village chief's son in adultery, and she was filled with remorse.

"Mom... Sister..." Chen Xiaomeng saw her mother and Qiao Qingyan, looking frightened and aggrieved, her hands tightly clutching the front of her clothes.

But Qiao Qingyan could clearly see that there was a hint of a smile that she couldn't hide on the corner of her mouth.

That was the smugness of someone who had succeeded, the same smile she wore every time she used to scheme and frame herself to get her parents to side with her and scold her.

Could it be that all of this was deliberately orchestrated by Chen Xiaomeng?

Qiao Qingyan clenched her fists silently, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them, an indescribable emotion churning in her chest.

"Qingyan, let me explain..." The strong smell of alcohol emanating from Jiang Runsheng hit you.

He tried to grab her hand, but Qiao Qingyan indifferently dodged it.

Jiang Runsheng looked at her helplessly, his eyes filled with regret and shame.

"Xiaomeng, how could you... how could you be with Runsheng..." Chen Xiuying was so angry that her heart felt blocked and blood rushed to her head.

Her most beloved daughter, still unmarried, had an affair in the haystack, ruining her reputation.

How will she ever be able to hold her head high in the village again?

Several women nearby covered their mouths and whispered among themselves:

"Tsk tsk, I never thought Runsheng, who looks so refined, would do something like this."

"Everyone knows he's getting married to Qingyan soon. How can your sister seduce her future brother-in-law? How can she face Qingyan?"

"Pah, shameless! What kind of talk is this..."

These words were like fine needles, piercing Jiang Runsheng's head. He hated himself for drinking and not being able to resist the temptation, for being momentarily blinded by greed.

Chen Xiaomeng secretly curled her lips into a smile. [You'd better say more; the more you escalate the situation, the better.]

Qiao Qingyan frowned; it really was something she had done on purpose.

More and more villagers gathered there.

"This must be reported to the commune! It's immoral and disgraceful to the whole village!" someone shouted from the crowd. "The village chief always emphasizes proper conduct; this matter cannot be tolerated!"

"Exactly! We can't let him be the village chief's son and let that excuse us!"

Some people started shouting and making a ruckus, while others remained silent. Those who started the ruckus were bold and unafraid of offending others, while those who remained silent were unwilling to get involved or afraid of offending others.

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd automatically parted to make way for him.

An elderly man in a blue polyester cadre uniform walked over with his hands behind his back; it was none other than village chief Jiang Decheng.

His gaze fell heavily on the two disheveled men, his chapped, dark face terrifyingly somber.

A woman stepped forward and said, "Village chief, look at the shameful things these two young men have done in the threshing ground. What should be done with them?"

Jiang Decheng's brows furrowed in a deep frown. All the dignity and glory he had accumulated throughout his life had been ruthlessly trampled away by his son at this moment.

But he had to keep a straight face, he couldn't lose his composure or composure, he still had to clean up his son's messes and cover for him.

If things get out of hand, my son will lose his job at the local radio station.

The villagers were whispering and gossiping when Jiang Decheng slowly raised his hand, and the noisy environment instantly quieted down.

"Runsheng, tell me, what's going on here?" Jiang Decheng tapped his old pipe, glanced at Chen Xiaomeng who was pursing her lips, and his face became even more gloomy.

"Father," Jiang Runsheng argued, "I drank too much..."

Tonight, it was Chen Xiaomeng who took the initiative to seduce him.

In fact, Jiang Runsheng liked Qingyan. She was much prettier than her sister, but Qingyan was usually too reserved and wouldn't even let him hold her hand.

After the marriage was arranged, the two did nothing except take a few walks along the river.

He was in the prime of his life, full of youthful vigor, and had just had a few drinks, so he wanted to give it a try...

Looking into Chen Xiaomeng's alluring eyes and at the girl's soft body pressing against him, he momentarily lost control...

Someone shouted, "This has to be reported to the commune! Runsheng is a government employee, after all; his conduct is a serious matter. We can't just let this go!"

Immediately someone chimed in, "Village chief, you can't show favoritism just because Runsheng is your son."

"Dad, we can't report to the commune!" Jiang Runsheng rushed forward, his legs went weak, and he knelt down in front of his father with a "thump".

Seeing this, Chen Xiaomeng also knelt down and said softly, "Village Chief, I am now Runsheng's woman."

Suddenly, Qiao Qingyan's mind went blank for a few seconds, and her sister's voice rang clearly in her ears again:

【Great! Now Jiang Runsheng is in a bind; he has no choice but to marry me!】