She was tricked into marriage for three years, then remarried a childless, tough guy and became preg

"Your home?" Huo Xiuyuan looked at Shen Tang with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, I have a house here," Shen Tang said with a smile.

Huo Xiuyuan slightly curled his lips. "Give me directions."

The car sped through the darkness, crossed the dirt road, and stopped in front of a courtyard.

Shen Tang got out of the car and pushed open the courtyard gate. Looking at the courtyard in front of her, her nose tingled slightly.

The original owner's memories are all there; in this courtyard, the original owner spent a very happy childhood.

A gentle mother, a rough but loving father.

Dad would carry her on his shoulders and spin her around; he would buy her pretty dresses; he would break off a big chicken leg, one for her and one for Mom.

Her mother would teach her to sing and dance; she would braid her hair beautifully; and she would gently pat her to sleep.

The tears in Shen Tang's eyes were like a flood that had been released from its dam, something she had never experienced before.

Her parents didn't like her; they only liked her younger brother.

From the moment she was born, they disliked her and even considered abandoning her because they were poor and wanted to have another son, but were afraid they couldn't afford to raise him.

Grandma said, "Let's raise it; we can sell it for money when it grows up."

So, she was just a tool that family used to make money, like the pigs and chickens they raised.

Huo Xiuyuan locked the car and entered the door to find Shen Tang standing there crying, her face covered in tears.

Huo Xiuyuan frowned slightly, walked over, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and said softly:

"Let's go inside."

Shen Tang turned around and hugged him, her voice choked with sobs, "I can't walk, carry me."

Huo Xiuyuan bent down, picked the person up, and pushed the door open with his foot.

The house had been uninhabited for a long time and smelled musty.

Huo Xiuyuan gently placed Shen Tang on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"You sit down first, I'll open the window and let the smell dissipate."

Shen Tang nodded.

Huo Xiuyuan opened the window and came back, while Shen Tang was still pouting.

Huo Xiuyuan pulled her into his arms. "Are you feeling down?"

"Mmm," Shen Tang said in a muffled voice, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Huo Xiuyuan gently stroked her back. Shen Tang hugged him, feeling even more heartbroken, tears seeping through her clothes.

Shen Tang remained silent, holding Huo Xiuyuan and silently shedding tears. She was used to processing her emotions alone and wouldn't cry out loud.

Huo Xiuyuan didn't speak, but gently put his arms around her.

Before long, he felt a warm rubbing against his abdomen. Huo Xiuyuan's ears turned red, and he looked down.

Shen Tang's hand had already slipped inside his clothes and was caressing his abdomen.

"Is it done?" Huo Xiuyuan asked helplessly.

"No," Shen Tang said, touching his abs. "You scared me to death today. Touching your body temperature makes me feel safe."

Huo Xiuyuan frowned slightly as he recalled the way she had hit him earlier. Although she appeared tough on the surface, she must still be very scared inside.

He didn't stop her, letting her hand wander over his abs.

"Um..." Huo Xiuyuan's Adam's apple bobbed, "I'll go boil some water."

"I'm not thirsty. I drank my fill at the police station. Besides, we don't have a pot of water."

Shen Tang's actions became increasingly excessive.

"I...I'll go close the window," Huo Xiuyuan said in a hoarse voice.

Shen Tang let go of his hand and watched him get up to close the window.

There was nothing left in the house except a kang (a heated brick bed); everything had been moved home by Liu Jinhua.

Huo Xiuyuan closed the doors and windows and stood to the side. "I see there's another room over there. I'll sleep in that one."

"I'm scared." Shen Tang timidly raised her eyes.

Huo Xiuyuan couldn't bear to let her sleep alone, so he spread a blanket he had taken from the car on the kang (a heated brick bed) and let Shen Tang lie on it, while he lay down on the edge of the kang himself.

After a while, Shen Tang slowly leaned closer: "Huo Xiuyuan, I'm cold."

Huo Xiuyuan lay motionless, but his breathing became heavy.

Shen Tang raised her hand and wrapped it around his waist. "Hold me while you sleep, it's really cold."

Huo Xiuyuan hesitated for a moment, then reached out and put his arm around Shen Tang's shoulder.

Shen Tang nestled in his arms, her breath hitting his chest, and Huo Xiuyuan's heart pounded in his ears.

"Why is your heart beating so fast?" Shen Tang asked softly.

"Don't talk, go to sleep," Huo Xiuyuan said in a deep voice.

Shen Tang shut her mouth, nestled in his arms, and soon began to breathe heavily.

Huo Xiuyuan looked down at her: she was like a docile kitten, with long eyelashes drooping and pouting lips.

Huo Xiuyuan lowered his head and gently kissed the top of her head, a smile playing on his lips, and pulled her closer into his arms.

Huo Xiuyuan woke up when the neighbor's rooster crowed for the first time in the morning.

He and Shen Tang haven't registered their marriage, so if people see them sleeping in the same room, there will inevitably be gossip.

He quietly got up, draped one side of the blanket over Shen Tang, and went out the door.

When Shen Tang woke up, it was already broad daylight.

She opened her eyes, but Huo Xiuyuan was not beside her.

She lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) for a while to regain her senses before sitting up and walking into the courtyard.

She wanted to fetch water to wash her face, but there wasn't even a rope in the yard.

Voices came from outside the door, and Shen Tang listened intently.

"Young man, which family are you from?" came the voice of an older woman.

"I am Shen Tang's boyfriend." It was Huo Xiuyuan's voice.

"Wow, Shen Tang, you've really made something of yourself! You're even driving a car, you must be a high-ranking officer in the military?"

"Ah, I'm the commander," Huo Xiuyuan replied.

"Oh my, Commander, this is much better than that boy from the Lu family. Look at his physique, he looks so strong. I watched Tangtang grow up. She's always been a good and obedient child. You must treat her well!" the old lady said happily.

"Yes, definitely. We'll be getting our marriage certificate soon, and we'll have a big banquet in the village."

"That would be wonderful! I'm looking forward to your wedding banquet!"

Shen Tang pushed open the door and went out.

"Auntie, have you eaten?" Shen Tang asked.

"Not yet, it's cooking in the pot!" the old lady said with a smile.

She looked Shen Tang up and down and smiled kindly, "You're getting prettier and prettier."

"Auntie, you're busy, we'll go back inside first," Shen Tang said.

Shen Tang was already starving, and the meat buns in Huo Xiuyuan's hand were emitting a delicious aroma.

"Okay, sure," the old woman said with a smile.

Just as Shen Tang turned around, the old woman suddenly seemed to remember something and called out to her, "Tangtang—"

Shen Tang stopped and turned to look at her. "Auntie, is there anything else?"

The old woman took a few steps forward and lowered her voice, "A while ago, a man came to your door. He had long hair and a beard, and he was dressed in tattered clothes. I went up to ask him, and he said he was a distant relative of yours. He inquired about your family and then left."

The elderly woman asked with concern, "I didn't think much of it at the time. I just told him you joined the performing arts troupe. Did he... contact you? I hope I didn't cause you any trouble?"

Shen Tang recalled the man she met at the corner that day; he must be the man the old lady was talking about.

"Auntie, did he say anything else?" Shen Tang asked.

The old woman thought for a moment, then shook her head. "He didn't say anything. His accent was different from ours; it sounded more like the accent of those who come from the south to sell small commodities. I couldn't understand him very well, so I didn't say much."

Shen Tang nodded and said, "Auntie, I understand. Thank you."

"Oh, no need to thank me. I'm glad I didn't cause you any trouble." The old lady smiled and went back into the house.

Huo Xiuyuan took Shen Tang's hand and went back into the house.