Ding Hu nervously said to Sun Chan, "You should leave first."
"Why? If I leave, who knows how you'll gossip about me with your wife," Sun Chan said, not even glancing at Ding Hu.
Liu Mei pointed at Sun Chan and started yelling, "Have you no shame? I'm his fiancée now, and you still dare to flirt with him?"
Sun Chan sneered, "Watch your mouth. I haven't been flirting with him. Besides, what's there worth flirting over him? Since I was a child, I've heard from the villagers that people who despise the poor and love the rich are not to be trusted. Even women are like this, men are even more shameless. I must have been blind before, but from now on, I'll be more wary. Even if he was given to me for free, I'd refuse."
Liu Mei was so choked by Sun Chan's words that she couldn't speak, glaring at Ding Hu, "What exactly is going on?"
Ding Hu never expected Sun Chan to talk like this, and seeing his fiancée angry, he grew very nervous.
He held Liu Mei's hand, "Let's go. I just happened to run into her and exchanged a few words. That's all."
"That's nonsense! Can't you see this vixen has been pulling you in? From now on, don't talk to her, or I'll rip your face apart!"
Ding Hu bowed his head and tugged at Liu Mei, "Let it go, it's not easy for her either, don't, don't hold a grudge."
Did he just admit it was Sun Chan seducing him?
Sun Chan always had a good temper, but coming back to life, she wouldn't hold back when others threw dirt on her.
She swung at him with a slap, the sound crisp, her hand even went numb from the hit. Ding Hu's face quickly swelled red, staggering almost to the ground.
Both Ding Hu and Liu Mei stood agape; Sun Chan had never dared to speak loudly in the village, so how could she dare hit someone?
Sun Chan coldly stared at Ding Hu, "Do you know why I hit you? I'm a girl who hasn't married yet, and you dare ruin my reputation to my face—don't you deserve a beating? You instigated this, your fiancée slanders me in front of you, and you don't even stop her. It's so disgusting it makes me want to vomit, I won't forgive you, you need to explain to her right now what really happened! You might not care about losing face, but I do!"
Ding Hu's face went white and red, unable to argue at all.
Liu Mei lunged to scratch her face, "You little brat, have you learned to curse people now!"
Sun Chan forcefully pushed Liu Mei aside. She'd done farm work for years, whereas Liu Mei lived in comfort—no match for her. Liu Mei landed hard on the ground, crying out in pain, her mouth full of curses.
"Someone come and see this hussy, seducing my fiancée, shameless tramp!"
Sun Chan coldly replied, "Stop your tantrum! It's just a chance encounter, and you start cursing and fighting? Are you really that scared I'll steal Ding Hu?"
With those provoking words, Liu Mei wouldn't stand for it, "Don't flatter yourself! You're just some bastard from nowhere, dirt poor, and actually think you can rival me? Why should I fear you!"
Sun Chan didn't mind, "Then why are you so anxious? The way you hurry and worry, anyone looking might think you can't control Ding Hu. If worst comes to worst, dig out his eyes—the village has plenty of women anyway, so you don't have to keep fretting every day."
By now, many villagers returning from the fields had gathered, curiously watching the three arguing.
Liu Mei didn't want to become the subject of gossip either, spat on the ground, got up, and dragged Ding Hu forward, "Stay away from Ding Hu from now on, or I'll show you no mercy!"
Sun Chan sneered, "Who'd care about a person like that, you'd better keep him in check."
With that, she turned and left.
All the way, Ding Hu stole glances back several times, but all Sun Chan showed was her back, walking away so resolutely. His heart felt as if it were soaking in vinegar, unbearably sour. He felt this was Sun Chan blaming him for having gotten engaged. How could he win her back?
As she made her way home, Sun Chan was plagued by headaches, how could she get some money? Leaving home without money wouldn't do.
Zhao Xiuxia had never given her money; dating Ding Hu was solely because of his sweet talk. She never acted like other girls, asking for money all around. What should she do now?
She shook her head, it didn't matter, let's get to the city first and deal with it then. After all, she had hands and feet; she wouldn't starve.
She pondered all the way back home, and as soon as she entered the yard, she heard laughter coming from the east room. It was her elder sister, Sun Lijuan.
She was studying at a vocational school in the city.
This time she was home because their mother wanted to arrange a marriage between Sun Chan and Zhou Jinzhu, thinking she could come back for a good meal, and she had been plotting over the gift money from the Zhou family for quite some time, wanting heaps of things.
Just as Sun Chan entered, Zhao Xiuxia came out, carrying a small basin to the vegetable garden, smiling as she spoke to the daughter inside, "I'll stir-fry cucumbers with eggs for you, toss some tomatoes, and cook all the cured meat from last time!"
"Alright! At the school cafeteria in the city, we barely eat meat once a week," Sun Lijuan laughed, "Mom is the best!"
"Once we sell off that girl, I'll buy delicious food for you every day! And get you some nice clothes!"
"You better mean it!"
Zhao Xiuxia was about to reply when she saw Sun Chan standing before her, wearing a half-smile. Zhao Xiuxia's smile stiffened, her expression a bit uneasy.
Though her favoritism for her daughter was evident, she still had to maintain appearances. To bluntly state her intentions like this could lead to conflicts with Sun Chan, and the villagers would certainly have something to say about her. But then, she reasoned, Sun Chan had eaten for free at home for seventeen years, so she stood her ground confidently.
"You came back without a word, are you mute? Your sister is studying hard in the city, I'm making some food for her, got a problem with that? Look at the long face you pull, like I owe you something!"
Sun Chan replied, "Did I say anything? If she's tired of studying, she could come back and join me in farming; farming's a breeze." Sun Chan had good grades, yet Zhao Xiuxia forced her to drop out after primary school, while Zhao Lijuan repeated studies for three years until she was nineteen, barely getting into a vocational school—her peers had long since graduated.
Zhao Xiuxia simmered but waved it off, "Fine, I'm not holding it against you. Hurry up and feed the pig, you do nothing every day! Just loaf around!" After saying this, she went to pick cucumbers in the courtyard. Soon, only one day was left; once the marriage was arranged, she'd become part of the Zhou family, no matter her reluctance.
Sun Chan had the same idea; once the families were engaged, she'd have a hard time escaping, so she decided she would run away tonight!
At this moment, Sun Lijuan walked out from inside. She wore a red shirt and white pants, the trendiest attire only city folks could afford. Her hair was not in the long braid customary in the village, but in a neat ponytail. Although not strikingly beautiful, she appeared quite fair.