C13 Not Owing Each Other Anything
The villagers were all waiting to see Xinrann's family fail. Ever since Jianmin had been mocked for trying to borrow money from Dashan in the fields, people in the village avoided Xinrann's family, afraid they’d be asked for a loan.
The day before the money was due, Qingqing went out to gather wild greens after dinner. She returned shortly, fuming. Because of Xinrann, several girls in the village had ostracized her, and she was furious. As soon as she stepped inside, she threw the basket she was holding across the room.
Lately, whenever she worked in the fields, she was not only mocked but also met with disdainful looks, which made her extremely upset.
"Why did you let yourself get beaten so badly? Can't you show some backbone? When Fann Jian hit you, didn't you think to fight back? Even if you couldn't beat him, you should have at least tried to defend yourself. Scratch his face or bite him if you have to. Your attitude is infuriating! You should hear what people are saying about you and our family. If you have any pride, get better and become a force to be reckoned with against those who treat us like dirt."
Qingqing said this while angrily giving Xinrann a shove as she lay on the bed. Despite her fiery temper and rough demeanor, she was always the first to protect Xinrann when it mattered.
Family could squabble among themselves, but outsiders better not dare. Qingqing plopped down at the edge of the bed, turning her back to Xinrann. Xinrann could clearly see the raw scratches on Qingqing's neck.
"Did you get into a fight?" Xinrann asked weakly. Qingqing turned her head, glaring sideways at Xinrann.
"Who would fight over you? I'm just worried your reputation will ruin my chances of getting married. I'm already twenty, practically an old maid."
When Qingqing thought about her marriage, she felt deflated, like a balloon losing air, and lay silently beside Xinrann. Her temper flared up quickly but subsided just as fast. When Fann Jian sent a matchmaker to propose, she wanted to get married but couldn't stand Fann Jian's thug-like demeanor. Fortunately, he wasn't interested in her either.
"There are plenty of good men out there, take your time," Xinrann said reassuringly. Qingqing sighed, turned her back to Xinrann, and didn't want to speak anymore. Plenty of good men? If there were really so many, her naive sister wouldn't have nearly been strangled and buried alive. After this ordeal, finding a good man seemed impossible, and marrying someone who truly cared for her even more so.
As night fell, Xinrann couldn't stop thinking about repaying the debt the next day. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Just as she was about to get up and sit outside, she heard a familiar cuckoo call, like in a dream. "Cuckoo... Cuckoo..." This wasn't a real cuckoo; it was the secret signal she and Lee Chang'an used to meet.
Initially, Xinrann didn't want to respond, but remembering her past, she decided to go out and see what was happening. She quietly slipped on her shoes, and before she could leave the room, Qingqing woke up. "Keep it down. If there's trouble, call out, and I'll help you deal with that jerk," Qingqing said before closing her eyes again.
That night, Qingqing waited at the village entrance, keeping watch from behind a tree. She was worried Lee Chang'an might take advantage of Xinrann, so she kept a silent vigil over her sister. Remembering how Lee Chang'an stood her up that night, Qingqing cursed under her breath, thinking men were no good and perhaps staying single was the best choice.
