The fight between Song Yulian and Zhang Yunmei caused quite a stir.
Cheng You didn't get to witness the spectacle, but she heard that Cheng Tianhua was slapped twice when he went to break up the fight.
This completely mortified Cheng Tao.
Even though it was explained that her watching a movie with Zhao Yunlin was a misunderstanding, few people believed it.
Adding to that, her hands were blistered and nearly raw from spending the afternoon cutting pig feed.
The injustice she felt surged to its peak.
Ignoring Song Yulian's situation, Cheng Tao secretly ran to the well not far from the village entrance, waiting for Zhao Yunlin to return.
This was the only path back to Wujing Village, and she always saw Zhao Yunlin cycling past whenever she came here.
As expected, she didn't wait long before spotting him.
"Cheng Tao, what are you doing here?"
Zhao Yunlin braked, resting one foot on the ground.
With red-rimmed eyes, Cheng Tao looked at him. "Brother Yunlin, I really don't know what to do."
Zhao Yunlin dismounted from his bicycle and, seeing her distress, felt a pang in his heart.
"What's going on? Don't rush, tell me slowly."
Cheng Tao sniffled, lowered her head, looking like a wronged little wife.
"My mom fought with Zhang Yunmei. I don't know what's gotten into Zhang Yunmei, but she insisted we were having an... an affair, and that I'd done something wrong to Cheng You. But you know, we're innocent. I never intended to ruin things between you and Cheng You."
"A fight? Is Auntie Lian alright?"
Cheng Tao shook her head. "I haven't had a chance to go home yet. I was out in the mountains cutting pig feed today, and my hands still hurt."
She deliberately exposed the blisters on her palms for him to see.
Zhao Yunlin's face showed concern. "Isn't cutting pig feed Cheng You's job? Why are you doing it?"
Cheng Tao bit her lip. "Cheng You refused, so my dad made me go. But it's okay, I can do Cheng You's chores. But why won't she let me go? It was her who didn't want to go to the movies with you, so if I didn't go, wouldn't the tickets be wasted? We both explained to her, why is she still so aggressive?"
Zhao Yunlin looked at her tearful expression, unsure of what to do for a moment.
He felt a sense of helplessness, a desire to pull her into his arms, but his sense of morality held him back.
This was Cheng You's sister; he couldn't...
"I'm actually very worried. With Cheng You's personality, if she marries into the Zhao family, she'll definitely make Auntie Wang uncomfortable."
Zhao Yunlin's face darkened. "How dare she!"
Cheng Tao mumbled, "Why wouldn't she dare? Even my dad can't control her anymore, otherwise my mom wouldn't have gotten into a fight."
She glanced at him timidly and said, "I'm really scared. What if Cheng You causes trouble with Auntie Wang after marrying into the Zhao family? What then?"
Zhao Yunlin's face immediately turned grim, as if he could already picture the scene.
A daughter-in-law beating her mother-in-law, that would be absolutely unacceptable.
But imagining himself in that situation, Zhao Yunlin already felt a headache coming on.
Perhaps, Cheng You wasn't suitable to marry into his family.
This was the first time Zhao Yunlin had such a thought, and he was surprised by it himself.
"Brother Yunlin, what are you thinking about?" Cheng Tao asked softly, her gaze demure, appearing like an obedient girl.
Zhao Yunlin thought that while Cheng Tao wasn't as beautiful as Cheng You, her gentle nature would surely get along well with his mother.
He shook his head. How could he have such a sordid thought? Cheng Tao had never meant anything like that.
Just as he was about to speak, Cheng Tao suddenly threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
"Brother Yunlin, please talk to Cheng You properly and ask her not to target me anymore. I won't interfere with you two. Even though I like you very much, I will only look at you from afar and won't pester you."
She spoke so pitifully, her act of abnegation causing Zhao Yunlin great heartache.
"Cheng Tao, how can you be so kind?"
Cheng Tao shook her head, her tears soaking the front of his shirt.
"I'm not kind! I'm not kind at all! If I were kind, I wouldn't have fallen for you, especially since you're my sister's fiancé!"
Zhao Yunlin gently stroked her hair. "Silly girl, feelings can't be controlled. It's like how I feel about you..."
Cheng Tao bit her lip, looking at him through her tears, like a pear blossom in the rain.
"Brother Yunlin, it's a pity we have no fate in this life. We can only hope for the next."
"How can there be no fate? If it were you marrying me, then our fate would have just begun!" Zhao Yunlin blurted out.
Cheng Tao stared at him, stunned, tears still on her face, looking incredibly pitiable.
"Brother Yunlin, you..."
Zhao Yunlin, seizing the moment, said decisively, "The engagement is a family matter. You and Cheng You are both daughters of the Cheng family. Of course, I should marry the one I like! In that case, marrying you wouldn't break the engagement."
He still liked Cheng You's beauty, but suitability was obviously more important than a superficial liking.
A gentle and affectionate woman like Cheng Tao, who evoked pity, was more to his liking.
Cheng Tao's heart soared with joy. She looked at him with affection and couldn't help but stand on tiptoe and kiss his lips.
Zhao Yunlin was taken aback. No young lady had ever dared to act so boldly towards him.
Besides the surprise, he found it rather enjoyable.
Before Cheng Tao could pull away, Zhao Yunlin embraced her, deepening the kiss.
Men seemed to possess an innate talent for this.
A primal instinct from the depths of his being guided his hands as he caressed her, until his hand reached a forbidden area. Cheng Tao, her face flushed crimson, pushed him away.
"Brother Yunlin, we're not married yet!"
She wasn't foolish enough to give herself away so easily.
At the very least, she had to wait until the marriage was settled.
Zhao Yunlin's mind was in a whirl, as if a forbidden territory he had never touched had suddenly been opened for him to explore.
He realized then how wonderful romantic relationships between men and women could be.
"Cheng Tao, go home first. I'll talk to Cheng You and tell her not to bully you anymore."
Cheng Tao blushed shyly. "Brother Yunlin, will you then talk to Cheng You about breaking off the engagement?"
"Of course!"
He considered himself a responsible man.
Having done such things with Cheng Tao, he naturally had to take responsibility for her.
Cheng Tao bit her lip. "Then when will you talk to Cheng You? With Cheng You's temperament, if you tell her, she'll definitely refuse, and then she'll blame me for stealing her fiancé. Won't I be condemned by all?"
Zhao Yunlin pondered with a solemn expression. Although he didn't feel he had done anything wrong, Cheng Tao was right; it would damage his reputation.
If he decided to marry Cheng Tao, he wanted to bring her into his home honorably, without any blemish on her reputation.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
Cheng Tao pursed her lips and smiled slightly. "So, we need to take things slowly, let everyone see what kind of person Cheng You is, so that when you break off your engagement with Cheng You, it will be a justifiable decision."
Zhao Yunlin nodded. Indeed, they needed to plan this carefully.