This sentence made the villagers who were about to disperse stop in their tracks.
Wen Jiahao strode forward angrily, resigned to his fate.
Wen's mother held him back, preventing him from confronting Zhao Lifang.
"What are you saying! What do you mean the child isn't yours, what's wrong with you!"
Wen Jiahao had personally admitted to being intimate with Zhao Lifang, and after she became pregnant, Wen's mother agreed to let her marry into the family.
Wen Jiahao let out a cold laugh and revealed the truth in front of everyone.
"The person who was with you that time wasn't me at all, it was Qian Dazhi!"
He had drugged Zhao Lifang, intending to take advantage of her and hopefully get her pregnant in one go, giving his parents some satisfaction.
Later, he discovered he was unable to perform with Zhao Lifang.
Seeing how troubled he was, Qian Dazhi offered to help.
He was indiscriminate, having affairs with both men and women.
Wen Jiahao was displeased, but he trusted Qian Dazhi completely and agreed.
He never expected Qian Dazhi to be so effective, getting her pregnant in one try.
Wen Jiahao then went along with the deception, marrying Zhao Lifang. It didn't matter who he married.
As long as it was his child, he didn't care if it was Qian Dazhi's or his own.
Wen's mother clutched her chest and leaned back, wailing, "What a sin!"
Zhao Lifang's expression was extremely grim, as if she wished she could rip out the child from her womb.
Never before had she hated someone so intensely.
Cheng You held her icy hand and said, "Since he's confessed, it saves us the trouble of guessing. Come on, let's go to the police station to report this!"
Wen Jiahao had just enjoyed venting his anger, having thoroughly belittled Zhao Lifang.
When he heard Cheng You mention reporting it to the police, he panicked.
He and Qian Dazhi had drugged Zhao Lifang, which was not a minor offense.
Indecent assault was a serious crime.
Zhao Lifang recovered her senses, gritting her teeth with a cold smile.
"Let's go, I'm going to the police station. It's either you or Qian Dazhi, one of you is going to jail for me!"
At this point, not only Wen's mother, but even Wen Jiahao, fell to his knees.
"No, it's all my fault, please let Qian Dazhi go!"
"You're dreaming!"
They pulled and tugged at each other, one wanting to leave, the other blocking.
"What are you doing?" a voice cut through the commotion, deep and powerful.
Cheng You turned her head and, without thinking, complained, "Qi Chengyan, they won't let me leave!"
Wen Jiahao wanted to curse, who wouldn't let you leave? He was holding Zhao Lifang!
"Illegal detention, you are breaking the law."
Qi Chengyan stepped forward, effortlessly pried his fingers open, and bent one backward.
Wen Jiahao let out a pig-like scream, "It hurts! It hurts so much!"
Cheng You snorted, as if she had found a protector.
"Serves you right for bullying people."
Wen's mother cried and held Wen Jiahao, making it seem as if she was the one being bullied.
Cheng You didn't want to get further involved and said to Zhao Lifang, "Let's go for now."
Lingering here was meaningless; it was better to explain at the police station.
Zhao Lifang was also determined to report them.
She would report Wen Jiahao for fraudulent marriage and Qian Dazhi for indecent assault, sparing neither.
For a moment, the police didn't know which matter to investigate first. Seeing that she was pregnant, they told her to go home and wait for news.
Upon returning to Wujing Village, Zhao Lifang realized she had nowhere to go.
Even if her mother knew about this, she might not necessarily support her.
Cheng You felt a pang of sympathy and said, "Why don't you come and stay at my place for a night?"
"Thank you, but no need."
Zhao Lifang wiped away her tears, her voice filled with malice, "I still need to settle accounts with Cheng Tao!"
With her situation, she still expected to build a house in the commune. What a dream!
Although Cheng You was worried about her, she didn't try to persuade her further.
Zhao Lifang needed an outlet now, and confronting Cheng Tao was as good as anything.
"If you need anything, come find me. I've helped you this many times, I don't mind doing it again."
Zhao Lifang burst into tears, and suddenly felt that she wasn't so miserable after all.
Watching her leave, Cheng You stretched and went inside.
Suddenly, she met Qi Chengyan's calm gaze and her heart skipped a beat.
She didn't think she had done anything wrong.
"Are you hungry? Let's eat something first."
Qi Chengyan remained still and said indifferently, "Who told you to go to the commune to follow Wen Jiahao?"
Cheng You's heart pounded with guilt, and she instinctively shrunk her neck, looking down at her small hands.
"How did you know?"
Qi Chengyan chuckled lightly, walked over slowly, and raised his hand.
As his hand came down, his finger tapped her forehead.
"How do I know?"
Cheng You lowered her head guiltily, linked her arm through his, and snuggled closer, acting coy.
"I just thought it was a good opportunity. I promise, there won't be a next time!"
Only then did Qi Chengyan stop talking.
Knowing Cheng You's personality, too many promises now would lead to the same outcome next time.
"Are you hungry? I'll make something to eat," Cheng You coaxed.
"Hungry."
"Then wait, I'll go make it now... Oh, what are you doing!"
Qi Chengyan scooped her up by the waist and carried her into the house.
"Let's eat you first."
...
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
The Old Zhao family was in an uproar all night, drawing many people out to mediate.
Cheng Tao even experienced premature labor due to the commotion and was rushed to Uncle Li's that night.
The next day, everyone was discussing what had happened the night before.
"I heard the man Zhao Lifang married... what was his name again?"
"Wen Jiahao!"
"Yes, yes, Wen Jiahao. He likes men!"
"What? Then Zhao Lifang married him, isn't she living a widow's life?"
"If she's living a widow's life, how did she get pregnant?"
"..."
Gossip spread, a mixture of truth and falsehood.
Zhao Lifang, after beating Cheng Tao, woke up the next day and went to Cheng Tao's room to search.
In front of Wang Hongxia, she pocketed Cheng Tao's private savings.
"What are you doing! You beat your second sister-in-law like that, and you dare to take her money!"
Wang Hongxia felt that her daughter was trying to rebel.
Zhao Lifang dodged her hand and said coldly, "She ruined my life over a piece of land, what's wrong with me taking some money? Don't even talk about this few hundred dollars. If she doesn't kneel down and kowtow to apologize, I'll stab her, and none of us will live."
Wang Hongxia stared at her blankly, finding her daughter utterly strange.
"Zhao Lifang, you're crazy!" she shouted forcefully.
Zhao Jianguo walked in from outside and shielded Zhao Lifang behind him.
"Why are you shouting at her? She's the victim! If it weren't for Cheng Tao, if it weren't for you, would she have married that Wen Jiahao? You ruined her life, and you're not allowed to vent? I see you only have eyes for Zhao Yunlin, so let's split the family. You go live with Zhao Yunlin and Cheng Tao, and don't acknowledge us anymore!"
When Zhao Lifang returned home, only Zhao Jianguo and Zhou Yunru protected her.
She realized now how foolish she had been in the past, to have thought Zhao Yunlin was better.
"Let's go!"
Zhao Jianguo pulled her hand and walked out, without even looking at the stunned Wang Hongxia.
Outside, Zhao Lifang finally felt the true sense of being protected, and burst into tears.
"Big brother..."