If you don't consummate the marriage for three years and then marry a successful educated youth

Threat, that's threatening her to go back.

Lin Fengjiao's eyes turned red with anger as she stared at him intently. Seeing that he showed no sign of softening, she became even more heartbroken and choked out, "You don't care about me at all. Couldn't you have waited a couple more days?"

Shen Qingshu gently kneaded her hand, his voice softening, "Wife, you have to understand me. I'm worried about you traveling alone; it's so dangerous on the road."

"You wouldn't believe it, a young woman from our workplace went missing just last week. She disappeared on her way home, and we don't know if she was abducted by human traffickers."

"You're too young to understand the consequences. Girls who are abducted have virtually no chance of being found again, and even if they are... they're ruined."

"What kind of people buy wives in these remote mountain villages? They only care about having offspring. They break a woman's legs, brand her face to disfigure her, and bury her without a second thought. Do you think I can trust you to go back alone?"

"I'm angry not because I don't care about you, but because I care too much. Just think about it, if you run away from home and something happens, what am I supposed to do?"

After hearing this, Lin Fengjiao was somewhat moved: "I... I didn't know it was so scary. Didn't the parents of that girl in your workplace call the police and look for her?"

Shen Qingshu feigned helplessness and said, "Of course we looked, but do you know how big China is? There are so many remote mountain villages, how do you expect us to look? Ask people, who would bother to pay attention to a young girl?"

"We definitely won't be able to find her. Her parents almost couldn't survive. You're also an only child. Do you think you'd dare to take that risk?"

"Don't say your face is ugly. It's impossible that no human traffickers are targeting you. They only care about your youth and whether you can have children. They don't treat people like human beings at all."

Lin Fengjiao thought for a while and compromised, "Okay, I understand. Then I'll wait until your business trip is settled, and then you can come with me to find Wen Yao. We'll bring back the ointment to apply."

"It seems pretty simple to me. I don't know why she wants me to stay for half a month. It's just a little painful every time I clean it, and then I apply medicine and wrap it with gauze."

"I can do it. If you can't, you can help me."

Shen Qingshu readily agreed. The most important thing now was to bring the person back. As for the rest, they weren't that important. They could talk about it when they got back.

When the two returned home, the atmosphere had improved considerably. Holding hands and talking as they walked home, Lin Fengjiao smiled brightly and spoke with a hint of pride whenever they encountered people along the way.

"This is my husband, Shen Qingshu. He came to see me. Once he's finished with his business trip, he'll come and pick me up to go home. It's so much more comfortable to ride in a car."

"Yes, ma'am, how did you know my husband came to pick me up?"

The young wives looked at the couple and said enviously, "Fengjiao, your man is so good to you. He came all this way to pick you up and take you home. He didn't feel comfortable letting you go back alone."

"They're such a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Fengjiao, ask your husband if there are any good men at his workplace. Introduce one to my sister. It doesn't matter if he's not good-looking."

A hint of disdain flashed in Lin Fengjiao's eyes. It was laughable that her sister, with her thick lips and small eyes, wanted to marry into the city.

She remained outwardly calm: "Haha, okay, I'll tell my husband to keep an eye out. If there are any suitable matches, we'll ask your sister to arrange a meeting. Now we'll head back first, goodbye."

After the two had walked a little further away, the group huddled together and whispered among themselves: "No wonder Feng Jiao took a liking to him. He's so refined, tall, and fair-skinned—he's just so likable."

"They look rather mismatched. Feng Jiao's white hair is really... pfft, it's laughable."

A sour voice chimed in: "So what if white hair isn't pretty? She's still lucky. She was pampered and spoiled growing up, and now she has a childhood sweetheart to protect and cherish her."

"She's married to such an outstanding man in her second marriage. People aren't so lucky in their first marriage. She can't deny her fate. How come she's so lucky?"

Meizi hid behind someone, narrowed her eyes slightly, and said with a smile, "She's lucky, but it's strange, how come Uncle Lin's family only had one daughter?"

"Didn't they say that Fengjiao was conceived in the first year of their marriage? Her health shows there's nothing wrong with her, and she hasn't had any surgery. So why haven't they had any more children since? It's really strange."

Others chimed in, "Yes, it is a bit strange, but it's not unheard of. Some families are destined to only have daughters. There are few only daughters, but they do exist."

"I'm off to go home to do laundry and take care of my younger siblings. I'm a bit tired as the eldest sister, but my younger siblings are close to me, which is good enough."

"That's true. Although we're not only children, we have brothers and sisters. We won't have to worry about our parents being bullied when they get old. Those who don't have brothers and sisters will realize how pitiful they are when they get old."

Mei smiled without saying a word, but the jealousy in her eyes was almost overflowing.

*

Seeing them return hand in hand, Zhang Lan felt a little relieved and greeted them with a smile, "My son-in-law is back. Come and sit down. The food is ready, eat it while it's hot."

"The countryside is simple, and there's not much meat here. I've stir-fried some cured meat for you. I hope my son-in-law won't find it offensive."

Shen Qingshu was always good at making polite remarks. Hearing this, she smiled and praised, "Mother, you've worked hard. How could I complain? I should be thanking you. I haven't had a hot meal on this journey."

"It's better to come to my house. My boss is pushing me hard, and I'm doing both driving and purchasing. It's really mentally taxing."

Lin Jianguo chimed in, "Daughter, you need to be more understanding of how hard your man works. Earning money isn't easy. You have it much more comfortable at home than he does."

"Look how far he drove, how tiring it must have been for him. If you feel sorry for him, then life will be easier for the couple."

Lin Fengjiao didn't argue this time, and just hummed in agreement: "Okay, I'll remember, Dad. After he finishes his business trip in a couple of days, I want to go home with him by car."

"Qingshu said he was worried about me traveling back alone. It would be too dangerous if something happened to me on the way."

"Yes, my son-in-law is right. Things are chaotic outside these days. Human traffickers are rampant. It's right to be careful."

Zhang Lan chimed in, "That's right. You don't know, I only heard from others when I was working in the fields that a girl from the next brigade disappeared last month after going to town to buy meat."

"Her family has been searching frantically but no one is home. Calling the police didn't help either. Nobody knows where she is. Think about it, she's a grown woman, how could she not recognize her own home?"

"Most likely... you were kidnapped, or you were harmed. We still feel scared when we think about how you came back alone before."

Seeing that her parents said this, Lin Fengjiao became a little scared: "Is it really that scary? I didn't pay attention at all at the time. After I got on the bus, it felt like someone was staring at me."

"Then I'd better go back with Qing Shu for safety."