The Quagmire of Desire: From Gambling Addict and Village Flower to Movie Queen

"Let's go," Jiang Jianjun finally said, his voice hoarse.

He walked over, grabbed Sun Xiaoyan's arm, and pulled her up from the chair.

Sun Xiaoyan's legs went weak and she almost fell. Jiang Jianjun didn't help her up, but just dragged her out.

The handcuffs were still on.

Li Guoqing also went into the interrogation room next door and pulled Liu Meiling up.

Liu Meiling didn't cry; she bit her lip, her eyes cold.

Four people, two in front and two behind, walked out of the police station.

It was already dark outside, and there were few people on the streets of the small town, with the streetlights casting a dim yellow glow.

Neither Jiang Jianjun nor Li Guoqing spoke, and they dragged their wives forward.

Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling were barefoot, stepping on the cold cement floor. The leather collars around their necks were gone, and the handcuffs on their wrists had been removed.

Passersby looked over with strange eyes, but no one asked.

After walking for about ten minutes, there was a small hotel ahead with the words "Accommodation" on its sign.

Jiang Jianjun pushed open the door and went in.

The receptionist was a young woman who was looking down at her phone. When she looked up and saw the four of them, she paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping over Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling, her face expressionless.

"A room with two beds," Jiang Jianjun said.

"ID card," the woman at the front desk said.

Jiang Jianjun and Li Guoqing took out their ID cards and handed them over.

After the receptionist registered me, took my money, and handed me a key: "203, turn left upstairs."

Jiang Jianjun took the keys and pulled Sun Xiaoyan upstairs. Li Guoqing followed behind.

Room 203 is not big, with two single beds and a bedside table between them.

The wallpaper on the wall was yellowed and had a musty smell.

Jiang Jianjun pushed Sun Xiaoyan onto a bed, then turned to Li Guoqing and said, "Go buy some food."

Li Guoqing nodded and went out.

Only Jiang Jianjun, Sun Xiaoyan, and Liu Meiling in the next bed remained in the room.

Sun Xiaoyan huddled on the bed, hugging her knees, trembling all over.

Jiang Jianjun stood by the bed, looking at her without saying a word.

About twenty minutes later, Li Guoqing returned, carrying several plastic bags containing boxed lunches and bottled water.

He placed the boxed lunch on the bedside table.

"Eat," Jiang Jianjun said to Sun Xiaoyan.

Sun Xiaoyan looked up at him, and tears streamed down her face again.

"I'll let you eat!" Jiang Jianjun roared.

Sun Xiaoyan was so frightened that she quickly picked up a box of food, opened it, and her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely hold the chopsticks.

Liu Meiling also picked up a box of rice and started eating it in big bites, as if she was starving.

Jiang Jianjun and Li Guoqing didn't eat; they just stood there watching.

Sun Xiaoyan took a few bites, but couldn't swallow them and choked, coughing repeatedly.

Jiang Jianjun walked over, snatched the lunchbox from her hand, and threw it on the ground.

"Now you know you should eat? Too late!" He pointed at Sun Xiaoyan. "Everyone in the village says you gambled with Guo Daqiang, lost money, and then what? Did you pay off your debts with your body? The police also said you were selling yourself outside, is that true? I save every penny I have every month and send all my money home, and you just waste it like this?"

Sun Xiaoyan burst into tears: "Jianjun, I was wrong... I was wrong..."

"Wrong?" Jiang Jianjun sneered. "Where did you go wrong? Was it sleeping with Guo Daqiang, or was it prostitution?"

Sun Xiaoyan couldn't speak, she just cried.

Liu Meiling sneered from the side, "What are you yelling about? If you're so capable, why don't you make more money? What's wrong with your wife staying home and playing cards?"

Li Guoqing suddenly turned around and slapped Liu Meiling across the face.

"How dare you say that!" Li Guoqing's eyes widened. "You shameless slut! You go out and sell yourself and you still think you're right?"

Liu Meiling, beaten and slumped onto the bed, covered her face and glared at Li Guoqing: "I told you! So what? What can you do besides beat your wife? You coward!"

Li Guoqing was so angry that he was trembling all over and rushed forward to hit him.

Jiang Jianjun stopped him: "That's enough, what's the use of hitting him?"

He walked up to Sun Xiaoyan, squatted down, and looked at her: "Once this case is settled, come with me to another province. We'll rent a place near the construction site. You stay put and give me a son. Don't embarrass me anymore, you hear me?"

Sun Xiaoyan nodded through her tears, "I heard it... I heard it..."

"Go wash up." Jiang Jianjun stood up and pointed to the bathroom.

Sun Xiaoyan got up and staggered into the bathroom.

Liu Meiling was also pushed inside by Li Guoqing.

The bathroom was tiny; two people squeezed into it.

Liu Meiling turned on the tap, and the cold water made her shiver.

Sun Xiaoyan stood to the side, head down, her shoulders trembling.

"Why are you crying?" Liu Meiling said. "It's no use."

Sun Xiaoyan did not speak.

The two quickly rinsed off, dried themselves with towels, and came out.

Inside the room, Jiang Jianjun and Li Guoqing had already taken off their coats and were sitting on their respective beds.

"Come here," Jiang Jianjun said to Sun Xiaoyan.

Sun Xiaoyan walked over.

Jiang Jianjun pulled her onto the bed.

Sun Xiaoyan was very scared, but she still took the initiative to lean in and put her hand on Jiang Jianjun's chest.

Jiang Jianjun didn't move, he just looked at her.

Sun Xiaoyan leaned over and kissed him, her movements were awkward but she tried her best.

Jiang Jianjun suddenly raised his hand and slapped her hard.

"The cheap goods I've sold are different," Jiang Jianjun said. "There are so many different kinds."

Sun Xiaoyan gasped in pain, but didn't stop, still trying to please him.

On the other bed, Li Guoqing was also making unwanted advances towards Liu Meiling.

Liu Meiling didn't react much and just lay there.

Li Guoqing snapped, "Go ahead and shout! You used to be quite the shouter, didn't you? What's wrong? You used to shout when you were selling, but not anymore?"

Liu Meiling turned her head and looked at him: "This is boring."

"No fun?" Li Guoqing grabbed her by the neck. "You slut! You're all prostitutes, what are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? If you don't scream, I'll beat you to death!"

Liu Meiling pushed him away: "Go ahead and hit me! Just kill me!"

The two started arguing.

After Jiang Jianjun finished his business, he leaned against the headboard, lit a cigarette, and watched the argument on the next bed.

"What's all the noise about?" Jiang Jianjun exhaled a puff of smoke. "Your wife has bigger butts and breasts, how about we switch?"

Li Guoqing was stunned for a moment.

Jiang Jianjun said, "We can change it whenever we want."

Li Guoqing remained silent.

Jiang Jianjun got out of bed, went over, and helped Liu Meiling up.

Liu Meiling did not resist.

Li Guoqing also went to Sun Xiaoyan's bedside.

Sun Xiaoyan shrank back in fright.

"What are you afraid of?" Li Guoqing said, "Your husband has already agreed."

Sun Xiaoyan looked at Jiang Jianjun.

Jiang Jianjun didn't look at her; he was pressing Liu Meiling down on the bed.

This time, Liu Meiling cried out, her voice loud and somewhat deliberately.

Jiang Jianjun laughed: "See, that's more like it."

On Li Guoqing's side, Sun Xiaoyan only dared to hum softly, for fear of Jiang Jianjun's resentment.

Jiang Jianjun heard this and mocked Li Guoqing: "You're no good. Your wife is all talk and no action here, but she's completely silent here."

Li Guoqing's face turned bright red, and his movements became even more ruthless.

Sun Xiaoyan was in pain, but dared not cry out, biting her lip.

And so, a night of absurdity ensued.

No one tried to hide it; the two beds were so close that you could hear everything.

As dawn approached, all four of them were exhausted.

Jiang Jianjun lay back on his bed, his back to Sun Xiaoyan.

Li Guoqing also went back and went straight to sleep.

Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling lay on their respective sides next to their husbands, their eyes open, staring at the ceiling.

The room was quiet, except for the man's snoring.

Sun Xiaoyan's tears flowed into her ears, feeling a chill.

Liu Meiling stared at the ceiling, her eyes vacant, lost in thought.

Outside the window, the town slowly brightens in the morning.