Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

"Why!"

You Hongmei sighed, gave a wry smile, and said, "What's good or bad about it? It's just living together as a couple."

The You Dalin that Ma Feng mentioned is You Hongmei's husband, and You Dalin is also You Changqing's nephew.

Logically speaking, descendants of the same village, surname, and ancestor should not marry.

Although You Hongmei's surname is You, she is not a descendant of Youjia Village because she was an abandoned baby picked up by her adoptive parents on their way to the market early in the morning.

Ma Feng, with his sharp eyes, noticed a bruise on You Hongmei's neck. Although it was mostly covered by her down jacket, he still saw it. As a special forces soldier, he knew that it was a mark left after she had been pinched...

Then Ma Feng asked with concern, "Does You Dalin often abuse you?"

Upon hearing this, You Hongmei's expression froze for a moment, then she smiled bitterly and said, "How can rural people not quarrel in their daily lives? They might even bite each other's lips and teeth sometimes. Rural people don't understand what domestic violence is."

Ma Feng stared at You Hongmei's reddened eyes and asked, "Does You Dalin often treat you like this?"

You Hongmei's eyes darted away as she murmured, "Isn't this how all marriages without a foundation of love end up?"

Ma Feng said sullenly, "You shouldn't have married him in the first place. You Dalin has been idle and good-for-nothing since he was a child, good at everything from eating and drinking to having fun. How could you live a good life with him?"

Touched by Ma Feng's words, You Hongmei said with tears in her eyes, "There's no such thing as foresight or hindsight in life. Aren't we all growing and learning through stumbles and falls? Over the years, time has taken away our innocence and aged our faces. Everyone's experience of life is different. There are no standard answers to life. As long as you feel okay, that's enough. Aren't we just getting through the days?"

Ma Feng said with great remorse, "Hongmei, I'm sorry. I wasn't there for you when you needed help the most. I was in closed training at that time."

You Hongmei shook her head and said, "Brother Feng, you haven't wronged me, and I haven't wronged you. We are just destined to be apart. There's a saying that goes, 'Deep affection is always hurt by heartlessness.' Every tremor I feel every day is a cry from the depths of my heart, more like the trembling of a child after crying. I can hide it from everyone, but only I know the truth in my heart."

Ma Feng said sadly, "I remember giving you my address when I wrote to you. Why didn't you come to see me? Why did you force yourself to marry a man you don't love?"

"Hongmei, do you still love me?"

You Hongmei smiled bitterly, "What good is liking someone? I'm married and have a son who's over two years old."

"Sigh, I didn't want to contact you back then because I didn't want to ruin my hotel, and I didn't want to ruin your bright future. It's like how I love the sea, but I only want to see the sea, not jump into it..."

Yes, liking something is one thing, possessing it is another. You don't necessarily have to have what you like...

"Mommy, Mommy! I want Mommy to hug me."

Just then, the girl at the front desk walked over carrying a little boy, who opened his arms and shouted to You Hongmei.

You Hongmei opened her arms and said, "Baby, Mommy's here. Mommy's holding you."

The girl was taken aback when she saw Ma Feng, then blushed and said, "You're Brother Ma Feng, right?"

Ma Feng nodded and said, "Xiaojuan is me. You've grown up so much."

You Xiaojuan is You Dalin's younger sister and You Hongmei's sister-in-law.

With the shyness and bashfulness typical of country girls, You Xiaojuan said, "Brother Ma Feng, I'm eighteen years old this year, of course I have to grow up."

Yu Hongmei, holding her son, said, "Xiaojuan is taking the college entrance exam today. She said she wants to apply to a military academy. Feng-ge, do you have time to give Xiaojuan some guidance?"

Ma Feng exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, Xiaojuan wants to apply to a military academy, that's great! Girls who get into military academies have very good future prospects these days."

You Xiaojuan blushed and said, "Brother Ma Feng, can I ask you some questions when you have time?"

Ma Feng: No problem.

At this moment, Ma Feng saw Xiao Zhan subtly gesture to him. He nodded to Xiao Zhan and then said to You Xiaojuan, "Wait until I'm busy."

Then he said to You Hongmei, "Hongmei, please arrange a room for my friend. Also, I hope you won't tell anyone that my friend is staying here, okay?"

You Hongmei: "Of course we can. We have an obligation to keep our guests' identities confidential. But Shantang Town is only so big. It wouldn't be difficult for them to find out."

Xiao Zhan walked over and said, "Actually, it's nothing. It's just that our Director Ning is a lawyer and needs a quiet environment to handle some things, so please try not to let others disturb him."

You Hongmei looked at Ma Feng: "You brought a lawyer, so it seems you're prepared to go head-to-head with You Changqing?"

Xiao Zhan continued, "Of course, we live in a society governed by law, and we must all act in accordance with laws and regulations."

A look of worry flashed in You Hongmei's eyes, and then she said to You Xiaojuan, "Xiaojuan, don't tell your brother about Ma Feng bringing people back, or about those people."

You Xiaojuan: "I know, sister-in-law, I won't tell."

five minutes later,

Ning Yiming moved into one of the rooms on the top floor of the fifth floor.

Although the room wasn't luxuriously decorated, it was clean and tidy, and the sheets and duvet covers had a faint fragrance.

It can be seen that You Hongmei is a hardworking woman.

Xiao Zhan said to Ning Yiming, "Just stay here and wait for my call. Someone will come to find you later; he will be responsible for your safety."

Ning Yiming: "Okay, Mr. Xiao. Since we're here, let's make the best of it. I'm fine and I'm not afraid of anything. You can go ahead without worry. I'll wait for your news."

Xiao Zhan nodded and said, "Keep the phone accessible."

Then he said to Ma Feng, "It's getting late, let's go, we still need to get to Youjia Village."

Ma Feng glanced at the time and said, "It's best to get to Youjia Village before dark. The mountain road is rugged and difficult to walk on. In addition, it's winter now, and fog often rises halfway up the mountain after dark, making it completely white and impossible to see the road. It's very dangerous, so villagers basically don't walk at night after dark in winter."

Xiao Zhan and Ma Feng came into the courtyard and saw You Hongmei carrying her son. Xiao Zhan said, "Brother Ma Feng, someone came to inquire about your situation just now, but I managed to fool them. However, the town is only so big, and we can't keep it a secret for long."

Xiao Zhan: "Boss lady, if anyone else comes asking about Ma Feng, just tell them the truth. I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

You Hongmei: "Will this work? Those people are all ruthless and heartless; you few people simply can't fight them."

Xiao Zhan laughed and said, "Haha, thank you for your kindness, boss lady, I understand."

Then he said to Ma Feng, "Ma Feng, I'll wait for you in the car. We'll leave in five minutes."

Ma Feng: "Okay, General Zhan."

"Clang!"

Xiao Zhan got into the car and closed the door.

Outside the car,

Ma Feng looked at You Hongmei and said, "Hongmei, don't worry, and please believe me, I will definitely get justice for my parents and make You Changqing and his gang get the punishment they deserve when I come back this time."

"Hongmei, after I've dealt with You Changqing, you and the child will come with me. I can't just stand by and watch you suffer domestic violence at the hands of You Dalin."

"Why!"

You Hongmei sighed softly and said, "Thank you, Brother Feng, but I won't go with you. This is how my life is. Some things, once missed, are gone forever."

Do you think there's a difference between liking and loving?

Ma Feng: "There is no difference in essence."

You Hongmei: "Wrong. Liking is being moved, love is feeling heartache. Liking is being willing to give up, love is being reluctant to give up. Liking is meeting your match, love is willingly admitting defeat."

"Brother Feng, what do you think?"