After walking for more than two hours from Gengle Town, Tong Layue finally caught sight of Dawa Commune in the distance.

Once she crossed the stone bridge ahead, she would be back in the village.

Dawa Commune lay deep within the Taihang Mountains. Back in the Ming Dynasty, widespread famine and unrest had driven many refugees to flee into these mountains, where they settled in seclusion. Over generations, those scattered families gradually formed the village.

Its residents came from all over the country, making the village’s social ties unusually complicated. Some families traced their roots back to the original Ming-era refugees. Others had been relocated during the Qing Dynasty. Over the centuries, more people had arrived—those escaping disasters, those hiding from trouble, and later even educated youths sent down to the countryside.

It was a true melting pot.

The village’s location was both secluded and strategically advantageous. In earlier times, it had been easy to defend and difficult to attack. Reaching the village—or leaving it—was no simple task.

Only after the founding of the People’s Republic did the government organize a massive construction effort, building five bridges throughout the area to connect the scattered sections of the village.

The bridge before Tong Layue was called Magpie Bridge.

It stretched eighty meters long and six meters wide, named after the legendary bridge of magpies that reunited the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

Situated at the northern entrance of the village, it served as the main route in and out.

Tong Layue stepped onto Magpie Bridge, ready to head home.

Unexpectedly, a man was leaning lazily against the railing ahead.

He wore coarse gray clothes and had a short, stocky build. Above his left eyebrow was a birthmark the size of a fingernail.

It was Song Dalong.

Tong Layue tightened her grip on the basket, her expression darkening instantly.

Pretending not to notice him, she intended to walk straight past.

At the moment, only the two of them were on the bridge.

Given her current physical condition, she was no match for Song Dalong.

She hadn’t brought any tools with her either—she had only gone to town to sell medicinal herbs. The bare stone bridge offered nothing she could use as a weapon.

All she could do was stay calm and wait for an opportunity.

“Stop.”

Song Dalong stepped directly into her path, his face full of hostility.

“Tong Layue, you vicious widow.”

“What did I ever do to deserve you slandering my mother?”

“You owe me compensation today.”

“You ruined my reputation.”

“How am I supposed to find a wife now?”

“The only way to make up for it…”

“…is for you to marry me.”

Tong Layue sidestepped to get around him.

Song Dalong moved with her, blocking the way once again.

She glared at him coldly.

Had she been holding anything she could use as a weapon, she would have struck him long ago.

“Move.”

Seeing there was no avoiding him, she spoke in an icy voice.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

Song Dalong sneered.

He reached out and grabbed the hand she had used to push him aside.

With a lewd grin, he said,

“So you’ll smile sweetly while chatting with wild men in town…”

“…but you’ve got nothing to say to me?”

“Who are you pretending to be so pure for?”

Tong Layue struggled with all her strength, but she couldn’t break free.

“Song Dalong!”

“Don’t push your luck.”

“If you keep this up, I’ll report you to the commune for molesting me.”

“Hahaha…”

Song Dalong burst into laughter.

“Go ahead.”

“Report me.”

He wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

Over the years, plenty of people had reported him to the commune for theft and other petty crimes.

Nothing had ever happened.

The reason was simple.

Accountant Xu truly was his biological father.

Neither Song Dalong nor anyone else had known the truth before.

But now that the entire village knew…

…he had become even more fearless.

With a biological father working as the commune’s accountant backing him up, what was there to fear?

“Report me wherever you want.”

“You think I’m scared?”

“You’re just a widow.”

“When you leave the house, aren’t you just looking for men anyway?”

“So what if a man touches you?”

“What a joke.”

“How many men have slept with you, Tong Layue?”

“Can you even count them yourself?”

Hearing his filthy insults, Tong Layue’s face turned ashen.

Taking advantage of his carelessness…

She suddenly raised her leg and drove her foot straight into his crotch.

“AAAAAH!”

Song Dalong let out a bloodcurdling scream.

A sickening crack echoed through the air.

It sounded as though something had shattered.

Tong Layue immediately turned and ran.

Doubling over in agony, Song Dalong could barely stand.

But seeing her escape, he refused to let it end there.

Enduring the unbearable pain, he staggered after her.

Finally, near the end of the bridge, he caught up and blocked her path once again.

Only moments earlier, he had still hoped to force her into marrying him.

Now…

Only hatred remained.

Hunched over, his face twisted with rage, Song Dalong pulled a small knife from his pocket and pointed it at her.

“Tong Layue.”

“You kick pretty hard.”

“If you won’t let me live peacefully…”

“…then neither will you.”

As he spoke, he reached out to grab her wrist again.

“Today, you’ve got no choice.”

“Whether you agree or not…”

“…you’re coming with me.”

“Otherwise…”

“I’ll stab you to death.”

“Stop!”

A thunderous shout suddenly rang out.

A tall figure rushed forward and stood protectively in front of Tong Layue.

One large hand clamped tightly around the wrist holding the knife.

“In broad daylight…”

“Attempting to abduct a woman while armed with a knife?”

“You’re completely lawless.”

Tong Layue looked up.

A man wearing a green military uniform now stood between her and Song Dalong.

He was exceptionally tall—at least one meter eighty-five.

She couldn’t see his face, only his broad back.

But even from behind, he radiated strength and unwavering righteousness.

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

Already consumed by fury, Song Dalong had lost all reason.

Without another word, he thrust the knife toward the stranger.

Caught somewhat off guard, the man failed to avoid the attack completely.

The blade pierced his arm.

Even so, he reacted instantly.

Grabbing Song Dalong’s wrist with one hand, he raised his leg and delivered a devastating kick.

Bang!

Song Dalong was sent flying several meters backward before crashing violently into the bridge railing.

He collapsed onto the ground, unable to move, reduced to groaning in pain.

The commotion immediately drew nearby villagers.

When they saw a knife had been used, someone hurried back to the village to report the incident.

“Um…”

Tong Layue looked at the man’s back, hesitating before speaking softly.

“Thank you.”

The man turned around.

A handsome face, bright and warm like the morning sun, came into view.

Smiling gently, he said,

“What are you thanking me for?”

“It’s me.”

“Lu Xingzhou.”

“Lu Xingzhou…”

Tong Layue’s mind went blank.

The name sounded familiar, but for a moment she couldn’t remember who he was.

Seeing her confusion, the man smiled shyly.

“Sister-in-law…”

“I’m the third son of the Lu family.”

“Little Tiger.”

The moment she heard the nickname, recognition dawned on her.

Of course.

Lu Xingzhou was the Lu family’s third son.

He should be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old now—three or four years younger than she was.

When Tong Layue had first married into the village at the age of nineteen, she remembered a neighboring boy who had been quiet, shy, and honestly straightforward.

Because of his simple, earnest nature, she had jokingly given him the nickname…

Little Tiger.

She had never expected…

…that Little Tiger had grown into such a remarkable man.