Chapter 026 - Crimson Question Marks
Feng’er had never been a particularly courageous woman, nor a loyal one. After Bear was conscripted, she waited at first. But once news came that he was likely dead, she didn’t want to keep waiting anymore. Before long, she got involved with Zhang Shisi, one of the stronger men in the village.
One day, after they’d been together, Zhang Shisi asked about Li Yuan. Feng’er told him that Li Yuan had been missing in the mountains for a month. Then he asked about Li Yuan’s wife. Feng’er revealed a bit too much, how Yan Yu used to be so beautiful and then suddenly changed, which led Zhang Shisi to suspect she might be disguising herself somehow. He pressed Feng’er to help him.
At first, Feng’er refused, but Zhang Shisi kept wheedling and coaxing, so she finally agreed to slip Yan Yu some knockout powder. Zhang Shisi would then sneak in at night.
Around dusk, Feng’er drugged Yan Yu and moved her onto the bed, acting like nothing unusual was going on.
When night fell, she still couldn’t sleep. Then, around midnight, she heard agonized screams outside. Hurrying to the window, she saw, under the moonlight, a striped tiger dragging someone along the dirt path. Those shrieks were coming from Zhang Shisi.
Her mind went blank, buzzing with terror. She dove under her blankets and didn’t dare come out until the next day, only to have Yan Yu burst in, knife in hand.
Under pressure from everyone gathered there, Feng’er confessed everything. Then, between sobs and sniffles, she pleaded, “Yan Yu, I’m sorry... I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted a man to rely on... That’s all. I only wanted someone to lean on...”
Yan Yu watched her coldly. “We’re reporting this to the authorities.”
“Yan Yu... Yan Yu... I never meant for you to get hurt...truly,” Feng’er blubbered.
Unmoved, Yan Yu asked, “Did you ever stop to think what would happen to me if Zhang Shisi had succeeded in assaulting me?”
“...” Feng’er fell silent.
The uproar in Little Ink Village continued most of the day.