Shanhuagang Village, a small hamlet of just over a hundred households, nestled between mountains and rivers, is often praised for its picturesque and spiritual beauty. Zhao Yang naturally shares this sentiment, believing that within dozens of miles, the young men of his village are the most handsome, and the young women, the most charming.
Squatting on the hillside, Zhao Yang watched as several girls, having just finished washing clothes, chattered like larks on their way back. The dappled sunlight filtering through the tree canopy danced on their figures, creating a harmonious blend of humanity and nature that seemed to breathe life into the entire world. On such a bright and beautiful spring day, Zhao Yang would usually have already engaged in a mountain song duel with the girls. But now... 'Ha, it's Xiao Yang. Here to pick up your sister again? How enviable to have such a devoted little brother.'
An older girl pointed at Zhao Yang and teased, emphasizing the words 'little brother' with a playful glint in her watery eyes, her gaze wandering suggestively over him.
The girl's laughter snapped Zhao Yang out of his thoughts. He quickly stepped forward, took the laundry basin from his sister Zhao Ling, and smiled at the teasing girl.
Stretching her arms, Zhao Ling interjected, 'Sister Yu, stop flirting with our Xiao Yang. What, is Da Kun not to your liking anymore?'
'Giggle... How can that oaf compare to Xiao Yang? Xiao Yang is going to university.'
The girl laughed as she stepped closer, her ample bosom brushing against Zhao Yang's arm. 'Xiao Yang Yang, you're leaving so soon. Your brother Da Kun isn't home today. Why not come over to my place for some fun...'
'You shameless hussy!' a clear voice rang out. 'Giggle, someone's getting jealous. Xiao Dandan, you'd better hurry, or else I might just gobble him up...'
The girls continued their playful banter. On any other day, Zhao Yang would have joined in the teasing, but today, he couldn't muster the joy. Forcing a smile, he said to his sister Zhao Ling, 'Sister, let's go home.'
Only then did Zhao Ling, who had been tickling Sister Yu, notice her brother's unusual demeanor. Under the puzzled gazes of the other girls, she walked over to Zhao Yang.
In the modest room, the three sat in silence. A middle-aged man with graying hair was Zhao Yang's father, Zhao Sihai. Zhao Ling's previously cheerful face was now clouded with concern.
'Dad, don't worry. I'll go to Third Uncle's house again to borrow some. Once we sell the harvest in autumn, we can pay it back.'
Zhao Ling gritted her teeth and whispered softly. 'Don’t go. Your uncle’s family is worse off than ours. Besides, they already sent five hundred yuan when they heard Yangyang got into university.' Zhao Sihai’s voice was muffled, and the air in the room seemed to stand still. 'Maybe, maybe we could sell our horse cart.' Zhao Ling looked up, gazing out the window. 'No, even if I don’t go to university, we can’t sell the horse cart. Besides, the money from selling it wouldn’t be enough.'
Zhao Yang said with a choked voice, fully aware of the importance of the family horse. His mother had passed away early, and his father’s health was poor. The horse was essential for the farm work throughout the year. The family’s affection for the horse went beyond mere utility. Moreover, selling the horse cart would leave his father and sister unable to manage the farm work.
'Sigh...' Zhao Sihai sighed. 'Stop talking nonsense. Even if we have to sell everything, you must go to university!'
Zhao Yang’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly. His sister, only a year older, had given up her own educational hopes to support the family with their father. Looking at his father’s graying hair and wrinkled face, Zhao Yang couldn’t hold back his tears. He was only forty-two! 'What are you crying for? Don’t worry, your sister will figure something out.'
Zhao Ling held Zhao Yang’s head, comforting him softly.
What could they possibly do? They had already scraped together 2,600 yuan, the absolute limit. Where would they find the remaining 2,000? Seeing his sister’s smiling face, Zhao Yang suddenly felt a pang of unease... This unease woke him in the night. The moon outside was full, and he clearly saw a petite figure leaving the house, heading towards the yard gate. Dressed neatly in a floral blouse and dark patterned pants, with a long ponytail over her chest, she had clearly prepared carefully. But the tears falling from her large eyes on her small, oval face were heartbreaking under the moonlight.
'Sister, what is she doing?' Zhao Yang glanced at his father, quickly dressed, and was about to go out when a hoarse voice spoke.
'Where do you think you’re going!'
'I, I need to pee...'
'Come back!' Zhao Sihai sat up in bed. In the moonlight, his red eyes fixed on Zhao Yang. After a long silence, he sighed and said in a choked voice, 'Remember, remember... when you succeed in the future, treat your sister well...''
Zhao Sihai hesitated to speak, making Zhao Yang even more anxious. 'Dad, what's wrong? Of course, I'll take good care of Sister. What do you mean... Sister, she...'
'Nothing! You're not allowed to go out tonight!' Zhao Sihai said coldly.
'No, no... I have to find Sister.'
Zhao Yang shook his head and was about to leave when Zhao Sihai grabbed his collar.
'I said you're not allowed!'
'I don't care. At worst, I won't go to school!' Zhao Yang's unease grew stronger as he shouted.
'Slap...' A sharp sound followed by a burning pain on Zhao Yang's face. He was stunned by the slap. Zhao Sihai had never laid a finger on him before.
'You ungrateful brat! If you dare say that again, you're no son of mine. How could you...'
'I don't care...' Zhao Yang shouted as he rushed out of the house.
'If you dare ruin your chance at university, I... I'll die tomorrow...' Only Zhao Sihai's roar was left in the air.
...Zhao Ling walked step by step on the bumpy path, tears continuously falling, yet a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. Although only a year older than Zhao Yang, in her eyes, he was more like a child she had raised herself. For him, she was willing to do anything.
Unconsciously, she reached a grove of trees when suddenly, her body was embraced from behind. With heavy panting, a rough hand slipped under her clothes.
'Ah...' Zhao Ling gasped in surprise, about to struggle when the hand pushed up her bra, exposing her untouched breasts for eighteen years, immediately seized by the devilish hand. Her tender, round breasts were fully grasped. Zhao Ling's mouth slightly opened, her face turned pale, but no sound came out. Though she had made up her mind, at this moment, an unnamed fear overwhelmed her, causing her whole body to tremble slightly. 'No, don't...' Zhao Ling weakly pushed the man behind her.
'Didn't we agree? What, changed your mind?' The man laughed lewdly as he freely enjoyed the fullness and elasticity of her beautiful breasts, pinching the unprotected tender nipples. 'I, I didn't, I just, just wanted to confirm...'
Zhao Ling closed her eyes, sobbing. 'What, are you sure now?' The man, still holding one breast, turned her around with his other hand on her shoulder. Under the moonlight, her long eyelashes fluttered, her blushing face covered in tears, her straight nose bridge, and her rosy lips left the man in a daze, momentarily forgetting his actions. After a long while, he sighed in satisfaction, 'Truly worthy of being the number one beauty in the surrounding villages. I’d give up everything for this! Won’t you open your eyes and take a look?'
Zhao Ling slowly opened her eyes. The man before her was all too familiar; she had known him since childhood and could recognize him at a glance—Li Dafu, the village head of Huagang Village. His younger brother, Li Erfu, had done well for himself outside, opening a quarry, which in turn elevated Li Dafu’s status, making him the wealthiest man in the village. Li Dafu’s wife had long passed, leaving him with only a daughter. After a hospital visit confirmed he could no longer father children, he abandoned any thought of remarrying and instead spent the money he got from his brother chasing after young girls and married women.
Looking at the man before her, older than her own father, with his half-bald head, wrinkled face, and yellowed teeth that emitted a breath foul enough to knock someone out, Zhao Ling felt regret at the thought of having to submit to such a person. But then she thought of her brother and her father’s despairing face, and her hands, which had been about to push the man away, fell limp... Seeing Zhao Ling’s look of hopeless resignation, Li Dafu, no stranger to women, knew she had given in. Excited, he pushed her against a tree, unfastening her belt while greedily molesting her breasts, which, oblivious to their owner’s peril and humiliation, innocently displayed their pure softness and fullness under the groping of his wicked hands.
As his fingers lightly traced and twirled around her nipples, Zhao Ling could even feel them beginning to stiffen slightly under his touch. For the first time in her eighteen years, she was in such intimate contact with a man, and under such circumstances. Though the man was old and repulsive, the unfamiliar sensations coursing through her body instantly painted her small face a shade of pink.
The rustic trousers fell to the ground, revealing a pair of flawless, snow-white legs. Years of labor had not deformed these legs; instead, they were all the more sexy and athletic, trembling slightly, tightly pressed together without a trace of a gap.