Fangfang nodded proudly, and the other women immediately felt inferior.
They lowered their heads to look at themselves and stopped looking at her.
After a moment of awkwardness, someone finally spoke.
"We haven't seen you go out much. Are you not used to it yet? It's okay, you'll get used to it over time."
"You'll get familiar if you come out more often. Feel free to come find us to hang out."
Zhan Jingchun knew they meant no harm and were also victims. She responded to them kindly.
Some children ran off, some fell, and the group of women quickly dispersed, each busy with their own affairs.
Fangfang said, "Sister-in-law, you must be hungry. There's delicious food in the kitchen, I'll go get it for you. Just sit here and don't move, I'll be back soon."
Fangfang ran off, leaving only Zhan Jingchun and the elegant woman standing there.
Seeing that her belly was as large as a football, Zhan Jingchun looked her over and asked proactively.
"How many months?"
"Almost seven months."
She also spoke fluent Mandarin, which made Zhan Jingchun feel a long-lost sense of closeness.
"Sit down, let's chat."
The two sat down together.
Peng Fei was busy with his tasks while searching for Zhan Jingchun.
Seeing the two of them sitting together, he couldn't help but frown.
That woman was Wang Kang's daughter-in-law, married last year. It was said she was a model before coming here and was very proud.
Wang Kang's family was considered well-off in their village, but she still disagreed. She had made a fuss, threatening to die, before finally settling down.
Zhan Jingchun was good at finding people; as soon as she arrived, she sat down with her.
With two beautiful women sitting together, they naturally talked about topics unrelated to their current surroundings.
Zhan Jingchun said, "If I'm not mistaken, you were a model before, weren't you? You have such great气质. How did you end up here?"
The woman, named Zhang Wei, sighed and said.
"I was going home after work at night, and to save money, I shared a ride with someone. Who knew I'd end up here. I wish I hadn't tried to save those ten-odd yuan. What about you?"
"Judging by your appearance, your family is well-off and doesn't lack money. How did you end up here?"
Zhan Jingchun briefly recounted her experience, and Zhang Wei sighed.
"Although I shouldn't say this, I still have to wish you well. You're doing quite well."
"I've been here for over a year now. There have been several incidents, and I've attended several such banquets. I have some understanding of the man you married. He's quite responsible, capable, and has a good personality. You shouldn't suffer too much following him."
Zhan Jingchun was surprised that she would speak up for Peng Fei.
"Haven't you thought about leaving? Look at these children. Are you willing to have your child live like them in this kind of life?"
Zhang Wei said, "Of course, I won't stay here forever, but what can I do?"
She had tried to escape many times, and she had thought of every possible way. The furthest she had escaped was to the town, but she was still caught and brought back.
Previously, Wang Kang was reluctant to use heavy-handed methods on her. After being caught in town, he broke one of her ribs.
She was confined at home for a full three months and was only allowed out after becoming pregnant.
Zhan Jingchun was so shocked her hair almost stood on end.
"He actually broke your bones? That's too outrageous!"
"Outrageous?"
Zhang Wei smiled, "You've only been here a short time, you're too naive. Do you know why I was caught and brought back even after escaping to town? Because this is the custom here."
"Not just this village, but the entire town, even the entire county, and all the villages under its jurisdiction are like this. A system has quietly formed. If someone's wife runs away, everyone will help find her, even strangers will bring her back. This is so that when their own family has trouble, others will help. We can't fight them, unless we die here. They are the law, and we cannot fight them."
Zhan Jingchun was shocked again.
"This... then why didn't you report it to the authorities? Can't even they manage them?"
It was said that Zhang Wei, in order to maintain local stability, had many unwritten rules that they couldn't imagine.
"But I'm not saying this to scare you away, I'm just telling you the truth. The situation is more complicated than we imagined and not optimistic. I'm reminding you not to let your guard down. Even if I give birth to this child, I won't stay."
Zhan Jingchun stared with innocent eyes, "What do you mean? You plan to leave it here?"
"Otherwise, why would I take it with me? He hits me, locks me up, and does that to me. I don't love him, so why should I ruin my life for him? Keeping his child by my side, seeing it all the time, will only make me never forget these painful memories. I absolutely cannot keep it!"
Zhan Jingchun was momentarily speechless.
"So, what are your plans for the future?"
"Plans?" Zhang Wei smiled.
"I see that you also don't seem like someone who can stay here, and besides you, I don't think I can make any other friends. I might as well tell you the truth.
I'm pregnant with this child for a selfish reason."
"If I have a difficult labor, they can't let me die at home, can they? My life is not valuable, but their grandson's life is valuable. Once they send me to the hospital, won't I have a chance?"
Zhan Jingchun never expected that someone would come up with such a desperate measure to escape...
Using childbirth to gain an opportunity, heavens!
Zhang Wei continued, "I used to worry about how I would escape after giving birth when my body was weak. Now that I have you, I feel relieved."
"You go back and behave yourself, cooperate with them obediently, let them relax their vigilance and allow you to go out. Then you come find me to hang out. Once we become friends, when I go to the hospital, you can visit me, and we'll escape together. We'll have each other's support."
That day, Zhan Jingchun gained a lot.
Not only did she make a good friend, but she also received a shot of encouragement, and the gloom above her head finally dissipated a little.
However, she didn't have Zhang Wei's strong mentality. She couldn't allow herself to get pregnant.
She asked Zhang Wei for help. Zhang Wei said.
"I can't do anything about it. You'll have to discuss it with him. Don't have children for now."
"Men are creatures that respond to softness, not hardness. You're so beautiful, just act cute, be charming, and gentle, and I guarantee he'll listen to you obediently. Don't always be so tough. Like me back then, I suffered a lot, and it didn't help at all."
Although the banquet was in the countryside, the spread was still very generous, with meat that they couldn't usually eat.
However, as soon as it was served, it was snatched up by everyone.
Zhan Jingchun didn't even get a chicken feather before the whole chicken was gone.
Fortunately, Fangfang protected her, pulled off half a chicken leg, tore off a little meat for herself, and gave the rest to her.
"Sister-in-law, you eat."
Zhan Jingchun gave a little meat to Zhang Wei, kept some for herself, and gave the rest back to Fangfang.
"You eat too. Eat more so you can grow taller, your brain can be smarter, and you can get into university in the future."
Fangfang loved her sister-in-law even more.
After the meal, the women dispersed one after another, going home to take care of their children.
Since Zhan Jingchun and Zhang Wei had no children, they stayed to continue their conversation.