One Wife, Multiple Husbands – Part Two

A mountain path took less than half an hour to reach the village entrance. 　　Ye Hui was put down from Old Ten’s back, seeing twenty bodyguards still closely following, she frowned: “Wait at the village entrance, no one is to enter the village without reason.” 　　Such a grand lineup, like Japanese troops entering a village, might scare people to death. 　　She was here for a wedding, not to turn it into a funeral. 　　The village had only about a hundred households, and whose family was hosting a celebration was immediately apparent. 　　Straightening her dress, Old Ten helped her tidy her beautiful hair, and the three of them headed towards the liveliest house in Stone Village. 　　The villagers saw three extraordinarily attractive men and women, noble in appearance and bearing, like immortals descending to the world, completely different from themselves. 　　Many villagers originally crowded at Fa Cai’s gate, now all ran over to watch, pointing and whispering, faces full of curiosity, but no one dared to approach. 　　Ye Hui lifted her skirt and led the way into Fa Cai’s gate, with two bodyguards following one meter behind. 　　Mountain village courtyards were not large, and wedding celebrations were even more crowded. 　　But now everyone was watching like it was a show, blocking the doorway so tightly that water couldn’t flow through. When Ye Hui and her group arrived, people automatically made way. 　　Fa Cai, what an attitude! Knowing I’m here to attend the wedding, yet not waiting at the door to welcome me! Ye Hui was just thinking this when a sudden wail from inside left her puzzled. 　　Entering the room, the wedding hall was small but packed with people. 　　Fa Cai looked gloomy, with a village girl clinging to his legs, wailing and mumbling incoherently. Ye Hui caught one phrase: “Brother, I like you, don’t abandon me…” 　　On the other side was the bride, her veil partially lifted, biting her lip and watching the melodramatic scene between Fa Cai and the village girl. 　　What the hell, is this a wedding or a funeral? 　　Fa Cai’s father angrily scolded the wailing village girl: “You bad omen, why are you crying at my son’s wedding? Stop disrupting things and go away!” 　　The village girl, who had momentarily stopped crying, suddenly clung tightly to Fa Cai’s legs and resumed wailing. 　　The onlookers laughed gleefully, enjoying the spectacle. Someone stepped forward to pull the girl away, hesitating, deliberately tugging, then standing aside to watch. 　　Ye Hui was bewildered, watching the scene like a puppet show, sensing something was amiss. She squeezed through and tapped the dumbfounded Fa Cai, being careful as an elder not to joke in front of outsiders. 　　”Fa Cai, who is the bride?” 　　Fa Cai was sweating profusely, constantly wiping his face. Seeing the “teacher’s wife” appear, he looked even more embarrassed, stammering before finally squeezing out: “Not my cousin.” 　　Of course, as if she couldn’t tell from the bride’s clothing? 　　The bride’s expression remained poor. 　　On your wedding day, a woman suddenly appears clinging to your husband’s legs and wailing like it’s a funeral – who could tolerate that? 　　Ye Hui, having seen many melodramatic plots in her previous life, never expected Fa Cai, who always spoke lovingly of his wife, would now have this situation. But she understood – childhood romances between cousins were always complicated. 　　Old Ten pulled his wife and brought a long bench for her to sit. 　　After sitting, Ye Hui decided to watch the show. Fa Cai’s parents, having heard about important guests arriving, quickly brought over prepared tea. 　　The village girl seemed scared of Ye Hui’s group, especially the two bodyguards with swords at their waists, radiating an intimidating presence. She was frightened, sobbing uncontrollably and unable to speak coherently. 　　Fa Cai’s father demanded: “Why are you crying? Isn’t your cousin’s wedding a good thing?” 　　The village girl continued crying. Someone offered her water, which she drank, and then spoke more clearly – three parts fear, three parts boasting, two parts guilt, two parts anxiety – and uttered a shocking statement: “I think I’m pregnant!!” 　　What an information bomb! Ye Hui covered her mouth – Fa Cai, you’re something else! 　　Fa Cai, not afraid of his parents but terrified of the “teacher’s wife”, quickly turned to explain: “Teacher’s wife, it’s not me! I’ve been in the capital for nearly a year and just returned home – even if I wanted to, I couldn’t have!” 　　Ye Hui thought he had a point and pointed at the bride: “You should explain to the bride.” Don’t make it seem like she’s the mistress – she’s practically a grandmother. 　　”What do you mean, pregnant? Pregnant with what?” 　　The sex education in mountain villages was quite underdeveloped, almost naive. Everyone began asking questions simultaneously. 　　Fa Cai’s mother immediately slapped the village girl, the sound echoing painfully. Fa Cai’s father turned and pulled out a bamboo pole from behind the door, beating his other son, Fa Cai’s second brother, while cursing: “I told you to behave, look what you’ve done to your cousin!” 　　Turns out the village girl was impregnated by someone else! 　　In Pingzhou’s mountain villages, a wife was shared among brothers, never allowing outsiders to interfere. 　　But didn’t the village girl grab the wrong leg? 　　She should be clinging to the one who actually got her pregnant. 　　What a tragic situation! 　　Fa Cai’s second brother was chased around the house and yard by his father’s pole. Guests, fearing being hit, fled outside. 　　The village girl just kept crying, while Fa Cai’s mother continuously pinched and scolded her, calling her various derogatory names. 　　Relatives and neighbors pretended to intervene but were secretly enjoying the spectacle. 　　The subsequent plot followed a typical pattern. The bride’s protests were ineffective. Fa Cai’s parents were determined to change the bride, refusing the dowry and returning the bride. 　　The poor bride, originally the shining protagonist, suddenly became a mere side character. 　　The supporting actress gloriously took the lead role.