Chapter 694: A Forced Marriage

Qin Wenshu asked, “Idol?” That was a new one.

“Yes, an idol. Someone I really admire.”

Fu Mingxue’s words made Qin Wenshu extremely excited, as if he were the one being praised.

“Sister-in-law, if Doctor Xie heard you say that, she’d be thrilled.”

Fu Mingxue: …?

‘She tried to picture it—but she couldn’t quite imagine what Doctor Xie looked like when she was happy.’

Though she’d only met Doctor Xie a few times, the doctor always wore an impassive expression.

The car soon arrived at the train station.

Fu Mingxue hadn’t brought much luggage this time.

Just a single suitcase that she carried herself.

“I can get on the train by myself. You should head back.”

“Alright. In that case, you be safe, Sister-in-law. Especially on the train—you have to stay alert.”

“I will.” Carrying her suitcase, Fu Mingxue entered the train station.

「Three days later, the train pulled into the station.」

As Fu Mingxue stepped off the train, she saw Qin Wenhao.

She was quite surprised to see him.

Qin Wenhao had already spotted her and rushed to her side.

“Honey!” He took the suitcase from her. “Let’s go!”

Fu Mingxue looked at him. “How did you know I’d be on this train? Did you call home?”

“I didn’t make the call; Mom called the base. I had just gotten back from a mission when I took the call.”

“What good timing!”

The car was parked just outside.

They reached it in no time.

The couple got into the car.

Once they were driving, Qin Wenhao asked, “Honey, are we heading straight home?”

Fu Mingxue nodded. “Right. I’ll head home for today and go to the factory tomorrow.”

“Okay. If you’re tired, honey, you should get some sleep.” The drive from the station to the family compound would take about an hour.

But Fu Mingxue wasn’t that tired.

She had booked a sleeper car for this trip, so she’d been able to lie down and rest.

And as luck would have it, the other bunks in her sleeper cabin were empty, so she’d had the compartment all to herself.

So, the trip hadn’t been tiring in the least.

As they were driving through town.

Suddenly, she saw someone crying by the side of the road ahead.

Fu Mingxue hadn’t been asleep anyway. She glanced outside and saw a vaguely familiar figure.

“Qin Wenhao, stop the car!”

“What is it?” Qin Wenhao asked, already bringing the car to a halt.

“I think I see someone I know. I’m going to get out and check on them.”

Before Qin Wenhao could respond, Fu Mingxue pushed open the door and got out of the car.

Seeing this, Qin Wenhao had no choice but to quickly get out as well—

“Wang Lihong, what’s wrong?”

Wang Lihong, who was crying by the roadside, looked up when she heard the familiar voice.

She never expected it to be Comrade Fu.

At the sight of her, her eyes grew even redder.

“Comrade Fu, my grandpa… he’s gone—”

Fu Mingxue was shocked.

“—I’m so sorry for your loss! But why are you crying out here?”

“My uncle is trying to marry me off for a bride price. His family also seized my grandfather’s house. They said—they said it’s theirs now. That a girl like me has no right to live in my grandfather’s house.”

“They want to marry me off to my aunt’s nephew from the next village. He’s a fool.”

Fu Mingxue: …?

“Has he lost his mind? Besides, marriage is a matter of choice now. What right do they have to decide for you? Doesn’t anyone in your village do anything about this?”

“My… my uncle is the brigade leader.”

Hearing this, Wang Lihong cried even more sorrowfully.

“My aunt locked me up last night. I just managed to escape.”