Today was the full-month banquet at Aunt Zhang's house.
Li Jiaojiao went with her husband, Liu Dagen, along with her father-in-law and mother-in-law, the whole family together, to attend the feast and help out.
After the banquet, the ever-diligent Li Jiaojiao stayed behind to assist Aunt Zhang's daughter-in-law with cleaning up the dishes, bustling in and out, busy as could be.
True to her name, Li Jiaojiao was as delicate and lovely as a flower.
Even though she worked daily in the fields, her skin remained fairer and more dewy than the daughter-in-law of the village's wealthy landlord. Her large eyes always seemed to glisten with moisture, giving her a soft, seductive charm. Her nose was delicate and pert, and her small lips were a vibrant red.
Though people in the village wore cheap fabric, nothing could hide her alluring figure, her large breasts bounced like two rabbits with every step she took, and her wide hips were clearly suitable for childbirth.
Yet despite being such a beauty, after three full years of marriage to the tall, strapping Liu Dagen, her belly still showed no sign of swelling, leaving people puzzled.
Aunt Niu couldn't help sighing,
"Ahhh, just look at Dagen's wife, such a pretty face, and those hips, perfect for bearing children…"
Hearing this, Aunt Zhu nearby quickly tugged at her sleeve and whispered,
"Old Niu, keep your voice down! Their family still hasn't had any news! Who knows what's up with that little wife of theirs?"
At this, Aunt Niu stuck out her tongue and lowered her voice.
"Three years and still nothing, tsk tsk…"
Women in the village loved to gossip, especially the older ones. Once Aunt Niu and Aunt Zhu got started, a whole group of aunties huddled together, murmuring away.
Just then, Li Jiaojiao's mother-in-law, Madam Liu, stepped into the backyard and overheard them whispering about her daughter-in-law.
Her face darkened instantly. Behind her, the towering Liu Dagen also looked awkward. Seeing the two of them, the gossiping women quickly shut their mouths.
What had been a joyful family outing turned awkward.
Li Jiaojiao had been happy to help Aunt Zhang, but as she worked in the courtyard, washing dishes, she faintly caught the murmurs about her. Her face paled, and the timid girl could only press her lips together and sit quietly by the door.
Now, out of the four family members, three were too uncomfortable to chat, leaving only the father-in-law, Liu Dazhuang, oblivious as he continued bantering with the others.
On the way home, the parents-in-law walked ahead while the young couple trailed behind. Li Jiaojiao held a packet of crispy sweets Aunt Zhang had given her, but her mind was stuck on the village women's gossip about her infertility.
Resentment swelled in her chest, and she shot a bitter glance at her husband before lowering her head again, secretly wiping away tears.
The truth was, the one who couldn't conceive wasn't her, it was her husband, Liu Dagen, the man outsiders praised as tall and handsome. Just thinking about it made her heart ache with injustice.
Li Jiaojiao had been fair-skinned and adorable since childhood, growing into a beauty famed throughout the neighboring villages. Her father had once been a scholar, giving the family some scholarly prestige.
Unfortunately, her older brother had fallen into gambling, squandering the family's savings before vanishing to escape his debts, leaving no word of whether he was alive or dead.
With her brother gone, Li Jiaojiao became the family's only hope. But because of her beauty and gentle nature, she had no shortage of suitors.
Her parents had carefully chosen the Liu family from across the mountain, her father and Dagen's father were good friends, and Dagen himself was an honest, hardworking man. With his robust build (inherited from his father), her parents had hoped for a strong, dependable husband who could soon give them a grandson.
Who could've guessed that despite Liu Dagen's impressive body, he was useless where it counted? On their wedding night, taking advantage of Li Jiaojiao's shyness, he had blown out the lamp and used his fingers to break her maidenhood, fooling the innocent girl.
Li Jiaojiao, just barely a woman and utterly inexperienced, had been easily deceived. It wasn't until a year later, when her mother questioned her about intimacy with Dagen, that she realized something was wrong.
That night, she confronted her husband's trickery, furious, humiliated, and heartbroken, yet with no one to turn to. She had nearly cried herself sick! But since Dagen's… inadequacy… was an innate weakness, she couldn't even blame him too harshly.
For the sake of their dignity, she had no choice but to swallow her bitterness.
Now, crouched in the bathhouse washing up, Li Jiaojiao wiped her face miserably as she recalled the past. Her in-laws and husband had already gone to bed, leaving the house silent. The Liu family's courtyard was closer to the mountains than the village, so apart from the occasional nightingale or chirping insects, there wasn't a trace of human noise.
After finishing her bath, she dressed and prepared to rest, only to step out and spot her father-in-law leaning against a pillar in the courtyard, fumbling around.
Curiosity got the better of her.
"Huh? Where're my pants? Can't find 'em…"
Liu Dazhuang had drunk a bit too much at Old Zhang's place that afternoon. Returning home, he'd drowsily listened to his wife lament their lack of grandchildren before sharing two bowls of water with her and collapsing into bed. But halfway through the night, his bladder woke him.
The yard had a separate outhouse, but this man, blessed with a big cock and thus a heavy stream, was also heavily drunk. Glancing around and seeing no one, he squinted and tugged at his waistband.
A man just past forty, still in his prime, he looked no older than thirty despite already having a daughter-in-law.
The thick cock he pulled out was no even more impressive than that of a twenty-year-old.
Too lazy to fully undress, he simply gripped his shaft, angling it upward as he let loose a powerful stream.
"Dad… Father-in-law… Wh-what are you doing?" Li Jiaojiao stared in confusion, thinking he might be sleepwalking. She reached out and patted his shoulder...
Startled mid-stream and still drunk, Liu Dazhuang instinctively clutched his half-pissing cock and turned to look at her. But once started, the flow couldn't be stopped, urine splashed into his own palm, some even spraying near Li Jiaojiao's feet.
Her face drained of color, and she let out a soft, startled cry.