Mother Li didn't ask Hailee where she had gone earlier. To her, as long as her daughter was safe, that was all that mattered.
Maybe because she got revenge on Mike and stood up for the original owner, Hailee was in a great mood and slept well through the night.
Summer mornings started early. The sun was already up before five.
Widow Wang was a widow with two sons to raise. Every morning, she got up early to cook for them and then went to work.
That day, like always, she went out to get dry grass from the haystack to start a fire. But before she got close, she saw a pale leg sticking out.
"Oh my god, who is this? Hiding in the haystack this early in the morning? So shameless." She gritted her teeth. "Hmph, you all say I sleep around and talk about me behind my back. Today, I'm going to see which shameless person this is."
Widow Wang's husband had died young. Even though her looks were average and she was a bit plump, her figure was good. Especially when she walked, her hips swayed, making many men in the village stare.
Because of that, a lot of people said she had a messy private life. Women who lived nearby spread rumors like they had seen it with their own eyes.
Widow Wang often fought with them over it.
Maybe she heard those things too many times and gave up caring. She started flirting with men in the village.
But even so, she didn't dare do anything real.
Her husband was gone, but his uncles and cousins were still around. If she ever really did something to embarrass the Wang family, they wouldn't forgive her.
Besides, the authorities were strict about such behavior now. If someone was caught, they'd be paraded through the streets in shame.
So when she saw that pale figure so early in the morning, Widow Wang felt both disgusted and impressed at how bold they were.
She crept closer, then suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs, "Ah!" Her voice echoed far in the quiet morning.
Her shout woke up Mike, who had been unconscious all night. He blinked in confusion, then realized he had no clothes on. When he turned his head and saw Widow Wang staring straight at him, he screamed too, "Ah!"
After that, he realized he was completely naked. He panicked, looking everywhere for his clothes, but couldn't find them. In the end, he had to gather some dry grass to cover himself.
"Mike, it's you? Wow, you city people really know how to have fun, huh? Early in the morning and you're already… tsk tsk tsk." Widow Wang clicked her tongue, clearly enjoying the moment.
When Hailee let him go, she had made sure his face was turned inward, back facing the outside, so Widow Wang hadn't seen his face. She only guessed it was a man from the back.
Now that she saw it was Mike, all her old anger came rushing back.
Widow Wang had a bad reputation. Because of it, many villagers mistreated her sons, talked behind their backs, and bullied them.
Mike was different. He was an educated young man from the city and always acted polite. Widow Wang thought he wouldn't follow the crowd and talk behind her back.
But later, she found out she had been wrong.
Mike was two-faced. He said one thing to her face and another behind her back. To her, he'd say, "You can't let gossip control your life. If you walk the right path, there's nothing to fear."
But secretly, he and the other educated youths spread rumors that she tried to seduce him and said her sons were "born without a father."
Her sons were her biggest weakness. If someone only insulted her, she could laugh it off. But saying something about her sons crossed the line.
Mike had always protected his image carefully. Widow Wang had wanted revenge but never had proof. Now, seeing him naked in the haystack, she wasn't going to waste this perfect chance.
She immediately started yelling, "Hey, everyone come quick! You won't believe this! That Mike from the educated youth group—"
Before she could finish, Mike jumped up and covered her mouth.
"Aiya, you shrew."
Widow Wang wasn't prepared, so Mike got the upper hand for a moment. But she had been doing manual labor for years, and her strength was no match for Mike, who was as weak as a chicken. Once she reacted, she bit and stomped on him fiercely.
They had a grudge, and Widow Wang didn't hold back. Mike had no shoes on, and when she stepped on his foot, he screamed in pain.
Instinctively, Mike let go of her.
Even at this point, he didn't back down. He immediately started cursing.
Widow Wang glared at him viciously. That little bastard dared to curse her? Just wait.
She jumped forward, wrapped her legs around Mike, and shouted, "Someone come quick! The educated youth Mike is trying to seduce a woman and run!"
The village erupted with barking dogs. Doors opening and closing could be heard all around. Mike panicked.
If someone saw this, his reputation would be ruined. And if his reputation was ruined, then his job…
He didn't dare think any further.
Before people arrived, Mike quickly tried to pry Widow Wang's hands off him. Realizing it was pointless, he gritted his teeth and reached toward her chest.
That was a sensitive area for women. He didn't believe Widow Wang wouldn't let go.
Mike felt no shame doing this. In his mind, Widow Wang was a promiscuous woman. She had a bad reputation, after all.
But in truth, Widow Wang was innocent. She loved her late husband deeply and had never been with another man. Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to stay single, living a hard life, instead of remarrying.
She only had a sharp tongue, nothing more.
Mike's tactic worked. As soon as he reached out, Widow Wang froze and instinctively loosened her grip.
Once she came to her senses, she covered her chest and shouted, "Mike, you pervert, you bastard!"
Mike didn't care about the yelling. Once free, he took off running. It was just getting light, and there weren't many people on the road. He had to get home before anyone saw him.
He was furious about the beating he took last night. Whoever had stripped him naked and left him in the threshing yard had gone too far.
The village paths were rough and full of rocks, but Mike didn't care.
Even when the sharp stones stabbed his feet and made him wince, he kept running.
All he wanted was to get back to the educated youth housing. As if once he had clothes on, all this embarrassment would disappear.
But reality was different.
Widow Wang's son was very protective. Hearing his mother shout, he ran out barefoot with a stick.
While running, he shouted, "Mom! Don't be scared! I'm coming! Whoever dares touch my mom, I'll beat them to death!"
He rushed to her side and was relieved to see she was unharmed. Then, holding the stick, he stood guard.
"Mom, where is that bastard who bullied you? How dare he mess with my mom? I'll smash him!"
Growing up poor, the boy had matured early. His father died young, and he had seen firsthand how hard his mother had it. He knew the only way to not get bullied was to be tough. Only by being ruthless could he protect her.
That's why his reputation in the village was bad too. Behind his back, people called him "wolf cub." He really would bite.