Chapter 31: Truly Impossible

"Brother Liu, Sister Xiaolian, why are you here?"

Chen Dabao heard the commotion and hurried out to open the door. Seeing the couple, Liu Tianjie and Xiaolian, showing up in the middle of the night made him feel rather awkward. After all, despite nothing having actually happened when Xiaolian had previously thrown herself at him, he still felt a sense of guilt in Liu Tianjie's presence.

"Brother Dabao, we need your help with something!"

Liu Tianjie gritted his teeth, his resolve hardened. Before Chen Dabao could even open the door fully, he pushed his way in; he was already at the point of no return, and there was no retreating now.

Chen Dabao quickly stepped aside. Xiaolian followed, her head lowered and her face flushed. Chen Dabao was bewildered—what was this all about?

"Brother Liu, Sister Xiaolian, please sit. We don't have any fruit, but let me make you some tea."

Chen Dabao politely led them into the room and turned to prepare two cups of tea. During the year he had spent in a state of mental vacancy, Xiaolian had been kind to him. Occasionally, when she saw him looking pitiful, she would slip him some food. While Liu Tianjie hadn't specifically helped him, he had never bullied him either. Unlike his father, Liu Fugui, and his brother, Liu Xiaowu, Liu Tianjie was an honest, simple man who didn't cause trouble in the village. Chen Dabao had no particular grudge against him.

"Brother Dabao, don't bother with the tea. I brought a bottle of osmanthus wine; let’s have a drink together!" Liu Tianjie pulled a bottle of wine from his bag, poured a cup for himself, and another for Chen Dabao.

"Brother Liu, just tell me what's on your mind. I don't have any snacks to go with the wine, so I’ll pass." Chen Dabao glanced at Xiaolian, who was still staring at the floor, her ears burning red. He pressed his hand down on Liu Tianjie’s, a vague realization dawning on him. Could it be that a husband was personally offering up his own wife? That seemed impossible.

"No, Brother Dabao, let's drink while we talk. Some things are too hard to say without a little alcohol." Liu Tianjie’s eyes were bloodshot as he insisted on pouring the drink. "Here’s to you, brother!"

He downed more than half his cup in one gulp. Chen Dabao shook his head helplessly, at a loss.

"Dabao, just have a drink with Tianjie," Xiaolian suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed on Chen Dabao with a soft, watery tenderness.

"Fine, then."

Chen Dabao couldn't resist her gaze. He hastily looked away, went to the kitchen to grab a small plate of peanuts, ate one, and took a sip of the wine. Before long, he had finished the cup. He poured another, and soon Liu Tianjie began to show signs of drunkenness. He set his cup down and spoke, his breath heavy with alcohol.

"Brother Dabao, what do you think of your Sister Xiaolian?" Liu Tianjie asked suddenly.

"Sister Xiaolian is beautiful and kind-hearted; there aren't many wives in our village who can compare to her," Chen Dabao admitted, feeling the warmth of the wine. It was the truth; in Peach Blossom Village, few could rival her. She was not only attractive but also well-educated; marrying into the village chief's family was hardly a reach for her.

"Then I won't beat around the bush. Tonight, Xiaolian will be your wife."

Liu Tianjie, fueled by the alcohol, spoke with reddened eyes.

Xiaolian’s face turned crimson. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers, a flicker of sorrow crossing her face. She let out a faint sigh—if there had been any other way, who would ever offer their own wife to another man?

"Brother Liu, what... what do you mean? No, that’s impossible!" Chen Dabao stammered, his throat dry as he waved his hands. The whole situation was absurd.

"Thump!"

Liu Tianjie’s eyes turned wet, and he suddenly dropped to his knees. Gritting his teeth, he begged, "Dabao, I’m begging you, help me out just this once. I’m a broken man. We’ve been married for three years, and there’s been no sign of a child. The village is full of gossip, people pointing fingers at me, calling me useless. I know I am, but I don't want to divorce Xiaolian. If she doesn't have a child soon, my mother will force us to separate. If you have a child with her, I promise I will treat it as my own. Please, help me this once!"

He began to bang his head on the floor.

"Tianjie, get up! If it bothers you, we can just adopt!" Xiaolian said, her eyes rimmed with red, pulling at him in distress.

"Brother Liu, get up first!" Chen Dabao was panicked, trying to pull him to his feet, but Liu Tianjie remained firmly on his knees.

"If we adopt, everyone will know it's not ours. My parents will never accept it. Only if you father one will they believe it's mine, and that’s the only way to satisfy them and shut the village up," Liu Tianjie said through gritted teeth.

The village's mindset wasn't progressive; to have no children meant the end of a family line, and the gossip could be lethal. Furthermore, his parents would never blame him; they would always assume it was Xiaolian’s fault and force a divorce. Even if they did divorce, the next wife would likely face the same fate. Chen Dabao was intelligent, tall, and handsome—his "stock" was surely good. If Xiaolian had a child by him, Liu Tianjie was willing to accept it.

"Tianjie!" Xiaolian sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

"Brother Liu, get up!" Chen Dabao, left with no choice, forcibly hauled him to his feet.

"Brother Dabao, does that mean you agree?" Liu Tianjie asked, his eyes bloodshot with excitement. "Xiaolian, go take a bath, go on!"

"Yes," Xiaolian whispered. She cast a glance at Chen Dabao, a mix of sorrow and allure in her eyes, and headed toward the bathroom with her head bowed.

"Sister Xiaolian, wait, wait!" Chen Dabao tried to stop her. With her figure and beauty, he feared he wouldn't be able to hold back if she took her clothes off.

"Xiaolian, go! Make it a done deal!" Liu Tianjie grabbed hold of Chen Dabao, preventing him from intervening.

Seeing Xiaolian about to enter the bathroom, Chen Dabao had a sudden flash of inspiration. "Sister Xiaolian, Brother Liu, listen to me! I’m not really in a position to do this right now. Can you give me a few days?"

"Not in a position? What do you mean? Dabao, you're not sick, are you?" Liu Tianjie looked at him suspiciously.

"Yes, that's it! Brother Liu, I... I just had a circumcision yesterday, and I need some time to recover!" Chen Dabao blurted out a lie. "I didn't understand it before, but since I'm 'cured' of my mental state, I went to the hospital for a check-up. I saw they had a painless procedure and decided to get it done."

"Is that for real?" Liu Tianjie wasn't convinced. He looked at him doubtfully and said, "Dabao, if that's the case, then let me take a look, or let your Sister Xiaolian take a look!"