Chapter 3: Two Men Contend for a Wife

"Taohua, let's live together."

An Changlin stared into Li Tian'er's eyes, his expression serious and his gaze unwavering.

*Ding—*

The pink popularity score that had been frozen since yesterday suddenly surged by ten thousand.

The Wealth System had now become her tool for measuring and testing a man's true love. When she was Li Tiantian, she could rake in ten thousand popularity points from Chen Bo every day, but every time she saw An Yuan, she only received one hundred. She had concluded that any man capable of granting her ten thousand popularity points was her true soulmate.

An Changlin had been infatuated with Li Taohua for so long that he could no longer hold back his true feelings. To agree to him would be tantamount to marital infidelity, but to refuse him would surely break his heart.

"Look," Li Tian'er said, averting her gaze to avoid the intensity of his stare, "let go of my hands first. Let's talk about this properly."

"I won't let go. I need an answer right now. If you say no, I will disappear immediately and never bother you again."

An Changlin was notoriously stubborn—as the saying went in the village, not even nine bulls could pull him back once he made up his mind.

"I can't answer you right now. You know as well as I do that I am still Chen Yunchao's wife..."

"I know. You can divorce him as soon as he returns. I heard he's coming back within these two days."

An Changlin tightened his grip, and Li Tian'er winced as her fingers were squeezed painfully together. She let out a soft cry, and An Changlin, panicked, loosened his grip slightly, though he still refused to let her pull away.

That morning, seeing the woman he loved left out in the snow by her mother-in-law and slapped twice, An Changlin’s heart had ached as if it were being shredded. But he hadn't been able to rush into the courtyard to help, forced to suffer in silence from behind the wall.

Each time he had helped her fetch water, he had been locked in an internal struggle. Now, he had summoned the courage to confess, if only to finally settle the matter of his own heart.

"How much longer are you going to waste your life on him? You've already thrown away three years. How much youth do you have left to squander on him?"

Driven by a mix of frustration and protective anger, An Changlin gripped her hands tighter again. His lack of restraint caused a sharp pain that made Li Tian'er frown, her arm bending instinctively as her body leaned toward him.

Suddenly, the door to the house swung open, and a cold, sharp voice demanded:

"What are you two doing? An Changlin, why are you in my house?"

Chen Yunchao’s face was flushed, his neck veins bulging with the force of his anger, and his lean frame seemed to tremble.

Seeing Li Taohua’s husband suddenly appear, Li Tian'er reflexively pulled her hands away and stepped aside.

An Changlin reached out, pulling Li Tian'er toward his chest; though he released her hands, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Chen Yunchao, you've returned at just the right time."

"You—you're asking for death!"

Chen Yunchao lunged at An Changlin, raising his fist to strike him in the chest.

"Don't do this, it's a misunderstanding!"

Before Li Tian'er’s cry could fade, Chen Yunchao’s fist had already struck. An Changlin was a tall, strong man who had served in the military; had he wanted to dodge, Chen Yunchao’s punch wouldn't have even grazed him. Instead, he didn't move, pushing his chest forward to take the blow head-on.

The impact felt like hitting solid stone. An Changlin didn't budge, but the counter-force left Chen Yunchao’s hand numb and throbbing, forcing him to wince and hiss in pain.

"Consider that punch a debt I've settled. Leave Li Taohua to me. If you don't love her, stop standing in her way."

"What nonsense are you spouting! Let her go, or I'll call for help! Bringing a brute into my own house? I don't believe there's no justice in this world!"

Chen Yunchao’s face twisted with rage, his once scholarly, refined features appearing almost sinister.

"An Changlin, go back home for now. I will handle this myself."

If An Changlin continued this scene, Li Taohua’s reputation—that of a diligent woman who cared for her home and respected her mother-in-law—would be ruined, branded as a loose woman. As for this heartless, ungrateful husband, she certainly wouldn't suffer his bullying any longer.

"Taohua, you don't need to fear him. I must have an answer today."

An Changlin was determined. Watching his wife being held by another man, Chen Yunchao’s face cycled between pale and livid. He gritted his teeth, but dared not resort to physical violence again. He knew An Changlin had skills; it would be easy for the man to knock him down. If he were to be beaten by a village brute, the loss would outweigh any gain. Besides, he had returned specifically to finalize the divorce.

In three years of marriage, Chen Yunchao had never touched Li Taohua once. His deep-seated disgust made the sight of her delicate, beautiful face unbearable. "Out of sight, out of mind"—he hadn't returned home once during his three years at university.

After graduation, he had been assigned a job in the county and met a woman he truly loved—an angel. It was finally time to live his own happy life. He no longer feared the threats of Li Taohua’s father; he wasn't afraid to cast her aside.

But An Changlin’s sudden appearance was an affront. While he could have an affair while being married, he would not tolerate his own wife doing the same.

"What result do you want? You're asking for death! I'm going to report this to my father-in-law right now and see how you survive in this village!"

Knowing he couldn't beat An Changlin, Chen Yunchao turned and ran to fetch reinforcements. The in-laws were sure to side with him; they adored him for his education, being the only university student to come out of the village after the resumption of the national exams.

Afraid that An Changlin might chase him, Chen Yunchao didn't even stop to close the door. As the cold wind rushed in, Li Tian'er shivered. She realized this was escalating; if things went poorly, An Changlin might truly be unable to remain in Xiaowu Village.

Though she hadn't met Li Taohua’s parents yet, she knew from Li Taohua’s memories that they favored Chen Yunchao even more than their own daughter. They constantly praised him, always saving the best food for him, and boasted to everyone that their son-in-law was a university student destined for high office.

*Sigh.* The hardships of life were bearable, but the torment of the spirit was truly difficult. Of course, the worst-case scenario had to happen now. Why had Chen Yunchao returned at this moment? To hate Li Taohua so much, yet play the good man in front of her parents—this man was truly a specimen.

"An Changlin, I understand your intentions. But this matter must be resolved with Chen Yunchao first before we can talk about anything else."

Li Tian'er felt she had spoken with as much gravity as she could muster.

"Are you going to kill him?"

An Changlin finally released her hands.

"What? Where did you get that idea! Just go, please. I'll come to you once I've sorted things out with Chen Yunchao."

Chen Yunchao was right—the mind of a village brute had no logic, and his train of thought was terrifying!