All is calm and peaceful

  Xue'er went back to sleep for a while and saw Zheng Shuang still standing there, commanding her to say: "Teacher Zheng, it's time to go up! Come here, I'll tell you another story."

  Zheng Shuang had no choice but to obey.

  Xue Er said: "The protagonist of the story, of course, is a clever and handsome young man. The young man and the girl deeply fell in love through several nights of contact. They were like us, afraid to take a step further because of the true manipulation of water. On their last night together, their passion burned fiercely. They really couldn't control themselves, they loved each other, and did it. But the last bowl of true manipulation water made them feel very uneasy in their hearts. Guess what action they took in the end?"

  "I won't guess! Just say it directly."

  "What would you do if you were me?"

  "I don't know. I'm all confused inside."

  "Will you elope with me?"

  Zheng Shuang didn't say a word. Xue Er burst out laughing: "I knew it!"

  Zheng Shuang still didn't speak, indicating tacit consent.

  Xue Er had no choice but to continue speaking: "The young man did exactly as you thought, he really eloped with the girl!" Xue Er paused intentionally after finishing her sentence.

  Zheng Shuang became anxious: "What happened afterwards?"

  Xue Er sighed and said, "The management of the nine nights is loose inside and tight outside. The people in the room think everything is calm and peaceful, but actually there are crises lurking outside. They sneak out of the house and haven't gone half a mile before they get caught. Alas, it's hard for that person to become a family member!" Xue Er stopped again after finishing speaking.

  "Have they been poisoned?" Zheng Shuang asked anxiously.

  "No one beat them up, they were just brought back and as per convention, the young fellow was made to drink realgar water. Three days later, the young fellow died, cause of death unknown."

  "Cruel! How can you bear to do such a cruel thing?" Zheng Shuang asked with a questioning tone.

  "I didn't know about it either. Dad said that these three stories are not allowed to be spread randomly among our villagers, and many people don't know the details. Only after accepting the 'Nine Nights' task can you slowly learn one story at a time. This is a story that Dad only told me today."

  "Why treat him like that?" Zheng Shuang was puzzled.

  "You know, the natural conditions here are not good, and we're almost isolated from the outside world. The women in our village are generally not allowed to marry out, and every six years there's a beauty pageant. This beauty pageant has strict requirements, considering not only appearance but also knowledge and temperament. After selecting the most beautiful one in the village, she will receive special education and treatment."

  Later, this woman could only find excellent men from outside to come into the mountains as a son-in-law. This is the mountain rule, I don't know when it was passed down. If they can't be found, even if it means being a widow for life, they are not allowed to lower their standards. So, in our big mountains, there are always lively and clever girls, and almost all of them are daughters of originally matched couples who were married by arrangement. And the men who come into the mountains as sons-in-law almost become the king of the village. You think, a man who can endure hardship for nine years without making any mistakes must be extremely excellent. Do you know? My father was also brought in from outside.

  Tears fell from Zheng Shuang's eyes. Zheng Shuang's dreams were not just to be a private teacher in these mountains. When she was attending high school in the county town, she longed for city life. Zheng Shuang knew that her romantic dream had shattered, thoroughly shattered!

  Tomorrow I'll drink the chastity water and leave, I don't want to be their most respected person. I'd rather go home and farm than suffer in this remote mountain. Zheng Shuang thought to herself.

  Zheng Shuang was just making up her mind when Xue'er got up and picked up the chastity water, opening the side door which led to the backyard. She poured the chastity water into a wooden bucket by the door. Zheng Shuang's heart sank as she thought, "It's all over, Xue'er has changed her face! I'm done for!"

  Xue Er saw Zheng Shuang's silly appearance and said: "You've been through nine nights, passed the test smoothly, don't think you can just walk away. Are you thinking of leaving tomorrow morning? No big deal if you don't want to be a substitute teacher! If that's what you're thinking, you're making a huge mistake! Think about it, a top-notch girl from the mountains accompanies a man for nine nights, can the man just let her leave? Of course, if you want to leave, no one will stop you. But if something happens on the way, no one will care!"

  Zheng Shuang was said to be at a loss for words, and didn't know what to say.

  Xue Er chuckled and said: "With me by your side for a lifetime, can't you be at peace in these mountains?"

  "Me? You? Us together?" Zheng Shuang's words were incoherent.

  Xue Er giggled and said: "Right! Together!"

  Xue Er finished speaking, opened her trunk and slowly took out a bowl of water from it, then put the empty bowl back into the trunk and said: "Zheng Shuang, I love you, really."

  I secretly prepared a bowl of love potion for you during the day. Tomorrow morning, you drink this bowl of love potion in front of my dad and mom, I guarantee you'll be fine.

  Besides, staying up for nine nights is just a very primitive custom, and women not marrying out is also an ancient rule. I've grown up to see all these rules abolished. I heard that my father was one of the people who advocated for abolishing these rules. In fact, many people didn't want to follow these broken rules anymore, but they were afraid to speak out. After my father proposed his idea, except for a few stubborn old men who opposed it, most people supported him. After my father proposed his idea, he no longer punished those who broke the rules, and of course, he didn't loudly proclaim his reform either.

  "I think, you've come, my father treated you with such old rules, he has already taken you as a son-in-law to test you. He wants to see your will and character." Xue Er said, then burrowed into Zheng Shuang's quilt.

  Xue Er's bold move left Zheng Shuang at a loss for a moment. But just for an instant, all of Zheng Shuang's fears were gone. Under Xue Er's soft and boneless arms, Zheng Shuang fell into the whirlpool of love. Like falling off a cliff into a mountain stream, Zheng Shuang was bathed in the river of love, letting the rushing water wash over her, drifting away to far-off places.

  Zheng Shuang had enough of galloping in the river and lay down on it. It was only then that he remembered to appreciate the beauty beside him. Zheng Shuang sat up properly and quietly looked at Xue Er who was lying sideways. Zheng Shuang couldn't help but exclaim from his heart: "The human body is actually this beautiful! This is simply a natural work of art, no artist can create such a breathtaking piece of art!"

  Zheng Shuang looked and sighed, holding Xue Er's hands with both hands and said: "Xue Er, you are a rare living art in the world. Sit up and let me appreciate you from different angles." Xue Er giggled and sat up: "If you like to look, then take your fill."

  In the morning, Zheng Shuang drank three bowls of "real manipulation water" in front of Xue Er's father and mother. Xue Er couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle while watching Zheng Shuang drink water. Xue Er's father glared at her and said, "Foolish girl! You'll regret it!"

  Xue Er's father and mother left, Xue Er immediately approached Zheng Shuang and said: "My dear brother, is the love potion I gave you sweet? I especially added honey for you." Zheng Shuang smiled, wanting to kiss her. She pointed at Zheng Shuang's nose and said: "Remember, brother, I'll accompany you through nine nights, you drank my love potion, neither of us should regret it!"

  The village chief thought of this last sentence and looked at Xue Er beside him, asking himself in his heart: "Have I ever regretted it?"