The commotion outside had ended at some unknown time.

The light filtering through the crack in the door grew dimmer; night was falling. I hugged my knees and curled up in the corner of the wall.

I didn't know what time it was now, nor did I know where I was. In the past, whenever I felt this hopeless, my sister would come to comfort me and encourage me, but at this moment, I hadn't seen my sister for a long time. I missed her very much, but I didn't know where she was.

The fear of this unknown deep mountain region was overwhelming. Even though I was a man, I still felt powerless to resist. I couldn't imagine the despair those young girls experienced after being trafficked here.

"Clang, creak—"

Amid my chaotic thoughts, the door of the small shabby house suddenly made a sound, and I felt my whole body shudder.

Fortunately, the one who walked in wasn't a hulking man like Zhao Lao'er, but a woman in her fifties with a stern face, carrying some rice porridge and pickled vegetables.

"Awake? Eat?" She rudely shoved the food into my arms and casually grabbed my chest several times before sitting down on a nearby broken wooden stool, crossing her legs.

"I just don't understand what that idiot Zhuzi sees in you. With your flat chest, no meat on your butt, and a face like a bitter melon, I think he should've bought someone like the one at the village head Wang's fool's place—big chest, round butt, clearly good for bearing children. What's the point of having a college student...," she muttered, clearly displeased with me.

The aroma and heat of the porridge stimulated my taste buds, and I started to eat voraciously with my chopsticks.

"But you're still obedient," she seemed to soften a bit after seeing me eat meekly, "You saw what happened in the yard this afternoon. Women are all the same—they bear children and serve their husbands. It doesn't matter where you are. If you obediently give Zhuzi a few robust sons, he'll certainly treat you well."

I ignored the old woman's nagging and focused solely on eating the hard-earned meal.

Once I had finished all the food she brought, I looked up at her with a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"I will be obedient, and listen to Brother Zhuzi..."

My naturally slender voice, with a barely noticeable Adam's apple, made my intentionally higher-pitched reply undetectable to her.

Though I didn't agree with a single word she said, she was right about one thing: to leave here, I first had to survive; to survive, I had to be obedient.

"Obedience is good, obedience is good. At least this time, the money wasn't wasted, unlike that stubborn mule before, serves him right..."

"Serves him right for what?" I didn't catch her dialect and asked confusedly.

"Nothing," she abruptly shut her mouth, realizing she had misspoken, and then assumed a fierce demeanor, "Little hussy, this is none of your business!"

"I'm sorry..." I immediately bowed my head. "But can you take me out of here? It's too dark, and I'm very scared. Plus, I'm here to bear children for Brother Zhuzi, so can I go to his room..." My voice grew smaller, laden with shyness and embarrassment.

"Alright, alright, you're a good girl. Give our Zhuzi a child soon!" She seemed pleased with my response and nodded in agreement.

But then, as if by magic, she produced a collar from somewhere, the same kind she had placed on the woman in the afternoon.

"You can go out, but don't try any tricks with me. Once I put this on you, you can't run away."

Sure enough, this old woman didn't trust me at all; she was just lusting after my body for her son.

Without arguing, I obediently put on the collar and let her lead me by the leash, pulling me along like a dog.

All the way, I was very compliant. When we passed through the yard, I dug out a few jasmine plants growing there.

"Jasmine fragrance, worn in my hair, more romantic with Brother Zhuzi..." I explained to her, making her grin like a withered chrysanthemum.

My buyer, Zhuzi, had many bottles of wine in his room. It was clear he was a heavy drinker.

That night, as expected, he staggered into the room, drunk.

I extinguished the flickering oil lamp and crushed the jasmine, mixing it into the wine, then brought it to his lips.

Surprisingly, this rough man from the mountains had a strong fondness for romantic gestures.

When passion peaked, he tore off his pants and forcefully pressed my shoulders down, ripping my dress with a tearing sound.

He gripped my waist, and I felt a shudder run through my entire being...