You Looked Down on Me for Being Infertile? Why Are You Crying After I Got Pregnant with the Village Bully's Third Child?

Su Wan is a young woman trapped in a miserable marriage with the Wang family in rural northern China during the mid-1980s. For three years, she has endured constant abuse from her mother-in-law, Zhang Guihua, and the silent complicity of her husband, Wang Dajun. The central conflict arises when Zhang Guihua discovers that Wang Dajun is impotent, yet she refuses to accept Su Wan as the cause of their childlessness. Instead, she blames Su Wan’s infertility and plans to force her to bear a child with Wang Ergou, a mentally disabled man from a neighboring village, to continue the family line.

On a stormy night, Su Wan overhears her mother-in-law and husband plotting to drug her and hand her over to Wang Ergou. Terrified, she escapes through a rotting window in the woodshed where she is confined. In her flight, she tumbles into the forbidden melon field of Lei Deshui, a feared local tyrant known for his brutality and violent temper. Lei Deshui, who is sleeping in his shed, captures Su Wan, initially mistaking her for a thief or a woman sent by the Wang family to pay debts. Under the influence of alcohol and driven by primal instinct, he rapes her. However, when the Wang family arrives searching for Su Wan, Lei Deshui protects her, threatening them with his hunting knife and driving them away.

Lei Deshui tells Su Wan she must return to the Wang family to avoid being labeled a runaway, but he promises to watch over her. He treats her injuries and gives her money and food, revealing a hidden tenderness beneath his rough exterior. Su Wan returns to the Wang household, where she is beaten by Zhang Guihua but refuses to break. When Wang Ergou is brought to her room that night, Su Wan threatens suicide with a pair of scissors to deter him. Just as the situation becomes desperate, Lei Deshui throws a stone through the window, injuring Wang Ergou and forcing the Wang family to take him to the doctor, thereby thwarting their plan.

In the following days, Lei Deshui continues to support Su Wan secretly, bringing her food and money. Their relationship evolves from one of violence to mutual dependence and affection. Lei Deshui becomes possessive and protective, while Su Wan finds strength in his presence. However, their secret meetings attract the attention of Zhao Widow, a gossipmonger in the village who suspects Su Wan’s infidelity. Zhao Widow spreads rumors that Su Wan is unfaithful, causing tension within the Wang family. Wang Dajun, though weak, feels humiliated and slaps Su Wan, further damaging their already broken marriage.

Lei Deshui confronts the villagers by driving a tractor through the village, splashing mud on Zhao Widow and Zhang Guihua as a warning against gossip. He asserts his dominance and makes it clear that anyone who threatens Su Wan will face his wrath. The story highlights the power dynamics in the village, with Lei Deshui emerging as a formidable protector. Su Wan begins to change, no longer the passive victim she once was, but a woman willing to fight for her dignity with Lei Deshui’s backing. The narrative sets the stage for further conflict as the Wang family’s plans are disrupted and Lei Deshui’s influence grows, challenging the established social order.