Translated by Serena Love

Proofread by Soupysuspicions

Edited by Lavender and Ladyhotcomb

Chapter 7

As the sun set, tranquility enveloped the village. Wisps of smoke rose from the kitchens. Emerging from an unknown muddy place, He Sanya’s head was a mess, tangled with weeds. She moved with the stealth and silence of a cat.

He Songbai noticed this movement and grabbed her. He examined her from head to toe, his expression darkening. “Did you get into a fight?”

He Sanya wriggled free, darted to the ground, and hid behind her elder sister.

He Songye gently removed the grass from her hair and caressed her head. It was only after bathing the young girl that she discovered a large bruise on her leg, some dried blood, and a cut behind her ear. She gasped, quickly chewed on some medicinal herbs, and applied the paste to He Sanya’s wounds.

After comforting her little sister for some time, He Songye remembered Zhao Lanxiang, who just moved in.

‘Go and call her to eat.’

He Songye gestured towards Zhao Lanxiang’s room, signaling her brother.

He Songbai, with a gloomy face, knocked on Zhao Lanxiang’s door. Receiving no response, he kicked the door and said impolitely, “Is there anyone inside? Where are you?”

He Sanya watched wide-eyed, too intimidated by her brother that she didn’t dare to speak.

He Songye smiled, wiping the young girl’s face with a towel.

“Don’t worry, he’s just upset. Does it hurt?”

He Sanya winced in pain, but her eyes lit up with surprise and delight when she spotted a plump white bun on the dinner table. She pointed at it, and her sister nodded, smiling.

After her shower, Zhao Lanxiang found He Songbai impatiently waiting outside her room, still kicking her door, which made cracking noises.

He Songbai lost his temper and found himself in an embarrassing situation. He stood awkwardly outside the girl’s room, his gaze flitting over her nonchalantly.

Zhao Lanxiang wrung out her wet hair, gave him a frosty look, and then retreated to her room to fetch a towel to dry her hair.

He Songbai knocked again more forcefully. “My sister noticed you haven’t prepared anything for dinner, so you can eat with us. Tomorrow you will get something to make up for today. We don’t provide free meals!”

A crisp voice responded from within, “Okay.” He Songbai added, “Hurry up.”

Had he spoken to her like that twenty years in the future, she would’ve surely taught him a lesson. But for now, Zhao Lanxiang paused briefly before opening the door.

He Songbai came in with a pottery basin filled with grass that she didn’t recognize.

He openly surveyed the city girl’s room, seemingly unaware of the impropriety of intruding into a woman’s private space. His gaze settled on the clothes strewn across her bed and the numerous small items that had appeared in just half an hour. There were trinkets, sky-blue curtains adorning the windows, the old table now covered in clean floral paper, and a cyan porcelain vase holding several wildflowers.

The entire room had been transformed, exuding the freshness and tenderness of a woman.

He Songbai closed the windows tightly and instructed, “Gather up your clothes and valuables, then come for dinner.”

Zhao Lanxiang picked up the clothes from the bed but didn’t leave right away. Instead, she leaned against the door, her eyes studying him.

He Songbai snorted, “Why aren’t you heading to dinner? Afraid I’ll steal your belongings?”

Without waiting for a response, he struck a match, igniting the grass in the pot. White tendrils of smoke began to envelop the room. Swiftly, he stepped out, pulling Zhao Lanxiang—who was still standing by the door—along with him, slamming the door behind them.

A realization warmed Zhao Lanxiang’s heart: he was smoking her room with wormwood.

Despite his fierce demeanor, he was considerate. Wormwood was known to repel insects and reduce humidity. A room left vacant would naturally become a haven for moisture and pests. Without his precaution, she’d have been a feast for bugs by dawn.

Recalling their past, it was He Songbai who had passionately pursued Zhao Lanxiang. He had gifted her daily with carefully arranged flowers, brewed tea, and playfully teased cats during idle moments. He had patiently and confidently chased her for three years. And now...Zhao Lanxiang stole a glance at him.

The youthful He Songbai was anything but refined. It was already a wonderful thing if he didn’t scare a woman away with his ruthless, cold demeanor.

He Songbai added, “We’re a poor rural family. Don’t expect anything to entertain you here.”

Zhao Lanxiang replied softly, striving for a neutral tone, “I know.”

He Songbai walked away with indifference, leaving Zhao Lanxiang behind as he headed to the main house.

Dinner at the He residence was humble, only slightly better than what was served in the educated youth cafeteria. At least the rice grains were visible. However, Zhao Lanxiang’s gaze shifted to the sweet potatoes in the bowls of Sister He and Little Sister He, and she quickly pushed aside any lingering thoughts.

She transferred the rice from her bowl to theirs and patted her belly with a smile. “I haven’t digested the buns I ate this afternoon, and I’m still full. You can have this.”

Zhao Lanxiang glanced at He Songbai. His bowl had barely any rice in it. How could a grown man sustain himself on such meager meals without any oil or sauce daily?

She intended to offer him her portion of rice, but He Songbai quickly devoured the sweet potatoes in his bowl in just a few bites, as if they were a savory delicacy from the mountain and sea. After finishing, he headed towards the back room where his grandmother resided.

He Sanya nibbled on the steamed bun and sipped the rich soup. As she savored the juice within the bun, her eyes lit up with pure joy. She had never tasted anything so delicious before, not even the meat she had during the Chinese New Year. It was so tasty that it brought tears to her eyes.

After finishing half of her bun, He Sanya paused, swallowed her saliva, then handed the remaining half to her elder sister.

The next day, as the educated youths set off for work, Zhou Jiazhen pulled Zhao Lanxiang aside, her voice a mix of disbelief and disdain. “You’re staying with the He family?”

She didn’t hide the shock and contempt in her tone.

“I was busy moving yesterday, and didn’t have time to ask you about this clearly. You’re in deep trouble; you should move out immediately!”

Zhao Lanxiang was taken aback by Zhou Jiazhen’s disgusted tone. Why was she suddenly bringing up her man?

She smiled, asking, “What’s the issue? Is their place such a tiger’s den that I shouldn’t be living there?”

Zhou Jiazhen, seeing Zhao Lanxiang’s nonchalance, responded angrily, “It’s not just a tiger’s den! That man is a rogue, a complete rogue! You have no idea...”

She became angrier and angrier, her face turning crimson. It was hard to tell what she was about to say. Zhou Jiazhen then pushed Zhao Lanxiang into the cornfield.

“Last year, He and Pan Yu caused a scandal. They were engaged in a relationship between men and women and were sent to labor reform for a while. They’ve only recently been released. Now, what do you think of that? Huh? Girl, what do you have to say…”

With a mix of shame and anger, Zhou Jiazhen whispered, “Someone saw them doing it in the cornfield, and Pan Yu was forced.”

Zhao Lanxiang’s heart was shocked, her man had never mentioned this.

She shook her head. “It can’t be as bad as you’re making it out to be. If it were true, he would’ve been shot.”

“There might be some misunderstanding here,” Zhao Lanxiang added.

In this era, relationships between men and women were strictly regulated. Zhao Lanxiang had heard of an incident where a man broke into a women’s restroom and was sentenced to death. Public displays of affection were not tolerated, let alone actions that could compromise someone’s reputation.

Zhou Jiazhen, with gritted teeth, murmured, “Who can be certain? Regardless, you should move out quickly. I wouldn’t feel comfortable staying in such a place for even a day longer.”

“I’ve been in this village for many years and know everyone in the brigade. The second son of the He family isn’t a good person. Even if he was falsely accused, his character is questionable. Why else would he still be involved in a murky relationship with Pan Yu?”

“I dare to say that his family’s poverty is the reason. The Pan family likely looks down on him, and he doesn’t have the means to propose.”

Zhao Lanxiang responded vaguely, “I know, thank you.”

Her mood was somewhat complicated. She wasn’t pleased—in fact, she was quite upset.

Her man concealed such a big thing from her, then feigned innocence, claiming she was the first one he had feelings for. He had asked for her patience if his actions ever made her uncomfortable.

That didn’t seem to be the case now. When he was poor and down, he never got his peach blossom.

They even did it in a cornfield, huh... she hadn’t done such a fashionable thing with him.

Zhou Jiazhen, feeling a sense of pride in looking out for her friends, waved her hand, saying, “Once I finish my work, I’ll help you move your belongings.”

“I’m staying with your colleague now, at the branch secretary’s house. I’ve heard that the captain has an empty room...”

Zhao Lanxiang refused decisively. “No need. I plan to buy some groceries in the county. Would you like to join me?”

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