Chapter 26

Liu Jumai didn't reveal her thoughts and made sure Li Linxi and Jiang Manzhu remained unaware.

At this moment, Jiang Manzhu was still curiously looking at the wooden box. "Should we spray some sugar water or honey water to attract the bees?"

Looking at the box, Jiang Manzhu felt excited and eagerly glanced at Li Linxi.

Xiao Bei squatted nearby, mirroring Jiang Manzhu's expression with wide, expectant eyes. "Third Brother, when can we eat honey?"

"Hahaha, we don't even have the bees yet, so it won't be that quick. Probably… maybe next year, right? Isn't that right, Linxi?" Jiang Manzhu guessed, uncertain about when they would actually have honey.

"Yeah, if we can get the bees this year, by next winter we might be able to harvest some," Li Linxi replied. Though he had studied through high school, he was still a farmer's son, helping out during vacations. So, he had a fair bit of practical knowledge.

"Awesome! We'll definitely get the bees!" In an era without nutritional supplements, honey was a precious item, especially for her. Jiang Manzhu valued it even more and couldn't wait to encourage Li Linxi to get them.

She thought of herself as useless, only good enough to be a decorative piece for the male lead.

Li Linxi didn't let Jiang Manzhu down. There were remnants of honey in the bottles used before. After soaking them in hot water, the sweet aroma of honey still lingered.

"Let's go, Xiao Bei, we'll go together." After Li Linxi sprayed the honey water into the box, Jiang Manzhu hurriedly urged Xiao Bei to follow him.

Unfortunately, Li Linxi wouldn't let Jiang Manzhu join them.

"The mountain is rugged, and you and Xiao Bei might find it difficult to walk. It's better to stay at home," Li Linxi advised. She was delicate, and Xiao Bei was still young; he'd have to look after them both on the mountain.

He was busy working, not out for leisure.

"Right, right! Linxi will be back soon, so Manzhu and Xiao Bei shouldn't delay his work," Liu Jumai added, quickly stopping Jiang Manzhu.

After thinking it over, Jiang Manzhu agreed. With her short legs, climbing that mountain full of thorns and trees wouldn't be wise.

Xiao Bei felt a bit disappointed, hoping to see how the bees were put into the wooden box firsthand.

Next time, he thought, next time he wouldn't need to be called by his sister-in-law; he could bring back a box of bees by himself.

Sighing a little, he said, "Okay, then let's go pick some wildflowers."

Sister-in-law said that bees love flowers, and their house was built in a basin-like area surrounded by small slopes, which was perfect for bees.

Jiang Manzhu had nothing to do and didn't feel like studying; math problems really made her head hurt.

Balancing work and rest was necessary to keep her mind clear.

Liu Jumai didn't stop them; they could do whatever they liked, including chatting with the other gossipy villagers.

As for the children's marriages, Liu Jumai was certainly concerned.

But she also knew that her son was headstrong; pressuring him would only make things harder for her.

"What else are you worried about? It's said that parental arrangements and matchmaker recommendations must be followed. Does he dare to disregard that?"

"Exactly! The brigade leader's daughter has already been set up with that soldier from the neighboring brigade."

"Really? I hadn't heard about that. Fei Ying really keeps things under wraps, doesn't she? Afraid we'll steal her thunder?"

"Hey, don't spread rumors. If that news isn't true, didn't the brigade leader say something about it a few days ago? Have you forgotten? Don't you think you have too many work points?"

Had they forgotten so quickly? Didn't they fear the brigade leader's wrath? He might make an example out of someone.

Liu Jumai didn't talk about her son's situation but listened to others discussing potential matches for their children, mentioning how certain girls were spirited…

After hearing so much gossip, Liu Jumai rushed home to see if there was anything… cough, cough, cough… between her son and Manzhu.

It didn't seem likely; their interactions were quite normal, with no secretive hints of romance, leaving Liu Jumai puzzled.

Could it be that she was overthinking?

In the end, she suppressed her doubts and watched the three of them cheerfully hang the box meant for the bees in the back of the house, feeling a bit dazed.

Well, the younger generation will have their own fortune. They could figure their own matters out.

She had to start getting used to life without her involvement…

Su Qianqian wanted to get married before her big wedding, to Li Linxi, and knew she had to act quickly. Otherwise, once she was married off, it would be too late to consider marrying him.

At the moment, she couldn't think of a good plan but couldn't resist heading to Li's house nearby.

Perhaps, once she saw Li Linxi, an idea would come to her mind…

Their home wasn't far from Li Linxi's, and on her way, she occasionally saw some familiar villagers.

The villagers didn't pay much attention to the previous gossip about Su Qianqian, considering her the brigade leader's child, and greeted her cheerfully.

Su Qianqian smiled back, friendly and polite. If she really needed to use some means to marry Li Linxi, she would need these villagers to help her pressure his family verbally.

Compared to the other girls in the village, Su Qianqian didn't have to work in the fields under the sun, so she was fairer than many. It was hard to say if the young intellectuals from the countryside had it better than her.

They say "a fair complexion covers a multitude of flaws," and Su Qianqian could still be considered a pretty girl.

"Qianqian, I heard your mother found you a good match? Are you getting married soon?"

"When are we getting the wedding banquet?"

Su Qianqian smiled widely, appearing friendly and obedient, but internally, she thought: Are you all gossipmongers? Why are you so nosy?

"I don't know. You'll have to ask my mother," she replied, not showing any resistance. If she seemed too obvious, people would notice, which wouldn't be beneficial for her plans.

Indeed, the villagers had no doubts and didn't take the matter to heart. When they met, they would exchange friendly greetings; after all, she was the child of the team leader, so there was no need for them to worry.

"Oh, will you invite the whole village to the wedding?" If there's no banquet, they wouldn't send a gift; whose money comes from the wind?

Su Qianqian smiled awkwardly, "I'm not sure about that; you'll have to ask my mom. I just follow her lead."

Damn it, who's getting married!!

No one knew about her inner fury. At that moment, she quickly arrived at Li Linxi's house. Passing through the bamboo forest, she could see Li Linxi's situation clearly.

She thought she would have to wait for him to return home, but instead saw him holding a wooden box, "nailing it" in the back of the house, while Jiang Manzhu stood on tiptoe by the ladder, looking quite happy.

Little Bei was hopping around, clapping his hands. They seemed to be in a cheerful mood, and their harmony felt extremely glaring to Su Qianqian.

Bitch! Surely, they couldn't really have something going on??

What should she do now?

Also, that good-for-nothing Luo Liangce couldn't even win over a country girl like Jiang. Useless, useless, useless!!!

Her eyes were almost bloodshot. If Jiang Manzhu enjoyed this good fortune, wouldn't she be furious enough to spit blood?

In this second chance at life, Su Qianqian never realized that, despite being in an era of reform, she could still make something of herself on her own.

Or perhaps she did realize it, but she didn't believe her achievements could surpass Li Linxi's, especially since her previous life was so miserable.

She didn't dare take the gamble, fearing that if she lost, this life would be wasted, hence her gaze toward the Li family was filled with malice.

Ultimately, Su Qianqian didn't approach them but thought of a plan on her way back: if she couldn't do it openly, she would resort to underhanded methods—cause some accidents, get people to gossip, and force Li Linxi to marry her first.

Now, the Li family didn't pay her any attention, and her parents were keeping a close watch on her, leaving her with no chance to get close to Li Linxi.

After all, with her being the daughter of the team leader, marrying that mud-legged boy would mean nothing to her. With her looks and "family background," how could she not make Li Linxi treat her well?

With that thought, her resolve surged again, and she was filled with fighting spirit. Because she had been obedient in front of Huang Ye Ying, she wasn't closely monitored at home.

She avoided the Li family's attention and mostly went on weekends or during school lunch breaks to see where Li Linxi would go.

As hard work pays off, after four or five days, Su Qianqian finally caught a chance to follow Li Linxi up the mountain.

Today, she had to succeed, or else perish!

Li Linxi was going up the mountain to chop wood today. With four family members and the weather getting colder, the need for firewood was greater, and he was the only adult laborer. If he didn't chop the wood, who would?

Before, he would have brought Jiang Manzhu along, thinking she had ulterior motives since she was often at their house. But now…

After spending so much time together, Jiang Manzhu had caught Li Linxi's eye, along with the fondness of Liu Jumei and Little Bei.

Li Linxi was alone—how could he resist the other two in the house? So, there he was, chopping wood all by himself.

Li Linxi didn't think much of it and took his axe up the mountain.

At a certain flat spot halfway up, where trees were planted, Li Linxi suddenly turned around, feeling he was being followed. "Who? Show yourself!"

His gaze was cold; he felt someone behind him. At first, he thought it was just his imagination, but as he continued, the sounds confirmed his suspicions, making him wary.

A robbery?

He only had an axe on him—who would rob him for an axe?

After waiting for ten seconds without seeing anyone, Li Linxi frowned, his dark eyes sharp. Was someone here for revenge?

To his surprise, the person was not the three sons of Aunt Meihua's family but Su Qianqian, the daughter of the team leader.

Although they lived in the same production brigade, they hadn't interacted much. As kids, one was spoiled and playful while the other was hardworking and studious, so they never really mingled.

When he realized it was Su Qianqian tailing him, he relaxed his grip on the axe.

"Su Qianqian? Are you following me?" Li Linxi was unsure of her intentions. He hadn't taken her earlier desire to marry him seriously.

"I couldn't see you for a while, but today I finally did. Li Linxi, you're really busy," Su Qianqian's tone had a hint of subtle grievance, making Li Linxi frown.

Are we close?

Li Linxi didn't want to listen; he thought Su Qianqian was wasting his time.

Not expecting Li Linxi to ignore her and turn to leave, Su Qianqian couldn't hold back. She hurriedly ran up to him, trying to make him stop. "Li Linxi."

Li Linxi, now annoyed, had originally planned to call out the person following him for an easier confrontation, so he wouldn't be ambushed by someone hiding in the bushes.

"What do you want to say?" Li Linxi didn't see any reason to engage with her. If there was something to discuss, the team leader would send for him.

With a man and a woman alone on the mountain, Li Linxi doubted Su Qianqian didn't understand the implications.

"Linxi, we grew up together; we're like childhood sweethearts. I consider myself good-looking, and my father is the team leader. What's wrong with you marrying me?"

"Then, my father can take care of Liu Jumei, and I can look after Little Bei."

As she spoke about her advantages, Su Qianqian grew more confident. Except for being slightly less attractive than Jiang Manzhu, what did she lack?

Hearing Su Qianqian stop him just to say this, a flicker of disgust and annoyance crossed Li Linxi's eyes. He had no interest in being pressured into liking her.

Sensing his irritation, Su Qianqian grew displeased. "What's wrong with me? If you marry me, you'd have a father-in-law who's the team leader, and you could help Liu Jumei."

"Su Qianqian, you ran up the mountain just to say this? I've told you I have no interest in you and I won't have any relationship with you."

Li Linxi didn't want to waste time with her and found her increasingly bothersome.

When he attempted to leave again, Su Qianqian felt a surge of frustration.

"Li Linxi." Her eyes reddened, and in a moment of impulse, she rushed at him, intending to hug him.

Since they were already so close, she didn't believe he would dare not marry her.

Unfortunately, her movement wasn't quiet, and with a warning shout, Li Linxi swiftly dodged. Su Qianqian stumbled past him, almost falling into the grass.

Li Linxi was increasingly annoyed by Su Qianqian. A person who didn't understand human words and clung stubbornly was truly bothersome.

"Li Linxi, if you don't marry me, I'll let everyone know you assaulted me," Su Qianqian said angrily, her face flushed as she glared at him, threatening.

Li Linxi paused, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. "When did you become so disgusting?"

Even though they hadn't spent much time together, they were from the same village, and he hadn't expected her to be like this at all.

Stunned by being called "disgusting," Su Qianqian stared at Li Linxi. The person she desperately wanted to marry thought of her as disgusting?

While her intentions to marry Li Linxi were not pure, she had at least envisioned a harmonious and loving relationship.

"What… what did you say?" Su Qianqian couldn't believe it. Did Li Linxi really think she was… disgusting?

"You really are disgusting. Don't even think about it; you're not worthy," Li Linxi said, his disdain evident. If she weren't a woman, he would have pinned her down and beaten her.

Not worthy?

"Not worthy? How am I not worthy? Is Jiang Manzhu more deserving?" Su Qianqian blurted out, her impulsiveness getting the better of her.

Li Linxi had no idea why Jiang Manzhu was suddenly brought into the conversation. Although she was pretty, he had no interest in her at all.

Indeed, like A Qing's mother, a base person sees everything as base.

Su Qianqian remembered that when she had gone up the mountain, someone else had been there. If others saw…

Determined, she tugged at her clothes, planning to run over and hug Li Linxi, yelling to attract attention and frame it as a "crime."

Li Linxi, already tired of dodging her, quickly struck the back of her neck with a swift motion, causing Su Qianqian to faint immediately.

Li Linxi wasn't the kind of person to cherish women. Su Qianqian was willing to ruin her purity to destroy him, so he had no obligation to go easy on her.

He stepped away, not wanting to waste any more time on her.

After Li Linxi left, this area, mostly filled with pine trees, was generally used for gathering pine needles for kindling. No one would purposely go through this area, so Su Qianqian remained unconscious for a while.

Perhaps Li Linxi hadn't hit her too hard; less than half an hour later, Su Qianqian woke up.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself alone, and Li Linxi was nowhere to be seen. Anger surged within her, making her head feel like it would explode.

Ahhhhhhh!!!

Damn Li Linxi, how dare he!! Just like Luo Liangce, worthless man! He's blind and useless.

But no matter how angry Su Qianqian was, she knew her impulsive actions might have made Li Linxi detest her even more, reducing her chances of marrying him.

Anxious, Su Qianqian realized it was no longer about Jiang Manzhu. Her own situation took precedence. Her mother was eager to marry her off.

If she didn't settle this soon, it really might slip away from her grasp.

As she left the mountain, Su Qianqian, filled with anger and anxiety, hurried home, surprising the aunts she passed along the way.

That girl didn't bring a basket; she wasn't cutting wood or gathering grass. What was she doing up the mountain?

Unfortunately, the team leader had just reprimanded her recently, and the punishment was severe.

Otherwise, this gossiping aunt would have shared the details with everyone.

Su Qianqian had no idea she had narrowly escaped a calamity. As she walked, her anxious thoughts couldn't lead her to a good solution.

Even her mother, Huang Ye Ying, would just think Su Qianqian was anxious about getting married.

"Qianqian, you're of age. Marriage and children are normal. Once you're married, you'll serve your in-laws and have children soon…"

Huang Ye Ying educated her daughter based on her own experiences, believing this was the best path for her child. Wasn't every daughter-in-law raised this way?

When she married her husband, she was diligent and obedient, even though that old woman constantly found fault with her.

Now that she had made it through, wasn't she the one in charge?

Life, after all, was about moving forward and enduring; it would get better.

Unfortunately, her good daughter didn't want to listen at all, even wanting to kick her out. If it weren't for her, would she be so troubled?

"I understand, Mom," Su Qianqian said with a forced smile. If things got tough, she'd just have to push things through.

Before she could come up with a plan, news came from the other side that the man had been assigned to an urgent mission and wouldn't return until the end of the year.

Huang Ye Ying frowned, while Su Qianqian felt delighted, seeing it as time to plot.

Li Linxi had no good feelings toward Su Qianqian but also didn't spread the incident around—not out of consideration for her reputation but because it was unnecessary.

First, there was no evidence, and making accusations would only make others think he was intentionally slandering her.

Second, he wanted to cut ties with Su Qianqian. He could only imagine what the village gossips would say.

Third, he didn't want his mother to worry. He understood exactly what was on her mind.

When he returned carrying a heavy bundle of firewood, he saw Jiang Manzhu running out with Xiao Bei, clearly excited about something.

"What's going on with them?" Li Linxi asked Liu Jumei, puzzled about why they were so thrilled.

"How would I know? They're always so noisy," Liu Jumei chuckled, shaking her head. "They act like children. You'll have to be more patient."

Li Linxi, not grasping the deeper meaning, nodded in agreement. Indeed, he would have to be more tolerant with their childish antics.

Though they were adults, they still played together, indicating their minds weren't very mature.

Seeing Li Linxi like this, Liu Jumei's smile didn't change. A simple life without noise or fuss was quite good.

Jiang Manzhu had taken Xiao Bei to the fish pond, having heard they were going to catch fish the next day… which meant gathering all the fish of the year and throwing the fry back to continue raising them.

Excited, she hadn't eaten fish since coming to this era.

She heard that apart from the fish to be given as tax, the villagers would share the rest.

Jiang Manzhu asked Liu Jumei if everyone could catch fish or if there was a specific plan. What if someone tried to sneak some away?

Liu Jumei smiled and asked, "Do you really think everyone is selfless?"

Jiang Manzhu was surprised, her beautiful eyes wide open. Didn't everyone in this era work hard and contribute to the country?

Liu Jumei felt a bit speechless. When did she think that the common people were truly selfless?

"People need to eat. If they don't fill their stomachs, how can they continue to serve the country and work in the fields?" Liu Jumei rolled her eyes.

In her view, Jiang Manzhu's thinking was naive, akin to the saying "Why not just eat meat?" Some families could only eat meat once a year when they slaughtered pigs.

Every year, during fishing season, some people would sneak fish into their clothes, but they weren't large, about the size of a palm. Otherwise, a fish weighing four to five pounds wouldn't be easy to hide!

"Why are we catching fish now? It's winter. Isn't summer the right time to get in the water?" Jiang Manzhu asked, confused.

"It should have been done before the new year, but it was colder then. Now we catch fish and salt them for the new year." People had a habit of saving everything for celebrations, symbolizing abundance for the coming year.

"Oh… the common people are wise. Can Xiaobei and I go fish too? Will the water be let out? Will there be snakes?"

Liu Jumei thought for a moment, "Not sure. I haven't heard of snakes in past years. If you want to go fishing with Xiaobei, you can. The water won't be too deep, maybe up to your knees."

Then, Jiang Manzhu dashed outside with Xiaobei, eager to secure a good spot for fishing the next day.

No matter how they cooked it—steamed, fried, or grilled—it all smelled delicious. To Jiang Manzhu, there was no piece of meat that didn't look appetizing.

"Xiaobei, remember to be smart tomorrow, okay?" She patted his shoulder, feeling no guilt about being mischievous.

After all, the public's resources belonged to the whole village. Some of it was theirs, and since everyone did it, taking two or three fish wasn't a big deal. The village had just come out of a famine not too long ago, and everyone was anxious. The captain understood this.

He was able to maintain his position as captain, even when things got tough, because before the famine, many had reported false grain yields to meet quotas, causing others to go hungry.

The captain knew that throughout the year, people barely had enough to eat, and without energy, they couldn't work.

As long as it wasn't too excessive, he would turn a blind eye.

The next day, early in the morning, people began to drain the fish pond. Jiang Manzhu and Xiaobei came with a small bucket to the pond.

Many people were already gathered there, and as Jiang Manzhu and Xiaobei arrived, some looked her way.

Jiang Manzhu didn't mind; wearing a straw hat, she scanned the pond, occasionally whispering to Xiaobei.

Li Linxi arrived later, knowing it wouldn't happen quickly.

At that moment, the pond was nearly drained. The people pulling in the fishing nets had already caught several waves of fish to place in large buckets.

There were still some medium-sized fish that villagers were supposed to help catch, a longstanding tradition. In the first year, someone had volunteered but secretly hid two fish.

The second year… and the third year…

Now, everyone was eager to join in, hiding fish in their clothes or straw hats, anywhere visible belonged to the collective.

But everyone was happy about it. When a few young men brought in the nets, those willing to contribute quickly jumped into the water.

Jiang Manzhu also wanted to join, but just as she was about to take off her outer fluffy coat, a cold wind hit her, making her hesitate.

"Nope, I'm not going." Turning to Li Linxi, she said, "Linxi, I won't go in. You work hard for our team."

She then pulled Xiaobei, saying, "Xiaobei, we're not going in. The pond is cold, and you might get sick."

Xiaobei, who had been excited since yesterday, had already rolled up his pants. Hearing Jiang Manzhu's warning, Li Linxi turned to Xiaobei. He had considered this, but last night at dinner, Jiang Manzhu had insisted it wouldn't be too cold at noon since the sun was shining.

In the end…

"She's right; it's easy to catch a cold, and then you'll get a shot in the butt." Li Linxi learned how to communicate effectively from Jiang Manzhu. His comment frightened Xiaobei, who instinctively covered his rear.

"Third brother isn't afraid; I'm not afraid either!" Xiaobei protested, feeling wronged. He had been looking forward to this, especially since the neighbor's son had already jumped in.

"But your third brother is tougher. You need to stay with your sister-in-law. She'll be scared alone here." Jiang Manzhu overestimated herself, not wanting Xiaobei to take risks.

Xiaobei was just a child; he couldn't control himself. If something happened after jumping in, it would be a disaster.

After listening to his sister-in-law, Xiaobei reluctantly looked back at the pond, "Okay, fine. I'll stay with sister-in-law."

"Good boy." Jiang Manzhu put her fluffy coat back on but sneezed, "Linxi, it's still a bit cold. Let me know if it gets too much for you."

Goodbye, fish. It seems we're destined to be apart. But the village would distribute fish; regardless of whether they went fishing or not, the caught fish had to be turned in.

…

Su Qianqian arrived early, hoping to find a chance to get closer to Li Linxi.

It pained her that he had openly stated he found her disgusting. If it weren't for the bright future ahead, Su Qianqian might have given up.

Looking around, she didn't see Li Linxi and felt a bit lost.

Could it be that Li Linxi really didn't come?

Just as she was about to leave after waiting a long time, Li Linxi's figure finally appeared.

Her eyes lit up. Previously, there had been no one around, but now most of the villagers were present.

With plans in mind, Su Qianqian occasionally stole glances at Li Linxi until he prepared to enter the pond. This was her chance!

"Qianqian, are you going in? It's a bit chilly…" The eldest brother of the Su family noticed her moving but spoke in a rough yet caring tone.

After all, she was his sister, and she wasn't very healthy. He didn't want her to catch a cold.

"Brother, I'm not that weak." Su Qianqian laughed, seeming unconcerned, and quickly stepped into the pond ahead of him.

With so many people, she used the crowd to stealthily approach Li Linxi.

Li Linxi was surrounded by many young people, mostly male workers.

Noticing someone approaching, he lazily glanced up and saw Su Qianqian.

Remembering her previous words, he pretended not to notice her as he focused on the fish he was catching.

Suddenly, a shadow came crashing down.

Li Linxi quickly dodged with agility, but the person who fell didn't have the same balance.

In the next moment, that person landed on someone else.

"Ah!" a girl's voice shrieked. Everyone looked up, thinking someone had caught a huge fish.

But…

Wait, in broad daylight, was that hugging and embracing?

"Isn't that… Su Qianqian? Who's that guy?" Someone recognized her.

"Let go of me!" Su Qianqian shouted angrily. She had aimed to fall near Li Linxi, thinking it would be better to land in the water. In front of everyone, it would force him to be close to her.

Her plan was beautiful, but reality was far from it, leaving her furious and close to tears.

Luo Liangce hadn't expected such an unexpected turn of events, and it turned out to be a troublesome one.

He was not as strong or capable as Li Linxi, the farmer's son, and was caught off guard. When something was thrown at him, he slipped in the soft mud of the fish pond and fell with a splash.

Initially, people thought someone had just slipped, as catching fish was more important. Then the nearby women started talking, "Isn't that Su Qianqian and Luo Liangce? What are they up to again?"

"Second Brother's wife, you're crazy, stop spreading rumors…" One person scolded, but instinctively looked over, and then fell silent.

Wait, how did they end up like this again?

"Mom, in this situation, it's not just us making things up, right? So many people saw it," the second brother's wife suddenly realized and nervously asked her mother-in-law.

"Of course it's not just talk! Hmph, don't think we don't know about the captain's past. His daughter is truly troublesome. Look at her, spoiling her child. What's so good about a girl?"

The old woman showed her disdain. She was heavily biased towards males and not only disliked girls herself but also judged others who spoiled them.

"If they like their daughter, what business is it of yours? Really, mind your own business," another parent who spoiled their children retorted, feeling offended as if it was directed at them.

"What's so good about a girl? Hmph, look at her, flirting around and falling in the fish pond… oh, it's just too embarrassing to watch."

The old woman continued to express her disdain, clicking her tongue several times to ensure nearby people heard her.

Though others disagreed with her views, feeling that the great leader had said women could hold up half the sky, they were nonetheless focused on the two people in the water.

Luo Liangce was underneath, covered in muddy sludge, while Su Qianqian, flushed with anger, looked at him, "Really? Didn't we just say Su Qianqian was going to get married?"

"Maybe she's marrying Luo Liangce? They were at odds before, but maybe this is a reconciliation?"

"Hahaha, don't kid me! But marrying Luo Liangce isn't so bad; at least he's from the village, so they can see each other often."

"That's true, it's not bad at all."

Everyone had been silenced by the captain's previous remarks and hadn't dared to gossip. But now it was different; they were not spreading rumors—they had seen it with their own eyes.

Perhaps this was the backlash after being suppressed for so long.

The captain was having people bring scales and was preparing a tractor to weigh the fish to hand over as public grain before distributing it in the afternoon.

Huang Yaying was present but standing far away, unaware of when her daughter had gone over there.

When she heard others discussing it, her expression darkened immediately. She dropped the bucket she was holding and walked over, "Su Qianqian!!!"

What was she doing??

Hadn't they already arranged a marriage for her? How could this happen?

As Su Qianqian got up, she pushed Luo Liangce down again with force and stood up. At that moment, Luo Liangce's face was also dark and very unsightly.

Once she stood, Luo Liangce got up too, but now he was filthy, and with so many people watching, he felt too embarrassed to stay there.

Huang Yaying didn't want to scold her daughter in front of everyone. She grabbed Su Qianqian by the ear to leave, but Su Qianqian was unwilling. She had finally gotten an opportunity.

In anger, she shouted at Li Linxi, "Why did you avoid me just now?!"

What? Was this related to Li's family?

"What does it have to do with me?" Li Linxi replied innocently. He had noticed the scene but no one had been paying attention until Su Qianqian inadvertently approached.

"You clearly know… you know I…" Su Qianqian's eyes turned red, not understanding why Li Linxi hated her so much.

Huang Yaying had come over by now, and hearing her daughter's words, her heart sank. She sternly said, "Su Qianqian, go home now."

As she spoke, she yanked her daughter, causing Su Qianqian to stumble again.

Huang Yaying took her reluctant daughter away, covering her mouth, afraid she would create an even bigger scene.

Once they left, Li Linxi, the only one caught up in Su Qianqian's mess, became the focus of everyone's attention, and some approached curiously to gossip about his relationship with Su Qianqian.

Li Linxi was fed up and eventually left as well. On the shore, Jiang Manzhu and Xiao Bei looked at him with hopeful eyes…

Li Linxi was silent, as he was empty-handed at the moment. "I have something to do soon; you two go back first. Don't go into the water; you'll get sick, understand?"

"Third Brother, where are you going? Aren't you fishing anymore?" Xiao Bei asked, feeling wronged. To him, nothing was more important than fishing.

Jiang Manzhu, seeing his serious expression, remembered his habit of sneaking away. "Xiao Bei, your third brother has something more important to do. Let's be good and wait for the fish distribution in the afternoon. How about we cook fish tonight? If we fry it, it will definitely smell great. Don't you want to eat?"

Xiao Bei, distracted by the change of topic, immediately forgot about his third brother. "Yes! When are we getting the fish?"

"In the afternoon, after lunch. Come on, let's go home and cook." After saying that, she led Xiao Bei away, giving Li Linxi a reassuring glance, signaling that she would take care of things at home.

Looking at Jiang Manzhu, wrapped in her fluffy coat, her delicate face peeking out, smiling sweetly, he understood the underlying meaning of her words. He looked at her deeply for a long moment and finally replied, "Mm."