Chapter 23: A Day on the Farm

The afternoon sun bathed the foothills in a warm, golden glow, and Qin Li had claimed her perfect spot under the shade of a tree in front of the farmhouse. She lounged on a deck chair, phone in hand, her wide-brimmed sunhat shading her face, a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on her nose, and bohemian earrings swaying gently in the breeze. Carefree elegance, perfected.

The location couldn't be more ideal. Towering snow-capped peaks framed the horizon, their majesty mirrored in the emerald lake below. Qin Li wasn't sure if the water reflected the mountains or the other way around, but the scenery was mesmerizing. The gentle murmur of a stream nearby and the whispering mountain breeze added to the serene atmosphere.

She scrolled through her social media, perfectly content to bask in this slice of paradise.

Recently, her WeChat feed had been flooded with lovey-dovey updates from her ex-husband, Sun Yi, and his new wife, Xu Jing. The audacity of those two! Determined not to be outdone, Qin Li snapped a few photos—one of the stunning backdrop and another of herself with a carefully posed smile—and uploaded them with a caption:

"A woman must learn to enjoy life."

It wasn't long before the likes and comments started pouring in:

Zhang Fen: "Sister Li, where are you? This view is incredible!"

Someone else: "Li, is that really you? You look so chic and beautiful, I barely recognized you!"

Another commenter: "Qin Li, are you living your best life or what? Found a new love already?"

As the flood of admiration rolled in, Qin Li couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction. She imagined Sun Yi scrolling through her pictures, realizing she wasn't pining over him. No, she was thriving. That thought alone felt like a small victory.

Then, her phone vibrated with a message. For a fleeting moment, her heart skipped—could it be Sun Yi? But no, it was Ma Shushu.

Ma Shushu: "Where are you?"

Qin Li: "Some village at the foot of the Alps."

Ma Shushu: "OMG, the scenery is amazing! They should turn it into a tourist attraction!"

After a bit of chit-chat, Ma Shushu got straight to the point.

Ma Shushu: "So, how's the matchmaking going? Any progress?"

Qin Li: "Two brothers—twins. Handsome but strange."

That piqued Ma Shushu's interest.

Ma Shushu: "Strange is fine as long as they're handsome! Send me a picture!"

Qin Li obliged, forwarding a shot she had taken the day before of Yan Sen washing the tractor.

Moments later, Ma Shushu bombarded her with emojis and exclamation marks.

Ma Shushu: "HOLY COW! That man is gorgeous!"

Ma Shushu: "I've never seen such a hunky farmer in my life. Put him on the internet, and he'd go viral. Trust me!"

Qin Li chuckled. "She's exaggerating," she thought. Sure, Yan Sen was attractive, but Germany was full of good-looking men.

Still, Ma Shushu pressed on.

Ma Shushu: "He's in his 30s, right? Germany may have plenty of pretty boys, but hot men in his age bracket? They're rare! He's like a diamond in the rough!"

Reluctantly, Qin Li admitted she might have a point.

Then, Ma Shushu's creative gears started turning.

Ma Shushu: "I'm setting up a Weibo account for you. Let's call it 'A Strawberry in Germany's Countryside.'"

Qin Li: "Why strawberries?"

Ma Shushu: "Because you love strawberries!"

Qin Li rolled her eyes and sent a row of ellipses.

Ma Shushu: "By the way, did you get a copy of the footage from the show?"

Qin Li: "No, why?"

Ma Shushu: "You're on TV abroad! That's huge! Give me the footage, and I'll make you a star. Trust me, you'll be the next internet sensation!"

While Ma Shushu's enthusiasm for online fame was infectious, Qin Li wasn't convinced. Becoming a social media darling wasn't exactly her dream.

As their conversation wound down, Ma Shushu reminded her,

Ma Shushu: "Don't forget to ask the director for that footage!"

Qin Li signed off with a polite farewell.

Just then, Yan Sen appeared in the distance, fresh from cleaning the chicken coop. He was herding the cows out of the barn, ready to let them bask in the sun. A few bales of hay lay waiting to be rolled and stacked.

Watching him move with purpose, Qin Li felt a pang of guilt. Here she was, soaking up the sun while he worked tirelessly. With a sigh, she pocketed her phone and prepared to pitch in.

"Need a hand?" she offered casually.

Yan Sen glanced at her briefly, his tone as blunt as always. "Just keep sunbathing and playing with your phone. I don't need you."

Was he always this direct?

Qin Li's cheeks flushed. She couldn't tell if he genuinely didn't need help or if he was subtly mocking her. Initially, it was just a polite offer, but his words made her feel a bit guilty. Rolling up her sleeves, she insisted, "I don't have anything better to do, so I might as well help."

Yan Sen didn't protest further. He opened the barn doors, letting the cattle roam out while loading tools into his tractor. Then, with a slight motion of his hand, he beckoned her to join him.

Excited that he wasn't brushing her off completely, Qin Li climbed into the tractor, clumsily using both hands and feet. Together, they herded the cattle down a winding mountain path, the scenery opening into a vast, breathtaking pasture.

The sight was straight out of a painting—rolling hills dotted with grazing cows, framed by snow-capped peaks in the distance. Qin Li couldn't help but marvel.

"It's beautiful," she murmured, her voice tinged with awe.

Yan Sen got out to open the wooden gate, letting the cattle into the pasture. "This is our family's spring and summer grazing land," he explained.

"This whole place belongs to your family?" Qin Li asked in disbelief.

He nodded, but her curiosity was piqued. "Then why only a dozen cows? With all this space, you could raise hundreds."

Yan Sen's reply was surprisingly lengthy, given his usual brevity. "Our family used to be large-scale dairy farmers, with far more cattle. But in recent years, the milk crisis drove prices down. Dairy farming stopped being profitable, so we sold most of the herd and now focus on smaller-scale, self-sustaining farming."

It was probably the most he'd ever said to her in one go, and Qin Li felt a bit flattered by the insight into his life.

"What do you live off now?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Most of our income comes from leasing land," he said, returning to his usual clipped tone.

Qin Li wanted to press for details, but Yan Sen had already busied himself with his work, signaling the end of their conversation.

As he opened the toolbox and began, he turned to her. "Come help."

Qin Li snapped out of her thoughts and hopped down from the tractor.

The earthy scent of grass mixed with the less pleasant smell of cow manure. The vast, uninhabited pasture felt like a world away from the crowded streets of S City. Stretching her arms wide, she basked in the freedom and fresh air, enjoying the moment until she noticed Yan Sen watching her.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, softening his usual stoic demeanor. His quiet amusement was contagious, and she felt a renewed energy.

"What should I do?" she asked, her voice light.

He handed her a heavy metal comb. "Brush the cows."

Cows? Qin Li hesitated, holding the comb as if it might bite.

"You need to brush them all," Yan Sen added.

She approached the nearest cow cautiously, its big, curious eyes staring her down as it chewed on grass. Tentatively, she reached out to touch its side, only to jerk her hand back immediately.

Without a word, Yan Sen took her hand and placed it firmly on the cow's head. "This is Xiaohua. She's one of our friendlier cows," he said.

Xiaohua responded with a loud "moo," startling Qin Li, who quickly learned that every cow had its own name—Blackhawk, Little Troublemaker, Red Bull...

Brushing the cows turned out to be oddly therapeutic. Once she got over the smell and the flies, she found the rhythmic combing satisfying. The cows seemed to enjoy it too, nuzzling her playfully, one even breathing hot air against her chest, making her giggle.

"You're quite the flirt, aren't you?" Qin Li teased the cow.

The only exception was Blackhawk, who stubbornly evaded her attempts to brush him. Every time she approached, he'd trot away with an air of disdain. Determined, Qin Li lunged for him, only to lose her footing and fall face-first onto the grass—barely missing a pile of manure by mere centimeters.

Before she could sigh in relief, Blackhawk stomped on the pile, splattering her with a faceful of filth.

Screaming in horror, Qin Li lay frozen on the ground, contemplating how she'd reached this low point.

Hearing her cries, Yan Sen turned and burst out laughing at the sight: Qin Li, covered in manure, her face framed by her disheveled hair, with only her eyes visible through the mess.

"Is the cow manure face mask effective?" he teased, crouching beside her.

Unable to speak for fear of tasting the filth, she shot him a death glare, gesturing frantically for a towel.

But Yan Sen, the insufferable man, smirked. "Your face is big enough—just roll on the grass, and you'll be clean in no time."

Enraged, Qin Li lunged at him, smearing her manure-covered face on his shirt, leaving a perfect imprint.

They both froze, and then, unable to contain themselves, burst into laughter. It was absurd, filthy, and oddly bonding.

After a while, Yan Sen stood and tossed her a towel from the tractor. Qin Li wiped her face furiously, finally banishing the smell of manure.

By the time she was done, Yan Sen had finished the work. The freshly cut grass lay in neat, rolled bundles across the field.

"Want to try driving the tractor?" he asked suddenly, his tone unusually light.

Surprised, Qin Li hesitated but nodded. "Sure!"

She climbed into the driver's seat, marveling at the controls. Yan Sen stood beside her on the step, patiently explaining.

"This is the brake. That's the accelerator. And this is the handbrake..."

Excited, she stepped on the accelerator, feeling the machine roar to life beneath her. The view from the tractor was nothing short of majestic.

"Take a picture of me," she said, handing him her phone.

Stepping back, Yan Sen snapped a shot of her proudly sitting at the helm.

Feeling emboldened, Qin Li pressed the accelerator harder, making the tractor surge forward.

From behind, Yan Sen's voice carried over the wind. "Not too fast! There's a fifty-degree slope ahead—"