Chapter 142: Jiang Xun Single-Handedly Cuts Off Every Romantic Prospect

Lin Jingyue noticed the peculiar expressions on Zhang Shuting and Feng Wanjia’s faces; they were filled with both admiration and sympathy. She raised an eyebrow and greeted them.

"Um... could we join you for dinner?" Feng Wanjia craned her neck to peek at what was in Lin Jingyue's pot. Realizing how that sounded, she quickly added, "We have food coupons to contribute." Her family had provided her with plenty before she left.

Zhang Shuting and Feng Wanjia were from the same residential compound and had grown up together; they lived not far from Jiang Xun’s home, and their elders were all more or less connected. As such, they were quite familiar with Jiang Xun.

Lin Jingyue looked up. "I didn't cook that much today, but I can spare you each a bowl of fish soup."

"That works, thank you!" A bowl of fish soup was enough. They had brought steamed buns with them and could just soak them in the broth for a meal.

Lin Jingyue nodded noncommittally and went back to cooking. Zhou Yan helped out while chatting with the two newcomers, filling them in on how things worked at the educated youth site.

After lunch, Lin Jingyue took a nap; they still had to head out for work in the afternoon. Everyone had to participate in the spring plowing, even if it was just for show. It felt like she had only just closed her eyes when the call to work sounded. Lin Jingyue climbed out of bed, feeling like her soul had left her body. She sighed and resignedly put on her clothes.

When she opened the door, everyone was already preparing to head out. Zhang Shuting and Feng Wanjia had a day off to settle in, so they didn't have to report for duty.

Lin Jingyue was assigned to the cornfields halfway up the mountain, where her task was to sow seeds. Sun Lanlan, who was working with her, was responsible for applying fertilizer—and the fertilizer used in this day and age was... quite primitive.

"Can we switch tasks? Can I sow the seeds this afternoon?" As soon as they reached the field, Sun Lanlan blinked her eyes, trying to look cute.

Lin Jingyue rolled her eyes, completely unmoved. "In your dreams."

"...How rude," Sun Lanlan huffed.

"Hurry up, you two, don't hold us up," Xie Wenjuan, who was in charge of covering the seeds with soil, frowned. Since the morning, the two of them had been bickering and slacking off. Working with them was simply exhausting.

"Got it," Lin Jingyue replied, quickly grabbing her bag to start sowing. She had learned from the brigade members to drop about three corn seeds into each hole. Sun Lanlan, meanwhile, held the container of primitive fertilizer with a twisted expression, holding her breath as she worked.

"I am never doing this again tomorrow," Sun Lanlan muttered.

"As if you have a choice?" Lin Jingyue teased, though she added, "Well, your dad is the branch secretary, so I suppose you might."

"Don't go accusing me of pulling strings!"

Seeing them start to bicker again, Xie Wenjuan twitched her lips, feeling speechless. By the time work ended, the three of them had finished their tasks. The scorekeeper came over to inspect their work, and once satisfied, recorded their work points.

"You two need to be faster tomorrow; you barely finished today," the scorekeeper frowned.

"Just tell us if it’s finished or not," Sun Lanlan said, hands on her hips.

Xie Wenjuan noticed the scorekeeper's frustration and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll pick up the pace."

"Fine, as long as production isn't delayed," the scorekeeper softened a bit, glanced at Xie Wenjuan, and turned to leave.

Just as Xie Wenjuan reached for her hoe to leave, she turned to see Lin Jingyue and Sun Lanlan giving her gossipy looks. "What is with those looks?" she asked uncomfortably.

Sun Lanlan’s inner gossip-monger ignited. "I was wondering why the scorekeeper is in his twenties and still unmarried. Turns out... he’s got his eye on someone!" She dragged out the last word.

Xie Wenjuan stiffened. "Don't talk nonsense!"

"Is that so?" Sun Lanlan said with a meaningful smile.

Seeing Xie Wenjuan flee while carrying her hoe, Lin Jingyue and Sun Lanlan both burst into laughter. The two of them draped their arms over each other's shoulders and headed away from the fields like old friends.

Back at the educated youth site, Lin Jingyue saw a man cooking, and her eyes lit up. "Jiang Xun! You're back!"

The man was wearing only a sweater with the sleeves rolled up. He was stir-frying vegetables with graceful movements, his eyes deep and shimmering as he looked at her with a gentle smile. "Mm, I got back this afternoon. Are you tired?"

"Exhausted," Lin Jingyue ran over to him and muttered, "What delicious thing are you making?"

"Braised pork belly." He had bought two pounds of pork in the city on his way back. "I boiled some water for you. Go wash up, and we'll eat in a bit," he added.

Lin Jingyue nodded and sat nearby, watching Jiang Xun fetch her bathwater with a bright, happy smile. When she turned her head, she saw Zhang Shuting and Feng Wanjia emerging from the adjacent room, looking as if they had seen a ghost. They clutched each other in terror, their minds screaming: *This sharp-tongued man is actually capable of being this gentle?!*

If Lin Jingyue knew what they were thinking, she would have died laughing.

Jiang Xun noticed the smile on Lin Jingyue’s face, then caught sight of the two peeking at them. His eyes narrowed. He watched as they flinched, stood at attention, and assumed a posture of facing a mortal enemy.

"So, you two were sent to the countryside?"

Feng Wanjia answered instinctively, her voice loud, "Yes! Our families insisted on sending us!"

"Pfft." Lin Jingyue laughed out loud at the sight of her acting like she was facing a military drill instructor. Jiang Xun looked rather helpless.

"They seem terrified of you," Lin Jingyue said with a chuckle.

"That's just because they're timid."

Feng Wanjia and Zhang Shuting thought to themselves: *Anyone who had been tormented by that tongue since childhood would be lucky not to have a breakdown.*

Moreover, Jiang Xun was like a demon. He had been good-looking since he was a child, and his family background was the best among their group, so he had always had countless girls swooning over him. But for every girl who liked him, he would subject them to military drills—crawling forward, standing at attention in the rain, rolling in the mud, and so on. If anyone backed out, he would unleash his sharp tongue, mocking them for not being able to handle even the smallest hardship and asking how they had the nerve to like him.

Almost all the girls were scared off. But there were exceptions—two tough girls who gritted their teeth and finished his training. The result? They tossed their heads, joined the military, and every time they returned, they would find Jiang Xun to start a fight. It was truly incredible; no girl from the capital's residential compounds had ever received a kind word from Jiang Xun, let alone gentle treatment. He had single-handedly snuffed out all his romantic prospects. Every girl in the compound secretly cursed him to be a bachelor for life; with an attitude like that, who could possibly stand him?

Who would have thought that down in the countryside, Jiang Xun would actually have a partner!

Jiang Xun stood by the stove, glanced at the two still standing at attention, and said coolly, "What? Staring at my pot because you want to eat?"

"No, no, no..." They shook their heads and waved their hands frantically. "We... we can cook for ourselves."

Good heavens, they couldn't afford to be on the receiving end of his attention.