Chapter 39: If You Also Wish to Marry

Today, when they went to work, Wang Xueping and Lin Xinrou were both assigned to the fields on the hillside. Sun Tiezhui seized the opportunity to give Lin Xinrou some water laced with an aphrodisiac, then took her into the mountains—exactly the scene Lin Jingyue witnessed.

As for Wang Xueping, things took a dramatic turn. Lin Xinrou, knowing Wang Xueping was vigilant, had Chen Chunlan secretly swap Wang Xueping’s water. After drinking the drugged water, Wang Xueping lay unconscious on the hillside. Sun Liangdong, assigned to the same plot, saw that no one else was around and began to entertain wicked thoughts.

Before he could act, Chen Chunlan, sensing something was wrong, discovered him. Chen Chunlan had always liked Sun Liangdong and couldn’t stand the thought of him laying with another woman. Caught by Chen Chunlan, Sun Liangdong feared she would make a scene, so he followed her away.

Later, Yang Ming, assigned to another field, came over and found Wang Xueping lying there. Out of kindness, he tried to take her home, but the dazed Wang Xueping clung to him. One thing led to another, and desire flared. Men with unshakeable virtue are rare through the ages; he simply went along with it and slept with her. Thus, Lin Xinrou’s plan to set up an illicit affair played out.

Wang Xueping and Yang Ming were both single. When caught in the act, both claimed they were each other’s intended. Moreover, upon hearing people approach, Yang Ming instinctively wrapped Wang Xueping in all his clothes to shield her, which touched her heart. The thought of marriage no longer felt so objectionable.

Meanwhile, Lin Xinrou returned home, her face still flushed, and happened to run into Sun Lanlan. Sun Lanlan eyed Lin Xinrou suspiciously. “Where have you been?” she demanded.

The accusatory tone ignited anger in Lin Xinrou’s heart. “I had something to do.”

“Hmph, always something going on. Hurry up and make dinner, I’m exhausted. If you don’t, I’ll tell Mother when she gets home,” Sun Lanlan ordered as if it were only right.

“Why don’t you do it? I worked all day too,” Lin Xinrou replied, feeling a bit gloomy.

Her period hadn’t come this month, and the thought of certain possibilities lent her some confidence. Sun Lanlan was an ungrateful wretch—no amount of effort to please her had worked. Lazy and foolish.

“You wretch! Don’t think you’re still a city princess. Get cooking—I’m hungry!” Sun Lanlan couldn’t stand Lin Xinrou, who always seemed seductive, making Sun Lanlan look like an ugly duckling.

Your hunger is none of my concern, Lin Xinrou thought. With Wang Xueping no longer a threat, Lin Xinrou shifted her focus to her malicious stepsister.

“Lanlan, I’ll get right on it.”

Seeing her submit, Sun Lanlan smirked in triumph. “Spineless.”

Lin Xinrou suppressed her frustration, determined to endure for the sake of her future—until she could endure no more. She glanced at Sun Lanlan, knowing she had ways to deal with her.

“Lanlan, today I saw Jiang, the educated youth, bring food to Lin Jingyue,” she said as if offhandedly. “Educated youths from the capital are so much better off—their families send things all the time, they never lack food or clothes, they even eat meat. Lanlan, you’re the pampered daughter of our family and a junior high student—you should live like that. If Mother arranges a match for you, you must pick carefully and find a city boy. Our Lanlan is destined for a life of luxury.”

She nearly choked on her own words.

“Do I need you to tell me?” Sun Lanlan’s thoughts stirred, but she still looked down on Lin Xinrou. “You’re beneath me—that’s why you’ll end up marrying a country bumpkin!”

Of course, she herself planned to marry someone from the city.

Lin Xinrou nearly spat blood at her stupidity, even disparaging her own brother.

The next day, Yang Ming and Wang Xueping took their referral letters and got their marriage certificate. The two moved so quickly that the brigade leader didn’t give them any trouble.

However, gossip about Wang Xueping spread further: promiscuous, shameless, sneaking off into the woods. Seen naked by Sun Zhiyuan, then involved with Yang, the educated youth—some whispered behind Yang Ming’s back that he was being cuckolded.

Even more surprising, Sun Liangdong and Chen Chunlan also registered their marriage. Suddenly, four people at the educated youth station were married.

Yang Ming and Wang Xueping’s marriage was understandable, but what about Sun Liangdong and Chen Chunlan? There’d been no sign before. Sun Liangdong looked sullen all day, while Chen Chunlan beamed, even buying half a pound of fruit candies to share with everyone at the station.

Even Lin Jingyue received one.

“Our wedding candy,” Chen Chunlan declared with a bright smile.

Lin Jingyue felt odd—had this woman taken leave of her senses?

“I’m happy today; tomorrow I’ll go back to envying you,” Chen Chunlan said, as if reading her thoughts.

“…Ahem.” Lin Jingyue was speechless.

What a character.

Soon after, Yang Ming and Wang Xueping came to distribute their wedding candy. They seemed more normal: Yang Ming was proud and taciturn, but having slept with Wang Xueping, he knew she was untouched.

As for her supposed rescue and being groped, he didn’t believe it—at most there’d been some physical contact.

Wang Xueping’s family was also respectable, from Shanghai, her father a deputy factory director—they were well matched.

“Congratulations,” Lin Jingyue said casually, accepting their candy.

“Thank you,” Wang Xueping replied, not warmly.

She had complicated feelings toward Lin Jingyue. In her previous life, Lin Jingyue was interested in Sun Zhiyuan and even acted on it, but in this life, Lin Jingyue had no regard for Sun Zhiyuan, and he had nothing to do with her. Yet Lin Jingyue’s stepsister schemed to snatch Sun Zhiyuan, plotting against Wang Xueping multiple times.

She couldn’t help but resent Lin Jingyue.

Lin Jingyue closed the door and went to work in her space. She hadn’t missed the complexity in Wang Xueping’s eyes, but didn’t care—she’d handle whatever came her way. If anyone dared reach out, she'd cut them down.

The vegetables she’d planted in the space were all ready to eat, and since the warehouse could keep everything fresh, she stored them away. The warehouse was spacious, holding over eighty thousand pounds of rice and the same amount of flour, with plenty of room left.

She set aside a section for vegetables and decided not to plant more—there was enough to eat. With nothing else to grow, she continued planting grain.

After working for half a day and building up a sweat, Lin Jingyue took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and lay down to rest, picking up a book to read. Dinner was simple: a cup of malted milk, two white steamed buns, and half a bowl of chicken soup.

The next morning, she learned that Yang Ming had moved into Wang Xueping’s room, and Chen Chunlan and Sun Liangdong were living together too. The educated youth station housed two people per room, and no one objected. Luo Jianhua just reorganized the assignments.

“Comrade Lin, I heard Chen and Sun from your station got married too?” When Lin Jingyue went to collect tools, she ran into Aunt Hua and Aunt Liu, both eager for gossip.

“Yes,” Lin Jingyue replied, taking the worn but serviceable sickle from Sun Lanlan without complaint.

“Everyone’s getting married. Comrade Lin, if you want, I can introduce someone—my nephew…”

“I’m still young, no hurry,” Lin Jingyue said, exasperated.