Chapter 57: The Fool With a Hole in His Head

At the settlement for educated youth, those who were washing their faces or eating paused in surprise as the two returned, one after the other. Sensing something unusual in the air between them, everyone was curious but refrained from asking.

Zhou Yan leaned lazily against the pillar beside the stove, raising his eyebrows high as he noticed a new closeness between the pair. “What’s going on?!”

Jiang Xun seemed to have been waiting for someone to ask, and he broke into a radiant smile. “Lin’s agreed to be my girlfriend.”

A flash of pride crossed his face.

Lin Jingyue could not help the urge to cover her face. What was there to be proud of in having a girlfriend?

Zhou Yan winked and grinned, “That’s wonderful! Congratulations!”

His brother Jiang had finally weathered the clouds to see the moon.

The others were still stunned, taking a long moment to process the news. Chen Chunlan’s gaze at Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun was complicated.

Truth be told, with someone as outstanding as Jiang Xun, nine out of ten women would be interested in him.

But all would leave disappointed.

Everyone had seen how Jiang Xun treated Lin Jingyue these days, and Chen Chunlan had murmured about it more than once behind their backs.

She wanted to ask, what was so special about Lin Jingyue? She was violent and lazy, careless and indifferent—what did Jiang Xun even like about her?

Was it just her face?

…But, that face was more than enough.

Chen Chunlan managed a smile. “Congratulations.”

Xie Wenjuan and Luo Jianhua exchanged glances. “Congratulations to you both.”

Du Jianguo shot the couple a dark look before quickly dropping his head. As for Lin Xinjian and Zhao Hua, they pretended not to hear or see anything, having been on the receiving end of trouble more than once.

Jiang Xun handed a fistful of candies to each person who offered congratulations.

Lin Jingyue…

Now everyone spoke their congratulations and blessings with genuine warmth.

Zhou Yan cooked porridge, but because of time constraints, Jiang Xun made a few egg pancakes to go with the millet porridge—quite a satisfying meal.

Within half a day, news of Jiang Xun and Lin Jingyue’s relationship had spread throughout the brigade.

Yet, given the recent events in the brigade, few people talked about it. Still, it helped shift everyone’s attention.

At the village secretary’s house, Lin Xinrou lay on the bed with a dark expression. After a bout of crashing and banging, the house fell quiet. She closed her eyes, regret suddenly welling up in her heart.

But she quickly snuffed out the feeling. No, she didn’t regret it. With Sun Zhiyuan, she would become the wife of a wealthy man, living above others for the rest of her life.

If she had to fight alone, how many years would it take—and how exhausting would it be?

“Tch, even a rich heiress couldn’t enjoy life as much as you,” Sun Lanlan sneered, leaning against the doorframe and looking at Lin Xinrou with disdain.

“You can’t even keep a child. Might as well be dead, you idiot.”

Lin Jingyue had actually started dating Jiang Xun!

Sun Lanlan had always known this day would come, but she still felt irked. Who didn’t like Jiang Xun?

She simply kept her wits about her, but seeing Lin Jingyue win him over was still preferable to Li Cuihua, that pretentious woman. At least Li Cuihua wouldn’t outshine her anymore.

Sun Lanlan’s feelings were tangled and conflicted; when dissatisfied, she sought relief in tormenting Lin Xinrou—the only person who could bring her satisfaction.

Lin Xinrou was Lin Jingyue’s younger sister, and bullying her gave Sun Lanlan a secret thrill, as if she was stomping on Lin Jingyue’s pride.

Lin Jingyue: Go ahead, stomp a few more times.

Lin Xinrou had heard similar remarks many times lately, and her heart had grown numb.

Silently, she kept a mental tally against Sun Lanlan and Qian Guihua, planning her revenge in the future.

“You might not know, but Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun are together now. Her luck is miles better than yours. After all, you’re just an illegitimate child; you can’t compare to her.” Seeing Lin Xinrou’s silence, Sun Lanlan jabbed her sore spot.

Mentioning Lin Jingyue finally elicited a reaction from Lin Xinrou. Smirking, she said, “Look at you! You left city life behind only to marry a country bumpkin. What a waste, and so dumb—you can’t even keep your child, you can’t win a fight, it’s utterly humiliating. If I were you, I’d have given up long ago…”

That idiot Sun Lanlan actually called her dumb?

Lin Xinrou felt a knot in her chest.

Country bumpkin? That’s your brother, damn it!

If she weren’t immobilized right now, Lin Xinrou would love to leap up and beat Sun Lanlan, crack open her head and see what filth was inside.

But Lin Jingyue really was with Jiang Xun now?

She remembered in the book Jiang Xun remained single. There was no mention of his life after returning to the city, but in Qingshan Brigade, he only interacted with Zhou Yan and no one else.

While reading, she had briefly shipped the two together.

But since their scenes were few, she eventually forgot.

Seeing Lin Xinrou lost in thought, Sun Lanlan snorted and left the room.

At the brigade leader’s house, Li Cuihua couldn’t help but break down when she heard the news. She locked herself in her room and ignored everyone, leaving Aunt Chun frantic with worry.

Lin Jingyue returned after filling her basket with pigweed and resumed her writing. Compared to chopping pigweed, she much preferred this.

By noon, she checked the time, steamed some rice, and took out a sausage to cook later.

Before the work shift ended, Jiang Xun returned.

“I’ll cook today; you go do your own thing,” he said, washing his hands clean and approaching with gentle warmth.

Now that their relationship was official, Jiang Xun’s gaze was even more unconstrained.

“Alright,” Lin Jingyue agreed.

“We’re out of fresh meat, but I still have some cured pork at Zhou Yan’s place. How about we steam cured pork and sausage today? I’ll stir-fry some shredded potatoes and make a green vegetable and egg soup.”

“Mm, mm, actually, we could skip the meat,” Lin Jingyue replied with a bright smile.

Though it was just a passing remark.

Jiang Xun worked every day. He didn’t earn twelve work points, but usually got ten, returning earlier than others because he was fast.

He needed hearty, nourishing food.

Jiang Xun knew Lin Jingyue was a carnivore. He made a mental note—they still had several pounds of cured meat left. But eating cured meat every day could get tiresome; tomorrow, after work, he’d go to the supply co-op and buy some fresh meat. He still had meat coupons.

Lin Jingyue didn’t go inside. She sat beside the stove, helping Jiang Xun tend the fire.

Jiang Xun wore a deep blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to cook, exposing his toned arms and clear muscle lines.

Good-looking people made everything captivating.

His movements were refined and elegant, as if preparing a grand meal. Even a simple dinner was executed with seamless grace.

“Your mouth is watering.”

A low, amused voice sounded. Lin Jingyue snapped out of her daze, speechless. “You really have a wicked sense of humor.”

“Ahem,” Jiang Xun coughed lightly. Now that he could tease his girlfriend openly, why hold back?

“Why does it feel like I’m full before even eating?” Zhou Yan entered, drenched in sweat, casting Jiang Xun and Lin Jingyue a look that defied explanation.

“Then don’t eat,” Jiang Xun replied, making a dramatic one-eighty when talking to Zhou Yan.

“……”

Two dishes and a soup, all generous in portion, with plenty of staple food—the three ate heartily as usual.

“By the way, I still have five pounds’ worth of meat coupons. I’ll give them to you later,” Zhou Yan said as he ate.

He’d just overheard Jiang Xun talking about buying meat.