Chapter 71: Gained Without Effort

There are some people who, when not smiling, are as unattainable as flowers on a distant peak, yet when they do smile, it is like pines unfurling atop snowy mountains, snow lotuses blooming, ice and snow melting, and spring returning in March.

Lin Jingyue felt a subtle itch in her heart, a flicker of dim starlight passing through her eyes as she looked at Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun stood up and went inside the house. Moments later, he reemerged holding a small box.

Lin Jingyue raised her eyebrows, set down her bowl, and took the box to open it.

Inside lay a delicate little Omega ladies’ watch.

“Try wearing it for fun,” Jiang Xun said, having noticed that her old watch was quite worn, so he had someone purchase this one for her.

Compared to other watches, this one was understated and discreet, unlikely to attract attention.

But in the countryside, it hardly mattered.

Receiving the gift brought Lin Jingyue joy, but also a touch of helplessness. Jiang Xun gave gifts so quickly! How was she ever to keep up?

“Don’t you like it?” Jiang Xun noticed the hint of resignation on her face and asked, “If you don’t, don’t force yourself. I can always get you something else.”

“…No, I quite like it.” Lin Jingyue put the box away and resumed eating.

Seeing that she was not pretending, Jiang Xun let it go. “By the way, remember I mentioned before that I told my family we’re seeing each other?”

Lin Jingyue paused slightly. “Mm, what about it?”

She could understand his family’s opposition; after all, in her previous life, her own parents had cared a great deal about equal social standing.

“My mother said, if you’re willing, you could come meet the rest of my family during the New Year.”

What? Lin Jingyue looked up. “Your mother doesn’t object?”

“Why would she?” Jiang Xun placed a piece of pork rib in her bowl. “As long as I care for you, my family has no complaints.”

Lin Jingyue smiled softly. “Your family is truly wonderful.”

People unconcerned with social status were indeed rare.

“They have confidence in my judgment.” Jiang Xun lifted an eyebrow, a glimmer flashing in his eyes.

“Are you praising me or yourself?” Lin Jingyue couldn’t help but laugh.

“Both.”

“Pfft.” Lin Jingyue burst into laughter.

The two of them shared a warm meal together.

When Sun Zhiyuan returned, everyone gossiped for a couple of days, but the matter was soon dropped—after all, gossip was never in short supply in the brigade.

Lin Jingyue called for Sun Jiabao, instructing him to keep an eye on Sun Tiezhu. A man like Sun Tiezhu was bound to slip up.

Afterwards, she shouldered her basket and headed for the mountains.

“Big Sister Lin, we’ve already cut pigweed for you!” Tiedan, Dawa, and Niuniu had gathered a pile of pigweed, and were delighted to see her.

Lin Jingyue shook her head with a wry smile. “Didn’t I tell you not to do that?”

“We had nothing else to do, anyway. Big Sister Lin, you can load it in yourself—we’re going to catch fish!” Niuniu grinned, and the three children scampered off in a flash.

Lin Jingyue sighed helplessly.

She loaded the pigweed into her basket—it was now full.

Carrying such a load wasn’t convenient for gathering herbs, so she delivered the pigweed first, then returned to the mountains.

Passing through the familiar areas where she used to collect firewood and pigweed, she didn’t pause, heading deeper into the forest.

The herbs she needed could not be found near the edge.

Of course, she could simply use a little spiritual spring water and spare herself all this trouble, but Lin Jingyue was reluctant.

The spiritual spring water was incredibly precious; she didn’t want to give it to others. She usually drank it herself or added a little to Jiang Xun’s flask or to the meals she cooked.

But since Jiang Xun handled most of the cooking, she rarely added any, so as not to arouse suspicion.

Lin Jingyue held a stick, tapping at the roadside undergrowth as she walked.

The deeper she went, the more wildlife appeared. She caught a few pheasants and rabbits, then stopped; she didn’t lack for meat.

“Awoo—”

Suddenly, a wolf’s howl echoed nearby, making Lin Jingyue stop and furrow her brows.

Something felt off.

She listened intently but heard nothing further. Assessing her own strength, she knew she was no match for a wolf pack.

She also remembered from novels that some spatial realms could fail at critical moments, leaving one unable to enter.

She dared not gamble with her life. Lin Jingyue turned resolutely—and, “!!”

Damn it, just as she’d suspected!

Behind her, at some point, a menacing figure had appeared.

A gray wolf!

Lin Jingyue…

She’d barely entered the mountains and was already in trouble.

She and the wolf locked eyes. The wolf, growing impatient, suddenly lunged at her.

Startled, Lin Jingyue instinctively retreated into her space.

Fortunately, her space didn’t let her down, and the wolf’s leap struck only thin air.

“Awoo!” The gray wolf howled furiously at the spot where Lin Jingyue had vanished.

Its prey had disappeared!

From within her space, Lin Jingyue watched as the wolf circled and howled at the sky. Soon, wolves began to gather from all directions.

Lin Jingyue…

What on earth?

Was she some kind of delicacy?

A delicacy?

She paused, staring at the flask in her hand, her gaze deepening.

The spiritual spring water!

She’d been careless—nearly brought disaster upon herself.

She huddled quietly in her space, not daring to make a sound. The wolf pack lingered outside for a long time. Growing bored, Lin Jingyue turned her attention to work inside the space, preferring that to waiting idly.

Yesterday, the pigs had rooted up some of her crops and orchard—now was a good time to salvage them.

Once Lin Jingyue started working, she lost track of time. When she finally returned to herself, three hours had passed.

Outside, the wolf pack was gone. She wiped the sweat from her brow, exited her space, and took off running.

Hmm?

Suddenly, she halted in her tracks.

At the spot where the wolf pack had been thickest, a green, long-leaved plant had appeared—the very herb she needed.

Glancing warily around at the silent woods, Lin Jingyue darted over, dug up the herb with her small hoe, tossed it into her space, and sped out of the mountains as quickly as possible.

Her sense of direction was decent, so she didn’t get lost.

She didn’t stop until she reached a hillside.

Panting heavily from exhaustion, she thought, My goodness, that was terrifying.

Lin Jingyue sat on the hillside, gulped down a big mouthful of water from her flask, wiped her mouth indifferently with her sleeve, and gazed up at the sky above.

So blue.

Once she’d rested, she headed downhill with her basket. As she passed a small grove, she suddenly heard rustling.

She tensed immediately. Damn, would drinking water here attract wild animals too?

Grumbling inwardly, she crept forward quietly.

“I’ve given you so much, and the moment Sun Zhiyuan comes back, you toss me aside? What, you think he’s better than me?”

Suddenly, a man’s curses rang out.

Lin Jingyue froze, her eyes flashing with excitement.

Sun Tiezhu!

How perfectly things fell into place.

She crept nearer with caution.

“Keep your voice down…” Lin Xinrou complained, knowing that if anyone caught them these days, she’d be ruined.

“I won’t keep my voice down,” Sun Tiezhu muttered under his breath. This Lin Xinrou really suited his tastes.

Confirming their identities, Lin Jingyue slowly backed away, planning to lure someone over. Just as she turned, she caught sight of a crowd gathering at the foot of the hill—several women with their sleeves rolled up were leading the way…

Lin Jingyue: This is going to be explosive!