Chapter 82: Like a Helpless Chick

If his brother sent things back home and he didn’t, his mother would surely scold him to death.

“He said you probably wouldn’t think of it.”

“…He really is my brother.”

After sitting for a while, Xie Yunzheng stood up. “I’m going out for a walk.”

He felt that his presence made Xu Qingqing feel uncomfortable.

Lin Jingyue noticed he’d scooped up two-thirds of the sunflower seeds and tucked them into his pocket, the corner of her mouth twitching.

A true bystander, here just to watch the show?

“Comrade Xie sometimes takes care of me over there,” Xu Qingqing propped her chin on her hand. “Jingyue, I know it’s because of you, I’m really lucky to have a friend like you.”

“If you were a man, I’d offer myself to you in gratitude. What should I do now?”

“Don’t, even if I were a man, I wouldn’t like to repay kindness that way.” Lin Jingyue raised her hand in protest.

“…Repay kindness with revenge?”

“See, saving someone means you have to marry her. Isn’t that just making trouble for yourself? Offering yourself in gratitude—much more like avenging a grudge than repaying kindness.” Lin Jingyue opened a can of tangerines and poured some into a bowl for Xu Qingqing.

Why did that actually sound reasonable?

In the afternoon, Xu Qingqing planned to leave, but Lin Jingyue kept her here for dinner.

After all, the two villages weren’t far apart.

Xie Yunzheng brought over a rabbit. If they cooked the whole thing and added two vegetable dishes, it would be plenty.

Didn’t he love spicy rabbit?

“Xie Yunzheng, go clean the rabbit,” Lin Jingyue said as she peeled potatoes, pointing at him as soon as he returned.

“…You really don’t stand on ceremony.”

“So you’re not eating then?” Lin Jingyue tossed the rabbit to him. “Go to the river and make sure it’s properly cleaned.”

Xie Yunzheng, at a loss for words, carried the rabbit to the river.

“He really listens to you,” Xu Qingqing said, laughing as she washed vegetables. Xie Yunzheng was notorious for his bad temper at the educated youth station; no one dared mess with him.

Yet he was so obedient to Jingyue!

“He’s actually listening to his brother,” Lin Jingyue smiled.

If it weren’t for Jiang Xun, Xie Yunzheng would never be so compliant.

“Xie Yunzheng came by?” Jiang Xun returned just in time to catch that comment. He placed the pastries and fruit he’d bought for Lin Jingyue in her room, then naturally took over her tasks.

“Yes, he’s at the river cleaning the rabbit,” Lin Jingyue said, standing up to wash her hands and moving to peel garlic.

Zhou Yan chuckled. “I’ll go help.”

He wasn’t gone long before they returned; Xie Yunzheng was still quite fast.

Jiang Xun took charge of the cooking, making spicy diced rabbit, stir-fried shredded potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, and a green vegetable soup.

He was generous with the sugar for the candied sweet potatoes, and they turned out perfectly.

Lin Jingyue ate quite a bit.

It was Xu Qingqing’s first time tasting Jiang Xun’s cooking, and she ate much faster than usual, finishing half a bowl more than she typically would.

She was a little embarrassed when she realized.

“Brother, shall we go into the mountains tomorrow?” After dinner, as everyone chatted, Xie Yunzheng finally revealed the reason for his visit.

He couldn’t wait any longer; the autumn harvest had stifled him.

Every day was just work and more work, exhausting and pointless.

“No,” Jiang Xun refused outright.

“Don’t be like that, brother.”

“I’m afraid you’ll run the moment you see a wild boar.” Jiang Xun shot him a look. “You’re too weak. Next time you do that, I’ll break your legs.”

Xie Yunzheng suddenly felt his legs ache.

“Get up at five every day to run. Work on your strength. A grown man shouldn’t be such a weakling.”

Xie Yunzheng’s mouth twitched hard, but he didn’t dare argue.

Five o’clock?

He instantly wilted.

But he still quietly muttered, “I may be weak, but I’m not that bad.”

“You can’t even beat me,” Lin Jingyue jabbed right where it hurt.

“…Are you an ordinary person?” Xie Yunzheng nearly leaped up.

She’d killed a wild boar with a single punch—how was he supposed to compare?!

Seeing his outrage, everyone burst out laughing.

Xie Yunzheng was thick-skinned and didn’t mind. In the end, after much cajoling, Jiang Xun finally promised to take him into the mountains in a few days.

This time, Lin Jingyue didn’t plan to go—it was just too tiring.

Sun Jiabao, as if drawn by the scent of food, came running the next day.

Before dawn, the group headed up the mountain, while Lin Jingyue kept busy elsewhere. She went into town, sold a slaughtered pig to Tian Yang, then stopped by Old Huo’s place to chat and earn a few coins.

Just as she was about to head back to the brigade, she ran into Zhou Mingxue on the street, accompanied by that Comrade Xia she’d met at the exchange meeting.

“I knew it—where else would we find such a beautiful comrade?” Zhou Mingxue hooked her arm through Lin Jingyue’s.

“You have a good eye.”

“You’re so smug about it!”

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Lin Jingyue nodded toward the man.

“You already know each other, don’t you? Comrade Xia.” Zhou Mingxue looked up at the sky. If Lin Jingyue hadn’t noticed the flush creeping up her ears, she’d have thought Mingxue didn’t know how to be shy.

“Hello, Comrade Lin, my name is Xia Yuan,” Xia Yuan said, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile.

“He’s my boyfriend,” Zhou Mingxue added, eyes still on the sky.

Xia Yuan looked embarrassed too.

Lin Jingyue couldn’t help but laugh. People from this era were genuinely innocent.

Her laughter made the two blush even harder.

“All right, I won’t bother you two. I’m off—let’s have lunch together next time,” Lin Jingyue said, making a quick escape.

“Lin Jingyue, wait—”

“What is it?” Lin Jingyue turned back.

“Be careful on the road. Things haven’t been safe in the county lately,” Zhou Mingxue hurried over and lowered her voice. “I heard a group has come to the county who specialize in abducting women and children. Several girls have gone missing in the neighboring county.”

“That serious?” Lin Jingyue’s brows knitted in concern.

“My dad said so—he wouldn’t lie. You should head back now and don’t travel after dark. Or wait, let Xia Yuan escort you.”

“No need, Jiang Xun has taught me some martial arts,” Lin Jingyue waved her off.

“How much could you have learned in such a short time?”

“I’m pretty strong.”

“How strong?”

“I could lift you up.”

“…You expect me to believe that?” Zhou Mingxue rolled her eyes, but in the end insisted on escorting Lin Jingyue, until Lin Jingyue grabbed her by the collar and lifted her off the ground.

“!!!”

“Believe me now?” Lin Jingyue smoothed the wrinkles in Mingxue’s collar, pinching her cheek for good measure.

It was surprisingly soft.

She strode off, leaving Zhou Mingxue and Xia Yuan standing there, frozen in shock.

Meanwhile, in a nearby alley, Song Shiyun’s face was grim. “How did you let him get away?!”

He’d spent so long arranging everything, all for nothing!

“Boss, it was my fault—I wasn’t paying enough attention…”

“Enough, just catch him. If he escapes Baixian, we’ll have endless trouble.” Song Shiyun took a deep breath, his expression icy.

The group sprang into action at once.

Elsewhere.

Lin Jingyue braked her bicycle, steadied herself, and squinted at the man standing in the middle of the road radiating menace.

“Leave your package and your bicycle,” the man said, malice glinting in his eyes, as he aimed a dark gun at Lin Jingyue.