When Lin Xizhi appeared before Pei Yuncheng, his eyes lit up instantly.
Everyone in the brigade had been tanned until their skin was dark and shiny.
Only Lin Xizhi seemed to glow with fair skin.
Even before he could clearly make out her features from a distance, he could already tell that she had been living exceptionally well.
Deep down, Pei Yuncheng couldn’t help feeling both envy and jealousy.
As she drew closer and he finally saw her face clearly, his emotions became even more complicated.
Every day, he worked endlessly while barely getting enough to eat. He’d grown dark from the sun, become thin, and was so exhausted he was almost unrecognizable.
But Lin Xizhi?
She looked positively radiant.
Her complexion was healthy and smooth, as if she were glowing.
Everyone else had been sent to the countryside to endure hardship and toughen themselves.
But she definitely wasn’t.
She looked like she was on vacation.
Why?
His envy gradually turned into resentment and self-pity.
“Xizhi.”
The smile faded from Pei Yuncheng’s face, replaced by a sorrowful expression.
“Are you and Nuonuo doing well?”
Looking calmly at the setting sun on the horizon, Lin Xizhi replied,
“We’re doing quite well.”
“But my parents and I aren’t!”
His voice rose slightly.
“Especially my father! His health wasn’t good to begin with!”
“I heard he’s been assigned to Team Three, carrying heavy loads every single day!”
“His back won’t be able to take it!”
As he spoke, he held out both hands, letting the dim evening light illuminate the fresh blisters covering his palms.
Lin Xizhi glanced casually at the hands extended before her.
There really were several new blisters.
In the fading light, they looked even more noticeable.
If this had been her previous life, her heart would have ached. She would have immediately found medicine to treat his wounds.
But now she only gave them a brief look and even sounded slightly puzzled.
“Oh.”
“Everyone gets those when they first start working.”
“Once you develop calluses, you’ll be fine.”
“They’re proof of your labor.”
“Badges of hard work.”
“They show you’re making an effort to adapt to rural life.”
“That’s a good thing.”
Pei Yuncheng: “…”
Where was the sympathy? The concern?
This isn’t how Lin Xizhi is supposed to react!
Suppressing his frustration, he softened his voice even further, making himself sound even more miserable.
“Xizhi… you’ve changed.”
“It’s alright.”
“If you don’t want to care about me anymore, if you don’t pity me anymore, I can accept that.”
“But my parents are old.”
“They really can’t endure this kind of hardship.”
“You…”
“Could you think of some way to help?”
“You’ve been in this village for quite a while now. You must know some people.”
“Could you ask someone to put in a good word and get my father assigned to an easier job?”
His moist eyes were filled with hope.
Yet beneath that hope lay silent pressure.
He believed Lin Xizhi was still soft-hearted.
As long as he showed weakness, she’d agree to anything.
Lin Xizhi looked up at him.
Her eyes were as clear as spring water flowing through the mountains.
Transparent…
Yet icy.
“Brother Yuncheng, you’re giving me far too much credit.”
“I’ve simply been fortunate enough to meet a wonderful master like Aunt Hui and have hot meals to eat.”
“Job assignments are made by the organization.”
“What right do I have to interfere?”
“Besides…”
“Who’s not working hard these days?”
“Master Hui is even older, yet she works every day.”
“You should believe in Uncle Pei.”
“I’m sure he’ll overcome these difficulties.”
Pei Yuncheng frowned.
“Xizhi, shouldn’t people have a conscience?”
“My parents treated you so well before.”
“How can you be so heartless?”
“You haven’t even tried!”
“How do you know it won’t work?”
Lin Xizhi was about to pour another bucket of cold water over him.
But from the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a group of people hurrying toward them in the distance.
Song Zhuowei?
Perfect.
No need to pour cold water anymore.
I’ll just use Pei Yuncheng as a stepping stone and turn up the pressure on Song Zhuowei.
Let’s see if this man truly has no feelings for me at all.
She raised her shoulders and let out a heavy sigh before speaking in a soft, aggrieved voice.
“Pei Yuncheng…”
“I’m really not as capable as you think.”
“But I’m not an ungrateful person.”
“I’ll repay Uncle and Auntie for raising and taking me in.”
“It’s just that I’m powerless here.”
“I can only do my best.”
“If you’re really that anxious…”
“I do have one idea.”
“Since I’ll have to get married sooner or later…”
“If I marry a local villager, then I can rely on my husband’s family connections to help Uncle, Auntie, and you in the future.”
“I’ll start paying attention.”
“I’ll see who’s willing to marry me.”
Hearing this, anger surged through Pei Yuncheng.
“You don’t have to think that way. I didn’t mean “
Before he could finish, someone suddenly grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him violently backward.
The familiar sensation…
Pei Yuncheng landed hard on his backside.
Looking up, he saw the fierce-looking Song Zhuowei standing over him once again.
“You’ve only been repairing railways for a few days!”
Song Zhuowei barked.
“Do you know how many people couldn’t even get that assignment?”
“I personally recommended you for it!”
“You earn work points and fifty cents a day in subsidies!”
“And what do you do?”
“You run off whenever you feel like it!”
As he spoke, he hurriedly glanced at Lin Xizhi before turning back to Pei Yuncheng and scolding him even more harshly.
“Fine, you ran away.”
“I even covered for you with the railway crew and told them you’d gone back early because you were exhausted!”
“But what are you actually doing?”
“You came all the way to Widow Village to harass Comrade Lin!”
“And I heard everything just now!”
“And it wasn’t ordinary harassment, either!”
“Where exactly are you trying to marry Comrade Lin off to?!”
Pei Yuncheng’s backside was still throbbing with pain.
His face twisted helplessly.
“I wasn’t trying to marry her off to anyone!”
“She misunderstood me!”
Song Zhuowei glared at him.
“If you hadn’t come looking for her, would she have misunderstood anything?”
Lin Xizhi gently sniffled before speaking up.
“Captain Song…”
“You shouldn’t blame him.”
“I really do owe Uncle and Auntie for raising me.”
“I should repay that kindness.”
“It’s just that I’m powerless right now.”
“The only solution I could think of was getting married.”
Song Zhuowei became furious.
Is she an idiot?
How could she sacrifice her entire future for the Pei family?
Before he could think of anything to persuade her otherwise, Lin Xizhi continued speaking to herself.
“Besides…”
“I’ll have to get married eventually.”
“The man I admire doesn’t like me anyway.”
“So it doesn’t really matter who I marry.”
“How could it not matter?!”
Song Zhuowei snapped at her.
“I…”
“If you’re really in such a hurry to get married…”
“You should at least ask the elders in the brigade to help you choose carefully!”
“Marriage affects your entire life!”
“How can you make such a careless decision?”
The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became.
He didn’t want to continue discussing the subject.
Frowning, Song Zhuowei turned toward the aunties guarding the entrance to Widow Village.
“Aunties!”
“It’s already completely dark!”
“Why haven’t you sealed the village yet?”
“What are you waiting for?”
Then he shot Lin Xizhi a sharp look.
“I’ve heard what you said about wanting to get married!”
“I’ll tell my grandmother as soon as I get home tonight!”
“She knows lots of people.”
“And she’s an excellent judge of character.”
“I’ll ask her to help you find someone!”
“She definitely won’t set you up with a bad match!”
“That settles it.”
“There’s nothing more to discuss.”
“We’ll make proper arrangements for you.”
“It’s dark now.”
“The village is closing.”
“Go back inside.”
Without waiting for Lin Xizhi to respond, Song Zhuowei grabbed the still-rubbing-his-sore-backside Pei Yuncheng by the collar and stormed away in a fury.