“My father is the village chief. He serves the people and learns from Lei Feng as a role model. Why don’t you just move to my house?”
“Besides, my father has already gone to town to file a report. People from the authorities will come to pick you up soon.”
“……”
Zhang Cui’er’s mouth never stopped chattering.
Ling Xiao stood there like a mute, not saying a single word. He didn’t even respond at all, as if Zhang Cui’er was performing a one-woman show.
“Brother Ling Xiao, I’m not trying to speak badly of Sister Jinwen, but… Sister Jinwen is very strange.”
Only then did Ling Xiao speak. “Strange how?”
Seeing him respond, Zhang Cui’er became even more excited.
“Everyone in the village says she’s the reincarnation of a jinx, a calamity star who brings misfortune to others.”
She gave several examples, listing one incident after another, all pinned on Xie Jinwen.
Ling Xiao said coldly, “As a young progressive comrade, how can you still believe in superstitions like ghosts and spirits and wrongly accuse an innocent woman?”
That sudden reprimand stunned Zhang Cui’er.
She panicked slightly. “Brother Ling Xiao, some things really can’t be explained! Xie Jinwen even harmed her own grandmother!”
Xie Jinwen’s expression darkened.
In the kitchen, Zhang Cui’er continued quickly, “It’s true! Before Grandma Xie passed away, something strange happened. Xie Jinwen suddenly had white hair all over her head and looked like an old woman. But after Grandma Xie died, her hair turned back to normal! Grandma Xie must have been killed by her!”
Bang—
The kitchen chimney suddenly exploded.
Ling Xiao had cleaned the outer surface earlier, but the interior was blocked and hadn’t been properly handled. No one expected it to blow up—so the accumulated ash burst outward and filled the entire kitchen.
The noodles on the stove, ready to be served, were instantly covered in a thick layer of black soot. The kitchen, once clean, turned dusty and dirty again.
As for the people—
Ling Xiao was covered in ash, looking messy and disheveled. But Zhang Cui’er—
“Ha—”
Ling Xiao let out a short laugh, but immediately restrained himself due to etiquette.
At that moment, Zhang Cui’er was especially “taken care of.”
A broken chimney pipe had landed over her head like a helmet. Her pretty floral dress was now completely black. When she finally pulled the pipe off in panic, her face was revealed—so dirty it looked worse than manure, her hair full of ash.
She looked utterly miserable.
Like a pitch-black loach thrown onto dry land.
Humiliated and already emotional from earlier laughter she thought was directed at her, Zhang Cui’er nearly broke down.
“Ah!”
“Xie Jinwen! It’s you again!”
She immediately assumed it was Xie Jinwen’s doing and stormed out of the kitchen, scanning around furiously until she spotted Xie Jinwen under the eaves.
Unable to swallow her anger, she rubbed soot onto her hands until they were black as charcoal and rushed toward her, intent on scratching her face.
But before she could even reach the eaves—
She was stopped.
“Comrade, you’re dirty. Go home and wash up first.”
Ling Xiao stood in front of her like an unmovable wall.
Zhang Cui’er stamped her foot. “Brother Ling Xiao! Look how she’s bullying me! You can’t just let this go!”
Ling Xiao replied, “The chimney is old and poorly maintained. I didn’t check it properly before using it. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Don’t wrongly accuse Jinwen.”
Zhang Cui’er’s expression changed sharply. She pointed at Xie Jinwen angrily.
“Innocent? Brother Ling Xiao, you’ve been fooled! That house of hers—does it even look like a place a human lives in?”
“Ever since Grandma Xie died, the kitchen hasn’t been used. Does she even need food?”
“And the back room is overgrown with weeds—how does she bathe? How does she take care of basic needs? Does she live like a wild dog outside?”
Ling Xiao said sternly, “Comrade, mind your words.”
Zhang Cui’er laughed bitterly. “At this point I’ll say it! Xie Jinwen isn’t just a calamity star—she’s a monster! She’s not even human! Who doesn’t eat or drink?”
Xie Jinwen calmly took another bite of the wild pear in her hand and said nothing.
But Ling Xiao would not allow such accusations.
“Not using the kitchen means not eating? A broken bathroom means not bathing? What kind of twisted logic is that?”
“In her house, there are still flatbreads and wild fruits for food. Her body is clean, dust-free, and even carries a faint fragrance. That proves she has her own normal way of living—you just don’t understand her.”
“Besides, how she lives is none of your business. Comrade Zhang, you may leave now.”
Zhang Cui’er paused, thinking it through.
It actually… made some sense.
The mute boy in the village often brought food to Xie Jinwen. She also frequently went into the mountains, where there was a hot spring. That might explain why her skin was so smooth and fair.
With food delivery and natural bathing facilities, she probably didn’t even bother with her kitchen or back room.
But Zhang Cui’er, having suffered such humiliation, refused to leave.
Suddenly her eyes lit up.
“White! Her hair is white again! She’s going to harm someone again!”
A strand of white hair had indeed appeared on Xie Jinwen’s forehead. After saving Ling Xiao and failing to rest properly last night, it had returned.
Zhang Cui’er tried to grab Ling Xiao’s hand, but he dodged.
She snorted. “Brother Ling Xiao, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Before Grandma Xie died, her hair also turned white like this. She’s going to harm you! You should come with me!”
Xie Jinwen swallowed the pear and said lightly, “Then go with her. Her family is the richest in the village. You’ll have food and shelter, and she’s pretty too—you won’t lose out.”
Ling Xiao turned to look at her, brows slightly furrowed, clearly displeased—and a hint of grievance in his voice.
“You’re driving me away?”
Xie Jinwen asked back, “Are you leaving?”
Ling Xiao answered firmly, “No.”
She continued, “My hair is turning white. I might eat you to replenish my energy.”
He didn’t hesitate. “My life is yours.”
Xie Jinwen raised an eyebrow and smiled at Zhang Cui’er.
“You heard him. He’s not leaving. Stop wasting your time.”
“If you don’t leave now, Wang Xiaoge will come watch the commotion. Be careful—he might find out you’re trying to seduce someone else and dump you.”
In three days, the village would hold its annual coming-of-age festival for eighteen-year-old girls. It would be lively, and men would propose marriage. Most engagements would lead to marriage within a year.
Both Xie Jinwen and Zhang Cui’er were of marriageable age. Wang Xiaoge was the match the village chief had arranged for Zhang Cui’er, and both families had already agreed.