So on the village path, Si Chengchen walked forward slowly, surrounded by a group of little kids. The children chattered around him as they headed toward the fields where the educated youths were working.
“I heard that old woman was really bad—she even wanted to hit us with a stick.”
“Big Sister Mu said if anyone bullies Brother, we’re supposed to teach them a lesson.”
“She tried to grab Brother’s apples just now! Luckily we were quick!”
Apples…
Si Chengchen recalled that when he returned yesterday, he had found a plate of apples on the table. She must have left them before she went.
Along the village road, familiar villagers were surprised to see him.
Ever since he was injured and temporarily reassigned back to the village, he rarely went out. Very few people had seen him recently. Now seeing him moving slowly, eyes unfocused, many couldn’t help but sigh.
The Si family used to take pride in their three sons—especially the eldest.
He had been a battalion commander.
Very impressive.
And his salary had been good too.
Back then, matchmakers practically wore down the Si family’s doorstep.
But now…
People who saw him now could only sigh.
“Eldest Si, out for a walk?”
“How’s your injury?”
People greeted him along the way.
At the same time, in the fields:
Mu Qinqin was working the land easily, wearing a straw hat that covered most of her face. Only her red lips were visible. Not a drop of sweat on her.
Her hoe moved so fast it left afterimages.
In sharp contrast, Qiu Yue beside her was exhausted—moving slowly, stopping every few rows to rest and take a sip of water.
She wanted to call Mu Qinqin to take a break, but when she turned—
Her eyes nearly popped out.
“How are you so fast? Did you eat fertilizer or something?”
Mu Qinqin was even holding back her speed on purpose, yet she was still twice as fast.
“Not bad,” Mu Qinqin replied casually.
She was actually rushing—she hadn’t seen Si Chengchen all morning and wanted to finish quickly to go check on him.
The field to her right belonged to Tang Erya. Early on, Tang Erya had been watching her, jealousy twisting her expression.
She wiped her face and approached, putting on a pitiful tone again.
“Qinqin, you work so fast. I didn’t eat breakfast and have no strength. Can you help me hoe a few rows after you finish?”
Mu Qinqin really wanted to know—
How can a person be this shameless?
“You still haven’t learned your lesson from this morning?” Mu Qinqin put down her hoe.
“I knew it—you really are my good friend,” Tang Erya said, thinking Mu Qinqin had softened.
That was a misunderstanding.
Mu Qinqin had smiled earlier because she was thinking about Si Chengchen.
Tang Erya misread it completely.
Mu Qinqin glanced at her with a faint smile, then suddenly swung her hoe hard into the ground.
A cloud of dirt burst into the air.
Tang Erya, standing in the wind direction, swallowed a mouthful of dirt.
“Mu Qinqin, what are you doing?!” she shouted, just as Mu Qinqin stepped back and suddenly swung the hoe toward her.
It aimed straight for her arm.
Tang Erya panicked and dodged, but in her rush she stepped into loose soil and fell face-first into the ground.
“Pfft!” Qiu Yue couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.
Tang Erya lifted her face from the dirt and glared at her.
But Qiu Yue wasn’t even looking at her.
“Mu Qinqin! What are you doing?!” Tang Erya finally lost control and shouted.
Her voice drew the attention of nearby workers.
“What happened?”
“She just fell, why is she yelling?”
People looked at her in confusion.
“Mu Qinqin, why did you push me?!” Tang Erya quickly tried to drag Mu Qinqin into it.
Mu Qinqin, calm and unbothered, pointed at her position, then at Tang Erya’s.
“You’re saying I pushed you—from ten meters away? Or made you fly ten meters over here?”
Everyone suddenly understood.
Right—there was a huge distance between them.
No way she could’ve pushed her like that.
Mu Qinqin added innocently:
“Comrade Tang, why are you lying? And why were you even working in my field?”
Tang Erya panicked.
“I didn’t say that,” she insisted.
Mu Qinqin’s eyes narrowed slightly, sharp for a moment, though her tone remained soft.
“Then are you saying you don’t want to work and just want to take advantage? That’s a capitalist mindset—are you—”
“I said it!” Tang Erya quickly cut her off in panic.
“See? I knew you weren’t that kind of person.”
Mu Qinqin smiled sweetly, then even kindly handed her the hoe.
“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Tang Erya was seething but couldn’t say a word.
At that moment, a cold voice drifted into her ear:
“I told you—if you call me ‘Qinqin’ again and disgust me, I’ll break your hands.”
Tang Erya snapped her head up in horror—
Only to see Mu Qinqin smiling gently, as if she hadn’t said anything at all.