The courtyard gate remained closed.
Remembering Su Jianguo’s instructions, Li Xiulan first peeked through the crack in the gate when she heard someone calling outside. Her face immediately grew wary.
“Educated Youth Chen? What are you here for?”
Standing outside the gate was a young woman in her early twenties, with two braided pigtails, wearing a faded but clean floral-patterned shirt. She had delicate features, a gentle smile, and was holding a small cloth bag.
Chen Xiaoman put on a perfectly measured expression of concern: “Auntie, I heard Sister Nianqiu had an accident the day before yesterday, and I’ve been worried ever since. I saved up a few eggs and wanted to come see her.”
A few eggs.
In these times, eggs were valuable goods. For an educated youth sent to the countryside to save up a few eggs, it showed she had put in some effort.
If it were any other villager, Li Xiulan might have let her in. But she had always felt uneasy about Chen Xiaoman, sensing that the girl wasn’t entirely sincere in her words.
“No need. Qiu’er is resting and recovering. It’s not convenient for visitors.”
“Auntie…” Chen Xiaoman bit her lip, her large eyes glistening with tears. “I’m truly worried about Sister Nianqiu. The rumors spreading in the village these past two days have been so harsh. My heart aches for her. I just wanted to come and comfort her, nothing else.”
As she spoke, she wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand, her voice trembling slightly.
To anyone unaware of the situation, this display would likely be seen as genuine concern for a dear friend.
Li Xiulan’s expression softened slightly.
“Mom, let her in.”
Su Nianqiu’s voice came from behind.
Li Xiulan glanced back at her daughter, who gave her a slight nod.
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Xiulan finally opened the courtyard gate.
Chen Xiaoman walked in with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Su Nianqiu—
Her smile froze.
In Chen Xiaoman’s memory, Su Nianqiu was beautiful—something she had never denied. In fact, it was precisely because Su Nianqiu was prettier than her that she had always felt uncomfortable.
But the Su Nianqiu before her now…
Her fair skin glowed with a faint pink under the sunlight, her features were striking, and her eyes held a gentle, watery charm. Even without a trace of makeup, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
This appearance was worlds apart from the person who had been pulled from the river the day before yesterday.
What was going on?
Chen Xiaoman’s mind raced with thoughts, but she maintained her composure. She quickly stepped forward and took Su Nianqiu’s hand. “Sister Nianqiu, I’ve been so worried about you! How are you feeling now? Are you still unwell?”
“Much better, thank you for your concern, Sister Xiaoman.”
Her tone was warm, but for some reason, Chen Xiaoman felt that Su Nianqiu’s gaze toward her had changed.
It was as if all her hidden intentions had been laid bare.
“Sister Nianqiu, please sit, sit down quickly.” Chen Xiaoman eagerly helped Su Nianqiu sit on the edge of the kang, then took out five eggs wrapped in straw from her cloth bag. “I saved these up over the past few days. Take them to nourish yourself.”
Li Xiulan watched from the side, saying, “That’s thoughtful of you,” and reached out to take the eggs.
“Not yet, Mom.” Su Nianqiu stopped her, then turned to Chen Xiaoman. Her smile remained, but her tone cooled slightly. “Sister Xiaoman, I appreciate your kindness with the eggs. But there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“What is it? Ask away, Sister.”
“A few days ago, when I went to town to see the doctor, aside from my parents, you were the only one who knew about it.”
Su Nianqiu leaned against the edge of the kang, her voice soft.
“How did Zhao Dazhuang know I went to town that day?”
Chen Xiaoman’s smile froze, her ring finger curling slightly.
“Sister Nianqiu, what do you mean by that?” Chen Xiaoman tilted her head, wearing a puzzled and hurt expression. “I… how would I know anything about Zhao Dazhuang? You don’t think…”
“What do I think?”
Su Nianqiu was still smiling.
“I thought we were good sisters. Before I went to town, I specifically told you and asked you to help me request leave from the brigade. You did help me with the leave, but did you also, by any chance, give Zhao Dazhuang directions?”
“I didn’t!” Chen Xiaoman’s voice rose half an octave, her eyes instantly reddening. “Sister Nianqiu, how could you think that of me? I see you as my own sister—how could I ever harm you…”
She was on the verge of tears.
The tears came as soon as she spoke, streaming down her cheeks. With her delicate, tear-streaked face, anyone who saw her would feel a pang of sympathy.
Li Xiulan frowned beside them, looking somewhat uneasy.
Su Nianqiu cut her off.
“Enough.”
Su Nianqiu looked at Chen Xiaoman.
“Why are you crying? I didn’t say you did it—I was just asking. If you didn’t do it, then I’ve wronged you, and I apologize.”
Chen Xiaoman was taken aback, her sobs catching in her throat.
An apology?
This was completely different from the confrontation she had imagined.
After apologizing, Su Nianqiu lowered her head to examine her nails:
“But, Xiaoman, I heard that before Zhao Dazhuang started spreading rumors at the village entrance that day, he first went to the educated youth point. Only after coming out did he start telling everyone about me.”
Chen Xiaoman’s expression changed. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her lips quivered.
“The educated youth point is crowded and full of gossip. He might have gone to see someone else,” Chen Xiaoman explained quickly, her voice more urgent than before.
Su Nianqiu nodded. “Hmm, maybe.”
She didn’t press further.
Because there was no need.
Chen Xiaoman’s reaction had already said it all.
As for the reason?
Su Nianqiu glanced at Chen Xiaoman’s delicate face.
Jealousy.
The original host was the only daughter of the brigade leader’s family—pretty, living a good life—while Chen Xiaoman was a sent-down educated youth, living under someone else’s roof. It was only natural for her to harbor some resentment.
Su Nianqiu had no intention of confronting her openly just yet.
The evidence wasn’t enough.
The original host’s memories were only indirect clues, and the information about “Zhao Dazhuang going to the educated youth point” was pieced together from the original book’s plot and fragmented memories. If it really came to a confrontation and Chen Xiaoman stubbornly denied it, there was nothing Su Nianqiu could do.
But that didn’t stop her from giving a warning first.
“Xiaoman,” Su Nianqiu stood up, walked over to Chen Xiaoman, and gently wiped the tears from her face, her movements tender like those of a true older sister. “Don’t cry. I believe you.”
Chen Xiaoman looked up at Su Nianqiu through teary eyes.
Su Nianqiu’s hand rested on her shoulder as she leaned in, her voice so soft only the two of them could hear:
“But let me make one thing clear. If I ever find out that you were involved in what happened that day—”
Her fingers tightened slightly.
“I’ll go straight to the commune and have you sent away from this village. You should know that the transfer of sent-down educated youth files is under my father’s control.”
Chen Xiaoman’s face turned completely pale.
Sent away.
For a sent-down educated youth desperate to return to the city, being “sent away” meant completely cutting off any hope of going back.
That was far worse than a slap in the face.
Su Nianqiu released her hand, took a step back, and resumed her gentle smile. “I’ll take the eggs. Since I’m not feeling well, I won’t keep you any longer.”
Chen Xiaoman stood rigidly for a few seconds before forcing a smile. “Then… I’ll be going now.”
Chen Xiaoman turned and walked out, her steps twice as fast as when she arrived. By the time she reached the courtyard gate, her fingers were trembling slightly.
When had Su Nianqiu become so difficult to deal with?
Chen Xiaoman glanced back and met Su Nianqiu’s unwavering gaze head-on. She shivered and hurried out of the Su family courtyard at a jog.
Li Xiulan closed the door and turned to look at her daughter. “Qiu’er, what did you say to her just now?”
“Nothing much, Mom. Just a few heartfelt words between sisters.”
Li Xiulan eyed Su Nianqiu suspiciously, feeling that her daughter had changed. In the past, she would only cry when faced with trouble, but now she spoke and acted with purpose, appearing somewhat intimidating.
Still, a capable daughter was a joy to a mother.
“Mom, let’s not eat these five eggs for now.” Su Nianqiu picked up the packet of eggs and examined them, a slight smile curling her lips. “We’ll steam them into an egg custard tonight to nourish Dad. He’s been so worried about me these past few days that he’s lost weight.”
Li Xiulan’s nose stung, and she nearly shed tears again.
“Alright, we’ll do as you say.”
That night.
Su Nianqiu busied herself in the Spatial Dimension as usual. The ginseng roots soaking in the Spirit Spring Water had already begun to change. The previously shriveled and darkened skin now faintly revealed a moist, yellowish hue, as if life had been re-injected into them.
In a few more days, they could be taken out to sell.
The wild vegetable seeds planted in the black soil had also sprouted tender shoots, lush and green, growing vigorously.
Su Nianqiu crouched by the vegetable patch, planning her next steps.
She needed a suitable excuse to go out for the trip to the town’s black market to exchange goods for money. As the “key protected individual” now, Su Jianguo and Li Xiulan practically wanted to weld her to the kang to keep her from moving.
Then there were the textbooks. Only she knew about the restoration of the college entrance exams. Making a big show of finding textbooks to study now would be too conspicuous. She needed an inconspicuous way to get her hands on high school textbooks first.
As she was thinking, a faint rustling sound suddenly came from outside.
Su Nianqiu abruptly withdrew from the Spatial Dimension and opened her eyes.
Moonlight seeped through a hole in the window paper, casting a pale, ghostly light on the floor.
In the courtyard, a shadow was climbing over the wall.
Its movements were clumsy, its breathing heavy, accompanied by the smell of alcohol.
Su Nianqiu’s eyes widened suddenly.
It was Zhao Dazhuang.