The days that followed were filled with the same routine of working day after day.
Because of the brigade leader’s arrangements, Jiang You had been working alongside her family during this period, so she hadn’t had much contact with anyone else. She barely even heard any gossip.
Every day, she went through the same routine of home, work, and home again.
Half a month passed, and they finally reached the brigade’s scheduled rest day.
Not far from their village, near the river, there was also a large communal pond used for raising fish and storing water.
Today, the brigade was going to drain the pond and catch fish. Every household in the village would receive a share of the fish, so everyone was incredibly excited when they heard the news.
“Dad, Mom, we’re heading out first!”
Every time they drained the pond to catch fish in the past, Jiang Heng had never been able to participate. This time, he finally had the chance to join everyone in catching fish, and he was extremely excited.
Early in the morning, he hurried out with Jiang You toward the pond, while their parents followed behind.
“Oldest, keep an eye on your sister! Don’t let what happened last time happen again and drop your sister into the water!”
Seeing the two siblings rushing out, Jiang You’s mother anxiously reminded him.
Jiang Heng stiffened at her words, while Jiang You looked confused and tugged at her brother’s clothes.
“Brother, have I fallen into the water before?”
Why didn’t she remember that?
She knew very clearly that she had been born into this world and had memories from her entire childhood that were quite clear and complete.
So why didn’t she have any memory of this happening?
She searched through her memories for a while, but she truly couldn’t remember anything.
“Ahahaha, let’s hurry. If we’re late, we won’t be able to find a good spot.”
Jiang Heng laughed awkwardly, a hint of guilt hidden in his eyes, and quickened his pace.
No matter how she looked at it, something seemed off.
By the time they arrived at the pond, many people were already there.
The village children had been the fastest to arrive, and they were now gathered around the edge of the pond, watching the villagers below cast their nets.
Most of the water had already been drained, leaving only enough to reach the knees of an adult man.
Looking down, they could see countless fish thrashing around in the pond, making everyone excited and eager.
Jiang Heng quickly placed the small stool he had brought on a stable patch of ground and had Jiang You sit down. Then he rolled up his pant legs and ran down into the pond.
“Youyou, sit here obediently and don’t move around.”
He even turned around to remind her again.
“Just stay right here. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
As if he had remembered something, he looked back three times with every step.
Jiang You was speechless.
Why did her brother always treat her like a child?
“I’ll be careful, Brother. Go help out.”
Even so, she obediently agreed.
The fish in this pond were also communal property belonging to the village. The fish caught today would be sold by the brigade.
The men who went into the pond to catch fish were doing the hard labor, but everyone was still happy because everything belonging to the brigade was collectively owned, and they would all receive a share. Naturally, everyone was delighted.
Jiang You didn’t sit on the stool. Instead, she first looked around, but she didn’t spot the little Jin Ning she had been looking for.
Just as she was wondering where he was, a familiar tall figure approached from behind not far away.
The small figure beside him broke into a smile the moment he saw her from afar.
He ran all the way over to her.
“Youyou-jiejie.”
“Xiaoning is here. Come sit down.”
Jiang You patted the little stool that Jiang Heng had left for her.
Now this was the real child who needed a stool.
Little Jin Ning obediently sat down and soon began playing with the wooden fish carving he had brought with him.
Jiang You watched him from beside him, a faint smile filling her eyes.
Seeing this, Xie Jin’an’s expression unconsciously softened.
Even the place where he stood was instinctively positioned in front of Jiang You and Jin Ning, as though he were unconsciously protecting them.
“Let’s go over by the trees. It’s shadier there.”
Hearing his voice, the big and little figures sitting together both looked up.
Jiang You turned and glanced at the shade beneath the trees not far behind them.
“Okay.”
She decisively took Jin Ning by the hand and moved them to another spot.
The moment Jiang You and Jin Ning left, a small splash of water landed near Xie Jin’an’s feet.
“Jin’an, why are you taking so long? Hurry up and get down here! We’re all waiting for you!”
A large group of young men below were looking toward Xie Jin’an.
Everyone knew how capable Xie Jin’an was.
He was one of the main people when it came to catching fish. How could the main man stay out of the pond?
Xie Jin’an glanced at Jiang You’s retreating figure, then naturally rolled up his sleeves and pant legs.
“Coming.”
Not long after Xie Jin’an entered the water, the people from the educated youth station arrived as well.
Ling Xun came with them.
Seeing what was happening, Ling Xun rolled up his pant legs and stepped directly into the water.
His movements were clearly not slow, yet there was something unhurried and pleasing to watch about the way he moved.
“Yaor, look over there. See who that is.”
They were still catching fish at the moment, so everyone had come mainly to watch the excitement. The fish wouldn’t be distributed until later.
Several of the female educated youths also stood beneath the shade of the trees to avoid the sun.
Seeing this scene, one of the female educated youths tugged at Bai Yaor and whispered with a smile.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but unfortunately, Jiang You and little Jin Ning were right behind them and heard it clearly.
“What?”
Bai Yaor looked in the direction indicated and paused slightly.
When she recovered, her face had already turned red. She responded softly and coyly, pretending to remain calm.
“Why are you doing that? Oh, stop it.”
Jiang You, who had clearly noticed something unusual: “???”
As if to confirm it, she looked toward the direction the girls had been watching.
Sure enough, the only person in the direction where Bai Yaor was looking—and blushing—was Ling Xun.
Everyone else was far away on the other side.
“??”
Wait a minute.
Jiang You was a little confused.
She hadn’t just imagined that, right?
She looked again.
Sure enough, Bai Yaor was still blushing.
Jiang You glanced toward the pond.
There really was only Ling Xun there.
“That’s not right.”
She blinked twice and raised a hand to pat her forehead.
“Youyou-jiejie, what’s wrong? Does your head hurt?”
“Let’s go over there and take a closer look.”
By the time Jiang You came back to her senses, the few female educated youths had already gotten up and moved somewhere else, leaving only her and Jin Ning behind.
“No, your sister’s fine.”
Jiang You tugged at the corners of her lips and answered.
“Ah! Watch out—!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang You heard a cry of alarm.
She saw that just as the female educated youths had reached the edge of the pond, the soil beneath them suddenly cracked and gave way.
Perhaps because there were so many people gathered there, the soil had become loose.
Bai Yaor, who was standing closest to the edge, suddenly slipped toward the pond.
“!”
Seeing this, Jiang You immediately stood up and ran over to help pull her back.
The edge of the pond had been cleared not long ago, and additional fresh soil had been added to widen the path.
That new soil had only recently dried and wasn’t very firm.
Although the pond was shallow enough that falling into it wouldn’t seriously hurt anyone, in this era, a young woman falling into the water in front of everyone and ending up soaked through would cause no end of trouble.
But as it turned out, the female protagonist didn’t need her help after all.
Ling Xun happened to be nearby in the pond.
With quick reflexes, he caught Bai Yaor and steadied her, helping her back onto the bank.
“Th-thank you.”
Bai Yaor released the reassuring, powerful arm supporting her. She lowered her head and softly thanked him, her heart pounding wildly and out of rhythm.
“The edge is dangerous. Be careful.”
The gentle male voice sounded beside her ear.
Bai Yaor’s face gradually turned red.
Seeing this scene, Jiang You stopped in her tracks.
Her heart sank heavily once again.
The way Ling Xun was looking at Bai Yaor…
It didn’t seem entirely innocent either.
This was clearly a case of mutual attraction.
Something was wrong!
Her heart sank halfway, though she still held onto a sliver of hope.
What had happened during these past two weeks while she hadn’t been paying much attention?
Had the plot gone wrong?
Or had she mistaken the male lead?
Or did the female protagonist have another romantic storyline?
Just as she was thinking this, Jiang You suddenly felt the ground beneath her left foot loosen as well.
But in the next instant, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
Where she had been standing, only a crack in the loosened soil and a footprint remained.
“What’s wrong?”
Xie Jin’an looked at the dazed Jiang You, his expression filled with concern.