Seeing that the drowning girl was running out of steam and beginning to sink, Pei Zhiheng was just about to step in when a “splash” echoed through the air. A girl in coarse grey cloth dove straight into the river, using a frantic doggie paddle to zip toward the struggling victim.
Pei Zhiheng stopped dead in his tracks. Seeing Xiao An’s practiced, efficient swimming technique, he kept his foot planted, though his gaze remained locked tightly on the water.
Xiao An grabbed the drowning girl by her braided hair, spun her around, and towed her toward the bank. Xiao Changzhu reached out a hand from the shore, and together, he and Xiao An heaved her out of the water.
The villagers of Shanghe Village were far too busy running their “siege” against Pei Zhiheng to notice that the rescue had already been completed.
Coughing deliberately and loudly in the direction of the crowd, Xiao Changzhu spoke with clear disgust, “Hey, Shanghe Village! The girl’s already been pulled out.”
Hearing this, some of the villagers looked toward the bank. Xiao An had already positioned the girl facedown across her knees and was rhythmically patting her back. With a hacking cough, the girl spewed out the water she had swallowed.
Xiao An gently laid her flat on the ground, turning her head to the side.
Pei Zhiheng pulled back his cold gaze, a hint of amusement flickering across his otherwise expressionless face as he turned to the villagers still swarming around him.
“Turn around,” he drawled. “Your person’s already been saved.”
The villagers, who had been shoving and shouting insults a moment before, whipped their heads around. One by one, they looked like geese grabbed by the neck, instantly falling silent.
A moment later, a vicious-looking villager sprinted toward Xiao An, pointing a finger at her. “Who… gave you permission to meddle? We’ve got soldiers right here, trying to show off because you’re a woman, huh?”
In two swift strides, Xiao Changzhu stepped in front of Xiao An, shielding her behind him.
Lowering her voice, Xiao An said to him, “Uncle, I’m fine.”
Pei Zhiheng, who had been as quiet as a mute just moments before, now broke into a cynical,痞y smirk, raising his voice.
“Alright, the play’s about over. Isn’t this just a pathetic attempt to pin yourselves on me? Don’t think I can’t see through your little tricks—they aren’t even worth my time.
I stood right here without moving because I was waiting for the girl in the water to completely stop struggling and get down to her last breath, just so I could play the good Samaritan and haul her up by the hair.
Expecting me to take responsibility for her? In your dreams.
I’m just a military thug. The only reason I’m not in the army right now is because I got thrown out for causing trouble. This young woman was kind enough to rescue a drowning girl from your village, and not only are you not thanking her, you’re trying to throw your weight around. Shall I head down to the township police station right now and report you for harassment and assault on a passerby?
I reckon that even though there are a lot of you, this uniform I’m wearing still carries some weight. After all, it’s because of this uniform that you tried to stick me with her in the first place. I’m pretty sure the police station will believe me.”
The villagers, who had been ready to throw their weight around, stood frozen in their tracks, staring blankly at one another.
Those still crowding around Pei Zhiheng wore expressions of absolute terror.
Their village had pulled plenty of dirty tricks before—practically without fail. But they had never met anyone like Pei Zhiheng: a guy who looked completely decent on the outside, yet spoke and acted like an absolute rogue.
At just the right moment, Xiao Changzhu spoke up. “I can go down to the township police station as a witness with this comrade. I’m the village chief of Xiahe Village; what I have to say should hold a bit more weight than a bunch of lowlifes like you.”
Dead silence.
The seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl lying on the ground looked pale, heartbroken, distressed, and deeply ashamed as she finally forced out the words:
“Thank you for saving me. I… I never wanted to do… this. It was… they forced me to. I’m… I’m so sorry.”
As she spoke, the girl grew more and more humiliated, breaking down into sobs.
“I… I was studying at the county high school. My… my grades were actually really good, I could’ve gone to university. A few days ago, someone in the village told my dad that no matter how well a girl studies, it’s just a waste because she’ll end up serving another family and making them happy. My… dad… actually listened to them. He didn’t want me to keep going to school…”
While Xiao An was looking down, listening to the girl’s grievances, she suddenly felt a weight on her shoulders. She looked up to find a handsome face right above hers—completely expressionless on the surface, but with a gaze that seemed touched by a hint of warmth in the corners of his eyes.
The man was draping his olive-green coat over her shoulders.
Xiao An frowned, a look of utter confusion crossing her face as she reached up to brush Pei Zhiheng’s coat away.
His voice carried a polite distance, yet held a trace of what sounded like an imperceptible concern: “Just thought I’d keep you from catching a cold. Consider it a way of saying thanks.”
“I didn’t help you with anything,” Xiao An retorted, sliding the coat off her shoulders and preparing to drape it over the girl nearby.
Pei Zhiheng spoke up quickly.
“Wear it yourself to accept the thanks. Give it to her… and I’m afraid these villagers will latch onto me again. You must have realized I was trapped by this bunch of hicks, which is why you jumped into the water to save her in the first place. Otherwise, with a whole crowd of people standing right here, there’s no way a skinny little thing like you would’ve had to jump in.”
The pale-faced girl on the ground flushed slightly at his words.
This guy really has zero manners and a wicked tongue, Xiao An thought. Not only did he insult the villagers right out of the gate, but he even took a jab at my figure.
Since he clearly wasn’t willing to lend his coat to the girl on the ground, she couldn’t force him. Changing direction, she handed the jacket back to Pei Zhiheng.
Pei Zhiheng glanced briefly at Xiao An’s frame, wrapped as it was in coarse grey cloth, before looking away. His voice turned somewhat unnatural, “You should put it on. Otherwise… you might not even make it out of this village before another bunch of local men latch onto you.”
Xiao An looked down at herself. Though she was slim, she was certainly well-endowed, and after soaking in the river, it was a bit…
Realizing he had a point, she didn’t stand on ceremony. She quickly reached out, put Pei Zhiheng’s jacket back on, and even buttoned it all the way up.
Looking at the girl on the ground, Xiao An was reminded of her own past life.
Since the girl was a good student, if she managed to keep studying, it might genuinely change her entire life.
“How much do you need to get through university? I… I can lend it to you.”
The girl stared up at Xiao An in shock and utter disbelief. The pretty older sister who had just saved her life was actually offering to lend her money for school.
Pei Zhiheng couldn’t help giving Xiao An an extra look.
Xiao Changzhu glanced at her too, then quickly looked away. Xiao An takes after her grandfather—too kind-hearted.
The girl spoke in a soft voice, “My grades are pretty good, so the school waives my tuition. It’s just… food money. My… dad doesn’t want to pay it anymore, he says I just eat and don’t do any work, so… Sister, if you could just lend me enough for a year’s worth of rations… I… I can live on three sweet potato flour buns a day. As… as soon as I start making money in the future, I’ll pay you back double.”
Just as Xiao An reached for her money, Pei Zhiheng chimed in coldly from the side. “If you give her money right now, those hicks are just going to snatch it away.”
His gaze shifted back to the drowning girl. “What’s your name? What school do you go to? What class?”
Regaining enough strength to slowly sit up, the girl felt the damp chill in the air, but the icy edge in Pei Zhiheng’s voice made her feel even colder.
“I… my name is Xie Guihua. From… Shanghe Village. I go to County No. 1 High School, second year, class one.”
“I can lend you what you need for school,” Pei Zhiheng said flatly. “I’ll hand the money directly to your school so it doesn’t end up in your family’s hands. Aside from basic food expenses, I’ll leave a little extra for emergencies. This is a loan, not a handout—remember to pay me back once you’re earning your own living.”
Overwhelmed, Xie Guihua dropped to her knees and kowtowed to Pei Zhiheng. “Thank you, thank you! Soldier brother, what’s your name? I’ll definitely pay you back once I’m making money.”
Hearing the words “soldier brother” made Pei Zhiheng practically break out in goosebumps.
Even though he knew Xie Guihua didn’t mean anything by it, the mere association with her fellow villagers made his skin crawl.
“She can call me soldier brother, but you calling me that… absolutely not.
Creepy.
Besides, the village chief of Xiahe Village helped save you too. How about this—when you start making money in the future, just hand it over to the Xiahe Village chief instead.”
That way, he could avoid any further entanglement with Xie Guihua and prevent any ridiculous rumors. When he got back, he’d have to mention this to his old man and have him tell the Xiahe Village chief to hand the money directly to Xiao An. At least that way, it would count as him repaying a favor on his grandfather’s behalf.
The Shanghe villagers, who had considered it a piece of bad luck to cross paths with a rogue soldier just a moment ago, were now looking at Pei Zhiheng with warm, eager eyes once again.