“Old He”—was she really calling him that? A vigorous, twenty-three-year-old man in the prime of his life?
He Liansheng’s back stiffened almost imperceptibly. Of course he recognized the voice—it was his little “wife’s.” But why did it feel like she had known him for a long time, as if they were already very familiar with each other?
He was especially good with faces. If he had ever met or spent time with someone before, he would definitely remember.
Qin Laidi also realized she had been too emotional and quickly covered it up. “You’re back. I heard our rabbit was found?”
He Liansheng nodded.
Laidi shot a warning glare at the Liu family. “I’m making this clear today—if anything goes missing from the Qin family again, I’ll come straight to you.”
Widow Liu curled her lips. “Oh? Big talk. Don’t think you can act tough just because you’ve got a pretty-boy son-in-law backing you. Your son-in-law might not come often, but our Liu family’s seven sons are here every day.”
The onlookers sighed. Wasn’t this exactly how the Qin family had been bullied all along?
Qin Laidi glanced calmly at the Liu family. Any goodwill she had just felt instantly disappeared. These people weren’t worth it.
Widow Liu’s nose root was bluish, with reddish patches on her palms—clearly a liver problem. In her previous life, she had died years later from late-stage liver cancer.
Liu Dahu’s arm was crippled—no need to mention.
Liu Erhu had puffy eyelids, pale lips, weak lower back and knees—he was a severe congenital infertility case, yet he somehow had three chubby sons.
As for Liu Sanhu… he was the only truly healthy one among them.
He Liansheng looked at Laidi with slight concern, but saw that she remained calm, even taking time to observe the Liu family, as if she hadn’t heard the threatening tone at all.
Probably too young to understand such veiled threats.
But it didn’t matter if she didn’t understand—no need to worry. People like the Liu family were nothing more than small fry, not even worth a finger to deal with.
Because the new son-in-law had returned and had just helped her save face, Qin Guihua was unusually generous. She sent Pandi to the village entrance to buy a jin of fresh tofu, stir-fried it with tender celery until it was sweet and fragrant. She also took out a strip of cured meat she had been reluctant to eat for over half a year, stir-fried it with green and red chilies, added some garlic, a spoonful of soybean paste, and stewed eggplant until it was soft and tender.
Though Qin Guihua had never traveled or seen much of the world, her cooking skills were surprisingly good. He Liansheng could usually eat four bowls of rice, but this time, after two bowls, he naturally put down his chopsticks.
He knew the three members of the Qin family were tightening their belts, afraid of not treating him well enough. The feeling was all too familiar.
Back in that “home” in the capital, whenever guests came, his mother would repeatedly warn him not to sit at the table. If he had to sit, he couldn’t pick up food. If he did, he could only eat vegetables. And within five minutes, he had to put down his chopsticks and say he was full.
But was little Liansheng ever truly full?
No one cared. Hunger, after all, could become a habit.
“Xiao He, you’re not leaving this time, right? You young couple can stay a few more days before going back to Haicheng.” The implication was clear—take Laidi with you.
He Liansheng paused. “The work isn’t finished yet. I’ve only come back for two days.”
Qin Guihua was disappointed but didn’t dare ask more. “How much longer?”
“Don’t mind me asking, but you two aren’t young anymore. Hurry up and make things official, and take Laidi to Beidahuang to visit your parents so they can feel at ease.”
His father worked in the arts—she didn’t understand what a cellist did, but it sounded impractical. It seemed unlikely he would ever return to the capital. But his mother was a doctor at a major hospital—skilled doctors were always needed. Maybe one day she would return to the capital.
Laidi needed to make a good impression, or the relationship with her mother-in-law would be difficult.
“Oh right, you mentioned you have an older brother. What does he do?”
“A worker.”
Qin Guihua sighed in relief. Workers and farmers had always been close—at least Laidi’s relationship with her in-laws might be easier.
Qin Laidi silently sighed. Old He’s relationship with his parents was distant. As for his brother and sister-in-law… that was another story—no, another disaster.
As they ate, Qin Guihua talked about Liu Baozhu next door. In just half a day, the whole production team already knew that Widow Liu’s granddaughter was going to marry Zhao family’s third son and become an official’s wife. Because of the urgency, the military marriage application had already been approved. They would register the marriage tomorrow and hold the wedding the day after.
Qin Laidi listened with a blank expression, even wanting to laugh. Even the speed of the marriage process was the same as in her previous life. Truly, wives came and went, but Zhao Qingsong remained the same.
After dinner, it was fully dark, and sleeping arrangements became a problem. There was only one room and one kang bed. They couldn’t all squeeze together.
He Liansheng stood up. “I’ll go find Zhao Qingsong about something and stay at his place.”
“Let Laidi walk you there. Don’t worry, she knows the village well.”
The two walked along the village path under the moonlight, which draped over them like a thin veil. It felt unreal. They had been married for two months, yet she still hadn’t fully processed her status as a married woman.
“You…”
“You…”
They spoke at the same time. He scratched his nose. “You go first.”
“What are your plans next?”
“I’ll finish my work at the factory. If all goes well, it’ll take about half a month. If you’re willing, you can come back to Haicheng with me.”
Qin Laidi smiled slightly. “What if it doesn’t go well?”
He fell silent.
“Do you have a place to live in Haicheng?”
“No.” Then, as if afraid she’d be upset, he added, “I’ll find a way to get a room.”
He was still living in a dormitory for young workers.
Qin Laidi smiled. In her previous life, he had said the same thing when helping her find a place. She thought he had just picked one casually, but he had searched the entire city to find a courtyard with a pear tree. Back then, what made her happiest was how he would bring back small surprises from his trips—sometimes a box of pears, sometimes jars of pear syrup, sometimes souvenirs scented with pear blossoms.
They weren’t expensive, but the feeling of being remembered was priceless.
But now? This blockhead had been away for so long and hadn’t brought her anything at all!
“I heard Zhao Qingsong brought Liu Baozhu a gift,” she said casually.
“Didn’t hear about it.”
She was speechless. That wasn’t the point!
“I saw Baozhu looked pretty happy.”
“Didn’t notice.”
Qin Laidi: “…”
Who could tell her why the thoughtful, witty Old He from her previous life was such an unresponsive blockhead when he was young?
The distance between the two houses was short. Soon they arrived, and he still didn’t notice anything, only sensing that she seemed a bit unhappy. “You can head back. I’ll watch you.”
He Liansheng, you’re destined to be single forever! she thought. But feeling his gaze following her all the way home made her feel unexpectedly at ease. The marriage was done—there was still plenty of time to “train” him.
The next noon, before He Liansheng could leave for the provincial capital, a major event shook Wulidun Production Team—
Liu Sanhu had been taken away by armed cadres from the commune!
Among the Liu family, the strongest wasn’t Dahu or Erhu—it was Liu Sanhu. Dahu only looked fierce, Erhu was simple-minded, and the younger ones only caused trouble without real harm. But Sanhu was not only strong and muscular, but also cunning and vicious.
He was the dirtiest among them, often stirring up conflicts and taking advantage of Qin family girls.
If Liu Dahu was Widow Liu’s favorite, then Sanhu was her strategist.
That day, just as work was ending, several uniformed cadres came to the fields, asked for Liu Sanhu, and immediately handcuffed him without explanation and took him away.
Widow Liu was completely stunned.
These weren’t local militia—they wouldn’t give her face.
When she returned home, she found the house ransacked. Only then did she realize—this time, Sanhu was in serious trouble.
During the off-season each year, communes organized construction projects. Liu Sanhu often participated. Strong and capable, he was always selected, enjoying free meals and connections with officials.
But he couldn’t change his ways. Used to taking advantage of the Qin family, he began stealing materials—diesel fuel, cement, steel bars—and bringing them home.
Widow Liu not only didn’t stop him but encouraged him, thinking they could use them for building or saving money.
They had no idea they were stealing state strategic supplies.
That very morning, the commune received an anonymous report that missing materials were in Liu Sanhu’s home.
Unlike ordinary goods, these were strategic resources—strictly controlled by the state.
Within hours, armed cadres stormed the village, searched the Liu household, and found everything.
This time, Liu Sanhu was finished.
That afternoon, Widow Liu went to the Zhao family, begging Zhao Qingsong to help save her future brother-in-law. She cried, made a scene, even threatened suicide—but Zhao Qingsong refused.
When Qin Laidi heard the news, dimples appeared on her cheeks.
Yes… this was exactly the “upright and incorruptible” Zhao Qingsong she knew.
Weren’t you obsessed with official status?
Then consider this… a big gift.