The woods near Zhiqing Point.
Qiao Manxue nestled in Lu Jingxuan’s arms, crying pitifully. “Jingxuan, don’t blame Comrade Su. She really suffered today.”
“I heard you called off the engagement. It’s all my fault…”
Lu Jingxuan shook his head and said solemnly, “It has nothing to do with you. Su Qingran is just being unreasonable. Don’t worry, she would never bear to break off the engagement with me.”
Qiao Manxue’s expression stiffened. “Is that so…”
“Yes, don’t worry. In a few days, I’ll make her apologize to you.”
Lu Jingxuan was extremely confident. Su Qingran had been following him around since they were children. Just last month, she had sent him nutritional supplements in the army. He refused to believe she would break off the engagement just because he hadn’t saved her. She was merely playing hard to get, waiting for him to coax her.
But this time, he had indeed gone too far and hurt her feelings.
Perhaps when he gave her the jade bracelet, he could say a few gentle words to earn her forgiveness?
Although he didn’t like Su Qingran—in fact, he was somewhat annoyed by her constant clinging—she was indeed the most suitable marriage partner for him.
Not only was her family well-off, but she was also capable and would surely take good care of his family.
Moreover, he had now come to realize that his grandfather was right. If he married Qiao Manxue, his future would be over. At just twenty years old, he was already a deputy company commander with limitless prospects ahead. Could he really accept being just a deputy company commander for the rest of his life?
Of course not!
So, no matter how much he liked Qiao Manxue, he couldn’t marry her now. However, he could compensate her in other ways.
Lost in his thoughts, Lu Jingxuan suddenly heard a soft sob. He looked down and saw Qiao Manxue’s tear-streaked face, crying pitifully.
“Xiaoxue, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing…”
Qiao Manxue was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath, her eyes red as she looked at Lu Jingxuan. “You’ll be getting married soon, right? Then we won’t be able to be together anymore. Being with you before marriage is my final boundary—I don’t want to be a homewrecker who ruins someone else’s marriage…”
Lu Jingxuan’s heart ached. He cupped her face and wiped away her tears. “Xiaoxue, you should know—I only like you. But your background… If we marry, my future would be completely ruined…”
“But…”
“I want to give you a better life, Xiaoxue.”
“Then I can’t be a secret mistress forever, can I…”
“You won’t be. Su Qingran is just our shield. When I become a general, you will be my general’s wife!”
“Think about it—my current rank isn’t high enough for you to accompany me to the army. Even if we married, you couldn’t come with me.”
“If you lived in Su Family Village, you’d have to serve my grandfather and mother, and do farm work. Could you handle that? It’s better to leave all that to Su Qingran. After all, she’s lived in the countryside her whole life and is used to these tasks.”
He completely forgot that although Su Qingran had grown up in the countryside, she had been doted on by her family. The hardest work she had ever done was cutting pig grass in the mountains.
“When I advance in the army, I’ll get you into the Cultural Troupe. Then we can see each other all the time.”
Qiao Manxue shuddered at the thought of having to serve Lu Jingxuan’s grandfather and his shrewish mother in the Lu household. Thinking it over, Lu Jingxuan’s suggestion did make sense.
“Alright, Jingxuan, I’ll do as you say.”
“Xiaoxue, I’m sorry to put you through this.”
“It’s no hardship. For you and our future, I’m willing to do anything.”
“By the way, do you remember that jade bracelet I gave you last time?”
Qiao Manxue paused briefly before nodding. That jade bracelet was the engagement token the Su family had given Lu Jingxuan. She had fallen in love with it at first sight, and Lu Jingxuan had gifted it to her when he noticed her fondness for it.
“Do you have it with you?”
“Of course I wear what you gave me every day. Look.” Qiao Manxue smiled and extended her wrist, but her smile froze at Lu Jingxuan’s next words.
“Su Qingran is making a scene about calling off the engagement and demanding the jade bracelet back. Give it to me for now.”
Lu Jingxuan frowned with irritation. “Once I’ve pacified her, I’ll get the bracelet back for you.”
Qiao Manxue’s hand unconsciously clenched. For some reason, the thought of returning the jade bracelet to Su Qingran filled her with intense reluctance, as if the object held extraordinary value to her.
In truth, the jade bracelet wasn’t particularly fine quality. Coming from the Qiao family, what kind of jewelry hadn’t she seen?
Yet strangely, she felt an inexplicable attachment to this jade bracelet, as if it were somehow important to her.
She wanted to protest further. “Jingxuan, I really love this bracelet. Couldn’t we…”
“Xiaoxue, I just need it to placate Su Qingran. After I marry her, do you think she’d dare not return it to me?”
“Alright then…”
“Xiaoxue, you need to understand – everything I do is to secure the best life for you.”
“Jingxuan, you’re so good to me.”
While Qiao Manxue smiled sweetly, Lu Jingxuan was thinking: If I give the bracelet to Su Qingran, she should forgive me, right?
For some reason, a flicker of anticipation rose in his heart.
……
The bright moon hung in the pitch-black sky, dotted with tiny stars.
“Honestly though, Su Qingran’s cooking is really exceptional! That red braised pork was absolutely divine! And what were those called – big-headed shrimp? Bursting with garlic aroma, the more you eat, the more flavorful they become!”
Having eaten too much for dinner, Shi Yunxiao and Xie Jin’an were walking around the village to aid their digestion.
Xie Jin’an was still savoring the memory. “Su Qingran is beautiful, an excellent cook, and has such a gentle personality. What was Lu Jingxuan thinking?”
“Lao Shi, why don’t you marry Su Qingran? There’s a saying isn’t there? Saving someone’s life means they should pledge themselves to you in return. I think she’s a wonderful girl, perfect for you!”
Shi Yunxiao gave him a sidelong glance. “So you can frequently enjoy her cooking from now on, is that it?”
“Uh… haha!” Xie Jin’an laughed awkwardly. “You know me too well.”
He had actually spoken without thinking. Of course he knew how many people were eyeing Shi Yunxiao as a marriage prospect, and given his status, he would never allow his wife to regularly cook for others.
“Sigh…” Xie Jin’an let out another sigh. “But I once heard a story about a girl who fell into the water and was rescued by a passerby. The rescuer left immediately after saving her, but the girl’s reputation was ruined.”
“Villagers said she had been embraced by a man, and no one dared to marry her.”
“In the end, the girl couldn’t bear the gossip and drowned herself in the river.”
“I wonder what will happen to Su Qingran after this…”
Embraced by a man…
Shi Yunxiao’s expression froze, the memory of her pale neck and delicate texture flashing through his mind. The tips of his ears instantly grew warm.
“But the Su family dotes on her so much, surely she won’t end up like that? She seemed fine emotionally when I saw her today… Hey, Old Shi, why is your face red?”
“It’s… it’s nothing…” Shi Yunxiao coughed lightly.
“Hey…” Xie Jin’an wanted to tease him further, but Shi Yunxiao’s eyes sharpened as he pulled him into the nearby woods. “Shh!”
…
Su Qingran had slept with Zhao Lanzhi last night, nestled in her embrace until daybreak, unaware even when the older woman had risen.
How many years had it been since she’d slept so soundly?
“Aunt! You’re awake?” Su Erhu was squatting in the yard playing with sand. Seeing her emerge, he pointed toward the kitchen. “Grandma left food for you, keeping warm in the small pot.”
“Got it, thank you Erhu.”
Zhao Lanzhi had left her a bowl of thick white rice porridge and a fragrant egg pancake. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she settled on the doorstep to eat.
“Erhu, where are Sanya, Si Ya, and Wu Ya?”
Su Dahu, being nine years old, was already sensible and often went out to gather pigweed to earn work points for the family.
Erhu was much younger at six, while Sanya was five, Si Ya four, and Wu Ya three. None of the four could gather pigweed, so they usually played at home or with other village children.
“They went to play at Xiaofen’s house.”
“Why didn’t you go?” Su Qingran asked between bites of egg pancake.
“They’re all girls! I’m a boy – we can’t play together!” Erhu declared with such seriousness that she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Who told you that? Boys can also…”
“Qingran.”
Before Su Qingran could finish, she saw Lu Jingxuan peering into her yard from outside. A wave of irritation rose in her chest, but remembering the bracelet she’d been given, she suppressed her temper and walked toward him.