Even a grown-up still acted like a child, craving praise.
She deliberately pretended not to notice, blinking her moist apricot-shaped eyes.
“What is it?”
Jiang Chengbei chuckled lightly, said nothing more, and picked up the snow-white socks to help her put them on.
The next second, a soft little hand slipped into his palm. Ning Xi gave him a flirtatious wink.
“Don’t worry, I’ll reward you properly when we get back.”
As for what kind of reward, both of them knew very well.
Actually, Jiang Chengbei had just wanted to hear her praise him, but unexpectedly, he got teased instead. His heart began pounding like a drum; he wished he had wings so he could fly home immediately to get that “reward.”
Cao Xinrou watched the two of them being openly affectionate and cozy, her eyes bloodshot with envy.
A seductress!
Shameless!
Why didn’t someone shove Ning Xi into a pig’s snout and give her a bloody nose!
Since Ning Xi had twisted her ankle and couldn’t walk, she naturally needed Jiang Chengbei to carry her down the mountain.
She and Jiang Chengbei were happy about it, but Cao Xinrou was not, frowning deeply.
“Ning Xi, if you can manage, walk on your own. Chengbei just finished fighting a wild boar and needs to rest.”
She thought of herself as the one who truly cared for Jiang Chengbei.
If it were her, even with a broken leg, she wouldn’t want him to exert himself.
Damn Jiang Chengbei for being blind, fooled by a seductress.
Ning Xi glanced at the sour-looking Cao Xinrou, pressed her soft cheek against Jiang Chengbei’s back, and smiled triumphantly.
“Can’t help it. I was born to enjoy life. My man wants to pamper me. Some people can’t get that in a lifetime being jealous won’t help. All they can do is mutter envy.”
Her small mouth was infuriating, and she smiled at Cao Xinrou as she spoke.
Cao Xinrou trembled with rage, and in her fury, she didn’t watch her step. She tripped over a rock, fell flat on the ground, and twisted her ankle, too hurt to stand.
Who would’ve thought karma could hit so fast?
She clutched her ankle in pain and looked pitifully at Jiang Chengbei.
“Chengbei, my foot hurts.”
Jiang Chengbei looked over, his expression calm and unchanged.
“Wait here. I’ll go get someone to help you.”
“But I’m scared… there are wild boars on the mountain…”
She didn’t finish speaking before Jiang Chengbei had already walked a good distance away, leaving only his indifferent back.
Ning Xi turned and pointed at her own face, laughing loudly.
“Xinrou, embarrassing, isn’t it?”
Cao Xinrou: “……”
She angrily grabbed a handful of dirt and tossed it away.
Ah! So infuriating.
She wouldn’t give up so easily. Let Ning Xi bask in her triumph for a few more days—one day, she would tear them apart!
Worried about Ning Xi’s ankle, Jiang Chengbei rode back quickly, taking only half the time it had taken to climb the mountain. He returned to the Jiang household, told them he had hunted a wild boar, and instructed them to inform the team leader.
It was now 1975. The mountains belonged to the collective, and so did the animals living there.
If it were wild chickens or rabbits, it would be one thing, but a wild boar weighing one to two hundred pounds could not be privately claimed. It had to be confiscated first, then divided by village officials among the households.
When the villagers learned Jiang Chengbei had hunted a wild boar, they were thrilled.
In these years, every household struggled; meat was only eaten on special occasions.
Some families hadn’t tasted meat for over half a year.
Now to get wild boar meat for free, they were practically grinning from ear to ear.
“This boar was hunted at great risk by Chengbei. When you eat it, don’t forget the hunter. When you see him, say thanks. Be nice to Ning Xi too; marrying Chengbei makes her part of our village.”
The team leader announced loudly.
The villagers agreed.
“Of course! We’re not ungrateful people.”
Cao Xinrou’s mother also stood in the crowd, animatedly describing her own close encounter with a wild boar.
“I was the first to spot the boar. I thought, we can’t let it escape. I had to kill it for everyone to enjoy. I ran as fast as I could, using myself as bait. Without me putting myself at risk, Jiang Chengbei might not have caught it.”
“Hehe, village chief, look, I helped too. Can we get a bit more meat for my family…”
The team office was noisy with the slaughtering and dividing of the boar.
At the Jiang household, Jiang Chengbei quickly took a shower to wash off the blood and changed into clean clothes. He borrowed a bicycle and headed to the county town with Ning Xi.
After they left, Jiang Yanyan couldn’t help complaining.
“Capitalist rich girl is so dramatic.”
“She just twisted her foot, and look how worried Second Brother is. If someone didn’t know, they’d think her leg was broken.”
Seeing Jiang Chengnan ignoring her, she called out, “Third Brother, what are you thinking?”
Jiang Chengnan didn’t reply. He suddenly stood up and dashed outside like a gust of wind.
Since the day things got tense, he had visited Cao Xinrou several times. Though she never gave him a good reception, now that she was hurt, twisted her ankle, she was vulnerable.
Rescuing a beauty in distress was the most impressive gesture.
At this time, Cao Xinrou had been sent home as well.
Her ankle was red and swollen; she wanted her parents to take her to see a doctor, but her father said it was just a minor injury and to rest it.
Her mother scolded her for being useless, and without even looking at her, hurried off to the team office to wait for her share of the wild boar meat.
She was left alone, in pain, angry, and heartbroken.
Why did Ning Xi get love and care, while she had nothing?
Cao Xinrou gritted her teeth in fury, picked up an enamel mug from the table, ready to smash it. Suddenly, a cautious male voice called from outside.
“Xinrou, can I come in?”
It was Jiang Chengnan.
She least wanted to see anyone from the Jiang family right now. She was about to tell him to go away when a wild thought struck her mind.
Jiang Chengbei’s heart and eyes were full of Ning Xi. He wanted to marry her, right? Then she would crush his hopes.
This life, he could only belong to her!
Once decided, Cao Xinrou’s lips curved into a gentle smile. She unbuttoned three buttons from her collar, revealing a patch of delicate skin on her chest.
Though not as fair as Ning Xi, it was tempting enough for a hot-blooded young man like Jiang Chengnan.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chengbei rode the bicycle with Ning Xi into the county town. After twisting through several alleys, he stopped at a house.
“We’re here.”
It looked more like a private home than a clinic.
Ning Xi asked in surprise, “There’s a doctor here?”
“Yes.” Jiang Chengbei parked the bike, lifted Ning Xi onto his back, and opened the gate, explaining as he walked.
“This is the home of a retired traditional Chinese medicine doctor I know. Treating injuries from falls is his family’s skill, passed down through generations.”
Actually, Ning Xi had already taken some healing spring water on the way here.
Her foot didn’t hurt much now.
But it was still good to have the doctor check it, so Jiang Chengbei wouldn’t worry.
As soon as they entered the yard, an energetic elderly man came out to greet them. Medium height, very spirited, with a loud voice.
“Little Jiang, what brings you here?”
“Master Zhuang, my fiancée twisted her foot. Could you please take a look?”
Once inside, Jiang Chengbei went straight to the point.
Seeing the furrowed brows and concerned expression, Master Zhuang couldn’t help but tease.
“This is rare. You actually look worried. I thought you were invincible.”
He glanced at the girl, delicate as a flower, and understood immediately.
Even a hero struggles when a beauty is involved.
No wonder Jiang Chengbei was so tense; such a beautiful girl could melt even an iron plate in his hands.
After examining her, Master Zhuang said it was nothing serious. Three days of continuous massage would nearly restore her.
“Do you want to bring her here for massage every day, or should I teach you the method so you can do it yourself?”
“Can I manage?”
Master Zhuang laughed heartily, a meaningful glance sweeping over his firm waist and abdomen. “Don’t you know yourself whether you can?”