He immediately let go of her, completely baffled by this woman.
If one were to describe her as fragile, her body was indeed soft as water.
But thinking about how she had killed a snake with her bare hands, he lowered his eyes, concealing the flicker of doubt there.
A suspicion crept in: could this woman be a spy?
After all, he had once held an important post in the military.
He decided that he needed to find an opportunity to report to his superiors and investigate Su Xiaowan properly.
He released her and casually slung the basket of herbs onto his own back.
What had been heavy for Su Xiaowan was effortless for Lu Hanzhou.
She couldn’t help thinking: indeed, for some people, manual labor was nothing.
The two of them walked home, one after the other.
It was noon, and the people in the fields were returning home to eat.
Tang Wenxi was among them.
She was a village school teacher, and didn’t need to work the fields; she just needed to teach her classes to receive her salary and ration tickets. Su Xiaowan envied her a little.
She also wanted a light job like that—or perhaps being a doctor would be nice.
Today, Tang Wenxi wore a white blouse with light blue trousers, her braids neatly done, looking as delicate and charming as ever.
Her temperament was exceptional; though born in the village, she showed no trace of a rustic upbringing.
“Hanzhou, you’re back! My mom just made some yam porridge. I’ll serve some and bring it over to you,” Tang Wenxi said with a gentle, watery smile.
Su Xiaowan instantly noticed that Tang Wenxi was deliberately showing off in front of Lu Hanzhou.
Her eyes were only on Lu Hanzhou; she hadn’t even noticed Su Xiaowan trailing behind.
Lu Hanzhou replied flatly, “No need.”
“You went to the mountain?” Tang Wenxi asked, scanning him. When she saw the snake in his hand, she jumped back, her voice changing: “A snake?!”
Her face went pale in an instant, the earlier smile gone.
“I’ll go clean this up first,” Lu Hanzhou said, turning to head home.
Su Xiaowan watched silently. Tang Wenxi stood there, arms crossed, looking thoroughly frightened.
She couldn’t help thinking: looks like my act of fear still needs some practice.
Distracted by Tang Wenxi, Su Xiaowan didn’t notice Lu Hanzhou suddenly stop in front, setting the basket down. She stumbled forward and bumped into his solid back.
She staggered back a couple of steps. Lu Hanzhou turned his head, his tone calm but piercing: “Whether it’s real fear or fake, anyone can tell.”
There was no emotion in his words, but Su Xiaowan felt her face heat up.
Infuriating! She thought her act had looked quite convincing!
Her face reddened slightly, but she stubbornly said, “Everyone’s different. She’s scared, I’m scared. Isn’t that normal?”
Lu Hanzhou snorted lightly, not pressing the point further. “What about the snake?”
“I’ll handle it!” Su Xiaowan quickly said. “Just put it here… I’m scared, but I’ve learned a bit of medicine before. For medicinal wine, I can manage it!”
She gave Lu Hanzhou a flattering smile. “Once it’s ready, it’ll be good for Mom and you.”
Then she quickly stepped closer and gently kissed his cheek.
Lu Hanzhou hadn’t expected it.
He was tall, and Su Xiaowan had to stand on tiptoe to reach him.
He froze, the soft touch lingering on his face, the faint scent of her on his nose.
For a moment, his heart skipped a beat.
But the intimate moment didn’t last long. Outside, a bowl shattered.
Su Xiaowan turned to see Tang Wenxi at the door, yam porridge spilled across the floor, shards of the bowl scattered everywhere.
She raised an eyebrow: Lu Hanzhou had clearly refused her, yet she still came to deliver porridge?
The intention was far too obvious.
“You…” Tang Wenxi looked shocked. She had seen Su Xiaowan kiss Lu Hanzhou!
What confused her even more was that, according to her previous life’s memory, Su Xiaowan should have been divorced by now. Yet here they were together, and this Su Xiaowan was daring enough to kiss Lu Hanzhou in broad daylight!
Everything happening before her eyes didn’t match her past memories at all.
But ever since her own rebirth, most things had unfolded as remembered—except Su Xiaowan was an anomaly.
She became more certain: Su Xiaowan must have been reborn too.
Could it be that this life, Su Xiaowan intended to live differently?
But why, of all people, cling to Lu Hanzhou…?
Lu Hanzhou should be hers, and Bai Fulin should be hers.
In her previous life, she had suffered so much. These two men would later become men of distinction, and she had to secure them.
Su Xiaowan, seeing Tang Wenxi standing there, casually hooked her arm around Lu Hanzhou and smiled: “Wenxi, what brings you here? Something you need?”
“My mom asked me to bring some yam porridge,” Tang Wenxi quickly regained her composure, secretly eyeing Su Xiaowan.
She felt a pang of jealousy—Su Xiaowan was radiant, fair-skinned, completely unlike her own delicate appearance.
Previously, Su Xiaowan had been just a pretty face without brains, no threat at all.
But now…
No! Things must follow the past timeline—Su Xiaowan had to divorce Lu Hanzhou!
Otherwise, how could she get close to him?
“If it’s meant for my mom, thank you, but her stomach hasn’t been well lately. Yams are hard to digest; she might feel uncomfortable,” Su Xiaowan explained with a smile.
She wasn’t targeting Tang Wenxi; it was the truth.
“Xiaowan, what brings you here?” came Lu Yanxi’s voice outside the door.
Lu Yanxi worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. It took twenty minutes to walk home from work.
He had just finished for the day and looked particularly pleased to see Tang Wenxi.
Tang Wenxi smiled at him: “You’re home? I wanted to bring some yam porridge for Aunt, but your wife said it wasn’t suitable… sigh, maybe I didn’t think it through.”
Her tone was plaintive, head lowered like a wronged child.
Lu Yanxi was furious: “Su Xiaowan, don’t be so unreasonable! Wenxi is my real sister. If you make things difficult for her, you’re making things difficult for me!”
Her audacity made Su Xiaowan smirk: “When did I make things difficult for her?”
“You saying that is making things difficult! She was only trying to be kind, bringing food for my mom. It wasn’t for you—what right do you have to refuse?”
“And if Mom eats it and feels unwell, who’s responsible?”
“You!” Lu Yanxi glared at Su Xiaowan, thinking: how can someone be this infuriating?
“Stop getting so worked up. Look at your eyes—they’re red. Forgot what I told you last night?”
Lu Yanxi recalled the words Su Xiaowan had said the previous night.
She hadn’t slept well, plagued by nightmares—dreams of being overwhelmed at work or chased by something terrifying.
She was a staunch materialist, not one to believe in such supernatural nonsense.
Su Xiaowan leaned close, whispering: “Really, are you okay? You look worse. Tonight, you’ll probably sleep badly again.”
“Don’t curse me!” Lu Yanxi nearly lost it.
Tang Wenxi stepped in, mediating: “Xiaowan, you’re her sister-in-law—let her be.”
Su Xiaowan retorted: “Why should I yield to a little sister-in-law who doesn’t even know how to respect others?”
She then noticed Lu Hanzhou watching, and took the snake from his hand, handling it efficiently.
Since he had already seen through her feigned weakness, she didn’t bother pretending anymore.
She had no patience to deal with Lu Yanxi and Tang Wenxi either.
The snake in her hands, already frightening, became even more grisly after her treatment.
Tang Wenxi turned pale and quickly made an excuse to leave.