=Chapter 16: We’ll Go Tomorrow
The old house at the west end of the village, which had been rammed by a wild boar, was now surrounded by the village’s strong men. Those with flashlights held them high, while those without carried torches, all discussing how to enter the forest to hunt the boar.
Wu Yan pushed through the crowd, looking around anxiously, but she couldn’t find Zhou Kuangye anywhere.
Just as she was about to ask the Brigade Leader, Wang Changgang hurried over.
Seeing him, the Brigade Leader instinctively glanced behind him, but didn’t see the figure he was hoping for. He asked anxiously, “Where’s Kuang Ye? Why didn’t he come with you?”
Wang Changgang wiped the sweat from his forehead and shrugged. “I don’t know either. I called for him for a long time, but there was no response from inside the house, so I came ahead.”
As the village’s Brigade Leader, Wang Jianye was well aware of Zhou Kuangye’s capabilities.
In their entire village, he was the strongest fighter. With him around, they stood a chance of hunting the wild boar in the forest. Otherwise, they’d all end up as the boar’s next meal.
Without hesitation, he said, “Wait here, I’ll go find him.”
No sooner had he spoken than a voice rang out.
“No need to look, I’m here.”
From a distance, Zhou Kuangye hurried over. Upon closer inspection, he was holding the hand of a soft, fair, and delicate little attachment.
The Brigade Leader knew how close they were and quickly pulled Zhou Kuangye aside. “Kuang Ye, tell us how we should hunt the boar. You have more experience, so we’ll listen to you.”
“I have a hunting rifle here for you to use.”
Seeing her chance, Wu Yan was about to step forward and tell them not to go when she heard Zhou Kuangye say, “Brigade Leader, it’s too dark tonight. Let’s go up the mountain to hunt the boar tomorrow.”
Since he was the one saying they shouldn’t go, she had no role to play anymore.
Wu Yan felt a flicker of confusion. Why was this lifetime different from the last?
“Tomorrow? What if the boar runs too far and we can’t find it?”
“Exactly, Comrade Zhou, take us there. Every one of us country men has strength. We’ll definitely subdue the boar.”
“We’re all ready, let’s go.”
As more and more people urged them on, Su Ying’s lips pouted more and more fiercely. She tugged at Zhou Kuangye’s sleeve and glared at him fiercely.
It was as if she were saying, “If you dare go, I’ll get so angry I’ll die.”
Zhou Kuangye soothingly squeezed her hand, calming the little kitten’s ruffled fur.
Seeing their exchange, the Brigade Leader assumed Su Ying was throwing a tantrum to stop him from going. He slapped his thigh in frustration.
“Comrade Su, at a critical time like this, please be reasonable and let Kuang Ye go. I promise to bring him back safe and sound.”
Hearing the Brigade Leader’s words, Wu Yan realized it was Su Ying causing trouble.
The Brigade Leader had always trusted Zhou Kuangye and wouldn’t ignore his advice. It seemed they wouldn’t be going tonight after all.
Since that was the case, she decided to pin the blame on Su Ying, labeling her as unreasonable and making it difficult for her to stay in the village.
Stepping out from behind the crowd, she took the moral high ground. “Comrade Su, we’ve all seen how dangerous the wild boar is. The sooner we catch it, the less we have to worry. At a critical time like this, you shouldn’t make a fuss.”
“We all know you like to throw tantrums, and we usually indulge you, but making a scene now would just be immature.”
“The lives of our entire village are now in your hands. Just say the word and let the educated youth Zhou go.”
Upon hearing this, everyone present realized it was indeed the case and quickly chimed in agreement.
They pinned the blame for Zhou Kuangye not going to hunt the wild boar entirely on her, accusing her of being unreasonable and lacking any sense of collective spirit.
Listening to the villagers’ indiscriminate urging and insults, Zhou Kuangye glared darkly at the crowd and shouted, “Shut up, all of you!”
His tone was fierce, leaving no room for sentiment. “If any of you want to go, go now. I have no intention of joining you on a suicide mission.”
“It’s pitch dark out there. Do you know how many wild boars there are?”
“Do you know how big they are or how strong their attacks are?”
“Soldiers never fight unprepared battles. Charging in without knowing anything is just throwing lives away—it’s foolish!”
“Blaming my partner without even understanding the situation is even more foolish.”
“I said I’m not going today; I’ll go tomorrow. If any of you want to rush to your deaths, go ahead. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
With a dark expression, Zhou Kuangye took Su Ying’s hand and boldly led her away from the scene, leaving behind the shock and shame of the onlookers.
Upon hearing this, the Brigade Leader realized it made perfect sense. They had been too hasty.
Feeling both ashamed of his own misjudgment and dissatisfied, he turned to Wu Yan. “Educated Youth Wu, what do you even know, coming here to stir up trouble?”
“Accusing Educated Youth Su without understanding the truth—such thinking is unacceptable. Go back now.”
Being spoken to like that by the Brigade Leader in front of so many people, with everyone’s scornful and disapproving gazes fixed on her, made her face burn with humiliation.
In a fit of anger, she turned and ran off.
Why was Su Ying so lucky?!
Wen Zi thoughtfully stroked her chin and also returned to the educated youth point.
In her memory, Wu Yan had always quietly stayed by Lu Pingshu’s side. Why was she now harboring such malice toward Su Ying?
It seemed she would have to keep a close eye on her for Mizi’s sake.
The Brigade Leader didn’t idle either. He arranged for torches to be set up around the village to ensure the wild boars wouldn’t dare approach recklessly that night.
While everyone else was unhappy, only Su Ying was as cheerful as a little fool, swinging Zhou Kuangye’s hand and skipping along the way.
For the first time, she knew what it felt like to have someone stand up for her—light and airy, as if floating on clouds. It was an incredible feeling. Zhou Kuangye was truly brave!
In truth, it was her who had been unreasonable, insisting he not go. But he hadn’t exposed her; instead, he had protected her. He was such a good person.
Zhou Kuangye’s lingering anger slowly dissipated as Su Ying bounced around happily.
Just moments ago, she had stubbornly refused to let him go, fearing he would die fighting the wild boar, her tears and snot smearing all over him.
His heart ached so much he almost wanted to agree to all her demands.
But he never forgot he was a soldier. The people’s interests came above everything else in his eyes. Now that the people were in danger, he had to step forward—it was his duty as a regiment leader.
However, with darkness having fallen and the danger doubled, he didn’t push his luck.
He coaxed her by saying he wouldn’t go hunt the wild boar that night, finally calming the little woman down.
She was still afraid he was just tricking her and insisted on following him here.
This little woman, with her heart and eyes full of him—after all these years, she was the only one who had ever placed him at the very center of her heart.
This affection was precious and burning, and he felt it deeply. He would hold onto it firmly.
His heart burned with warmth, his Adam’s apple bobbing. As soon as they returned home, he pressed the woman against the door panel, his voice low and magnetic. “Yingbao, thank you for caring so much about me. You’re so good.”