Luo Lingfeng’s tone grew increasingly serious.
“What you just said could get you labeled as an extreme individualist. You could be dragged to the commune and criticized.”
Then he abruptly changed his tone.
Putting on the air of a production team leader.
Cold and businesslike: “He Shiyi, there’s something wrong with your thinking. As the brigade leader of the Nanfeng Village production team, tomorrow morning I’ll take you to the threshing ground for criticism and re-education.”
He Shiyi was stunned. “…”
[I just escaped a disaster, and now I’m going to be criticized? That’s too miserable.]
[How can he change his attitude faster than flipping a book page!]
In the memories of her previous life, Nanfeng Village was remote, beyond direct government reach.
Luo Lingfeng controlled the daily labor assignments of the production team.
He controlled the distribution of food and supplies.
His words were democracy. His words were reason.
Not officially a cadre, yet more powerful than one—Luo Lingfeng.
Holding the power of life and death over all the villagers of Nanfeng Village.
Offend him, and you go hungry.
The 21st-century He Shiyi could not stand hunger!
So she compromised: “Brigade Leader, we’re fellow villagers and childhood playmates. Give me some face. I won’t extort you, and you don’t criticize or re-educate me. Let’s call it even, okay?”
“Alright! It’s settled then. And don’t call me Brigade Leader anymore. Like before—call me brother.”
A sly glint flashed in Luo Lingfeng’s deep eyes.
He agreed readily.
Neither of them spoke again and walked forward in silence.
When they reached the river at the east end of the village, Luo Lingfeng stopped.
He stared at the dark brown water surface.
And said quietly, “No one’s here. Go wash up. I’ll keep watch for you.”
He Shiyi looked at the dark water and felt uneasy.
In the 21st century, she had never bathed in a river.
She hesitated. “It’s not good to bathe here, right? I don’t have clean clothes to change into, and no soap. You’re standing on the shore, and there might be snakes in the water. I’ll go home to wash.”
Luo Lingfeng’s expression turned serious.
Inside, he felt depressed and stifled, like being covered by dark clouds.
He hadn’t expected that, in He Shiyi’s mind, he would inspire the same fear as a snake.
Then he comforted himself.
[The girl was scared senseless. Why should I argue with someone who’s scared silly?]
“Going home to wash is too troublesome. Just wash here! If you’re afraid of snakes, I’ll go down and chase them away.”
As he spoke, Luo Lingfeng glanced around.
He moved more than ten meters away from He Shiyi.
Quickly kicked off his Liberation shoes.
Took off his shirt and pants.
Revealing firm, well-developed muscles.
His bronze skin glowed with a healthy, captivating sheen under the moonlight.
The lines of his body looked like a masterpiece carved by a master sculptor.
His chest muscles were broad and solid, clearly defined.
He Shiyi watched him with a playful curiosity.
Feeling that Luo Lingfeng’s perfect, well-built body was no worse than any popular film or TV star of the 21st century.
Her gaze was misunderstood by Luo Lingfeng, who thought she was mesmerized by him.
His face couldn’t help but fill with excitement.
His eyes carried a warm, ambiguous pride.
He wanted to ask whether his body looked perfect.
But felt embarrassed and didn’t dare look at her directly.
His eyes hinted, yet deliberately avoided her.
He Shiyi said nothing, just watched quietly.
But inwardly sneered.
[Hmph! Men—what are you showing off for? I’ve seen plenty of shirtless pretty boys in movies and TV.]
Luo Lingfeng would never have imagined— that his shameless display this time would fail to move the heart of the 21st-century He Shiyi.
The 21st-century He Shiyi had never been interested in men.
She felt most men were sloppy.
Smelly, and full of male chauvinism.
Even if men dressed well, once they took off their clothes, they wouldn’t look that good anyway.
Once married, most men wanted to be hands-off bosses.
She felt having a man beside her would restrict her freedom and independence.
And after seeing Shadan naked before, she felt even more disgusted by men as a species.
Yet her disdainful gaze, under the moonlight, looked especially beautiful.
Like a clear spring shimmering with silver light.
The gauzy moonlight fell across her face.
As her eyes moved, they carried a playful, lively charm.
From afar, Luo Lingfeng secretly glanced at her several times.
After a whole day of farm labor, his fatigue vanished completely.
He felt like he had drunk strong liquor and become dizzy with it.
His usual cold, authoritative image completely disappeared.
Wearing his army-issue big shorts, raising his arms and fists, with a flushed handsome face, he spun once in the moonlight.
Then dove headfirst into the water.
Stretching his arms, splashing around on the surface.
Swimming toward deeper water.
Muttering softly, “The water isn’t deep, and there are no snakes. Come down.”
He Shiyi stood on the bank, hesitating.
In her previous life’s memories, there was very little water in the family water jar.
If she wanted to bathe at home, she had to carry buckets to the well on the west side of the village.
After fetching water, she had to boil it.
Even after boiling, there was no large basin for bathing.
And no room specifically for bathing either.
In the past, when she wanted to bathe, she would usually go with several girls and wash in the river after dark.
“Sigh… what a miserable life.”
He Shiyi sighed and walked to the shallow shore.
She sat down and took off her cloth shoes.
Washed them in the water for a long time.
Until the urine smell was gone.
Wringing them dry, she put them on the bank to air.
Still wearing her clothes, she slowly stepped into the river.
Letting the water cover her knees, then thighs.
Finally holding her breath and submerging her whole body.
Swimming wasn’t unfamiliar to He Shiyi.
She used to swim often in pools.
Her arms cut through the water, forgetting all worries and unease.
Enjoying the coolness of the river, swimming freely in deeper water.
When she got tired, she closed her eyes and floated on her back on the surface.
“Don’t soak too long. Hurry and wash up, then go back.”
Luo Lingfeng’s low voice, carrying a hint of gentleness, came from the shallow water near her.
He Shiyi flipped over and slipped underwater.
Only her head showed above the surface.
In her previous life, she had been reserved and restrained.
And she wasn’t an open or casual person either.
“Brigade Leader, stay farther away from me! If people see you this close, it won’t look good.”
Since becoming adults, Luo Lingfeng rarely had close contact with her.
He looked unconcerned.
“In summer heat, men, women, young, and old all bathe in the river. And it’s late at night—no one will see.”
With a “splash,” Luo Lingfeng punched the water surface.
Sending countless droplets flying.
Splashing all over He Shiyi’s face and head.
“When we were kids, we stayed in the water all summer playing. At thirteen or fourteen, you still followed behind me catching fish and shrimp. Now you act distant.”
He Shiyi’s playful side suddenly surfaced.
“You’re the brigade leader, yet you don’t care about your image, splashing water on villagers. I’ll splash you too!”
In an instant, a water fight broke out between them.
A grown young woman and a young man, playing like children.
Yet suppressing their voices, afraid someone might hear.
Attacking each other, neither willing to yield.
Wave after wave of water curtains collided.
Joy filled the entire riverbank.
Memories from her previous life flashed through He Shiyi’s mind.
When they were young, they really did have many water fights.
Often playing until sunset.
A wave of water crashed toward her.
He Shiyi failed to dodge and fell face-first into the water.
“He Shiyi, you actually lost for once. When we were kids, I never won against you.”
Luo Lingfeng wanted to laugh triumphantly.
But remembering the village’s strict social atmosphere, he held it back.
Only letting out suppressed chuckles.