Luo Lingfeng’s face instantly flushed bright red.
His hands hung awkwardly in midair, his eyes darting around.
Fine beads of sweat even formed on his forehead.
To hide his embarrassment, he tried hard to make his expression look natural.
The corner of his mouth pulled into an awkward, forced smile.
Stammering, he said, “Um… I… I just saw a piece of duckweed stuck on the tip of your nose and wanted… wanted to help you remove it.”
Then his face suddenly turned cold, his tone dark and stern as he scolded,
“You’re a grown woman, yet your thinking has serious problems. After work tomorrow, I must take you to the threshing ground and properly teach you a lesson.”
He Shiyi nearly collapsed.
She had smiled so much trying to flatter him that her face hurt.
And it was all for nothing.
Based on memories from her previous life, He Shiyi decided if soft tactics didn’t work, she’d go hard.
She dug up old history: “You’re so heartless, turning your back on family and feelings! When we were little, I got beaten at home plenty of times just to sneak food out for you. Have you forgotten all that?”
“That’s a different matter. These are two completely different issues and can’t be mixed together. As team leader, I always separate rewards and punishments clearly. If criticism is needed, it will happen!”
As Luo Lingfeng spoke, he turned around, facing away from her.
Fumbling as he hurriedly put his clothes back on.
Cursing himself inside: Stupid! You can’t even understand what ‘getting closer’ means. Five years in the army wasted.
Angrily, he left He Shiyi behind.
Taking big strides toward the village.
“Brigade Leader, you’re still up this late?”
Along the village road, villagers lay sleeping outside to enjoy the cool air.
Some used beds; others simply laid straw mats on the ground.
Those asleep and half-asleep alike lost their drowsiness when they heard the heavy footsteps.
They all got up to greet Luo Lingfeng.
He Shiyi lagged far behind.
Under the moonlight, her little face looked pale, head lowered.
Looking like someone who had suffered terrible misfortune.
Anyone could tell she had been frightened badly tonight.
“He Cuohua is really vicious, sending Shadan to ruin such a good girl.”
“Good thing it didn’t happen! If something had happened to such a pure young girl, how would she live the rest of her life?”
“He Cuohua playing thief and shouting ‘catch thief,’ even reporting to the brigade leader to catch people ‘messing around.’ How shameless!”
“If I’d been there, I would’ve slapped her.”
“Wu Fengshou was sent to the town clinic by his family. They say He Shiyi beat him. Looking at how pitiful and delicate she looks, I don’t believe it!”
…
Luo Lingfeng walked ahead with his hands behind his back.
He Shiyi followed far behind.
Amid the villagers’ chatter, they reached the entrance of He Shiyi’s home.
“It gets cold at night. Go back and change out of your wet clothes quickly.”
Luo Lingfeng said quietly.
Then walked quickly toward his own house not far away.
After going a short distance, he turned back, seeming less angry, making conversation just to talk.
In a low voice he said, “You still have work tomorrow. Go to bed early.”
He Shiyi’s eyes flashed—she felt there was hope.
She trotted up in front of him.
Her charming little face pushed right under his eyes.
“I was really frightened tonight. Can I rest for a few days?”
Luo Lingfeng’s gaze deepened.
His voice became even lower.
“I have no problem with that. I’m just afraid your family won’t agree.”
“My legs belong to me. I’ll do whatever I want.”
He Shiyi threw out the domineering line and turned to go home.
Under the moonlight stood three gray mud-brick rooms without a courtyard wall.
Two wooden doors for the main room, and one window each on the east and west rooms.
Torn cloth hung over the windows.
Next to the rooms was a low kitchen.
The kitchen had no door, moonlight shining straight inside.
You could see firewood piled in front of the stove.
“You useless girl! The whole family’s waiting for you to fetch water so we can wash our feet. Why are you only coming back now? Where were you running off to fool around?”
The main door opened.
An old, short, shriveled woman came out.
Wearing a dark blue cross-collar jacket, loose waist pants, and black-brown round cloth shoes.
The hardships of life were carved deeply into her face with wrinkles.
He Shiyi searched her past-life memories.
This old woman was her grandmother in her previous life, Mrs. He.
Domineering, unreasonable, greedy for small advantages, and the typical type who prioritized her own brothers’ family.
Every sentence she spoke had profanity in it—like she couldn’t talk properly without it.
He Shiyi urgently wanted to change out of her wet clothes.
As she walked inside, she snapped back irritably,
“Why do you have to wait for me to fetch water? If I don’t fetch it, can’t you wash your feet?”
Grandma He froze.
[Did this girl take the wrong medicine? Why is she talking back?]
“You little slut, all the water in this house is fetched by you. If you don’t fetch it, who will? You expect Grandma to fetch it?”
“The whole family worked all day. Came home to an empty water jar. No dinner cooked, no feet washed, just lay down on the bed.”
“We’ve raised you for over twenty years. Fetching some water will kill you?”
“You say you went with Cuohua to catch bugs for the chickens, but you were really just slacking off.”
Grandma He went to bed early and didn’t know what happened in the cornfield.
Still nagging, she followed He Shiyi into the house.
The three mud-brick rooms—
The east room housed He Zhu and Lu Guihua, the parents.
The west room housed He Shiyi’s older brother He Yi and his wife Chen Juan.
The four of them ignored the heat.
The women waved two tattered cloths like flags.
The men, sweating heavily, tamped the ground with sticks.
The noise outside didn’t disturb anyone working hard inside the rooms.
He Shiyi entered the main room.
A straw bed was laid on the ground.
Around it were mud bricks stacked about a foot high.
On top was a woven reed mat.
On the mat lay an old coarse striped bedsheet.
He Shiyi blocked out the noises with her sensitive hearing.
Her face flushed red, stomach churning with disgust.
Relying on memories from her previous life, using the moonlight shining into the room, she lit the kerosene lamp on the big table.
Lifted the mat and searched underneath for clean clothes.
Those clothes were bought when Luo Lingfeng returned from the army.
He had secretly asked her past self to go to the city with him to buy them.
He wanted to bribe her past self to break off her engagement with Wu Fengshou.
But her past self only listened to her parents, so the bribe failed.
Even though it failed, he still gave her the clothes.
Her past self treasured them and never wore them, hiding them under the mat.
Whenever she felt upset, she would take them out to touch and admire.
“Grandma, where are the synthetic blouse and cotton-silk pants I put under the mat?”
Grandma He lay down on the straw bed.
Yawning, half asleep.
“Your great-uncle came tonight. Said your cousin fixed a marriage. The bride specifically wanted a new outfit. Your clothes were under the mat for two years and barely worn, so Grandma let your great-uncle take them.”
“What!?”
He Shiyi exploded with anger.
Hands on hips, she screamed,
“I wouldn’t even wear those clothes myself! What right do you have to give them to some distant relative?”
Grandma He jerked upright in shock.
All sleepiness gone.
Among all the grandchildren, He Shiyi had always been the most filial.
Warming the bed in winter, fanning in summer.
Bringing wash water in the morning, foot-washing water at night.
Serving food directly to her.
After meals, even massaging her shoulders.
She had never once raised her voice to Grandma He.
“You damn girl, did you eat gunpowder tonight? Why is your temper so bad? You’re just a money-losing girl. What in this house belongs to you? Besides, your cousin isn’t some distant relative. He’s the root of our Li family.”