“Anyway, since you injured him, you’re responsible. Pay us fifty yuan—or you could just marry my son!”
Yunting couldn’t help but laugh out loud. How could someone say something so brazen with such a straight face?
“Xu Guifang, keep dreaming! How dare you say such things? I’m embarrassed for you! A woman your age, always looking for an advantage, and now you’ve set your sights on a female Zhiqing?” Yunting retorted.
Before she could say more, Aunt Meihua arrived.
“Zhao Meihua, what’s this got to do with you? Don’t think just because you’re the team leader’s wife I’m afraid of you.”
“Oh! I don’t need the title of team leader’s wife to stand my ground. I just can’t stand your scheming face. Everyone knows what your son is like. It’s obvious why Xiao Yun Zhiqing hit him—didn’t she deserve it?”
“Aunt Xu, if you really want an explanation, fine—I want one too. I came all the way here to support rural development, and your son immediately tried to make me his girlfriend. I refused, and he still tried to grab my hand. That’s harassment! I could have gone to the police in town to have him arrested; many people saw it, I have witnesses,” Yunting said, speaking each word deliberately.
She wouldn’t let anyone twist the facts or spread rumors.
While she didn’t care about her reputation, she didn’t want unnecessary trouble either.
Hearing that Yunting intended to involve the police, Xu Guifang immediately shut up, terrified. “Yun Zhiqing, don’t report it… maybe I was wrong… it’s all a misunderstanding… I’m sorry!”
“Aunt Xu, the whole village already knows what you did. If I don’t report it to prove my innocence, what’s left of my reputation?”
“I’m sorry! Tomorrow, I’ll apologize in front of the whole village and explain everything,” Xu Guifang promised.
“I’ll be waiting. Oh, and Aunt Xu, tell your son to remember what I said…”
“Understood…” Xu Guifang turned and ran off like a dog was chasing her.
“Xiao Yun Zhiqing, are you okay?” Aunt Meihua asked with concern.
“I’m fine, Auntie. I’m not someone to be bullied.”
“Yes, that’s the way. Otherwise, no one dares to mess with you.”
In the crowd, Zhao Weidong’s eyes flickered nervously.
Yunting was definitely not someone to mess with.
Unbeknownst to her, this encounter had made some people wary of her and nipped any ideas they had in the bud.
Li Baojun waited anxiously at home.
Normally, when his mother intervened, others couldn’t get away with anything.
So when she said she was going to confront Yunting, he didn’t stop her—he wanted her to teach Yunting a lesson too.
“Mom, why are you just back? How did it go?”
Panting, Xu Guifang said, “Son! Don’t mess with her anymore. Let’s try someone else.”
“What? Mom, even you can’t handle her?”
“That little brat is quick with her words. She said that if I caused her any more trouble, she’d report me to the police for harassment. Let’s not provoke her again. Oh, and she told me to remind you to remember what she said. Do you know what it was?”
Li Baojun froze, suddenly feeling pain shoot through his body. Every time she saw him, she hit him.
“Mom, I get it. We won’t touch her for now.” A dark gleam passed through his eyes—he would find another chance to teach her a lesson.
In the following days, he didn’t go out. The village began to spread rumors that Xiao Yun Zhiqing had beaten him so badly he couldn’t get out of bed. Everyone marveled at her fierceness: she was not to be provoked.
Fierce Yunting: “…”
Because of the incident with Li Baojun, Yunting became famous in the village.
Li Zhaodi stayed in the hospital for a week before returning. Normally quiet, she became even more silent.
Yin Jiao, who had accompanied her in the hospital, also came back exhausted, no longer arrogant and domineering—though it was unclear if she had truly changed or if it was temporary.
Yunting brought two eggs and half a pound of red dates to see her, and Yang Qingqing brought two apples. Li Zhaodi was surprised; she hadn’t expected anyone to come visit her.
She gave them her first genuine smile since being injured. “Thank you…” Her voice trembled slightly.
Yunting and Yang Qingqing exchanged glances, unsure how to comfort her—they weren’t experienced in that.
Yunting patted her shoulder. “Everything will get better. If your heart faces the sun, why fear sadness?”
Yang Qingqing glanced at her, and Yunting straightened her back proudly, as if saying, “See how capable I am?”
The two left Li Zhaodi’s room, and she didn’t even notice, staring blankly at the gifts they had brought.
“Yun Zhiqing, do you know? You’ve become famous in the village now,” Li Hongxia hesitated, then told her.
Yunting was confused. Famous? For what?
Seeing her expression, Li Hongxia realized the village gossip hadn’t reached her and explained the reason she had become notorious.
“Do I look fierce?” Yunting asked.
“Not really…”
Yunting doubted herself. Her beauty hadn’t made her famous—now she was famous for beating people. Life was so unfair.
She quickly finished her work, had the scorekeeper record her points, and left work half an hour early. She planned to head into the mountains.
This time, no one followed her. As usual, she used her abilities to sense her surroundings while collecting dry branches. She hadn’t spotted any large animals yet, so she ventured further. Today, she intended to dig up ginseng that she had found previously but hadn’t had time to harvest.
She collected branches along the way, storing some in her space. When she reached her destination, she found the red fruit—sure enough, ginseng berries. She even stored the roots in her space to avoid damaging them during digging.
She also collected a few ginseng seedlings to plant in her space, leaving some for others. Using her abilities, she accelerated their growth slightly.
“Huh… isn’t this Polygonum multiflorum? Collect it…”
“Wild rabbits… wild chickens… Sister’s here.”
Yunting flitted through the forest like a joyful bird, collecting everything she found. Today’s harvest was abundant—she got many hazel mushrooms, planning to make mushroom meat sauce to send home, including to her second brother and Li Wanting.
Hazel mushrooms are tender, chewy, and fragrant.
Add minced meat, and the flavor is excellent.
She carried a wild chicken and the mushrooms in her backpack, storing the rest in her space. With two bundles of firewood in her hands, she descended the mountain, satisfied with her day’s work.