Qin Jiabao thought for a moment, then nodded:
“All right. Since it’s just an engagement, there’s no need to make it too elaborate. This afternoon, go to the town and buy some candies. We already have the tea your eldest uncle gave us, so no need to get more. Tomorrow, we’ll invite our relatives and close neighbors over, have some wedding candies and tea, and that will officially set the engagement!”
Yao Guihua, standing nearby, pursed her lips and muttered quietly:
“Back when Chengyi got engaged to Miss Su, they just exchanged tokens through a matchmaker. Nothing like all this fuss!”
Qin Jiabao shot his wife a dissatisfied look:
“That’s just a woman’s way of thinking! Back then, Chengyi hadn’t joined the army yet. Now, he’s at least a squad leader. An engagement is a big deal, so of course there should be some ceremony!”
He turned to Qin Chengyi and instructed:
“Chengyi, don’t listen to your mother. This afternoon, go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy some candies. Your mother and I will notify our relatives and neighbors who are close to us, so they can come tomorrow and be witnesses!”
Qin Chengyi nodded at his father’s words. Somehow, ever since he broke off his engagement with Su Luowan, he felt an emptiness in his heart, as if he had lost something important.
Yet reason told him that breaking off the engagement with Su Luowan was the wisest choice. Whether he married Xu Xiuqin or not, Su Luowan was not the best match for him.
Although Su Luowan was exceptionally beautiful, she brought no real advantage to his future. Xu Xiuqin might not be as attractive, but her family background was much better.
Thinking this, Qin Chengyi unconsciously clenched his fists, as if to strengthen his resolve even further.
That afternoon, Su Luowan went with her younger brother to gather firewood, venturing a bit farther than usual. Everyone wanted to use these days of leisure before winter to prepare, and most of the branches near the foothills had already been picked over by the villagers.
As Su Luowan gazed at the distant mountains, ready to continue, Su Luonian grabbed her arm:
“Sis, let’s not go any further. The village elders said we shouldn’t go deep into the mountains. There might be wild beasts there!”
Su Luowan nodded. In the past, with her skills, she wouldn’t have feared those beasts. Besides, she had her space; even without mystical power now, she could always retreat there in danger.
But today, she was with little Nian, and it wasn’t convenient to enter the space. Better to wait for another time.
Still, even without going deep into the mountains, they collected a good haul. Besides gathering lots of firewood, they found wood ear mushrooms, regular mushrooms, and some wild vegetables.
Su Luowan also noticed some medicinal herbs. Most were common and couldn’t compare to the ones in her space, but a few didn’t exist there, so she quietly transplanted them into her space, letting them continue to grow happily.
Carrying a full basket down the mountain wasn’t easy, which further strengthened Su Luowan’s resolve to cultivate mystical power.
After leaving the forest, they saw their home yard. Su Luonian cheerfully said:
“Sis, we’re almost home!”
He hadn’t walked such a long mountain path in a while, especially while carrying a basket.
Before Su Luowan could respond, a female voice came from the side:
“Luowan, you collected so much firewood today!”
Su Luowan turned and quickly recalled the girl’s information from her memories.
It was Lin Erya from the same village—the original owner’s only close friend in this village.
The three Su siblings were ridiculed by other village children for having a missing father. Lin Erya, though she had a father, was from a family that favored sons over daughters. She and her sister did all the hard work at home, while her brother and younger brother did nothing. Even though the family was extremely poor, her brother still lived a life of ease.
Thus, she and the original Su Luowan felt a sense of shared hardship. Being of similar age, they grew close.
Of course, this was the original owner’s perspective. Su Luowan, from memories and Lin Erya’s expression, sensed that Lin Erya’s feelings toward the original owner weren’t truly friendly. Instead, this girl seemed to derive a sense of superiority from her relationship with the original Su Luowan.
Thinking this, Su Luowan responded lightly to Lin Erya, who was waiting for her reply:
“Mm.”
Lin Erya was slightly taken aback. Su Luowan had always greeted her with a smile. How could she suddenly be so cold? Perhaps it was because of the broken engagement with Qin Chengyi?
Lin Erya thought she had guessed correctly and secretly curled her lips. Su Luowan was really useless—she couldn’t even keep such a good fiancé like Qin Chengyi.
She had assumed Qin Chengyi would return to marry Su Luowan, but things had turned out differently. If only she had acted earlier, before that foxish girl at the youth point, Qin Chengyi could have been hers.
Now, Qin Chengyi was a soldier, and his eldest uncle was the village squad leader. Marrying him would improve her parents’ treatment of her.
But… she had been too late.
Lin Erya collected her thoughts and feigned concern, saying:
“Luowan, I heard about you breaking off the engagement with Qin Chengyi. Don’t be too sad—you’ll definitely find someone better in the future!”
Though she said it, in her heart, she didn’t really care. She thought there was no man better than Qin Chengyi within dozens of miles. Su Luowan really had no luck.
Thinking this, Lin Erya’s eyes flickered with schadenfreude.
Su Luowan, of course, noticed the hidden emotion and coldly smirked inwardly, though her face remained calm:
“Mm, I’m sure I will!”
Lin Erya didn’t expect this response, and was momentarily stunned. Then she gave a dry laugh, her eyes showing disdain.
She thought for a moment and added:
“Luowan, I also heard that Qin Chengyi and Xu Zhiqing are getting engaged tomorrow!”
At this, a trace of impatience appeared in Su Luowan’s eyes. She had been very tolerant of her fellow disciples’ nieces back in the modern era, but looking at this girl now, she felt nothing but annoyance.
Lin Erya was clearly trying to hit her sore spot, hoping to see her lose composure, to satisfy her own petty superiority.
But this time, she would be disappointed.
Su Luowan’s gaze grew icy:
“What does someone else’s engagement have to do with me?”
Saying this, she turned to Su Luonian:
“Nian, let’s go home.”
Seeing Su Luowan turn to leave, Lin Erya couldn’t help reaching out to stop her:
“Sigh… Luowan!”