The two exchanged a smile, admiration for each other evident in their eyes.
They had the feeling that they had met far too late.
“Comrade Lu, where do you live? I will walk you back.” There was no way Gu Jianwen would allow a young woman to return by herself.
Lu Xiangxiang was just about to answer when she suddenly remembered Chang Jianjun telling her to go back to her parents and ask them for money. Her expression immediately became unnatural.
“No need, Comrade Gu. I have something to take care of at the brigade leader’s house. We can meet again next time.”
Afraid that he might ask more questions, Lu Xiangxiang hurried away.
Gu Jianwen reached out as if he wanted to stop her, but then realized that she really did not seem to want to walk with him.
“Forget it. She probably really does have something urgent to take care of at the brigade leader’s house.”
After thinking about it for a moment, Gu Jianwen smiled.
“I never expected that even in such a remote little village, there would be two girls with such extraordinary grace, Mu Mianmian and Comrade Lu.”
As he spoke, he walked toward the educated youth residence.
Lu Xiangxiang had actually just made up an excuse. Because of Mu Mianmian, the Mu family was the last place she wanted to visit.
Fortunately, she had not gone far when she encountered Chang Jianjun running toward her out of breath.
“Xiangxiang.”
Chang Jianjun immediately pulled her into his arms, his body trembling uncontrollably. The fear and uncertainty on his face could not have been more obvious.
Lu Xiangxiang, however, misunderstood. She thought he had run so quickly and looked so frightened because he was afraid of losing her. Her heart softened instantly, and most of her anger disappeared.
Forget it. Jianjun probably still had not adjusted after returning from abroad.
On top of that, his job had not been properly arranged yet, and he had just been chased around by the Mu family. That was probably why he had become so anxious.
Lu Xiangxiang hugged Chang Jianjun in return.
“Husband, I was wrong just now. Since we are already husband and wife, we should face difficulties together. How about this? Tomorrow, I will take you home to meet my parents. I will also ask them for some more money and coupons for us to keep with us.”
Chang Jianjun had never expected that after being chased and beaten by the Mu family, he would actually run into Lu Xiangxiang, and it seemed that Xiangxiang had misunderstood the situation.
But this misunderstanding was rather convenient.
He might as well let her continue misunderstanding him.
“My wife really is the best to me.”
The two of them kissed right there on the road.
By the next day, the entire village knew about it.
That was all thanks to Auntie Qin.
While working in the fields, she said, “Do not even get me started. Those two were kissing so passionately that even someone my age felt embarrassed watching them.”
Auntie Li beside her laughed as well.
“Could that be a custom overseas? When they get the urge, they cannot even wait to get home and just take care of it right there?”
“Hahahaha…”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Mu Mianmian was wearing a soft pink dress and sitting on a little stool beneath a large tree. She listened to the gossip and enjoyed herself immensely.
The newly arrived educated youths became more and more dissatisfied as they watched.
“Why does Mu Mianmian not have to work?”
Zhu Xiajuan swung her hoe down and almost hit her own foot because she had used too much force.
The experienced educated youth Li Xiao was already working very efficiently and was almost finished earning enough work points for the day.
“Because she is the brigade leader’s granddaughter. Her whole family has more than a dozen people working to support her. She only needs to open her mouth when food arrives and hold out her hands when clothes are brought to her. She is lazy, greedy, and useless. I really do not understand why anyone would want someone like her, especially when they even brought so many betrothal gifts!”
The sourness in Li Xiao’s voice could be smelled from far away.
Mu Mianmian tossed aside the melon seed shells, stood up, and mischievously stuck her tongue out at Li Xiao.
“That is right. I have people supporting me, people wanting me, and people pampering me. Are you jealous and envious?”
She placed both hands on her waist and swayed her head from side to side. With her delicate features, round baby face, and pair of little canine teeth, she looked just like a soft and adorable little child.
The educated youths were so angry that their teeth itched, yet there was nothing they could do.
After all, what Mu Mianmian said was the truth.
“Auntie Qin, you all carry on working. I am going to take a look around the mountain.”
Mu Mianmian went home to get her bamboo basket and then left.
After reaching the mountain, she first set up a trap and then began wandering around the surrounding area.
“Wow! There are actually so many matsutake mushrooms here!”
Having discovered something new, Mu Mianmian crouched down to dig up the matsutake mushrooms.
At that very moment, a bullet flew directly over her head.
If she had not happened to crouch down, she would already have been a corpse.
“Hm?”
Mu Mianmian looked around.
Was that a gunshot?
That could not be right. She must have heard incorrectly.
“Oh? There are even more matsutake mushrooms ahead!”
Mu Mianmian carried her bamboo basket and happily hopped toward the front.
By sheer coincidence, she once again precisely avoided another bullet.
“Hm?”
This time, Mu Mianmian was certain that she had not imagined it.
“There really is a gunshot!”
The moment she finished speaking, a scream rang out.
“Ah!”
Several men rushed out, forced the injured man to the ground, and put handcuffs on him.
Yan Tingfeng came running over like a gust of wind and pulled Mu Mianmian tightly into his arms.
Only then did he begin checking her from head to toe.
“Mianmian, are you hurt?”
It had been far too dangerous just now.
When he realized that the enemy had turned his gun toward Mu Mianmian, his heart had nearly leapt out of his chest from fright.
Mu Mianmian shook her head in confusion.
“No, I am fine. Brother Tingfeng, who is that person?”
Yan Tingfeng said, “He is the target of our mission. He is a spy.”
Xie Yanshu walked over with a smile.
“That fellow is really unlucky. I wonder who put a trap there. He happened to step right into it.”
Mu Mianmian obediently raised her hand like a good student answering a question.
“I did.”
“Hm?”
Yan Tingfeng lowered his head and looked at her.
Mu Mianmian innocently explained, “I only wanted to catch some wild game. I did not mean to hurt anyone.”
After all, hardly anyone ever came to this area.
Xie Yanshu stared at Mu Mianmian for a while before smiling and bumping his shoulder against Yan Tingfeng.
“Not bad, Regiment Commander. Your taste really is excellent. You actually managed to win over such a beautiful girl.”
After saying that, Xie Yanshu turned toward Mu Mianmian.
“Hello, sister in law. My name is Xie Yanshu. I grew up with him.”
Mu Mianmian’s cheeks became slightly warm.
Yan Tingfeng rolled his eyes at Xie Yanshu.
“Stop talking nonsense. We are not married yet.”
“Is that not just a matter of time?”
Xie Yanshu understood Yan Tingfeng far too well.
Once Yan Tingfeng made up his mind about something, even ten oxen could not pull him back. The same was true when he decided that someone was the person he wanted. He would never let go.
“But Regiment Commander, your nickname in the army is the Living King of Hell. This delicate little girl could not possibly have agreed to marry you because you threatened her, could she?”
Xie Yanshu really was rather suspicious.
Before Yan Tingfeng could say anything, Mu Mianmian shook her head.
“No, that is not true. I am willingly marrying Brother Tingfeng. I like him.”
Her straightforward and unreserved personality was indeed quite rare.
A warm smile like spring sunshine appeared on Yan Tingfeng’s face. He raised his hand and gently tucked the hair beside Mu Mianmian’s temple behind her ear.
“He just loves talking nonsense. Mianmian, you do not need to pay attention to him.”
As he spoke, he took her hand and held it firmly, placing himself between her and Xie Yanshu. His possessiveness was unmistakable.
Xie Yanshu was so shocked that his jaw dropped.
Was this really the same Yan Tingfeng who was fierce, always scolding people the moment he opened his mouth, could defeat ten opponents by himself, and had become so feared that people trembled at the mere mention of him?
“Regiment Commander, the injury to his foot is not serious. We can take him back for questioning first.”
Two young men came over, supporting the injured enemy between them.