Sheng Jinhe grew interested. Mainly because after that, Shen Wang didn’t report anything more about the big courtyard, and although she had a sense of how the Meng family would end up, she hadn’t gotten confirmation yet.
“Tell me, tell me in detail—what happened to the Meng family?” Sheng Jinhe asked excitedly.
He Yining hadn’t expected her to be so curious. Well, this was the Meng family—the ones responsible for the Li family being sent down!
“At first, the Meng family reported that their home had been robbed. But when the police asked what was missing, they hesitated and didn’t say. Not long after, some committee people came and raided the house. And this raid wasn’t ordinary—they actually found a lot of… evidence of crimes. In short, criminal evidence. Then the military, the police, and the committee all went to the Meng family.”
“In the end, the military took away the Meng family’s adult men. The women and children were taken by the committee. As for the police—they went home empty-handed.”
He Yining had only heard bits of this. She’d been busy preparing to be sent down, waking early and sleeping late every day.
“You mean the Meng family being sent down came here too?”
Sheng Jinhe pursed her lips. Damn, all kinds of demons and monsters are showing up here—this swarm of flies is interfering with her love life!
“I’m not sure which brigade specifically, but it should be in the same commune as us. And I guess the Meng family wouldn’t voluntarily go near the Li family. Anyone with sense would keep their distance. Now that the Meng family is also in a sent-down status, they can’t show off. Even before, they couldn’t compete with the Lis, so they resorted to underhanded methods. Now even in the same impoverished situation, they still can’t match up!”
He Yining wasn’t intimately familiar with both families, but gossip in the big courtyard was everywhere, and her mother was one of the main sources. Even if she didn’t want to know, she ended up learning some things.
“Hmph, they brought it on themselves. They won’t have a good end!” Sheng Jinhe sneered.
“Hehe, Sister He, you were scary just now… but still very beautiful!” He Yining said timidly.
“I won’t let them bully my brother-in-law’s family,” Sheng Jinhe said.
Although this outcome had already been caused by her actions, it wasn’t enough. Now that they’d been sent down here, even better—pain inflicted slowly is the most effective!
“Sister… brother-in-law?”
“Sister He, can you tell me which Li family member you’re interested in?” He Yining tried cautiously.
“What? Several eligible ones in the Li family?”
Sheng Jinhe truly didn’t understand the Li family’s members.
“Yes, there are. You wouldn’t…”
“Mm, tell me then!” Sheng Jinhe said frankly.
“All right, Sister He. The Li family has Grandpa Li and Grandma Li. They have three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Li Shikai, inherited Grandpa Li’s legacy and joined the military. He has reached the position of commander in the Central South Military Region. He wasn’t affected too much this time and stayed in Yangcheng with Aunt Li. But his son, Li Zhanye, and daughter, Li Jingjing, were sent down with Grandpa Li.”
Upon hearing Li Zhanye’s name, Sheng Jinhe looked sharply at He Yining.
He Yining paused, about to speak, but Sheng Jinhe gestured for her to continue.
“The second uncle, Li Chengjia, has two sons—Li Zhansong and Li Zhanbo. His wife was also sent down. The third uncle, Li Zhi, was a late-born child and hasn’t married yet!”
“That’s everyone from the Li family who came?” He Yining finished.
“Huh? Weren’t there two daughters too?” Sheng Jinhe asked, puzzled.
“Oh, they publicly severed ties—they announced it in the newspaper. I still have that day’s paper. Do you want to see it?”
She kept the newspaper in her bag, thinking she could use it as padding wherever she went.
“I want it!”
He Yining dug it out of her bag and handed it over.
“Sister He, I have one more piece of news.”
“The Li family’s youngest aunt married the second son of the Meng family. Even though they severed ties with the Lis, the Meng family was also sent down, so she’ll definitely be here too!”
He Yining finished speaking and saw Sheng Jinhe frown.
This… left Sheng Jinhe speechless.
It was a bit messy—she needed to sort it out and match it with the story. But she noticed the novel hardly described the other Li family members. Even Li Zhanye’s father, now a commander in Yangcheng, wasn’t mentioned much. So how did they fare there?
Severing ties like that might happen with the two foolish aunts, but never with her future in-laws.
Suddenly, Sheng Jinhe felt that her love at first sight with Li Zhanye might be fate—meant to let her save the Li family, helping them get through this disaster together, except for the two aunts, who were already dead in her eyes.
And she was willing to accept it!
After all, this military family had served the country for generations, yet had been framed by some trash. They deserved to be pulled out of the mud—and they’d also become her few remaining family.
“So, Sister He, which one do you like? Not Li Zhansong, right?”
Li Zhanbo was only 17—Sister He probably wouldn’t be interested.
But if it was Li Zhansong… would she have to give up her feelings?
He Yining’s question brought Sheng Jinhe’s thoughts back.
“You’re not here to chase a husband, are you?”
Although phrased as a question, the tone left little doubt.
“You like Li Zhansong?”
Sheng Jinhe whispered.
He Yining blushed instantly. People nowadays were still conservative—not like Sheng Jinhe, who’d been through everything… well, at least heard everything.
“Don’t worry, the one I like is definitely Li Zhanye!”
Then Sheng Jinhe noticed He Yining’s eyes widening, as if saying, How can you be so reckless?
“No good?”
“Th-that Sister He… maybe you should reconsider. Brother Li is indeed outstanding, but… he’s too intimidating!”
Once she called her “Sister,” He Yining felt obligated to give advice.
“Then who do you think is more intimidating between us two?”
Sheng Jinhe didn’t notice when a small stone had appeared in her hand. She crushed it to powder barehanded and flung it.
He Yining was about to speak but got choked by saliva at the sight.
“Perfect, perfect! You and Brother Li are made for each other!”
A male Yama and female Rakshasa?
No, no. Brother Li and Sister He aren’t terrifying at all!
They were a perfect match—talented and beautiful, a pair made in heaven.
“Yes, I think we match too!”
“Li Zhanye is scary?” Sheng Jinhe asked further. “I think he’s great!”
“Not scary at all. Not even a little.”
Only the courtyard kids—of the same age, younger, or even a few years older—feared him.
But why they feared him… no one could really say.
In short, Li Zhanye was the nightmare of the courtyard children.
Although his face was indeed good-looking, no one in the Li family was ugly. So she liked Li Zhanbo. She’d worked hard to get the family sent down here—she hoped the second Li brother wouldn’t despise her.
Just as things were starting to bloom, the Li family ran into trouble. But she wouldn’t give up, so she followed them here.
She hadn’t expected Sister He to feel the same way. No wonder she felt so close at first sight—there was a high chance they’d become like family!
Li family: “…” Arranged.