Chapter 21

Actually, when Zhou Shanshan first came to the countryside, she was hot and heavy with Chen Jiefang.

It was only after Gu Dahai began passionately pursuing Zhou Shanshan that he broke off his engagement with someone else.

So when Zhou Shanshan suddenly got together with Chen Jiefang, the villagers didn’t find it strange.

Now Song Wanyue was here to break up this “official couple.”

Li Jiaojiao was inside getting bowls and chopsticks when she heard crying. She rushed out and asked,
“Yang Liu, why are you crying? Who bullied you? Don’t cry, just tell us—we’ll help you.”

The educated youths had to stand united. If the villagers bullied one of them, they had to demand justice.

Song Wanyue spread her hands and said, “It’s because Chen Jiefang gave to Zhou Shanshan the materials Yang Liu had given him. She’s heartbroken.”

Li Jiaojiao sighed. “Ah, first stirrings of love… a girl lost in affection—it’s hard to put into words.”

“Yang Liu, Yang Liu, I told you already. Chen Jiefang is nothing but an empty shell. He’s only a little good-looking, that’s all. Once you get into university, there will be plenty of male students. Why hang yourself from this one tree? Useless.”

Might as well be stupid to death.

Not like Song Wanyue, who had backbone—when a friend said to let go, she just let go.

Yang Liu sobbed, “It’s my first love. It’s rare for me to really like a man, and he grew in my heart. Of course I couldn’t control it, of course it hurts. But I’ll be fine. You’re right—there are plenty of men. I should let go.”

No wonder the ancients said love wounds people. She, once such a lively and cheerful girl, had become someone who cried all the time.

“You’d better remember what you said,” Song Wanyue pressed. “What if Chen Jiefang really gets together with Zhou Shanshan? You know, Gu Dahai only has a junior high diploma. Zhou Shanshan wants to take the college entrance exam and return to the city. It’s nearly impossible for Gu Dahai to follow her back.

“That being the case, Chen Jiefang may see hope. He’ll squeeze close to Zhou Shanshan under the excuse of helping her review, but we all know what’s really on his mind. Even Gu Dahai knows.”

Yang Liu declared firmly, “Then I’ll never pay attention to Chen Jiefang again. He deserves to stick with that rotten Zhou Shanshan.

“I won’t give him another chance to hurt me. Believe me, keep an eye on me.”

Seeing Yang Liu’s determination, Song Wanyue didn’t throw cold water on her.

The results would show soon enough.

She would only help Yang Liu this once.

Some money wasn’t worth earning. If Yang Liu went crawling back, Song Wanyue would just pat her butt, head back to the city, and be done with it. Out of sight, out of mind.

Zhou Jing reminded her, “Alright, stop crying. If you cry any longer, the male educated youths will laugh at you. They’re probably already making fun of you in their dorm. Yang Liu, no offense, but can’t you have better taste in men? What did you see in Chen Jiefang besides his looks? I never thought of marrying in the countryside.”

She had many siblings and was third in line. Her parents didn’t love her, so she learned to plan for herself early. She wanted to test into a university in the capital, the most prosperous place in the country. Even if she had to return to her hometown after, her family would just marry her off for a bride price.

Yang Liu and Song Wanyue were pampered daughters, clearly inexperienced in hardship.

She continued, “Chen Jiefang is too stubborn. He likes Zhou Shanshan so much that even after she got married, he still couldn’t let go. Yang Liu, if you married him, could you stand that? Could you stand him always having Zhou Shanshan in his heart?

“Would you be like Gu Dahai, tolerating your wife being close with another man?”

Love was a harmful thing.

Song Wanyue agreed, “Exactly. Even if you married Chen Jiefang, he’d still be pining after Zhou Shanshan. That’s no different from putting a green hat on your head. And green hats—do they come in shades?”

In her past life, Zhou Shanshan and Gu Dahai had just muddled along together. Liu Liu had told her—neither could resist temptation. They were birds of a feather.

Yang Liu sniffled. “You’re right. I get it. Let’s eat first.”

After the meal, Song Wanyue took Yang Liu out for a walk to cheer her up.

She braced herself—if Yang Liu’s heart shattered again, there’d be more tears.

—

By the river, Jiang Ze and Wang Qiang arrived at the abandoned house of a former landlord.

Jiang Ze tilted his chin. “You got the people? From whose family? This won’t backfire, will it?”

It was easy enough to track Chen Jiefang’s movements. After work, he always came here. Supposedly Gu Dahai wouldn’t allow Zhou Shanshan to bring Chen Jiefang into his home, saying it was for studying together, but he couldn’t stomach the looks people gave them.

So Chen Jiefang schemed that Zhou Shanshan had to study with him if she wanted his review materials.

Thus, the two came to the riverside to review. To avoid gossip, they tried to stay out of sight, though people had seen them together.

Wang Qiang nodded. “It’s Li Yu. You know him—always after food. I offered five yuan and he agreed, brought a few nephews too.”

Five yuan could buy a lot of good eats.

“Good. Once they’re knocked out, use the drug, and we’ll lie low. Thanks, brother.” Jiang Ze clapped Wang Qiang’s shoulder.

Wang Qiang grinned. “Come on, Jiang-ge. You’ve always had my back when I got bullied.”

“Oh, by the way—if I go to the capital later, would you come? If there’s work?”

He had no intention of staying in the countryside. The situation was improving, and even teachers said commerce would open up. He wanted to be a businessman. Wanyue was like a peony of wealth—how could she stay and suffer here?

Wang Qiang thought for a moment. “I’d go, Jiang-ge. I trust you. But what about our black market business? Just give it up? All those brothers… it’d be a shame not to make money. I’d miss it. Still, if it’s with you in the capital, I want to go.”

The capital—everyone wanted to see it. To live there would be even better. He was alone; he could go anywhere.

“You’re not helping Educated Youth Song deal with Zhou Shanshan and Chen Jiefang, are you? She’s got guts. Last time, when she had me expose Gu Weimin and Zhou Lanhua, I was shocked. She even knew I hated Gu Weimin.”

That was years ago. His mother had been sent to the hospital too late and missed her chance at rescue. All because Gu Weimin worried their widow family couldn’t repay the debt.

Yet every year they repaid in work points—borrowing food from the next year, never once defaulting. But Gu Weimin was just a lecher. He had long wanted to take advantage of his mother. Even when she was sick, he harassed her.

Back then, Jiang-ge had wanted to help, but couldn’t. Whatever little he hunted was eaten up fast. There were plenty of animals in the mountains, but at fourteen or fifteen, Jiang-ge would’ve been walking into death. Uncle Yang wouldn’t let him go.

It was only when Jiang Ze was sixteen or seventeen that he was allowed to hunt in the mountains.

Jiang Ze said seriously, “Don’t you dare spread this. Not to anyone. As for the black market, leave it to the others. We’re pulling out.”

He still had to stay in the village another month. He didn’t want trouble.

Wang Qiang scratched his head. “I know. Talking would only bring me trouble. We’re going to the capital—don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul. Jiang-ge… you helping Educated Youth Song… you don’t like her, do you? Want her as your wife?”

He himself was only in it for money and revenge. But Jiang-ge wasn’t poor. Then it had to be either interest or feelings.

Jiang Ze didn’t deny it. “Cough, cough. Enough. They’re here. Put on your mask. Knock them out, but don’t let them see your face. You take Zhou Shanshan, I’ll take Chen Jiefang. Got it?”

Chen Jiefang and Zhou Shanshan—he couldn’t quite figure them out.

When they’d first come down, they’d nearly been a couple. Then suddenly Zhou Shanshan was with Gu Dahai and even married him. Was there more to it?

Wang Qiang nodded. “Got it. Let’s go.”

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Ze felt Chen Jiefang’s body heating up. He pulled off his clothes.

“Let’s go. The drug’s working. Tell Li Yu. I’ll check the surroundings for others. Keep it quiet.”

“Okay, I’m off.”

Chen Jiefang’s whole body was burning, his skin scorching.

Dazed, his desire rising, he reached out.

By chance, Zhou Shanshan beside him stirred awake.

Her soft moans clouded his thoughts, and Chen Jiefang pulled the woman into his arms.

“Shanshan, my Shanshan, you’re in my dream again. I miss you so much. Only in dreams are you this warm to me.”

“Jiefang, your hands… so cool. Don’t leave.”

“Shanshan, leave Dahai. Be with me. Let’s take the exam for the capital together.”

“Mmm… I’m so thirsty…”

“Shanshan, I’m going to kiss you…”