Chapter 70

Fan Zhezhou led Qiu Yang and Yu Xiangnian deeper into the mountains to continue searching for the herb.

Not long after leaving the youth station, they encountered another female youth who joked with Fan Zhezhou.

“Fan Zhezhou, still heading into the mountains? Xiaomin only comes back once a week, and you don’t even spend time with her?”

Fan Zhezhou replied sternly, “Comrade Xiao, please don’t make these jokes. People might misunderstand.”

“Hmm, have you two had a fight or something?” Comrade Xiao asked.

Fan Zhezhou ignored her and continued walking with Yu Xiangnian and Qiu Yang.

Yu Xiangnian was even more puzzled.

Comrade Xiao’s joke suggested she knew about the special relationship between Wu Xiaomin and Fan Zhezhou. But why did Fan Zhezhou deny it?

After three days of searching the mountains without success, Yu Xiangnian and Qiu Yang were almost desperate.

That day, Fan Zhezhou suggested they check the cliffs the next day; perhaps the shade on the rocky slopes would be the right environment for the herb.

Qiu Yang agreed. Checking his watch, he noted it was 5 PM. “I have other things to attend to today. Let’s stop here. Tomorrow, we’ll head to the cliffs.”

After leaving the village, Yu Xiangnian said, “It’s still early. I don’t want to eat with you. Please take me home.”

She had been out early and returning late these past few days and didn’t know what Cheng Jingmo and Xiao Jie had been eating at home.

Since they finished early today, she planned to go home and have a meal with them.

Qiu Yang drove straight into the city. “Why go home? I’m taking you out for a nice meal.”

“I’m tired of dining out with you every day! Just take me home!”

Qiu Yang didn’t stop. “I have something to take care of today. Just help me out this once.”

Yu Xiangnian asked him what it was, but he wouldn’t say.

It wasn’t until they arrived at a restaurant that Yu Xiangnian understood what was going on!

At the dining table, Qiu Yang’s mother, Yang Fang, and a young girl were sitting together, chatting. The girl looked shy.

Yang Fang’s face turned cold when she saw Qiu Yang. She scolded him, “Qiu Yang! Tingting has been here for a while. Why are you so late?”

Then she noticed Yu Xiangnian beside him and forced a smile. “Nian Nian, you’re here too?”

That doggone Qiu Yang was using her as a shield for a blind date!

She could already imagine that when Qiu Yang was alone with the girl later, he’d say: I have someone I care about, and it’s her! We are truly in love, but my parents don’t agree. I won’t marry anyone else; don’t waste your time on me!

If she ruined Yang Fang’s matchmaking today, Zhao Ruozhu would definitely whip her with a bamboo stick tomorrow!

Yu Xiangnian decided to take the initiative. She walked over with a smile and politely said, “Hello, Aunt Yang. I ran into Qiu Yang outside, and he said you were here, so I came in to greet you.”

She then looked at the girl and said, “Hello, I’m Yu Xiangnian, Qiu Yang’s cousin.”

The girl smiled and stood up. “Hello, I’m Fang Yiting.”

Yu Xiangnian flattered her, “You have such a beautiful smile. You look like a well-educated and refined person.”

Yang Fang’s face showed satisfaction. Yu Xiangnian added, “Aunt Yang, Comrade Fang, I have something to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”

“Join us for dinner,” they both insisted.

“No, thank you. My husband has prepared dinner and is waiting for me at home.”

Since she was a cousin and had a husband, Qiu Yang could forget about using her as a shield!

With Qiu Yang on a blind date, Yu Xiangnian had no choice but to walk home.

The walk from the city to the family quarters took over an hour, and it was already dark when Yu Xiangnian was still walking, cursing Qiu Yang a hundred times in her mind.

There were no streetlights on the road, and not a single person in sight. The roads were bordered by fields.

At this season, the crops in the fields were lush and vibrant. The wind rustled through them, making a whispering sound, occasionally interrupted by unknown animal calls.

Listening to her footsteps, Yu Xiangnian’s mind started to wander uncontrollably.

She suddenly felt like something was following her but was too afraid to look back; then she thought shadows might be drifting around her; and she recalled the various violent crimes she had read about…

The more she thought, the more frightened she became!

Her steps quickened to a near-run.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from behind. Yu Xiangnian turned her head but barely saw anything before her mouth was covered, and she was dragged into the cornfield by the roadside.

She struggled desperately, making muffled sounds, but the strength of her assailant far outweighed hers, and she couldn’t break free.

She could tell the kidnapper was a man—short but strong, with rough hands, likely from frequent labor.

She told herself to stay calm and wait for an opportunity!

After dragging her for a short distance, the man pushed her down into the cornfield.

Yu Xiangnian quickly rolled over and got up, running while shouting, “Help! Fire…”

She was grabbed again. As the man’s hand was about to cover her mouth, she bit him hard.

The man yelped and released his grip. Yu Xiangnian seized the chance to push him. The man lost his balance and nearly fell.

Yu Xiangnian ran for her life, shouting, “Fire! Help!”

“Fire! Help!”

“…”

She could hear the man’s footsteps closing in, even his heavy breathing.

Sure enough, he tackled her again.

This time, the man pinned her down, and she was immobilized on the ground, her only means of resistance being her cries for help.

The man began tearing at her pants. She gripped one side of her pants tightly with one hand while using the other to hit and scratch.

With a tearing sound, her pants were ripped off.

Just as Yu Xiangnian was about to despair, she heard footsteps.

“Help! I’m here!”

In the darkness, Yu Xiangnian felt a lightness on her body. She quickly got up and saw two men wrestling with each other.

Ignoring whether they were there to rescue her, she fled as fast as she could.

After a few steps, she heard a voice behind her, “It’s me, Haozi! I’m here to save you!”

Yu Xiangnian stopped.

At that moment, another person arrived. “Nian Nian, is that you?”

Recognizing Ding Yunfei’s voice, she felt as if she had grabbed a lifeline. “Ding Yunfei! Quickly, catch that man!”

Haozi had already subdued the attacker and was pinning him down. “Quick, give me something to tie him up!”

But no one had brought any ropes or similar items. In the end, Haozi used his own belt to restrain the man.

With her pants torn, Ding Yunfei took off his military uniform and handed it to Yu Xiangnian to tie around her waist.

After emerging from the cornfield, Haozi asked Yu Xiangnian, “What do you plan to do?”

Yu Xiangnian resolutely replied, “I’m going to report this to the police and have him taken to the station!”

Ding Yunfei stopped her. “Nian Nian, don’t call the police! If this gets out, it’ll ruin your reputation. People will talk about you behind your back.”

“You weren’t harmed? Let’s just beat him up and be done with it!” he added after a pause.