Chapter 51.2

They walked one behind the other to the vegetable field, and when they arrived, Lu Nong realized that Squad Leader Wang’s “digging vegetables” meant actual digging.

After cabbage is harvested, it’s stored by digging large pits in the field, where it stays until it’s time to eat. No wonder they needed a hoe.

Radishes, on the other hand, could be pulled out directly. So, the two divided the tasks—Lu Nong would pull radishes, while Pei Ji’an would dig up the cabbage.

Lacking much strength, Lu Nong huffed and puffed for quite a while, working up a sweat before she managed to pull out just a few radishes. When she looked up, Pei Ji’an had already taken off his outer layer, revealing his muscles subtly outlined beneath his thin shirt as he raised and swung the hoe.

The midday sun blazed down, baking the ground. The cabbage was buried deep, and the thick, hard soil made it difficult to dig. Sweat poured down Pei Ji’an’s face, and he unbuttoned his shirt, the sweat tracing down his muscles into deeper places.

Slurp. Who’s drooling? Oh, it’s me. Never mind then.

Lu Nong started by sneaking a few glances, but eventually she found herself staring openly.

After the vegetables were dug out, Pei Ji’an noticed her gaze. Glancing down at his now sweat-soaked shirt, which clung to him and extended the damp stains down to his pants, he paused his work, wiped his sweat, and took off the drenched shirt, draping his jacket over himself.

Caught in the act, Lu Nong quickly looked away, but her mind still lingered on the sight. Oh my, Pei Ji’an, working up a sweat, was just too sexy.

He had this contradictory aura about him. Normally, his every move was elegant and composed, exuding the charm of a gentleman from an earlier era. But when he stripped down and worked the land, there wasn’t a hint of hesitation—he moved with the practiced ease of someone who had farmed for years.

He could be refined or rugged.

Lu Nong was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice what was in front of her until a long, colorful shape slithered past her feet. “Snake!!”

She leapt in a few quick steps right into Pei Ji’an’s arms. He held her tightly, while the snake, startled by her scream, quickly fled.

Even after a while, Lu Nong remained trembling in his embrace. “It’s over. I must have been bitten by a snake. What should I do? Am I going to die?”

Pei Ji’an: “…”

“You weren’t bitten,” Pei Ji’an reassured her, patting her back. The snake hadn’t come close to biting her—she had outrun it, and besides, it was just a harmless garter snake, not poisonous.

“I don’t believe you,” Lu Nong insisted, feeling a numbness in her legs. She was convinced the snake had bitten her.

Pei Ji’an sighed, “Then come down, and I’ll check for you.”

Lu Nong hesitated before shaking her head. She didn’t dare step on the ground, afraid she’d encounter another snake.

Pei Ji’an sighed and just held the little ancestor in his arms.

After a while, as she began to feel better, she wiggled her ankle and realized that nothing was wrong. Then she noticed that the posture of herself and Pei Ji’an was not right. Pei Ji’an’s body was emitting a heat wave after work mixed with male hormones that rushed towards Lu Nong. She could see Pei Ji’an’s perfect chin and rolling Adam’s apple when she lowered her head.

Lu Nong was captivated by Pei Ji’an’s physique. She swallowed nervously, her hands restlessly exploring his firm muscles.

Pei Ji’an: “…”

With the soft fragrance in his arms, she flirted with him without knowing the consequences and then killed him without caring about burying him. Pei Ji’an was so angry that he almost laughed.

He actually did laugh, his chest vibrating with a low sound, and the fabric between them softly rubbed together. Lu Nong lowered her head and kissed Pei Ji’an.

If Pei Ji’an could still hold back after that, he wouldn’t be a normal man.

He took control, their lips and tongues intertwining, his kiss carrying the taste of cheap tobacco as he played with Lu Nong’s small tongue.

After a while, Pei Ji’an released the now-soft Lu Nong. He leaned close to her head and said two cryptic words: “Interest.”

Lu Nong, in a daze, felt as though she had lost, yet somehow not entirely.

Hmm? She seemed to see Wang Cuicui standing not far away.

No, something wasn’t right!

Wang Cuicui really was standing there.

Pei Ji’an clearly noticed Wang Cuicui as well. His brows furrowed slightly, and he patted Lu Nong on the back, gently letting her down. “Can you stand on your own?”

Lu Nong’s eyes still glistened, her lips shining with moisture. She tried to stand upright and then… she began buttoning Pei Ji’an’s shirt all the way to the top.

There was no way she would let another woman see Pei Ji’an!

Pei Ji’an was speechless but allowed her to do as she pleased.

No one knew what Wang Cuicui was thinking. Not only did she watch the whole thing, but she also didn’t leave after watching it. It would have been fine if she hadn’t left, but now she was actually walking towards the two of them.

With a forced expression, Wang Cuicui said, “Uncle Pei, the food is ready, and you two haven’t returned. My father sent me to call you.”

Pei Ji’an’s eyes remained cold as he looked at her and said, “Got it. You can go back first. We’ll gather the vegetables and head back soon.”

Wang Cuicui bit her lip, her face showing a struggle, but eventually, she said, “Okay, I’ll head back then.”

After speaking, she quickly turned and left, afraid that if she stayed another second, she would break down in tears, although she was already barely holding it together.

She had given up.

Wang Cuicui had never seen Pei Ji’an show so many emotions. He was always calm and composed, reliable in front of everyone. But in front of Lu Nong, he was different.

He could be helpless, eager, satisfied, and joyful… and he would hold her tightly.

But what could she do? She had given her heart to Pei Ji’an, just as Pei Ji’an had given his heart to another woman. In that sense, they were the same.

Lu Nong watched Wang Cuicui walk away faster and faster, shaking her head with a sigh. “Male beauty is so tempting!”

Pei Ji’an was indifferent to this. He swiftly finished pulling up the radishes that Lu Nong hadn’t completed. After gathering a full basket, he lifted it onto his back and said, “Let’s go back and eat.”

“Wait for me!” Lu Nong, still wary of encountering snakes, abandoned her complaints and quickly followed behind Pei Ji’an.

When they returned home, Wang Cuicui’s face revealed nothing. The table was filled with hearty dishes, and Pei Zheng and Gu Huai sat obediently in their seats, waiting for their father and stepmother—or their mother and stepfather—to return.

Squad Leader Wang enthusiastically poured a large glass of deer blood wine for Pei Ji’an, saying, “Brother, drink up.”

“…”

Lu Nong nearly spat out her water. Seriously, Squad Leader Wang had a unique talent—no unnecessary words, just “brother, drink up.”

Pei Ji’an declined, “I have to drive later, so I can’t drink.”

Squad Leader Wang was momentarily speechless, knowing that once Pei Ji’an made a decision, no one could change it. His eyes darted, and he said, “Fine, if you can’t drink deer blood wine, how about just the deer blood?”

“Here, deer blood!” He poured himself the deer blood wine and filled a cup with plain deer blood for Pei Ji’an. “This time, you can drink, right?”

Pei Ji’an took the cup, leaned back in his chair, and with a playful attitude said, “I’ll drink if you drink.”

Squad Leader Wang let out a snort. “Drink? Of course, I’ll drink. Today, I’m going all out for you, my friend.”

Pei Zheng glanced at his father, then at Squad Leader Wang. Something didn’t feel right—was there some tension he wasn’t aware of?

That couldn’t be, though. He had been with Uncle Wang the entire time, so if his father and Uncle Wang had really had a disagreement, how could he not know?

It was strange.

Lu Nong pursed her lips, suspecting that Squad Leader Wang had found out about Wang Cuicui’s feelings for Pei Ji’an. He seemed to be venting his frustration at Pei Ji’an, but Pei Ji’an wasn’t responding. The two of them might end up in a standoff.

Sure enough, they began downing deer blood wine and deer blood, neither willing to back down.

Others wanted to intervene but didn’t know how. It was obvious something was off between them, yet both wore smiles, not showing any sign of weakness. Trying to stop them felt like stirring up trouble.

Lu Nong simply lowered her head and continued eating. Seeing her attitude, Pei Zheng and Aunt Wu followed suit, quietly eating their own meals.

Wang Cuicui glanced at her father, wanting to say something, but when she tugged at his clothes, he silenced her with a glare.

After the meal, Squad Leader Wang’s face was flushed red, while Pei Ji’an remained composed.

At the end, Squad Leader Wang patted Pei Ji’an’s shoulder and said, “Brother, you’re my brother, my comrade forever. Understand your brother…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but Pei Ji’an understood. He grasped Squad Leader Wang’s hand in return. Everything was clear between them, and the tension dissolved over their silent understanding.

As Pei Ji’an’s family prepared to leave, Squad Leader Wang filled their car’s trunk with local specialties. Notably, he also included the promised antlers and dried deer blood.

Lu Nong: “…” Old Wang, you never fail to surprise me.

Plans couldn’t keep up with changes. They originally intended to continue heading north, but they had spent too much time at the farm, so they had no choice but to head back.

Once in the car, Lu Nong, concerned about Pei Ji’an having consumed too much deer blood, asked, “Are you okay? If you don’t feel well, we can leave tomorrow.”

Pei Ji’an shook his head. “I’m fine. I wouldn’t risk your safety. Besides, it’s better this way.”

Indeed, it was. Squad Leader Wang probably couldn’t wait for Pei Ji’an to leave now.

In the distance, Wang Cuicui and her father stood at the farm’s entrance, watching the jeep disappear into the horizon.

“He’s gone, stop thinking about him,” Squad leader Wang said seriously with his hands behind his back without looking at his daughter.

Wang Cuicui suddenly turned to her father. “Dad? How did you…?”

“How did I know?” Squad leader Wang exhaled deeply. “I figured it out too late. If I had known earlier that my daughter had these feelings, I would never have let Pei Ji’an come.”

Wang Cuicui bit her lip. “It’s not his fault, it’s all on me.”

“Of course it’s not his fault,” Squad leader Wang said calmly. “If it were, I would’ve beaten him to death.”

“Daughter, give up. You’re not suited for each other. Even if I don’t stand in your way, it’s not that I underestimate you, but you won’t be able to handle Pei Ji’an,” he added.

Wang Cuicui wanted to argue, but the words got stuck in her throat. Without Lu Nong, could she really have Pei Ji’an?

Thinking of Pei Ji’an’s bone-chilling coldness, Wang Cuicui shivered and finally gave up completely.