Don’t use people you doubt, and don’t doubt people you use…

Sorry!

She really didn’t understand.

After all, her grandparents had only taught her, “Don’t harm others, but never let down your guard.”

As Shen Zhihuan silently grumbled in her heart, a cry for help suddenly echoed from the riverside.

“Help! Somebody help! Someone fell into the river…”

With that desperate shout, people resting in the nearby woods to cool off rushed out.

Even those farther away, unable to hear the call but seeing the commotion, started sprinting toward the river to see what was going on.

The river in Panshi Village might not be wide, but its current was incredibly fast. Every year, it claimed one or two lives.

Especially during the summer rainy season, the river would swell like a wild beast escaping the woods—ferocious and unstoppable.

Families with children would sternly warn them not to play by the river.

Hearing the cry, Qin Bin immediately ran toward the riverbank.

Shen Zhihuan, knowing her frail body could only add to the chaos, was about to head home when Wang Lianhua, eager to watch the drama, dragged her along.

By the time they reached the river, a crowd had already gathered.

“Help…”

The person in the water flailed desperately, clearly terrified.

A few strong swimmers jumped in, swiftly making their way toward the struggling figure.

The crowd on the bank held their breath, their hearts rising and falling with every movement.

When the rescuers managed to grab hold of the drowning person, a collective sigh of relief swept through the onlookers.

In a matter of minutes, the team worked together to bring the person to the shallow part of the river.

From there, those on the bank hauled the victim up with great effort.

“Meili…”

Seeing Wang Meili lying there, motionless and pale, Tian Xiaorou burst into tears, overcome with guilt.

If she hadn’t been joking around with her, Wang Meili wouldn’t have slipped and fallen into the river.

Wang Meili’s face was ashen, and despite everyone’s efforts, she showed no sign of waking up. The onlookers began to grow anxious.

“She was moving in the water earlier. Why isn’t she moving now?”

“Could Wang Zhishi have drowned?”

“She probably swallowed a lot of water. Press on her stomach, and someone should give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation,” suggested an elderly man with graying hair.

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances.

Pressing on her stomach was one thing, but mouth-to-mouth…

The married men instinctively stepped back, fearing their wives’ wrath if they dared to volunteer.

The young, unmarried men who were in relationships also quietly retreated into the crowd.

In the end…

Only Qin Bin remained standing there.

Dripping wet, Qin Bin turned to Shen Zhihuan.

“You press her stomach; I’ll handle the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.” Shen Zhihuan stepped forward decisively.

Though she hadn’t formally studied first aid, Shen Zhihuan knew how to perform artificial respiration, and this situation called for action.

As Qin Bin administered chest compressions, Shen Zhihuan performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at steady six-second intervals.

Before long, Wang Meili’s pale face showed signs of life. She opened her eyes weakly and coughed up several mouthfuls of water before fully regaining consciousness.

Seeing that she was fine, Shen Zhihuan stood up and walked away.

Qin Bin immediately followed her with quick strides, while the curious crowd began to disperse.

“Meili, are you okay?” Tian Xiaorou and Zeng Guangrong, who had arrived shortly after, carefully helped the still pale Wang Meili to her feet, slowly guiding her back to the educated youth dormitory.

Wang Meili glanced in the direction Shen Zhihuan and Qin Bin had gone, then shook her head weakly.

“I have some of my late father’s clothes at home. If you don’t mind…” Shen Zhihuan gestured to Qin Bin’s soaking wet outfit.

“I don’t mind at all,” Qin Bin replied quickly.

When Li Qiuhua saw Qin Bin drenched, she gasped in shock and immediately sent Xiao Weidong to fetch hot water. Meanwhile, she rummaged through the house to find Shen Jianguo’s clothes.

As Qin Bin bathed in the small side room, Shen Zhihuan briefly explained how he had helped rescue someone.

Fortunately, Qin Bin and Shen Jianguo were of similar build, and although the clothes were slightly old, they fit him well.

Just as Qin Bin finished washing and hanging up his wet clothes, Xu Youcai arrived with Cao Dakang and his family, their faces pale with worry.

It seemed the news had been exaggerated in transmission, scaring them out of their wits. Their panic was evident as they stepped into the courtyard.

Upon seeing the visitors, Li Qiuhua immediately turned her back on them, dragging Shen Zhihuan and Xiao Weidong into the house.

The door to the main hall slammed shut with a loud “bang.”

“Fifth Uncle, are you okay?” Cao Dakang looked Qin Bin up and down, his voice laced with urgency and fear.

The Qin family had only one heir, and if anything happened to Qin Bin, Old Master Qin would surely tear him apart.

“What could possibly happen to me?” Qin Bin responded coldly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Fifth Uncle, it’s getting late. Let’s head back,” Cao Dakang said, smiling nervously.

He had brought this troublemaker along and wouldn’t be able to face the Qin family if anything went wrong.

Qin Bin shot him a glance, then called out to the house, “Auntie, Zhihuan, I’m leaving. Weidong, next time I come, I’ll bring you a toy train.”

His words were met with silence.

Sighing, Qin Bin turned and strode away.

It wasn’t until the courtyard fell silent that Li Qiuhua reopened the door.

“Zhihuan, don’t interact with Qin Bin anymore,” Li Qiuhua said sternly, frowning.

“Mother, weren’t you the one who invited him over for dinner?” Shen Zhihuan couldn’t help but laugh.

“…Don’t you dare play coy with me. I didn’t know he was related to Xu Youcai. And don’t tell me you didn’t know either,” Li Qiuhua retorted, glaring at her daughter.

“I only found out today,” Shen Zhihuan replied innocently.

Had she known Qin Bin was related to Xu Youcai, she would have reconsidered doing business with him.

But would she have stopped entirely?

Definitely not.

Xu Youcai’s character didn’t define all his relatives, and besides, she trusted Qin Bin after working with him for so long.

“Either way, you’re not allowed to buy anything from him again,” Li Qiuhua said, growing angrier.

“Fine, I won’t buy from him,” Shen Zhihuan agreed with a laugh.

“You better not! If I catch you going behind my back, I’ll…” Li Qiuhua shot her daughter a fierce glare.

“Break your legs!”

“Mother, but what about the things I’ve already stored with him?” Shen Zhihuan blinked twice.

“Why would you store things with him when we have plenty of space here?” Li Qiuhua’s frustration boiled over.

Shen Zhihuan quickly explained, “The quilts we have are stiff and don’t keep us warm in winter. Since we’re doing better financially now, I had him buy us several dozen pounds of cotton to make new quilts. He happens to know someone who makes them, so…”

“Several dozen pounds? Why so much?” Li Qiuhua gasped.