Chapter 72: The Delicate Girl Who Insisted on Acting Like a Rogue

Zhao Xueling had come in the afternoon to deliver food to her sisters.

Her family had also been allocated land. In her past life, whenever it was the busy farming season, she was usually at school studying. Farm work was left to her brother. Now, with two younger sisters, the work naturally fell to them.

It was already past lunchtime. Her second sister tossed her sickle into the basket of harvested grain, stomped over with a sour expression, grabbed the lunchbox from Zhao Xueling, and began devouring the food on the ridge beside the field.

Zhao Xueling raised an eyebrow, about to scold her. Who’s she giving attitude to?

If their mother hadn’t been unwell lately, would she really have gone to the trouble of cooking and delivering food to them?

The youngest sister wasn’t any happier. Her face was flushed from exhaustion, and her head was drenched in sweat. Even so, she asked softly and weakly, “Sis, why are you so late? We’re so thirsty and hungry.”

Zhao Xueling shot her second sister a glare and replied coldly, “You think I don’t have things to do at home? I was reviewing my schoolwork. Do you think time is for wasting? Hurry up and eat. I need to take the lunchbox back.”

She sighed inwardly. Deep down, she missed her brother from her past life.

Her mother had been a sent-down youth who stayed in the countryside, and their family didn’t hold to old-fashioned ideas of favoring boys over girls. As the eldest, Zhao Xueling had always been able to boss her brother around.

Later, when she married a cowardly man, every time they fought and she wanted a divorce, it was her brother who had her back, threatening to beat the coward senseless. He’d scared the man so much his legs would tremble.

But now? Her brother was gone, replaced by two sisters, one of whom was constantly at odds with her.

Just thinking about it annoyed Zhao Xueling, but what could she do?

If only I could establish a relationship with Zhou Bin earlier…

If that happened, she could marry into the Zhou family sooner and wouldn’t have to squeeze into a small room at home with her sisters.

Kicking a pebble on the ridge, she sent it flying. Zhao Xueling didn’t want to stay near her second sister—seeing her just worsened her mood. She decided to walk over to a nearby haystack to take a break.

As she approached, she heard the coarse voices of a few men, along with a suspicious rustling sound.

Zhao Xueling froze, her face reddening.

Oh no, they’re relieving themselves here!

She turned to leave, but a man’s low cough was followed by a boisterous voice: “Damn, your thing is massive! Your wife must not dare to sleep at night—she’s probably scared you’ll kill her!”

A round of bawdy laughter erupted.

Zhao Xueling’s head buzzed. Her heart raced as she listened to their vulgar jokes.

She was about to leave quickly, but her ears pricked up despite herself…

And in that split second of hesitation, a tall figure suddenly strode closer.

Jiang Cheng had come to relieve himself.

In the fields, it was common for men to find a hidden spot to solve their problems. Most of them headed toward the haystacks.

As he glanced up, he unexpectedly spotted a young woman crouching behind the haystack, her timid posture and flushed face immediately catching his attention.

His expression darkened as he sternly demanded, “What are you doing? Peeping? Are you trying to act like a rogue?”

Zhao Xueling jumped in fright at his righteous scolding, nearly fainting on the spot.

When she recognized his face, shame and frustration overwhelmed her. Why him? Why this man?

And what did he mean by calling her a rogue? Couldn’t he speak properly?

Her face flushed as she stammered, “I—I didn’t mean to come here… I didn’t see anything!”

Unfortunately, the men behind the haystack had finished their business and, hearing the commotion, emerged while fastening their belts.

“Huh? A rogue here?”

But what they saw was a delicate young woman standing by the haystack.

The men burst into raucous laughter, and some couldn’t help throwing out lewd remarks.

“Well, well, a young girl sneaking a peek at us relieving ourselves?”

“Hey! Isn’t this the Zhao family’s girl? What’s the matter? Feeling lonely?”

“Hey, you think she caught a glimpse of that just now? Haha, she must be scared out of her wits…”

Zhao Xueling was mortified and furious, surrounded by a group of shirtless men jeering at her. Her face burned as her mind spun in panic.

She shot Jiang Cheng a fierce glare. But his stern, cold expression made him look even more intimidating. She wanted to scold him but didn’t dare.

Unable to explain herself clearly amid the men’s teasing, she turned and fled in shame, her face alternating between red and white.

As she ran, her mind churned with worry. What if these men start spreading rumors? My reputation will be ruined!

How could he do this? Accusing me of being a rogue?

Was it intentional?

Her anger simmered as she recalled the men’s filthy jokes, making her feel both humiliated and indignant.

As Zhao Xueling ran away from the haystack, Xia Yingzhen happened to pass by on the opposite path.

From a distance, she noticed Zhao Xueling’s flushed and flustered face. Did she have a fight with someone?

Behind her, not too far away, was the tall man Jiang Cheng, who hesitated to take a few steps forward but eventually stopped. He watched Zhao Xueling’s retreating figure before turning back.

Xia Yingzhen snickered and walked off.

She didn’t know Jiang Cheng was debating whether to drag the sneaky girl to the police station.

Having been lectured often by Xia Li, Jiang Cheng took the crime of being a rogue very seriously.

He knew rogues weren’t limited to men—there were women, too. In his mind, anyone could commit such crimes.

With a stern face and furrowed brows, Jiang Cheng thought grimly, A perfectly fine girl, sneaking around to spy on men?

At least he had caught her today. What if he hadn’t? What if she was a repeat offender?

The thought sent a shiver of disgust down his spine.

From now on, he resolved to find even more hidden spots for such matters. He couldn’t let such a devious rogue succeed.