“Brother, you’ve been exchanging letters quite frequently lately.”

Qin Shan bit into a stolen white flour bun, still finding time to wiggle his brows teasingly. He tried to sling an arm around Fang Chiye’s shoulder, but Fang Chiye dodged and elbowed him in the chest. “Mind your image. Don’t cling to me.”

Qin Shan clutched his chest and groaned dramatically. Seeing Fang Chiye’s fake smile, he feigned anger. “You actually hit me? Do you even realize how strong you are?”

Fang Chiye shook the letter in his hand. “Last time, you said my sketch would scare the girl away. This time, she’s complimenting me.”

Qin Shan leaned in to sneak a look, but Fang Chiye covered the letter with his hand.

There was nothing particularly sensitive inside—just excessive praise that left him stunned. This girl really knows how to talk.

Thinking about it, she probably received the bullet casing, realized he was a military officer, and was now eager to get closer.

He had spent nearly two months probing her identity, even asking around among soldiers from Suhua Township.

That soldier only remembered that a comrade named Su Rui had married into Xiaoba Village with her father who is a live in son-in-law. His impression of her was vague—he recalled that she had a timid and weak personality, as thin and small as a little bean sprout. As for her appearance, he hadn’t really paid attention. After all, she was only nine or ten years old at the time. Who would seriously study a little girl’s looks? That would be downright creepy.

When Fang Chiye showed him the photo, the soldier stammered, “She hadn’t grown into her features back then. She wore layer upon layer of patched clothes… but her brows and eyes haven’t changed much. Who knew she’d grow up to be so delicate and pretty…”

Had he known, he might have paid more attention. Maybe then, his mother wouldn’t have to worry about him finding a wife.

Fang Chiye caught his underlying meaning and kicked him out. He decided to ask someone more reliable.

Back in his dormitory, Fang Chiye placed Su Rui’s photo on the table and studied it.

Timid and weak?

He glanced at the letter again. This time, she had gone all out with flattery—three pages long, and two and a half of them were praising his unique charm and depth.

Fang Chiye was still convinced that Su Rui was a con artist using beauty tricks.

A faint sweet scent of peaches reached his nose. He lifted the letter and sniffed it—it was indeed peach-scented.

Now he was even more certain. She was seducing him.

His transfer order had been confirmed. Soon, he would be heading to a new unit near Xiaoba Village. After some thought, Fang Chiye called in his aide and instructed him to send someone to Xiaoba Village for another round of inquiries.

He refused to believe he couldn’t handle such a small trickster.

***

Qingnan Village

Guo Jiarong was at home receiving a massage from a barefoot doctor.

Ever since that fool had beaten him up, he often felt sore all over.

While the men in Qingnan Village were toiling away at the quarry in the barren mountains, he was enjoying a massage at home. Let others work while he relaxed—this was the pinnacle of indulgence.

Physically, he felt good, but mentally, he was troubled.

He had gone to the provincial hospital for a check-up but found nothing. Then, he sought out a traditional Chinese medicine doctor through connections.

The verdict?

Kidney deficiency.

“Is Comrade Guo Jiarong home?” A clear and straightforward voice called from outside. “I’m Lu Qianxing from the quarry. I have something to discuss with him.”

Aunt Guo didn’t recognize Lu Qianxing. Guo Jiarong quickly got up, fastening the waistband of his pants as he responded, “I’m here, Comrade Lu. I’ll be right out.”

Lu Qianxing, sporting a crew cut, stood in the courtyard with a straight posture. Aunt Guo glanced at him a few times, thinking he resembled one of Guo Jiarong’s classmates from the city or perhaps a cadre from somewhere.

Guo Jiarong jogged out, greeting him warmly, “Brother Lu, have a seat. What brings you to my home?”

Lu Qianxing replied politely, “Hello, Comrade Xiao Guo. I have someone I’d like to ask you about.”

Since Guo Jiarong’s father was the village head and their family background was clean, he was often the first person approached for inquiries.

Aunt Guo was sent away to mind other matters, and the barefoot doctor inside was also asked to leave.

Seeing this, Lu Qianxing immediately felt something was off.

This guy didn’t seem very reliable.

Lu Qianxing casually mixed a few names together, including Su Rui’s, and asked Guo Jiarong about them. The people he mentioned came from three different villages. Guo Jiarong felt honored, believing the organization valued his insight.

After Lu Qianxing left, Guo Jiarong thought things over and sensed something was wrong.

He stared in the direction Lu Qianxing had departed, furrowed his brows, and paced around the courtyard a few times. Finally, he came to a conclusion—this man was most likely interested in Su Rui.

Over the past two years, Su Rui had blossomed like a flower, and many people had approached Guo Jiarong to ask about her.

Before, no one else had better conditions than him, so when they learned he was also pursuing Su Rui, they all backed off. But soldiers were different. In the countryside, people barely ever saw those in military uniforms. They were a rare sight.

Su Rui had ambitions and a good impression of military men. If they spent time together, she might actually be won over. Even if she was currently seeing someone, who would choose a closer option over a more promising one?

The more Guo Jiarong thought about it, the more convinced he became. Frustrated, he decided that from now on, if anyone asked about Su Rui, he would claim she was his fiancée to scare them away.

He couldn’t sit still at home, worrying that Lu Qianxing had gone to find Su Rui. Without even locking the door, he hopped on his bicycle and pedaled furiously toward Xiaoba Village.

His mother had just received a beautiful peach from a neighbor and, unwilling to eat it herself, had saved it for Guo Jiarong. When she returned to find both the bicycle and her son missing, she stomped her foot angrily. “His cousin is about to visit, and he’s still running after that little vixen!”

Guo Jiarong rode his bicycle like a whirlwind, kicking up sparks all the way to Xiaoba Village.

As luck would have it, a group of village women were selling their homemade peach preserves at the entrance to the village.

Director Zhao had instructed them not to sell the beautiful peaches, so they had turned to selling peach preserves instead.

Su Rui was there too.

The weather was cooling down, and the village entrance was windy.

She wore a light yellow autumn jacket, with her small hands tucked into her sleeves, leaning against Su Hongpei as she joked with the women. In no time, she had already laughed heartily several times, revealing her little tiger teeth.

“You, come here. I have something to ask you.”

Guo Jiarong parked his bicycle by a tree and, towering over her, urged, “Hurry up. It’s getting dark.”

Su Rui said, “You know it’s getting dark, yet you still want to talk? What are you up to?”

Aunt Song, who was sitting beside Su Rui, was preparing to take her small folding stool home to cook for her children. Hearing this, she added, “The world isn’t safe these days. Some men who can’t find wives lead good girls astray. If people see this, won’t it ruin a young lady’s reputation?”

Su Rui knew Aunt Song wasn’t trying to mock her but was giving her advice, so she followed along, “Whatever you need to say, just say it here.”

Across from them, a few county officials had come to buy peaches, thinking they might be cheaper here. However, the villagers refused to sell them outright. Instead, they were offering one slightly blemished peach as a bonus for purchasing two jars of peach preserves. The officials hesitated at the roadside.

With so many people around, Guo Jiarong couldn’t exactly drag Su Rui away. Instead, he picked up a fallen parasol leaf, placed it under himself, and sat down next to her.

Seeing that he was settling in for a long conversation, Su Rui scooted closer to Su Hongpei.

Guo Jiarong said helplessly, “I’m asking you—have you been in contact with any military personnel lately?”

Su Rui gave him a look as if he had asked the most obvious question. “I see military comrades every day. Patrols, road inspections, militia training—I run into them all the time. Why?”

Guo Jiarong pressed further, “What about the one writing you letters?”

He really shouldn’t have brought that up. At the mention of it, Su Rui got annoyed. “None of your business.”

Guo Jiarong said, “You better not be stringing someone along while waiting for a better option.”

Su Rui shot back, “None of your business.”

Guo Jiarong clicked his tongue, slouched his shoulders, and curled up in an aggrieved posture. “You really need to change your flirtatious ways—”

Before he could finish, Su Rui stomped on his foot. Before he could even yelp, she scolded him first, “Who am I flirting with?! If you weren’t the one shamelessly coming to find me every day, do you think I’d waste my time on you?”

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Guo Jiarong slapped his own mouth and grinned sheepishly. “I was wrong, I was wrong. Don’t be mad, Cadre Su.”

“What cadre? Can’t your father remove me from my position anytime he wants?”

Guo Jiarong scratched his head awkwardly. “I was just joking. You always take things too seriously.”

Su Rui sneered, “That’s because you’re truly an animal.”

Guo Jiarong was used to her scolding. Shamelessly, he just laughed and said, “Forget it. I was overthinking. I’m leaving now.”

As he spoke, he casually grabbed a jar of peach preserves from in front of Su Rui and said, “Put it on my tab.”

Put it on his tab?

More like trying to skip payment.

Su Rui fumed.

This was her dowry fund!

No, her husband fund!

She snatched the jar back and kicked Guo Jiarong in the leg.

Failing to get free peach preserves, Guo Jiarong hobbled away with his bicycle.

“I don’t even know why he came here. He just made me angry.”

Su Rui sat back down, gazing at the beautiful red sunset and the flock of migrating birds heading south. She cupped her face and sighed deeply.

Other girls’ love lives were like blossoming peach trees, full of radiant flowers.

Hers, on the other hand, was rotten—so rotten it stank for miles.

But…

If she really had some connection to the military, there actually was one person.

A man from Xiaoba Village had successfully enlisted. When they were kids, he used to buy her candy. Of course, his motives weren’t pure—he was actually trying to court her eldest sister.

Back then, Su Yuqin had chased him away with a firewood stick—not because of anything else, but because his family was so poor they didn’t even own a complete bowl.

Now that he was in uniform, Su Yuqin regretted it bitterly.

Sigh, a classic case of “never look down on a poor young man.”

Later, Su Hongpei got involved with someone surnamed Wang and had no idea about this matter. So, Su Rui didn’t bother telling her.

Unaware of Su Rui’s thoughts, Su Hongpei asked, “Shall we go back?”

“Alright.”

Su Rui tied up the jars of peach preserves with straw rope, planning to head home for dinner. However, halfway there, Wanzi found her and urged her to go to the office for a meeting.

She handed the jars to Su Hongpei and rushed off without even eating, looking like a total workaholic.

Official militia team leaders held positions as village clerks, but Su Rui was only an intern. So, she obediently found the most inconspicuous corner and sat down quietly.

Lately, Director Zhao had been in high spirits. The peach orchard had brought income to Xiaoba Village, and the women would have a good New Year this time. That thought filled her with satisfaction.

However, her mood soured when she learned that the hydropower station’s external work was recruiting farmers, yet Guo Qingwang had deliberately excluded Xiaoba Village. By the time she heard about it and rushed over, not only had the work been assigned, but even the tools had been distributed.

Director Zhao knew exactly what was going on. Guo Qingwang was upset that Xiaoba Village had made money without him getting a cut, so he was looking for ways to make trouble.

She had thought he would be removed soon, but who knew the investigation would take this long?

“The hydropower station’s preparatory work requires the participation of many farmers. But…” Director Zhao hesitated before voicing the problem. “We don’t have the proper tools, and all the work has already been assigned.”

Farmers always hoped to find work during the slow season.

They spent their lives struggling to save money while working hard to earn more, all for the sake of a peaceful old age.

Before anyone else could react, Su Rui was already fuming.

She had been counting on doing odd jobs this winter to earn her “husband fund.” With only a few years to save up, she needed to gather the bride price as soon as possible.

It wasn’t just about the bride price. She also wanted to build a bright and spacious brick house and live a decent life. That all required money.

Blocking her from earning money was like taking the life of her parents.

Unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable.

She had to come up with a solution. There was no way she was going to let Guo Qingwang get what he wanted.