Chapter 19: Third Brother, Hand Hurts  

Zhang Xiufang still refused to give up.  

The captain ignored her and continued speaking to the commune members and educated youths gathered around. “Today, Educated Youth Shen donated some clothes, as well as pots, bowls, and other utensils. If anyone still lacks anything, hurry to the Village Committee to claim them—if you’re too slow, there’ll be nothing left.”  

Upon hearing this, those who had initially come to watch the commotion around Shen Jiaojiao immediately took off running, afraid that if they were even a second late, they’d miss out on everything.  

In just a short moment, the previously crowded scene became completely empty as everyone ran off.  

Zhang Xiufang instinctively scrambled up from the ground.  

If there was a chance to take advantage, she would feel uncomfortable letting it slip away.  

However, the matter of compensation was still unresolved.  

She hesitated on the spot, feeling torn.  

Glancing at Liu Xiaolan, whose face carried an air of fierceness, she gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, and ran straight toward the Village Committee.  

Zhang Xiufang knew she had no chance of getting anything out of Liu Xiaolan.  

Forget it—today just wasn’t her lucky day. She might as well hurry and snatch something from the Village Committee instead.  

Shen Jiaojiao’s belongings were all good things. The people in the village were like starving ghosts reborn; she had to act fast.  

With that, Zhang Xiufang left.  

The captain finally let out a sigh of relief.  

He decided that he should avoid coming out to check on things in the future. If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up running into fights and shouting matches.  

The captain was about to leave when something suddenly came to mind.  

He turned to look at Shen Jiaojiao and Xu Mo.  

“Oh, I checked the calendar today. The end of this month is a good time for a wedding. There’s still one month left—take the time to prepare well for the marriage.”  

With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and walked away.  

The two people about to get married were left in a daze.  

One month—it was happening so soon.

Then, Xu Mo’s face flushed again, looking visibly uncomfortable.  

Liu Xiaolan glanced at the two of them and smiled like a cunning old fox.  

Then, she grabbed Xu Meili’s hand and forcefully dragged her away.  

“Let’s go back. We need to cook dinner.”  

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to remind Xu Mo: “Come back early. Don’t stay out too late.”  

Once the field was left with only Shen Jiaojiao and Xu Mo, Xu Mo suddenly started feeling nervous.  

Shen Jiaojiao really liked her future mother-in-law more and more.  

It was obvious that she was helping create opportunities for her and Xu Mo to spend time alone together!  

Shen Jiaojiao reached out to hold Xu Mo’s hand.  

The man had harvested a lot of wheat today.  

He hadn’t even had time to wash his hands.  

A thick layer of dust still covered them.  

But Shen Jiaojiao didn’t mind at all.  

Xu Mo reacted as if he had been electrocuted and immediately pulled his hand away.  

“Shen Jiaojiao, my Second Aunt likes to cause trouble for my family. If you see her in the future, stay away and don’t bother with her.”  

Zhang Xiufang was nothing but a shrew.  

No one wanted to deal with her.  

Besides, someone like Shen Jiaojiao, who had received a higher education, didn’t have the means to go head-to-head with an unreasonable and aggressive person like that.  

“Third Brother, are you worried about me?”  

Shen Jiaojiao leaned in closer, tilting her head up to look at him.  

Her face was flushed red from the sun.  

Her skin was fair and delicate, making her look like a ripe peach—soft white tinged with pink.  

And her lips—always soft and rosy.  

It made people want to kiss them, to take a gentle bite.  

To find out what that softness tasted like.  

Xu Mo quickly looked away, not daring to continue staring.  

After a long moment, he finally let out a low “Mhm.”  

It was his response to Shen Jiaojiao’s question—was he worried about her?

Shen Jiaojiao was in a great mood. She still had some raspberries in her hand.  

Taking one, she held it up to Xu Mo’s lips.  

“Third Brother, Meili and I picked these in the mountains. Try one, they’re really delicious.”  

Xu Mo hadn’t expected Shen Jiaojiao to be so forward.  

No—actually, she was always this forward.  

“Shen Jiaojiao, after we get married, we can…” He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.  

Shen Jiaojiao let out a giggle.  

“Third Brother, after we get married, we can what?”  

As she teased him, she directly stuffed the raspberry into his mouth.  

“I know you don’t want people gossiping, but there’s no one here right now. No one will see us.”  

The moment the raspberry entered his mouth, its fragrance spread across his tongue.  

It was sweet.  

Really sweet.  

A strange warmth suddenly filled Xu Mo’s heart.  

It really seemed like Shen Jiaojiao liked him a lot.  

Then he would surely treat her well in the future.  

“Shen Jiaojiao, let’s go back.”  

The sun was already setting. If they didn’t leave now, it would be dark soon.  

But Shen Jiaojiao acted as if she hadn’t heard him.  

She reached out her right hand and held it up in front of him, palm facing up.  

Several blisters had formed on her hand.  

The skin had already broken, revealing tender pink flesh underneath.  

“Third Brother, my hand hurts.”  

She spoke in a sweet, delicate tone, clearly trying to make Xu Mo feel sorry for her.  

They always said that men liked women who weren’t too obedient.  

And that spoiled women had the best lives.  

So, she had to play the soft, helpless little bunny and make Xu Mo fall for her as soon as possible.  

Xu Mo’s heart clenched.  

An unexpected wave of pity washed over him.  

“Don’t come to work tomorrow.”  

That was all he managed to say, in his usual dry manner.  

And that was it.  

Shen Jiaojiao felt a little disappointed.  

She had thought he would comfort her, maybe blow on her wound for her.  

Sigh…  

It seemed Xu Mo hadn’t fallen in love with her just yet!

“We should head back.”  

Xu Mo brought it up again.  

“Oh.”  

By the time they returned to the Educated Youth Residence, the sky had already turned a dusky gray.  

Before Shen Jiaojiao even stepped into the courtyard, she heard the sound of an argument coming from inside.  

“Take it off! That dress is mine, and those shoes are mine too! Hurry up and take them off!”  

It was Ye Huan’s voice.  

Ye Huan had been taken to the Public Security Bureau today and questioned all afternoon.  

Only after they had thoroughly investigated her entire family background and confirmed there were no issues did they finally release her.  

She had felt utterly humiliated the entire way back.  

She was an innocent person—this was the first time in her life she had ever stepped foot inside the Public Security Bureau. People would surely laugh at her for it in the future.  

And all of this was because of that wretched Shen Jiaojiao!  

Thinking of Shen Jiaojiao, Ye Huan gritted her teeth in hatred.  

How had Shen Jiaojiao changed so much?  

Hadn’t she always listened to her in the past?  

Why had she suddenly become so stingy?  

And why did she send her to the Public Security Bureau at the slightest disagreement?  

Did she really not want to maintain their relationship anymore?  

Ye Huan found it hard to believe. After all, Shen Jiaojiao was delicate and useless.  

If she had no one to rely on in this remote village, she surely wouldn’t survive.  

Ye Huan was convinced that Shen Jiaojiao would eventually come crawling back to her, listening to her every word again.  

Right now, she was just throwing a spoiled young lady’s tantrum.  

Once some time passed and she cooled down, everything would go back to normal.  

Shen Jiaojiao would once again give her money, buy her food, and follow her around like a shadow.  

When that happened, she would have to take even more advantage of Shen Jiaojiao.  

Otherwise, after suffering such humiliation, wouldn’t it be a complete loss if she didn’t get anything in return?  

All the way back to the Educated Youth Residence, Ye Huan had been plotting how to squeeze more benefits out of Shen Jiaojiao.  

By the time she arrived, everyone had already finished work for the day.  

But the moment she saw what they were wearing, she immediately let out a shrill scream.  

“That’s my dress! Take it off! And those shoes are mine too! Take them off right now—you’re not allowed to wear them!”