Chapter 16: Why Do I Keep Thinking About These Messy Things?

Yi Jixiang lingered inside the supply and marketing cooperative, waiting for a long time but never saw the manager drive Yi An’an away. On the contrary, the two of them actually chatted for quite a while.

Finally, Director Han returned.

Yi Jixiang quickly stepped forward and asked, “Director, didn’t you drive that woman away?”

Director Han gave Yi Jixiang a look. “You don’t know that person?”

Yi Jixiang’s heart skipped a beat.

“She said she does know you!” Director Han said deliberately.

Yi Jixiang rushed to explain, “Director, don’t listen to her nonsense. She’s got a bad reputation—she got involved with the village riffraff, got pregnant out of wedlock, and ruined her name. That’s why my father…”

Before Yi Jixiang could finish speaking, Director Han frowned. “Is that so?”

Yi Jixiang’s eyes widened. “Didn’t she tell you I stole her job?”

Director Han’s frown deepened. “So it was you who took her job, and just now you pretended not to know her and even wanted me to drive her away? You’re really heartless for a younger sister—your older sister still speaks well of you!”

Shaking his head, Director Han walked off with his hands behind his back, clearly disappointed in Yi Jixiang.

Yi Jixiang was so furious her teeth itched. She turned her head and saw Yi An’an had already sold out all her hair accessories. Yi An’an deliberately stood by the roadside, touching the flower clip in her hair, smiling radiantly in Yi Jixiang’s direction.

Yi Jixiang was so angry her face turned red.

Yi An’an headed off to the neighboring village.

There, the village head’s wife had secretly grown a small vegetable patch. In her past life, Yi An’an used to sneak over and steal vegetables. This time, she brought money to buy them.

At first, the village head’s wife didn’t dare sell, afraid of being labeled a capitalist. But seeing all those Mao bills made her falter, and eventually, she sold seven or eight kinds of vegetables to Yi An’an.

Yi An’an carried the vegetables home. That afternoon, she planned to make several kinds of pickled vegetables and bring them to the supply and marketing cooperative to find that manager tomorrow.

The village head’s wife had a full range of veggies—white radish, Chinese cabbage, carrots, and more. After washing them and letting them dry, Yi An’an began salting and pickling them.

“I’ll help you wash,” said Zhan Nanhui, having finished reading his book. He walked outside and saw Yi An’an’s hands red from the cold well water. He spoke in a low voice.

Yi An’an was just about to stand and let Zhan Nanhui help when a delicate voice rang out from the door.

“Nanhui, there’s a question I don’t understand—can you help me with it?” It was Chen Sisi, standing not far away, wearing a conspicuous red scarf and holding a self-study book, smiling brightly.

Yi An’an turned to glance at Zhan Nanhui.

Zhan Nanhui looked at Chen Sisi and replied calmly, “I don’t have time. I have to review too.”

Though his words were mild, they made Yi An’an feel especially pleased.

Hearing that, Chen Sisi’s face immediately fell. Her radiant smile froze, and her eyes filled with hurt. Soon, they even turned red.

Yi An’an slowly stood up. She was all too familiar with Chen Sisi’s little tricks. In her past life, Chen Sisi had used this exact act to seduce Yan Dabao!

“Help me wash the pickled veggies!” Yi An’an loudly said to Zhan Nanhui, handing him the brush she was using.

Zhan Nanhui obediently took it and lowered his head to scrub the radishes in the wooden basin.

Chen Sisi’s expression changed. Zhan Nanhui had no time to tutor her, but had time to help this country girl wash radishes?

Chen Sisi hesitated, then forced a smile toward Yi An’an. “Yi An’an, right? I’m Chen Sisi, a college-educated youth from the city.”

Yi An’an glanced at her. “You’ve already been to college, so why are you still studying? Planning to take the college entrance exam?”

Chen Sisi’s face stiffened.

She had only completed one year of college before being sent down to the countryside because her family got implicated. Since then, to earn respect from the locals, she always claimed to be a college-educated youth. Technically, it wasn’t a lie.

“So you were lying to everyone before?” Yi An’an asked deliberately.

“No, I did go to college. I just didn’t finish. Now I’ve registered and can take the exam again,” Chen Sisi replied. Then she looked at Yi An’an and asked softly, “There are a few problems I don’t understand. Can’t I just ask Brother Nanhui to help me a bit?”

Yi An’an crossed her arms. “No. He’s busy. Go ask someone else.”

Chen Sisi’s expression shifted.

She was used to getting her way by being sweet and soft-spoken. Most people—man or woman—would give her some face. She hadn’t expected to run into someone like Yi An’an who wasn’t moved by any of it.

By now, Zhan Nanhui had finished washing the radishes and took the initiative to hang them out to dry.

Yi An’an turned to look at how obedient he was and couldn’t help but smile.

Just as Zhan Nanhui finished drying the radishes and turned around, he saw Yi An’an standing tall and smiling, her eyes sparkling, dimples faintly visible on her cheeks. When she slightly lifted her arm, her sweater shifted, revealing the curve of her chest.

Zhan Nanhui suddenly thought of how soft she felt when she hugged him at night. His face instantly flushed red, and his gaze drifted away from her. He grabbed the book from the bench and quickly walked inside to continue reading.

But holding the book in his hands, his mind wandered. It took a long time before he could force himself to calm down.

Chen Sisi, seeing that Zhan Nanhui had gone back inside without even looking at her, stomped her foot in frustration and walked away with her book in her arms.

Yi An’an watched her go, and an image of her precious daughter Yaya struggling in the water flashed through her mind. She let out a cold laugh. What she owed me in the last life, I’ll collect in this one!

That night, Yi An’an was in a particularly good mood and made dumplings stuffed entirely with meat for Zhan Nanhui.

After dinner, Yi An’an heated a bucket of water, poured it into a large wooden basin, and prepared to wash her hair.

She bent over, dunking her thick black hair into the basin. It filled the whole thing.

As she washed, she sighed in admiration. “It’s been so long since I’ve had such black, long hair.”

“Ouch!” Suddenly, she gave a small shout and tugged at the towel on her shoulders.

She had placed the towel there to avoid soaking her collar. But now it had slipped and was about to fall into the water.

“Nanhui, come help me!” she called.

Zhan Nanhui immediately put down his book and came over to help her hold the towel.

Yi An’an quickly scrubbed her hair with laundry powder.

As Zhan Nanhui steadied the towel, his eyes accidentally landed on her back and the glimpse of her slender waist.

Flustered, he turned away. What is wrong with me? This is such a critical time—why do I keep thinking about all these messy, inappropriate things?