Chapter 70 : Rumors

She took out the Shennong’s Herbal Classic and flipped through the pages. This book was really excellent. It recorded the names, properties, effects, functions, and growth environments of various herbs. There were also color illustrations next to each entry, which made it very convenient for beginners to identify them.

So she began reading it carefully from the very first page and didn’t go to bed until midnight.

The next day, Yun Siying and Nangong Ruochen drove the tractor from the field to the threshing ground again. They took turns driving. Yun Siying wore long sleeves and pants, along with a wide-brimmed straw hat to protect her skin from the sun.

Seeing her fully covered up, Nangong Ruochen realized she was afraid of the sun and let her drive before ten o’clock in the morning. He accompanied her and chatted occasionally.

At ten o’clock, Nangong Ruochen said, “Siying, the food you cooked yesterday was delicious. Can you cook for us again at noon today? Don’t worry, you can eat at home and then bring lunch to the three of us. After that, you can go back to rest. At four in the afternoon, you can drive for two hours and then cook dinner for us. Of course, we’ll wash the dishes.”

Yun Siying thought about Nangong Ruochen’s proposal. This arrangement would allow her to avoid the hottest time of day. Such a good deal of course she wouldn’t miss it. But she still looked at Nangong Ruochen suspiciously for a long time, which made him feel a little cold down his spine. He kept replaying every word he’d just said in his mind, wondering if he’d said something wrong.

Before he finished recalling, Siying said, “Okay, I agree. From now on, we’ll divide the driving time between us like this.”

“Well… okay!” Nangong Ruochen was a bit surprised, Siying was good at climbing the social ladder. The triumphant smile on her face made him confused but very happy inside.

Yun Siying happily went back to the Youth House to cook. Shu Ruxue’s door was locked, and it seemed she had gone out. Yun Siying didn’t care too much and began working in her room. After the meal was ready, she ate while boiling mung bean soup. Once finished, she set the soup aside and packed the food to take to the three people in the field.

Other youths had already brought their lunch in the morning. Some villagers also brought their lunches to the field early, most of which were prepared and sent by their families.

On the way, Yun Siying met several people delivering meals. She greeted and chatted with them before heading to the field together.

Those eating cold meals looked a bit envious of the hot meals and planned to have hot meals tomorrow.

The villagers and youths sat under a giant tree. The tree was lush and leafy, like a huge umbrella, providing perfect shade for everyone to enjoy the cool. While eating, those with good relationships sat together quietly chatting about village gossip.

Yun Siying had supernatural powers. Even without using her psychic abilities, her hearing was more sensitive than others’, allowing her to overhear their conversations.

Li Hongyun ran over and sat next to Li Hongying and others, her face beaming with exciting news. “Do you know? Wang Haixia and Jiang Datuo had a fight last night.”

“Tsk, the couple just got married, shouldn’t they be happy? Why did they fight?” Wang Yunfeng asked, puzzled.

Li Hongyun looked proud “I know about it because I lay against the wall of her house and listened all night. Tsk, you don’t know, that couple are not good people.”

Seeing the expressions of several people who said, “Come on, tell us already,” she stuffed a mouthful of rice into her mouth and continued “This has something to do with Yun Siying. Wang Haixia bribed Jiang Datuo with money to let him push Yun Siying into the water and then rescue her, hoping to get a wife for free.”

“I don’t know what’s going on between those two. Instead of plotting against Yun Siying, they actually got together. Wang Haixia really dislikes Jiang Datuo, so they started arguing and eventually got physical.”

“These two are really wicked people. Siying is a benefactor to our family. Luckily, they didn’t plot against her. I need to warn Siying.” Wang Yunfeng’s face suddenly darkened, and Li Hongying didn’t look happy either.

Cuifen said, “Let’s all keep an eye on things and make sure Siying doesn’t get hurt.”

Several people looked toward Wang Haixia’s place. Seeing the bruises on her arms and face, they felt no sympathy. Instead, they said, “She deserved it. Why didn’t Jiang Datuo beat her until she was paralyzed? Then she couldn’t come out and harm others anymore.”

Li Hongyun saw the indignation on their faces and continued, “Shu Ruxue’s biological mother and brother came to our group yesterday. Her brother even hugged Li Yanyan in the river, and Li Yanyan’s chest was exposed. It was such an embarrassing scene.”

Another aunt came over and said, “The young man had a good figure, muscles bulging under his clothes. He carried Li Yanyan from the river back to the Li family.”

“Tsk, did the two fall in love? But young people these days are too frivolous. It’s simply immoral.”

“Could it be that Li Yanyan fell in love with the young man in the city and purposely fell into the river? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?”

“Maybe you’re right. Yanyan is a good swimmer. Why would she need someone to save her?” More and more people joined in, each with their own version of the story.

—

At four in the afternoon, Yun Siying came to the field with mung bean soup and served a large bowl of cold mung bean soup to Han Yuecheng, Chen Banghua, and Nangong Ruochen.

“Siying, this mung bean soup is sweet and cold, really tasty. If only you had come to the countryside a year earlier.” Han Yuecheng took a sip and couldn’t stop. After drinking, he felt refreshed all over.

Chen Banghua kicked him in the butt. “If you can’t be quiet, then shut up.” Then he smiled at Yun Siying: “Siying, ignore him. But he’s right about one thing, the mung bean soup you made is delicious. After one sip, I feel refreshed from head to toe.”

“It tastes good? Then I’ll cook another pot tonight and put it in the well to cool. You can put it in a kettle tomorrow and drink it anytime.” Yun Siying smiled.

“Siying, I’ll cook the mung bean soup tonight. Just tell me what precautions to take.” After Nangong Ruochen said this, he glared at Han Yuecheng. He didn’t want Siying to work so hard, and this brother was too inconsiderate.

“That’s fine.” She was happy someone else would take over, who wouldn’t want a break?

At that moment, she also realized the villagers knew about Shu Chengzhi and Li Yanyan, and rumors were flying everywhere. Li Yanyan’s reputation was ruined unless she married Shu Chengzhi.

Nangong Ruochen and Chen Banghua exchanged looks. Their guess from yesterday was confirmed. They didn’t expect Shu Chengzhi to fall for such a petty trick.

Only Han Yuecheng smiled with a gloating expression. “Hahaha! Isn’t this good? Doesn’t Aunt Tang like the Li family? See, now it’s an even closer relationship.”