Chapter 12

“Comrade Qi? Why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t tell me you’re worried that us village folks might get our dirty hands on your mink and ruin it?”

An older auntie rolled her eyes meaningfully as she asked.

“N–No, of course not. Auntie, what are you saying? I’ll take it out for everyone to see when I have the time,” Qi Zhilan stammered.

“That’s right, we’ve never even seen mink before. When the time comes, we’ll all go together and have a look.”

Gu Keqing smiled sweetly at Qi Zhilan, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She wanted to see just how long this so-called “female lead” could keep up her act.

Playing the virtuous wife, pretending to be gentle — sure, those could be faked. But without money? That was hard to sustain.

And Gu Keqing just happened to be the one with money.

Her personal storage space held nearly ten thousand mink garments; even pulling out one at random would be a masterpiece.

She’d already decided — once the weather got colder, she’d have Liu Mangzi contact some rich ladies in the provincial capital to sell mink.

And not just mink — she’d sell perfume too.

Even though this was the 1970s, luxury cosmetics from Hong Kong were already finding their way in.

So she needed to prepare early and grab the market.

Throw in some face masks and other beauty products, and it would all make money.

While Gu Keqing was busy daydreaming about business, Qi Zhilan, sitting diagonally across from her in the ox cart, was seething with hatred.

Originally, she had just wanted these rural aunties to give her a few simple compliments. But that idiot Sun Lili had ruined the mood.

And then Gu Keqing had stirred the pot — now where was she supposed to get mink from?

When Qi Zhilan came down to the countryside this time, her family had only given her 200 yuan — their entire savings.

One trip to town and she had nearly spent it all.

Now Gu Keqing had put her on a pedestal she couldn’t climb down from.

Furious and anxious, Qi Zhilan knew she needed to find a way to make more money.

Otherwise, when those aunties came asking to see her mink and she had nothing to show, the humiliation would be unbearable.

As someone who had been reborn, Qi Zhilan refused to be laughed at by a bunch of rural women.

No matter what, she had to figure out a way to get money.

The ox cart moved slower on the way back.

Out in the fields, Shen Yan had been distracted the entire morning.

Every so often, he’d lift his head and look toward the entrance of the village.

“Yan-ge, what’s the matter with you?”

Han Dashuan, who also hadn’t slept much the night before, kept yawning.

But seeing the dark circles under Shen Yan’s eyes, he didn’t have the heart to tell him to take a break, so he kept working.

“My wife should’ve been back by now. Why isn’t she here yet?”

A trace of worry crossed Shen Yan’s cold, handsome face.

“Maybe the aunties got delayed shopping. She’ll be fine.”

Han Dashuan wasn’t married, so he couldn’t understand Shen Yan’s current anxious, restless mood.

“No, I’m going to check.”

Shen Yan threw down his tools and strode toward the village entrance.

“Hey… this guy. Once he’s married, all he can see is his wife. I really don’t get what’s so great about bringing a woman home — living alone is much more carefree.”

Seeing Shen Yan walk farther and farther away, Han Dashuan could only grab his hoe and follow.

“Wait for me!”

By the time Shen Yan reached the entrance, the ox cart had just arrived.

“Shen Yan’s wife, your man’s here to pick you up!”

One sharp-eyed auntie grinned as she spoke.

“What a loving couple. And such a handsome match — their kids will definitely be beautiful.”

“That’s right, Shen Yan’s wife, you should get to it.”

The aunties teased as they climbed down from the cart.

“Thanks for the blessing, Aunties. When we get home tonight, I’ll work hard with my man!”

Gu Keqing replied loudly with a bright smile.

Next to the ox cart, Shen Yan gazed at her with eyes full of tenderness, holding out his big hand. “Jump down, I’ll catch you.”

“Then you’d better hold me steady!”

Gu Keqing spread her arms and leapt lightly, landing in Shen Yan’s arms.

“Next time you go to town, don’t buy so much heavy stuff. Wait until we go together.”

Shen Yan took her bamboo backpack and slung it over his own shoulders.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Gu Keqing deliberately smiled seductively, and in full view of the other educated youths, took Shen Yan’s hand.

She knew that seeing this scene would make Qi Zhilan’s jealousy burn — and that made it all the more fun.

Shen Yan, for his part, ignored everyone else’s stares. His eyes were locked solely on his wife.

Once the two walked away, Xia Ye muttered, “This Gu Keqing’s life is too good — she gets sweets and treats, and she’s got a man who dotes on her like that.”

“Jealous? If you are, then go find yourself a country bumpkin too. Personally, I can’t stand these rural men.”

Sun Lili sneered dismissively.

“That’s true. No matter how good-looking they are, they’re still country folk. Once we go back to the city, the men we marry will all have proper jobs.”

Xia Ye thought about it and decided Sun Lili made sense.

But to Qi Zhilan, those two were complete idiots.

They had no idea how dazzling Shen Yan would become in the future, nor how high the Shen family’s standing would be.

In her heart, Qi Zhilan vowed to make Shen Yan fall for her — but first, she had to get rid of that eyesore, Gu Keqing.

“Here, have a meat bun. I bought it just for you from the state-owned restaurant.”

Gu Keqing pulled two buns from her space and handed them to Shen Yan. “You have to eat them.”

Shen Yan took one, looked at the steaming white bun, and bit into it. “Delicious!”

“Silly.”

Gu Keqing laughed and pinched his waist, thinking, What solid muscles!

Last night, when they’d been together, she’d been too nervous to really appreciate the man in front of her.

Now she saw clearly — truly a peerless specimen!

No wonder Qi Zhilan was obsessed, willing to eliminate any woman who came near him.

As they walked, Shen Yan kept eating, sensing her intense gaze. “What is it?”

Gu Keqing copied the romantic lines from love novels and said softly, “Nothing — I just feel so lucky to have married you.”

Shen Yan froze for a moment, a blush spreading across his face. “We’ll talk when we get home.”

He was nearly dying of embarrassment — this wife of his was far too good at teasing!

The two of them walked on, eyes only for each other, completely unaware that Han Dashuan had been trailing them the whole time.

“Ah, life is hard… following Yan-ge just to bring him his hoe, but in his eyes there’s only his wife. I don’t get it, really don’t get it.”

Han Dashuan sighed helplessly and followed them into the Shen household.

“Mom… we’re back!”

The moment she stepped into the yard, Gu Keqing called out sweetly to Madam Shen.

She knew that a sweet mouth and diligent hands left no room for criticism from a mother-in-law.

“Keting, you’re back. You must be tired?”

Madam Shen came out of the kitchen carrying two bowls of mung bean water.

“Dashuan’s here too — sit down.”

Shen Yan turned and handed a bowl to Han Dashuan. “Here, drink.”

“Heh heh… thanks, Auntie, thanks, Yan-ge.”

Parched, Han Dashuan downed the whole bowl in one go.

“Dashuan, I’m making stewed chicken myself tonight. Stay and eat with us.”