Meng Yiyi’s face changed color.

Was it him who went to the Zhao family to make them change their story? She couldn’t believe that Cheng Rushan would do this for Jiang Lin.

He clearly knew that Jiang Lin hated him, had someone she liked, and even sold her child.

Yet he was still willing to do such a thing for her?

Was he crazy? Was this still the cold and ruthless Cheng Rushan? How could he be so foolish?

Cheng Rushan looked at her coldly. “Are you talking about Jiang Lin selling her son?”

Meng Yiyi’s face instantly turned pale.

She shook her head vigorously and loudly refuted, “Of course not! Linlin has never sold a child. She just needed money to visit her parents in the city, and we didn’t have that much money.”

Although she said she didn’t sell the child, her words implied that there was an attempt to sell, but it just didn’t succeed because of the money.

Cheng Rushan snorted, “If someone asked, you would have the Zhao family couple testify that the money was insufficient, so there was no sale, is that right?”

“Of course not, of course not! Who is slandering me? Linlin and I grew up together as sisters. I always look out for her and treat her like my own sister. How could I do such a thing? It must be someone trying to drive a wedge between us.”

Tears rolled down her face.

Cheng Rushan frowned, growing increasingly impatient.

Women’s tears had no effect on him; it only made him more annoyed when they couldn’t talk properly and just started crying.

“Then why did you go to the Zhao family?” If it wasn’t to confirm Jiang Lin selling her son, then why?

Meng Yiyi: “Of course, it was for Linlin’s good! I knew she went to the Zhao family, so I went to find out what was going on to prevent anyone from slandering her. I care about her! I’ve always treated her like this since we were kids. Are you blaming me just for this?”

Cheng Rushan: “I think what you care most about is her head injury and personality change.”

He had already asked Qian Bo.

Although Qian Bo didn’t want to say it, he had to under pressure.

Jiang Lin was indeed very different after going to the car inn.

His explanation was, “Jiang Lin was too naive before, and now she has suddenly awakened. It’s a good thing. People can have sudden realizations. Look at me, haven’t I also had a realization? I feel like I no longer have romantic feelings for Lin… Jiang Lin. It’s true! Actually, Jiang Lin was a lively and lovely girl when she was young. I don’t know why she became more and more withdrawn. Now that she has found her way back, it’s a good thing.”

In the end, he didn’t mention Bian Haitao under pressure, and Cheng Rushan didn’t ask further.

Meng Yiyi wiped her tears. “My sister’s behavior has suddenly become a bit strange. Can’t I be concerned? I knew she went to the car inn, and I was worried something might happen, so I went to check. But I never said she refused to sell her son because of insufficient money. I always knew she could never bear to sell him; she was just short on money. I don’t know why the Zhao couple would slander me like this, but my conscience is clear towards Linlin! But you!”

Meng Yiyi angrily pointed at Cheng Rushan, glaring at him.

Cheng Rushan raised an eyebrow. “Me?”

“Yes, you!” Meng Yiyi said furiously. “You don’t believe her; you even investigated her. In your heart, do you really think she’s someone who would sell her own son? Do you have no feelings for her at all?”

Instead of answering, Cheng Rushan asked, “So, what are you trying to say?”

“You don’t love her at all! Why don’t you let her go?” Meng Yiyi started crying again. “Do you know how much she’s suffering? She had a bright future in the city but had to go to the countryside. Now she can return to the city and find a respectable job. It’s because of you, because of all of you, that she can’t go back. If you care about her, why can’t you let her go? You’re just selfish!”

Cheng Rushan looked at her as if she were something new and strange. “How do you know I’m not letting her go back to the city? Why does she need my permission to return? She’s my wife; how can I let her go? But you, you have bad intentions.”

According to Qian Bo, this woman was good at deceiving Jiang Lin, spreading rumors in front of Jiang Lin, making Jiang Lin obedient to her.

According to Qian Bo, this time Jiang Lin originally planned to take the two children back to the city to visit the sick because Meng Yiyi said Jiang Lin’s parents were ill and missed her.

But Jiang Lin had no money and inadvertently heard Meng Yiyi mention that the Zhao family at the car inn bought children.

He guessed that Jiang Lin must have wanted to deceive the Zhao family for money and then disappear with the money to the city.

As for why Jiang Lin didn’t go through with the scam, it was because she had a sudden awakening.

Qian Bo would never reveal Jiang Lin’s plan to elope.

“How am I the one with bad intentions? Clearly, it’s you who shamelessly cling to her!” Meng Yiyi, ready to fight for her sister, retorted, “Linlin doesn’t love you at all. She loves Bian Haitao and has never forgotten him all these years! This time, she was trying to gather money to reunite with him in the city! Why can’t you just let her…”

She was speaking passionately when she suddenly went silent, like a duck with its neck squeezed.

Across from her, Cheng Rushan stared at her with icy eyes—the most vicious and callous gaze she could imagine, like a powerful predator looking down on weaker creatures with ruthless indifference.

She was so frightened that she couldn’t make a sound and instinctively took two steps back.

Cheng Rushan curled his lips slightly, his voice chilling to the bone in the autumn wind. “You don’t need to be afraid. I never hit women.”

Just as Meng Yiyi was about to sigh in relief, she heard him coldly add, “If I do hit, I would hit to kill.”

Meng Yiyi’s eyes widened in terror, and she struggled to breathe.

He was actually threatening her!

She had kindly informed him of Jiang Lin’s betrayal, and not only did he not believe her, but he also threatened her!

Cheng Rushan said icily, “I’ll investigate Bian Haitao myself. But as for you, don’t let me see you around my wife again.”

With that, he let out a cold laugh and walked past her.

“You’ll regret this, Cheng Rushan!” Meng Yiyi gritted her teeth.

Cheng Rushan didn’t bother to respond and strode towards the village.

Whether Jiang Lin had intended to sell the child or scam money to reunite with Bian Haitao, none of it mattered since it hadn’t happened.

The Jiang Lin he saw was cunning and bright, genuinely caring for the child and respectful and loving towards Yan Runzhi.

So no matter what Meng Yiyi said, he wouldn’t listen.

As for Bian Haitao, Cheng Rushan had known about him since their wedding.

He didn’t care before because he had no feelings for Jiang Lin.

Even if he cared now, he would handle it himself and would never take it out on his wife because of what others said.

As soon as Cheng Rushan left, Meng Yiyi collapsed, falling to the ground. If it weren’t for her experience from two lifetimes, she wouldn’t have been able to confront Cheng Rushan with his cold demeanor.

The pressure was immense.

She tried hard to portray herself as a sister who was entirely devoted to Jiang Lin’s well-being in front of Cheng Rushan, even if Jiang Lin misunderstood her and broke off their relationship.

She wanted to secretly look out for Jiang Lin in every way possible.

Having been given a second chance at life, she couldn’t lose to Jiang Lin.

If Jiang Lin wouldn’t return to the city voluntarily, Meng Yiyi would force her to go.

If Jiang Lin still refused, Meng Yiyi wouldn’t hesitate to be ruthless.

Once Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan’s relationship broke down, Jiang Lin’s very life could be in danger.

As Cheng Rushan walked into the village, he caused quite a stir.

Everyone who wasn’t working—adults and children alike—looked at him with complex expressions: fear, curiosity, envy, jealousy.

Cheng Rushan couldn’t understand why.

When he reached the alley, he heard a child shout, “Dabao, Xiaobao, we’re going to play. Are you coming?”

“No, we’re helping mom with the mud for the tiles!”

Cheng Rushan: “(o_o)”

He then heard a woman shout, “When did Jiang Zhiqing say she would come to our house to fix the tiles? Is it our turn yet?”

“Hurry and ask! Don’t delay. What if it rains again in a few days?”

It had rained again recently, and none of the roofs Jiang Lin had repaired leaked.

This made more villagers seek her out for repairs, even those from the neighboring Miaozi Village and surrounding areas.

Cheng Rushan was puzzled, so he quickened his pace towards home.

Just then, he ran into Yan Runzhi, who was coming out to get some straw to start a fire for cooking.

Seeing him return, Yan Runzhi happily threw the straw basket to the ground, grabbed his backpack and school bag, and started pulling them off him, saying, “Dongsheng, hurry, your wife is at the Shang family’s house. Go take a look.”

Cheng Rushan: “Mom, what are you all doing at home?”

“Doing important work! Oh, Dongsheng, you don’t know, your wife is amazing. She’s been climbing roofs, fighting off shrews, even the women’s director admires her.” Yan Runzhi, excited and happy, almost started singing.

Seeing the confused look on her son’s face, she quickly summarized the incidents involving Ma Kaihua, Liu Honghua, and the Zhao family.

Cheng Rushan: “So they did go to the Zhao family.”

“Yes, the Zhao family even came over and said you agreed to recognize them as kin. Your wife and I let Abao and Xiaobao recognize them as godfather and godmother.”

Cheng Rushan: “That’s good.”

Yan Runzhi then briefly mentioned Meng Yiyi’s matter. “She’s no good. Fortunately, Bao’er’s mother saw through her and gave her a good beating. Now that they’ve fallen out, Bao’er’s mother is fully your wife, and Meng Yiyi has nothing to do with us anymore.”

Cheng Rushan remembered his encounter with Meng Yiyi at the village entrance, and his eyes darkened. “Alright, I understand.”

He turned and headed towards the Shang family’s house.

Yan Runzhi called out, “When is your father coming back?”

Cheng Rushan: “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to pick him up.” He quickly disappeared around the corner.

Yan Runzhi clapped her hands and spun around in joy.

After a while, she wondered, “Hmm? What was I going to do?”

…

Jiang Lin and the others were laying roof tiles at the Shang family’s house. Today, it was Shang Zonghui’s turn.

Previously, they had only covered two rooms, but now they had saved enough money to cover this room as well.

Since it was just Jiang Lin and Shang Zonghui working, they were busy until almost noon.

Jiang Lin checked the work and said to Shang Pozi, “Grandma, I’ll design a new kind of chimney for you. It won’t backdraft as easily.”

Backdrafting happens when the smoke from the fire doesn’t go through the stove holes, flue, or chimney, but instead comes out of the stove, filling the house with smoke.

This involves several aspects: it could be that the stove base is not well-made, the flue is blocked, or the chimney is faulty.

If it was good before but suddenly not working, then it’s likely the chimney.

The current chimneys are the old-fashioned type, just a single gray tile pipe with an open top, which easily collects rainwater or debris over time, causing problems.

Jiang Lin used green bricks and tiles to build them a covered chimney.

When pulling tiles, she bought some cement and yellow sand, which, when mixed with water in a certain proportion, could be used.

After finishing the chimney, she showed it to Shang Zonghui. “What do you think?”

Shang Zonghui looked it over and praised, “Jiang Zhiqing, you’re really capable.”

Jiang Lin replied, “I’m not that great. I just learned this in the city; I didn’t invent it myself.”

She used a trowel to smooth the cement. Not wanting to waste any, she planned to use the remaining cement on the roof.

Nowadays, buying cement wasn’t easy. Farmhouse roofs were usually covered with corn stalks and tiles, glued together with yellow clay.

Over time, the yellow clay would be washed away by rain, causing leaks. Cement was much more durable and waterproof.

Jiang Lin stood up and stretched her back. In the distance, she spotted an army-green truck driving by on the south road.

It was a Liberation-brand military transport truck, now also used by city transport teams.

She said to Shang Zonghui, “Look at that big truck. It would be great if we had one. It could carry so many tiles in one trip.”

Shang Zonghui straightened up and looked at the truck. He laughed, “Jiang Zhiqing, a new truck like that would cost at least fifteen thousand yuan.”

Of course, individuals couldn’t afford it nor had the opportunity to buy one.

Even the brigade didn’t have the qualification to buy such a truck.

Usually, only the military or provincial and regional transport teams had them.

Their commune didn’t even have one.

Jiang Lin could only give up on that idea and continued working.

While she was busy, Shang Zonghui noticed Cheng Rushan coming down the street.

He called out excitedly, “Brother Rushan!”

Jiang Lin turned to see Cheng Rushan approaching, his presence instantly drawing attention.