Chapter 18

After dinner, Jiang Ying found a moment to visit the village chief’s house.

She felt that nobody was more clueless about the “plot” than she was. In her past life, after Lu Shili arrived, he had never gone to Jiang Tian’s house.

So something was fishy, and she had to stir things up at the village chief’s.

Lin Jingguo and his wife, Chen Guiying, had just been discussing Jiang Tian and Lu Shili when the courtyard gate was suddenly knocked.

“Aiyo, who could that be now? It’s already dark, and they still won’t let us rest.”

Lin Jingguo threw on a jacket and got up, with Chen Guiying also putting on her clothes.

“Village Chief.”

Hearing a girl’s voice, Lin Jingguo sighed inwardly with helplessness.

Still, he opened the gate and let her in.

“Comrade Jiang, what brings you here this late at night?”

Lin Jingguo muttered to himself—she had only been assigned here for a few days and was already stirring up trouble. Especially this Jiang girl, who kept fixating on that man staying at Jiang Tian’s house, while at the educated youth spot she was lazy and never pulled her weight.

Just seeing this young woman gave him a headache.

But Jiang Ying ignored the village chief’s expression and spoke bluntly:
“Village Chief, why did our educated youth Lu suddenly move into Jiang Tian’s house? Isn’t that a bit improper?”

Lin Jingguo held back his irritation. He thought it was some serious matter, but it turned out she was still eyeing the idea of moving into Jiang Tian’s house.

“Comrade Jiang, Lu is Jiang Tian’s cousin. We’ve already verified it—it’s true. So him moving in was also with Jiang Tian’s consent.”

Jiang Ying shook her head. “How could Jiang Tian have relatives? Isn’t her whole family already dead?”

At that, Lin Jingguo grew displeased, and Chen Guiying even more so. Dead? Jiang Tian’s mother wasn’t from this village—why wouldn’t she have relatives?

But Jiang Ying still didn’t believe it. “Village Chief, how can you let an outsider live in Jiang Tian’s house? What if Jiang Tian is just trying to carry on an illicit affair with Lu?”

Lin Jingguo’s beard practically bristled in anger as he glared at her.
“Comrade Jiang, you can’t spout nonsense like that! Jiang Tian’s mother was indeed Lu’s aunt. We’ve seen the photo—they look exactly alike.

Besides, this has nothing to do with you. Even if you wanted to live in Jiang Tian’s house before and she refused, you can’t just slander her.

Here in the village, fine—you say such things, we’ll treat it as just talk. But if word spreads outside, and trouble comes of it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Jiang Ying left without another word, looking thoughtful.

After closing the gate, Lin Jingguo lay back down on the heated brick bed with Chen Guiying.

“Wife, these batches of educated youths aren’t much good. Haven’t done much work, just keep stirring things up.”

Chen Guiying snorted. “Exactly. The ones left at the educated youth spot now aren’t the decent ones—those smart enough already moved out.

Take Lin Shu and Chen Lulu for example—those two girls are diligent and reliable. Unlike this Jiang girl, always looking for trouble. I heard from Second Xie’s wife that it was Jiang Ying who told her Jiang Tian had dumped someone on the back mountain. Mark my words—this girl will keep causing scenes.”

Lin Jingguo pursed his lips. “And today another Jiang showed up—Jiang Ying’s younger sister. She doesn’t seem easy to deal with either.”

When he reached for his pipe again, Chen Guiying snatched it away.

“Are you going to sleep or not? If not, get out.”

“…Sleeping.”

Jiang Ying walked back to the educated youth spot under the night sky.

Inside the girls’ dorm, Lin Yue and Jiang Cheng were already chatting away. They were just about to lie down when Jiang Ying came in, carrying a chilly aura. She kicked the thermos on the floor.

“Lin Yue, where’s the hot water in the kettle?”

Before Lin Yue could answer, Jiang Cheng spoke:
“We used it already. Sister, you’d better go boil your own.”

Jiang Ying shot a cold look at Lin Yue. “Lin Yue, why didn’t you save some hot water for me?”

Chen Xiaocao cut in bluntly:
“Do you think you’re some capitalist’s pampered daughter, expecting clothes handed to you and meals served? Why should Lin Yue fetch you hot water? Whoever needs it boils it themselves.”

Lin Yue felt grateful for their support. Before, she had tolerated Jiang Ying because Jiang would occasionally share food with her.

But now there were only four girls total at the educated youth spot. Since Jiang Ying and her sister didn’t get along, Lin Yue had to choose a side with more people.

So Lin Yue added, “Since Xiaocao and Chengcheng both said so, Comrade Jiang, from now on, let’s each boil our own water.”

Jiang Ying hadn’t expected this little brat, who had just arrived, to lure Lin Yue—the fence-sitter—over to her side so quickly.

She didn’t want to go boil water so late, so she just climbed into bed.

For now, the urgent matter was finding a villager’s home to stay in. A life without someone boiling her water or cooking her food was unbearable.

Every time she remembered how, in her past life, she had been strung along by that hypocrite Lin Muyu, she regretted it deeply.

Only when she later discovered that Jiang Cheng had already been secretly involved with Lin Muyu—and even had a child with him—did she finally realize the truth.

The one who had truly cared for her all along was Xie Chen: he was the one boiling water for her every morning, the one hunting good meat on the mountain, the one adding firewood for her in the middle of the night.

Yet Lin Muyu, useless with no money and no strength, had lived off what Xie Chen provided her—while still looking down on him as a country bumpkin.

Although she had been reborn, plans never kept up with changes. Who would have thought Jiang Tian, who had always been a fool, would suddenly recover—sharp-tongued and quick-witted?

She had originally wanted to move into Jiang Tian’s house, both to investigate and to get closer to Xie Chen. But now Lu Shili had gotten there first.

In that case, she might as well make her move on Lu Shili—and she also had to carefully consider which villager’s house would suit her best.

That night.

Jiang Tian had finished making Lu Shili’s bow and arrows. The four of them washed up in turn.

When Lu Shili saw Jiang Er using soap to wash his hands and face, he was surprised—this little sister’s household was rather refined. He liked it.

So he used the soap too. The faint fragrance made him smile.
“Little sister, where did you buy this soap? It smells wonderful.”

“In town.”

Actually, Jiang Tian had taken it out of her secret space. In this era, such soap wasn’t available. If asked further, she planned to say she bought it from someone who had come from Shanghai.

Lu Shili was doubtful, but most likely guessed she had gotten it from the black market.

After washing up, Lu Shili and Jiang Er returned to their room, while Jiang Tian, as usual, urged Xie Chen to bathe in the spring water.

She brought out a small bottle of body wash and a bath towel from her space.
“Use this to scrub yourself, then rinse off with this.”

Xie Chen touched the bath towel’s fabric, studying it. Then he took the small bottle and examined it carefully.

Jiang Tian unscrewed the cap and held it to his nose.

He sniffed—and immediately caught the same fragrance that lingered on his wife.