Chapter 126: She Also Liked Lin Jiadong and Seemed to Be Stirring Up Trouble  

After the snow melted, the weather gradually warmed, and the construction of the house Lin Jiadong was building had begun.  

Shen Yiyi’s place was nearby, and since the houses were not soundproof, she could hear the constant clanking and banging every day.  

She could no longer concentrate on her reading. After Da Bao and Er Bao went out to play, she left Lang Ya at home to watch over the house and took Xiao Bao out for a stroll.  

As soon as they stepped outside, there was a puddle of muddy water by the roadside. Xiao Bao reached out his hand. “Hand hand!”  

Shen Yiyi held his small hand as he eagerly prepared to jump. His short legs kicked off the ground, but Shen Yiyi lifted him up, only setting him down again after they had passed the puddle. When his other foot landed on the ground, he thought he had jumped over it by himself. Delighted, he looked up at his mother and giggled. “Great!”  

Shen Yiyi found it amusing and pointed to the ground. “Your candy dropped.”  

Seeing a piece of fruit-flavored hard candy on the ground, he bent down to pick it up, his little mouth instantly drooping. “It’s dirty…”  

Since tissues were not yet common in this era, Shen Yiyi carried a handkerchief with her. She wiped the candy’s wrapper, then cleaned Xiao Bao’s hands before peeling the wrapper open, revealing the candy inside. She held it up to Xiao Bao’s mouth.  

Xiao Bao opened his mouth and ate it, his eyes crinkling with joy.  

Shen Yiyi tapped his little forehead in exasperation. “Eating so much candy—let’s see what you do when you get cavities!”  

“Cavities?” Xiao Bao tilted his head in confusion.  

“It means your teeth will go bad!”  

“Brush teeth, brush teeth, no bad!” Xiao Bao answered seriously.  

“You little clever one.” Shen Yiyi chuckled as she stood up and led him forward.  

“Mother.” Xiao Bao tugged at her sleeve, signaling that someone was watching them.  

Following his gaze, Shen Yiyi saw that they were passing by the construction site where Lin Jiadong and Jiang Wanrou were building their house. The workers were hurrying to move and stack the adobe bricks.

Lin Jiadong was also helping with the work, while Jiang Wanrou stood beside him, gently and attentively wiping his sweat. Upon hearing movement, she turned to look in their direction.  

The moment Jiang Wanrou saw Shen Yiyi, she was reminded of the humiliation she had suffered at the cinema. Her expression darkened.  

Shen Yiyi let out a snort and took Xiao Bao up the slope to find Lin Daniu.  

Jiang Wanrou’s face looked so unpleasant that Lin Jiadong noticed. Worried, he called out: “Rou’er? What’s wrong?”  

Jiang Wanrou turned her head, her face full of indignation, though her voice remained soft. “I just remembered that day at the cinema…”  

“That day has passed. Let’s not talk about it…”  

“Everything else can be forgotten, but I can’t get over the fact that she hit you.” Jiang Wanrou’s eyes turned red.  

Lin Jiadong’s heart softened. To reassure her, he pounded his own back a couple of times. “I’m completely fine! Look, I can hit myself this hard, and it doesn’t hurt at all!”  

“But my heart aches for you!”  

Lin Jiadong was deeply moved and pulled her into his arms. “Rou’er~”  

Jiang Wanrou let out a soft hiss, making Lin Jiadong tense up. He looked at her shoulder with concern. “Still hurts?”  

“Just a little.” Jiang Wanrou replied pitifully.  

Without hesitation, Lin Jiadong took off his gloves. “The reservoir is releasing water for spring irrigation. There should be plenty of fish in the river now. I’ll go catch a few to nourish you!”  

“Be careful.” Jiang Wanrou said, filled with worry.  

“Alright~” Lin Jiadong responded before heading off.  

As Shen Yiyi and Xiao Bao reached the top of the slope, they saw Chen Jiayi standing there, watching Lin Jiadong and Jiang Wanrou below with a face full of jealousy and resentment.  

When Chen Jiayi saw Shen Yiyi approaching, she shot her a glare before turning and hurrying down the slope, chasing after Lin Jiadong.  

Shen Yiyi raised an eyebrow. If Chen Jiayi hadn’t shown up, she would have almost forgotten about her…  

So, she also liked Lin Jiadong? Looked like trouble was brewing.

“Mother?” Xiao Bao asked, not understanding why she had suddenly stopped.  

Shen Yiyi was in a good mood. “Let’s go. We’re heading to Uncle Qiang’s house.”  

From a distance, Lin Daniu saw them approaching and came over to open the door.  

As soon as the door opened, Xiao Bao hopped forward and greeted sweetly: “Auntie!”  

“Hey.” Lin Daniu responded, patting Xiao Bao’s head before looking at Shen Yiyi. “Come on in.”  

Shen Yiyi followed her inside. Not seeing Chen Qiang at home, she asked: “Qiangzi went to work?”  

Although it was not yet time for spring planting, preparations were already underway.  

“Yes, the reservoir upstream is releasing water, so he went to dig furrows to channel the water into the fields.” Lin Daniu explained. “An An is asleep, and Wangcai went out to play with Da Bao and Er Bao.”  

Shen Yiyi nodded. The two chatted for a while before she took Xiao Bao and left.  

Lin Daniu watched Shen Yiyi leave, but as soon as she heard her mother-in-law calling from inside, she hurried back to take care of Mother Chen.  

Shen Yiyi strolled around the village. The air was especially fresh, the sky an exceptionally clear blue. The vast fields and rolling hills were scattered with people preparing for spring plowing. The rural atmosphere, where people worked from sunrise to sunset, was strong and lively.  

As she passed by the He family’s house, she saw Wang Yan sitting at the door, peeling corn. She looked a bit listless, but upon spotting Shen Yiyi, her eyes instantly lit up. She let out a playful “Oh!” and teased: “Li Chen’s wife, you, this secluded…”  

Sensing the dangerous glint in Shen Yiyi’s eyes, she quickly swallowed the words she was about to say and smoothly changed the topic. “You, this revolutionary comrade, have finally decided to step out of your house!”  

Shen Yiyi chuckled lightly.  

Seeing her laugh, Wang Yan breathed a sigh of relief. She swiftly patted the small stool beside her and invited Shen Yiyi over. “Since you’re already out, don’t rush back. Come sit for a while!”  

With nothing better to do, Shen Yiyi brought Xiao Bao over and sat down. She glanced at the basket at Wang Yan’s feet and teased: “You’re quite diligent—you’ve almost peeled a whole basket of corn!”  

“I’m nowhere near as carefree as you.” Wang Yan replied with a hint of grievance, glancing at Shen Yiyi’s smooth, delicate hands. She wanted to lament that life treated people differently, but she held back, afraid that Shen Yiyi would once again warn her about how such words could be overheard by the wrong people—and then threaten to drag her to the Public Security Bureau.

Thinking about how many times she had suffered losses at Shen Yiyi’s hands, Wang Yan resentfully stuffed a corn cob into her hands and ordered unceremoniously: “Hurry up, peel it! If I don’t finish this whole basket, my mother-in-law won’t let me eat!”  

Shen Yiyi: “…” And what does that have to do with me?  

Still, she picked up the corn and began peeling. At first, she removed the kernels one by one. After finishing a row, she started breaking them off in strips, her movements slow and refined.  

Wang Yan looked at herself—she was pressing the corn against a rough surface, gripping one end, using her hands, feet, and even her face, baring her teeth as she exerted all her strength—rubbing, rubbing, rubbing! Corn kernels rained down. Then she switched to the other end—rubbing, rubbing, rubbing again…  

The contrast was unbearable.  

Wang Yan suddenly had the urge to snatch the corn from Shen Yiyi’s hands and forbid her from peeling any further.  

She was making her look so rough!  

Of course, it was just a thought. In less than ten seconds of silence, she couldn’t resist gossiping. “Li Chen’s wife, why are you out today?”  

“Just taking a walk.”  

Wang Yan was about to say something else when a noisy commotion erupted—  

“Someone fell into the water!”  

“Someone fell into the water?” Wang Yan’s eyes lit up. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she had just heard some great news.  

“Come on, let’s go check it out!” She grabbed Shen Yiyi’s hand and bolted.  

Shen Yiyi was still holding onto Xiao Bao and nearly dragged him to the ground. She scolded: “Slow down!”  

“Aiya, so fussy.” Wang Yan muttered. She had no intention of slowing down—if she didn’t hurry, she’d miss the excitement.  

Without another word, she scooped up Xiao Bao, slung him over her shoulder, and charged forward with the crowd.  

Hearing the ruckus, Madam He came outside. Seeing the basket of corn abandoned at the door, she fumed and shouted: “Wang Yan, get back here!”  

“Mother, I’ll be back later!” Wang Yan didn’t even look back.  

“You wretched girl! Will you die if you don’t stick your nose in other people’s business? Don’t even bother coming back!” Madam He gritted her teeth in anger.  

“Mother, it wasn’t my idea! Li Chen’s wife dragged me along!” Wang Yan hurriedly turned her head and called out in defense.  

Walking behind her, Shen Yiyi: “…”  

Madam He: “…” You’re the one carrying her son and running ahead—do you think I’m blind?