Chapter 20

Inside a shabby thatched hut, a tattered old kang bed held a man who looked utterly out of place.

His tall, well-built frame lounged lazily, yet carried a naturally upright air.

Close-cropped hair, sharply defined side profile—his striking brow and nose cast deep shadows in the dim light. Thin lips casually tugged at the hem of a blue cloth shirt.

His gaze was lowered, long fingers unwrapping the blood-soaked cloth tied around his waist.

Loop after loop, he unwound it carelessly, as if the red staining it wasn’t even his own blood.

The people at the doorway were speechless.

The scene was… bizarre, yet undeniably captivating.

“That… that’s the youngest son of the He family? He’s grown up so much… No wonder, he used to be in the army…”

Someone whispered.

Zhang Fengying’s eyes turned red instantly. She hurried inside. “Thank heavens! My precious boy! You’re finally awake!”

Only then did He Jinshan lift his eyelids to glance toward the door. His gaze was calm, emotionless. As the shirt hem fell, his entire face came into view—mature, yet with a touch of rugged neglect.

A bite mark on his lower lip stood out vividly against his pale skin—swollen and broken.

Jiang Yanqiu, who had been staring blankly, suddenly snapped back to her senses. That mark!

She followed the others inside, eyes scanning the room quickly—but the person she expected wasn’t there.

Impossible. Where’s Jiang Henián?!

That mouth had clearly just been kissed into that state! They must have been up to something indecent! Did that girl slip away ahead of time?

Jiang Yanqiu’s mind spun furiously.

That shouldn’t be. There was only one road leading here. She subtly glanced around, unwilling to give up.

“Shanzi, let Mama see—how are you bleeding so much again?”

“Can you move? Huh? Can you move your legs?”

Zhang Fengying stood in front of He Jinshan, hands trembling, too heartbroken to even touch him.

He Jinshan cast an indifferent glance at the middle-aged peasant woman and leaned back slightly, lips twitching. “I’m fine.”

“Really fine? Let Mama check your leg.”

She reached toward the leg wrapped in layers of gauze, splinted with wooden sticks, but He Jinshan raised his hand to block her.

“No need to look.”

His face was expressionless—but to others, that meant something else entirely.

Was it… that he couldn’t feel his leg anymore? That it was completely ruined? Had he given up hope?

Zhang Fengying’s eyes filled with tears. She patted her chest and wailed, “It’s okay, it’s okay, as long as you’re alive, that’s all that matters.”

The villagers around showed sympathetic expressions. Though they hadn’t seen him in ten years, they had all watched him grow up.

He’d always been strong and mischievous, and when he turned 18, he’d secretly left to join the army because he thought it sounded exciting.

Everyone thought he’d become an officer and made something of himself. Who could’ve imagined he’d leave all bright and full of life, only to return with a crippled leg…

Seeing the mournful crowd, He Jinshan raised an eyebrow, but didn’t bother explaining.

“Auntie He, don’t cry! Jinshan’s back, that’s all that matters. He’ll get married soon enough and live a good life!”

“Yes, yes, Shanzi, Jiang Yanqiu even came to see you.”

Zhang Fengying nodded eagerly and tried to pull Jiang Yanqiu forward.

Jiang Yanqiu was still stewing over how she hadn’t managed to catch Jiang Henián red-handed. Suddenly, everyone’s attention turned to her.

She panicked—no way could she agree to anything now, not in front of this many people. If she accepted now, there’d be no way to back out.

No matter how good-looking He Jinshan was now, his leg was crippled. Marrying him would be like jumping into a fire pit!

She stubbornly stayed rooted to the spot, face showing clear reluctance. The atmosphere turned awkward.

A helpful aunt tried to ease the tension: “Jinshan, your fiancée’s just shy! It’s been ten years, right? So? Pretty enough for you?”

“No impression,” He Jinshan replied casually.

His three words made Jiang Yanqiu’s expression twist. He hadn’t even looked at her!

What was he so smug about? Just a useless crippled soldier!

And to think he ignored his proper fiancée but got entangled with that plain-faced tramp Jiang Henián! The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

She stiffened and demanded, “He Jinshan, are you saying you don’t want this engagement anymore?”

But He Jinshan was no fool. Her earlier hesitation had already said it all.

He let out a cold chuckle, eyes icy. “You still want to marry?”

As expected, Jiang Yanqiu was left speechless.

She couldn’t say yes, nor could she say no. If she admitted she didn’t want to, she’d have to return the betrothal money.

“Aw, the girl’s just embarrassed! Or maybe worried he can’t support a family? Pfft, Jinshan served ten years in the army—money’s no issue, right?”

He Jinshan glanced at the empty window made of mud bricks and smiled indifferently. “Didn’t you all already find out the day I came back? I’ve got nothing.”

That’s right. He was carried back unconscious from the village entrance.

Jiang Yanqiu’s disdain for him deepened. So much for being an officer—what a joke!

Matchmaker Zhang, a famed go-between in the area, was used to helping couples settle down. She’d never seen someone ruin a match this fast. This wasn’t just letting the duck fly away—it was chasing it off with a stick!

“Now, now, don’t say that! How will you ever get married at this rate…”

“Don’t plan to.”

Another casual line from He Jinshan, and the room erupted.

“Good! I don’t plan to marry either!” Jiang Yanqiu, completely ignored, snapped.

People started murmuring—some trying to mediate, others just enjoying the drama.

Finally, the village head Wang Jianping sighed, “Alright then. It’s the new era—we believe in free love. If both sides don’t want this, the commune will officially witness the annulment.”

By the time Wang Chunfang arrived, panting from running over, her foolish daughter had already officially broken off the engagement under Wang Jianping’s witness.

The childhood betrothal was nullified. Of the 180 yuan bride price the He family had paid, the Jiang family was required to return 100 yuan within three months.

When the amount was announced, Jiang Yanqiu, who had been acting on impulse, felt a chill run down her spine. But with so many eyes watching, she had no choice but to sign.

Wang Chunfang clutched the cancellation paper, her hands trembling like she had a seizure. She immediately refused and pointed at the He family, screaming:

“My daughter wasted all these years with you and this is how it ends?! Why should we return the money?! Who’s going to marry her now?!”

“You bunch of heartless bastards tricked her into signing this!”

The villagers, who’d just come to watch the fun, didn’t take kindly to the insult.

“Hey now, Wang Chunfang, that’s out of line. Your girl didn’t look willing from the moment she showed up! We all tried to talk her out of it—even the village head did! Don’t you dare act like we forced her!”

“And your girl’s only eighteen, isn’t she? What’s there to ‘ruin’? When He Jinshan went off to the army, she was just eight! Everyone in this village knows what’s what. No one’s going to slander her name—don’t go throwing your own filth on others!”

Village head Wang Jianping also tried to explain, “Look, even the matchmaker is here. Technically, the full bride price should be returned. But since we’re all neighbors, returning just part of it is our way of keeping things friendly. We’ll stamp it and be done with it—fair to both sides.”

“Exactly! If both families want out, then it’s settled. Don’t tell me you’re only backing out because of his leg, but still want to keep the money? Ha! If everyone did that, the whole system would fall apart!”

Wang Chunfang was black with rage, ready to cause a scene, but Jiang Yanqiu yanked her arm hard, face burning with shame. The two stormed off furiously.

The villagers, who had come to witness a wedding, instead got a full-on drama show. Satisfied, they shook their heads and left.

“Son, you fool! Your leg… how will you ever find a wife now?!”

Zhang Fengying, too soft-hearted to argue, could only cry as she left, wiping her tears. With her son’s current condition, how could he ever hope to marry again?

In the blink of an eye, the hut that had been bursting with people was now empty.

He Jinshan pushed himself upright, turned toward the window, and tapped on the wooden sill with a knuckle.

After a moment, a small head with braided hair timidly popped up.

Both hands clutched the window ledge, big eyes blinking as she whispered, “Is everyone gone?”

She looked like a little field mouse.

He Jinshan stared at her in silence.

Jiang Henián blinked and raised her hand in a tiny wave, grinning cheekily. “Hi~ Brother-in-law~”

He Jinshan raised an eyebrow, lips curving into a faint smirk. He leaned closer.

“So… were you secretly kissing and molesting your brother-in-law just now?”

Jiang Henián: “……!!!!”

Her cheeks turned crimson instantly. She spun around and ran.

I—Jiang Henián—am going to the woods right now to find a tree and hang myself!!!

“Ah!”

Night had fallen. Jiang Henián, running blind in the dark, stepped on a rock and fell with a loud thud.

…