As soon as Shen Zhihuan’s family of four exited the boundary of Xilin Village, they saw Zhu Dazhuang standing by the woods, clearly waiting for someone. Shen Zhihuan frowned slightly.

“Auntie, could I have a word with Zhihuan?”

Zhu Dazhuang’s sincere expression made Li Qiuhua hesitate before giving a small nod.

Li Qiuhua and Shen Zhimei moved a little further away, pulling Xiao Weidong to a spot under a locust tree, Zhu Dazhuang leaned closer and began speaking in a low voice. “There’s nothing between me and Yang Sanhong.”

“I know.” Shen Zhihuan nodded.

If Zhu Dazhuang really had something going on with Yang Sanhong, he wouldn’t have his sister visit her house so many times. Still, with Yang Sanhong’s shamelessness, he was bound to have trouble with her in the future.

“Is it because I’m older?” Zhu Dazhuang asked hesitantly, his brows furrowed.

“No,” Shen Zhihuan replied, shaking her head.

By the usual saying, “Men at forty are like blossoming flowers,” Zhu Dazhuang was at best a budding flower waiting to bloom.

“Then… is it because I have three sons?” Zhu Dazhuang asked cautiously.

“No,” Shen Zhihuan said again, shaking her head.

Raising kids without the pain of childbirth? It was a bargain. She wouldn’t have to endure the struggles of pregnancy or the dangers of childbirth—what’s not to like?

“Then are you willing to marry me?” Zhu Dazhuang asked uncertainly.

“No.” Shen Zhihuan shook her head again.

“You don’t mind my age, and you don’t mind my sons, so why won’t you marry me?” Zhu Dazhuang looked at her in confusion.

He wasn’t claiming to be extraordinary, but in Xilin Village, his family was one of the better-off households.

“Because I don’t like you,” Shen Zhihuan said casually.

“You’re still hung up on the Su family?” Zhu Dazhuang’s brows knit tightly.

He knew about her causing a scene over the engagement with Su Zijie.

“Absolutely not.” Shen Zhihuan made a face of disgust. “Even if all the men on earth were dead, I wouldn’t get together with Su Zijie.”

Why would she waste such a great start in life eating “leftovers” like that? Besides, Su Zijie, with his soft, pampered demeanor, wasn’t her type at all.

“Then why don’t you like me?” Zhu Dazhuang pressed, holding his breath as he looked at her.

“Not liking someone doesn’t always need a reason.” Shen Zhihuan shot him a cold look.

“At least give me an explanation,” Zhu Dazhuang sighed. “If you’re going to reject me, let me understand why.”

“You’re a good person. In fact, you’re better than most,” Shen Zhihuan said honestly. “But the problem isn’t you—it’s me. I’m not particularly fond of men. To be precise, I don’t have any special feelings for them. Unless something changes, I plan to stay single my whole life.”

“You plan to never marry?” Zhu Dazhuang asked, stunned. “Does your mother know?”

“She doesn’t yet, but she’ll find out eventually,” Shen Zhihuan said with a light laugh. “I should get going now. I wish you luck in finding a suitable wife.”

She turned to leave but suddenly stopped and added, “Oh, and if you can, make sure your kids go to school. Working for points isn’t something kids their age should be doing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Zhu Dazhuang nodded.

“And I wish you luck in finding the right man,” he called out loudly as she walked away.

Without looking back, Shen Zhihuan waved her hand.

A man? Why bother when living alone is so much better?

Watching Shen Zhihuan and her family disappear down the road, Zhu Dazhuang turned and walked toward the slaughterhouse.

Deeper in the woods, Li Jiabao stood up, brushing the dirt and dry leaves off his clothes.

“Wow, Brother Yu, I didn’t expect Zhu Dazhuang to be such a decent guy,” Li Jiabao commented.

Su Ziyu, who had been perched on a tree, jumped down gracefully and shot a disdainful look at Li Jiabao. He stepped aside to create some distance between them.

“Brother Yu…” Li Jiabao started, but abruptly stopped himself, his lips snapping shut.

“What is it? Speak,” Su Ziyu said, his tone suspicious as he glanced at the unusually silent Li Jiabao.

Li Jiabao gulped nervously, shaking his head.

This was about a man’s pride… He didn’t want to get himself killed by Brother Yu.

“Talk,” Su Ziyu demanded, punctuating his command with a sharp kick.

Rubbing his bruised rear, Li Jiabao internally cursed himself. Why couldn’t he just keep his mouth shut?

“Well… Brother Yu, I just think it wasn’t right for Zhihuan to treat you like that…” Li Jiabao stammered.

After all, she was already “his.” Even if Brother Yu had his little… issues, she shouldn’t have disregarded his presence in front of other men.

Surely, she couldn’t be abandoning Brother Yu just because of a small flaw? That would be devastating!

Li Jiabao sighed, pitying his friend. But what if the situation was irreversible? Who would honor Brother Yu with funeral rites in the future?

“How she treats me is none of your business,” Su Ziyu snapped. “Stop meddling in things that don’t concern you.”

Li Jiabao took a deep breath, feeling frustrated.

He was just trying to stand up for Brother Yu, and this was the thanks he got?

As a child, when brother Yu lost his swimming shorts, wasn’t it he who lent him his own, walking home bare-bottomed?

For that, Li Jiabao had been chased and beaten by his father for over two miles, only saved by his grandmother’s intervention.

And now he was accused of meddling?!

The more Li Jiabao thought about it, the angrier he got. “Su Zi—”

He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Su Ziyu return, holding two pheasants and a hare.

“…I said I’ll cook,” Li Jiabao quickly corrected himself, scurrying over to take the game from Su Ziyu’s hands.

“Take one pheasant and the hare to the west side of the village,” Su Ziyu ordered.

Li Jiabao’s cheerful expression immediately fell.

There was only two pheasants and one hare…

No wonder Zhihuan said she wasn’t fond of men.

With someone this shameless, who prioritized women over his friends, why would she like him?

“You can keep the fatter one,” Su Ziyu said as he started walking out of the woods.

Li Jiabao’s mood brightened briefly, only for Su Ziyu to add, “She doesn’t like overly fatty ones.”

Li Jiabao’s heart sank to the depths.

Why did he ever lend his shorts to this ingrate? He should’ve let him walk home naked!