Chapter 38 : Not on the Way

Jiang Yu didn’t quite trust Jiang Ting, so the next day she went out to ask around for herself.

The captain of the South River Village had a son who worked at the meat processing plant in the city and returned to the village every few days.

She inquired and received confirmation that Old Lady Ye had indeed broken her leg.

Jiang Yu went home and mentioned it to Yao Xiangling, asking for her opinion.

Yao Xiangling said, “If she really has broken her leg, you should buy some things to bring back and see her. Don’t let people say you’ve forgotten your family just because you went to the city.”

The main concern was that Jiang Yu hadn’t yet found a suitable partner, she still had family ties that were worth maintaining.

After hesitating for two days at home, Jiang Yu decided to make the trip back to the village.

Unexpectedly, while waiting for the bus, she ran into He Tingyue.

She approached him with a bright smile, “Comrade He, are you also going to the Funan Commune?”

He Tingyue responded coolly, “Mm,” showing little interest.

However, Jiang Yu was used to his indifference and tried to find topics to chat about.

Fortunately, though he spoke little, he didn’t completely ignore her.

“A few days ago, I went to take the recruitment exam at the newspaper but didn’t pass. I heard the woman who did pass is from your courtyard, how impressive!”

He Tingyue replied with little emotion, “Not bad.”

He had already heard about it from He Feiyan.

He didn’t want to engage with Jiang Yu, but his thoughts were conflicted.

On one hand, he thought of her as a deceptive woman, and he didn’t want to give her any attention.

On the other hand, he recalled what Jiang Ting had said about Jiang Yu’s family wanting to marry her off to a widower in exchange for something.

Strangely, he began to justify Jiang Yu’s actions to himself.

If her family was going to marry her off, what was wrong with her making plans for herself?

Yet he also thought that while her situation was indeed tragic, that didn’t justify her deceiving others for money.

This inner conflict frustrated him.

Eventually, he decided to stop thinking about it. The one thing he could be certain of was that he and Jiang Yu were not meant to be.

When they arrived at the Funan Commune, Jiang Yu got off the bus with He Tingyue.

She watched as he greeted some friends and even borrowed a bicycle from one of them.

Her eyes lit up, and she hurried over.

“Comrade He, would you mind giving me a ride?”

He Tingyue was silent for a moment before asking, “Where is your home?”

Jiang Yu, feeling delighted, replied, “South River Village!”

He Tingyue almost agreed but then caught himself just in time, nearly biting his tongue.

“Not on the way.” Those three words felt like cold water splashed over Jiang Yu.

Once it was clear there was no possibility, it was better to cut ties cleanly, that was He Tingyue’s principle.

Jiang Yu’s previously bright expression dimmed instantly, her smile falling.

“Then never mind, I won’t trouble you.”

Feeling somewhat downcast, she turned and walked away quickly.

But then she thought, if he really wasn’t going in her direction, it made sense for him not to take a detour for her.

What she didn’t know was that after she turned around, He Tingyue stood there for quite a while, until her figure disappeared from view, cursing himself softly before getting on the bicycle.

The road back to South River Village was muddy, and there was a stretch that was very narrow, bordered by cornfields.

In the past, there had been incidents involving girls in this area.

Every time Jiang Yu walked this path, she felt scared, rushing through without stopping.

But today, as she approached, she felt a chill creep over her, her heart pounding with a sense of foreboding.

Before she could run past, two burly men suddenly emerged from the cornfield, surrounding her from the front and back.

In an instant, Jiang Yu’s head spun, terror engulfing her entire being, and a chill ran down her spine.

“Who are you!” she shouted, her voice loud and sharp, trying to mask her fear.

The man blocking her path, sporting a buzz cut, looked astonished, incredulously exclaiming, “Damn! Fourth Uncle, such a beauty going to waste marrying Second Uncle. Why don’t we have some fun first? I’ve been hiding here, getting eaten by mosquitoes for days!”

Upon hearing “Second Uncle,” Jiang Yu immediately realized these were the Duan family members.

She forced herself to remain calm, gritting her teeth, “You’re from the Duan family! How ridiculous! Do you think you can just take me and this marriage will happen? It’s a new society now, and trafficking women is illegal! As long as I don’t want to marry, my parents can’t agree!”

The buzz cut guy smirked lewdly, his gaze lingering on Jiang Yu’s chest.

He wasn’t joking, he had done such things before.

“As long as we want, we don’t need your parents’ consent or yours. We’ll take you home, force you into it, and I bet you once you’re pregnant, you won’t be able to escape!”

Jiang Yu refused to waste time talking to them, knowing she couldn’t fight, she turned to sprint into the cornfield.

At least if she could get in there, she might find a way out.

However, the burly man behind her had anticipated her move. The moment she tried to take a step, he grabbed her arm tightly.

The Duan family members were all big and muscular, and Jiang Yu’s small frame was no match for them.

The buzz cut laughed heartily, “Looks like you really want to dive into the cornfield. Let’s go! Fourth Uncle, move!”

“Let me go! This is a crime, it’s kidnapping, you’ll get shot for this!”

Jiang Yu struggled desperately, tears streaming down her face in terror, her whole body shaking.

But more than fear, what filled her chest was a deep sense of hatred!

If it weren’t for their inside connections, how would the Duan family know she was returning to the village?

The buzz cut jumped into the cornfield, waiting for the burly man to take her down.

Just as Jiang Yu was about to scream in despair—

A bicycle flew through the air, smashing directly into the buzz cut’s head.

Jiang Yu was stunned, watching the scene in disbelief.

Then she heard a crunch, and the burly man behind her let out a pained cry.

He loosened his grip, and Jiang Yu seized the chance to escape immediately.

Once she ensured her safety, she looked back and was shocked to see He Tingyue!

The burly man, who had just been restraining her, was now twisted in an awkward position, bound by ropes that He Tingyue had pulled out.

The buzz cut in the cornfield had been struck on the head and was bleeding, He Tingyue followed the blood trail and quickly caught him.

His strikes were severe yet measured, leaving their legs intact so they could walk to the police station.

Jiang Yu’s legs felt weak as she sat down on the ground, tears still glistening on her cheeks, staring in a daze at the scene.

Still shaken, her mind was a blur, leaving her unable to think clearly.

It wasn’t until He Tingyue came to stand in front of her, looking down at her, that she snapped out of it.

“Can you get up?”

Jiang Yu opened her mouth and let out a choked sob.

She shook her head, her lips quivering.

She wasn’t hurt, just weak in the legs and unable to stand.

He Tingyue sighed silently, turned his back, and squatted down.

“Get on.”

Just this once, he thought.

Jiang Yu’s tears fell like rain as she climbed onto his back.

After holding back for so long, as soon as he lifted her, she couldn’t help but burst into loud sobs.

“I… I… I thought I was going to die! Why did you take so long to come? I thought I was done for, boohoo… I asked you to give me a ride, but you refused… it’s all your fault, boohoo…”

Jiang Yu cried so fiercely that He Tingyue could feel her hot tears seeping through his thin shirt, scalding her skin.

Knowing she had been frightened, He Tingyue didn’t interrupt her, letting her express her fear and listening to her sobbing.