Chapter 007

Hearing Chu Xia’s words, Han Ting’s frown deepened.

He stared at her, but didn’t say anything, as Lin Xiaohan, placing a bag on the nearby table, sneered and said, “Oh, the fool finally figured things out.”

Han Ting’s simmering anger flared up immediately.

He clenched his fist, unable to hold back, and suddenly kicked the stool under him away. Standing up, he grabbed Lin Xiaohan by the collar, his eyes burning with fury. “What’s it to you?”

Lin Xiaohan still wore a smile.

He tilted his head in a challenge, calling out to Han Ting, “Come on, hit me on the temple.”

Han Ting tightened his grip on Lin Xiaohan’s collar, his voice dark, “You think I won’t, huh?”

Lin Xiaohan, still grinning, replied, “I never thought you wouldn’t, what is there that you can’t do, Brother Ting? Back in Sijiucheng, the police station was just like your home. Now we’re in the countryside, doesn’t the local commune’s public security group feel like your new home? You can’t afford to lose that, can you?”

These words ignited Han Ting’s fury even more.

He clenched his fist, ready to strike Lin Xiaohan in the face.

But before his fist could fall, someone grabbed his arm.

Han Ting turned around, only to find that it was Chu Xia holding him back.

Chu Xia clutched his arm tightly and said, “Even though his words are harsh, he’s telling the truth. I was a fool before, but now I’ve wised up.”

Han Ting looked at Chu Xia, his frown even deeper.

After a moment, he suppressed his anger, shoved her hand off his arm, and snapped, “I think your brain’s the one that’s fried now!”

With that, he glared at Lin Xiaohan, but didn’t throw the punch. Instead, he roughly released his grip on Lin Xiaohan’s collar and stormed out, boiling with suppressed rage.

---

Boys’ Dormitory.

The others were still having a lively time.

Su Yun turned and saw Han Ting leaving the courtyard, quietly getting up to follow him.

She jogged out of the yard, catching up to him by the dim moonlight. She reached out to tug at his arm and, gasping for breath, asked, “What happened?”

Han Ting didn’t respond, continuing to walk forward.

Su Yun stood still for a moment, then took a deep breath and followed him, walking in silence beside him.

Han Ting eventually sat down by the riverbank, and Su Yun sat beside him.

He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled out the last cigarette, and casually tossed the empty pack aside. He lit it, taking a couple of puffs.

Su Yun turned her head to watch him smoke, but didn’t say anything.

After a while, Han Ting spoke up, “I talked to Chu Xia for a bit earlier. I asked her what’s going on these past few days, but she wouldn’t say. I asked her to give up the chance to be a teacher, and she refused.”

Su Yun felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, extinguishing the small flame of hope she had inside.

She lowered her head, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “I’ve caused you trouble.”

Han Ting flicked the ash from his cigarette. “It’s not your fault. It’s that girl, Chu Xia. She’s been righteous since she was little, but I don’t know what’s gotten into her. Suddenly she’s acting selfish and petty. Earlier, she even argued with me over a piece of bread.”

Su Yun looked at him and said, “She’s simple and innocent, not someone who thinks much. People like that are easily influenced, easily deceived. Do you think someone is using her to target you?”

Han Ting understood that Su Yun was referring to Lin Xiaohan.

Thinking about how Chu Xia had just defended Lin Xiaohan earlier made Han Ting feel even more stifled with anger.

He took a long drag from his cigarette and, after a moment of silence, finally replied, “I don’t know.”

Su Yun let out another sigh. “Chu Xia usually listens to you the most. If even she won’t listen to you now, then there’s no point in the rest of us trying to talk to her. It’s not a huge deal otherwise, but she’s just too simple-minded. If she ends up following the wrong people and learning the wrong things, it’d really be a shame.”

Han Ting continued smoking silently. After a pause, he said, “She’s like a hedgehog right now—prickly and ready to jab anyone who gets close. Let’s give it a few days. Maybe she’ll go back to normal.”

Su Yun fiddled with her fingers and pressed her lips together. “Mm.”

She wanted to bring up the topic of when the school would officially start, but worried it might make her intentions too obvious. After thinking about it for a moment, she decided to stay quiet.

—

In the kitchen—

After Han Ting left, Chu Xia relaxed and naturally returned to the table to continue eating.

Lin Xiaohan didn’t sit idle either. He grabbed a basin, scooped some water, and began kneading dough.

There were three tables in the kitchen. He used the one next to Chu Xia’s but didn’t sit at the same table as her.

While kneading, he glanced up at her, thinking her behavior these past couple of days had been strange. He asked, “You’re not seriously trying to imitate me, are you?”

Chu Xia hadn’t expected him to speak to her, so she didn’t look up or respond.

Seeing no reaction, Lin Xiaohan paused his hands, looked at her, and said again, “I’m asking you.”

This time, Chu Xia felt his gaze.

She looked up at him, blinked, and asked, “Me?”

Lin Xiaohan let out a short, speechless chuckle. “Who else is in this room?”

Chu Xia recalled what he had just asked, looked at him, and answered, “Oh, then you’re overthinking it. You’re so unlikeable—why would I want to imitate you?”

Lin Xiaohan: “……”

The amused expression on his face faded bit by bit.

After a moment, he lowered his slightly darkened gaze and resumed kneading the dough. “Good. I don’t want to get dragged into all your messy love drama anyway.”

Chu Xia immediately denied, “Han Ting and I are just childhood friends—more like siblings.”

Lin Xiaohan let out a snort of laughter. “If Han Ting isn’t pretending to be clueless, then he must be blind and stupid. But do I look like a fool to you?”

Chu Xia wanted to deny it again, but after opening her mouth, no words came out.

It wasn’t that she wanted to deny she’d liked Han Ting for over a decade. But since it had always been her own secret, something no one else had ever known or heard from her directly, she figured she might as well pretend it never happened.

Yet somehow, what Han Ting, Chaozi, and Guogai had all failed to notice, Lin Xiaohan had figured out?

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Lin Xiaohan looked away and continued, “If you didn’t like Han Ting, and you really spent over a decade following him around just because of childhood ties—followed him in school, then all the way to the countryside to take care of him—then your head’s even more messed up.”

Chu Xia: “……”

Sure enough, he couldn’t talk without being mean. She should’ve let Han Ting punch him earlier.

Just as she was trying to figure out how to respond, a voice suddenly called out from the courtyard, “Comrade Xiao Lin!”

The voice was loud enough for Lin Xiaohan to hear it clearly.

He quickly stopped what he was doing and went to the window to take a look outside.

He could vaguely make out that it was Aunt Liu and Aunt Li from the village. Instantly, he switched on his “charming” mode and called out politely through the window, “Auntie Liu, Auntie Li, I’m here in the kitchen.”

Aunt Liu and Aunt Li walked into the kitchen.

Lin Xiaohan greeted them with a warm smile. “Aunties, I’m in the middle of kneading dough, so my hands are covered in flour and I couldn’t lift the curtain to come out. What brings you here?”

Aunt Liu was holding a small jar of pickled radish.

Aunt Li had a jar of soy-simmered beans.

Aunt Liu smiled and said, “Thank you for helping us grind at the mill earlier. We figured you probably didn’t have many dishes since you just started cooking here, so we brought over some pickled radish and beans for you.”

Then she turned and greeted Chu Xia, “Comrade Xia is here too.”

Chu Xia smiled and returned the greeting politely, not getting involved in their conversation. She simply thought to herself—no wonder Lin Xiaohan had returned so late; turns out he was helping at the mill.

Lin Xiaohan responded, “That’s too kind of you, Aunties. I didn’t do much—just happened to be there and lent a hand. It was nothing.”

Aunt Liu firmly placed the jars on the table. “You’ve helped us out quite a bit these days, not just this once. These are just some homemade pickles—we’re not being overly polite.”

To stop him from declining further, Aunt Li quickly changed the topic. “Are you kneading dough to make steamed buns? Can a young guy like you even handle something like that? If not, I’ll take it back home, steam it for you, and bring it over when it’s done.”

Lin Xiaohan said with a grin, “Auntie, don’t judge by appearances—I’m great at managing a household.”

Aunt Li laughed so hard her eyes crinkled. “Is that so? My, my! A young man like you—educated, knowledgeable, tall, handsome, and even good at housework? You won’t find another one like you even if we turned the entire Qinghe commune upside down! Whoever marries you in the future is going to be one lucky girl!”

Hearing this, Aunt Liu perked up too.

Her eyes lit up as she looked at Lin Xiaohan. “Comrade Xiao Lin, you don’t have a girlfriend yet, do you?”

Lin Xiaohan smiled and replied, “Not at the moment. But I think I’m still young, so I haven’t really thought about that yet. Maybe in a couple of years.”

Aunt Li chimed in right away, “Well, when you do start thinking about it, just let us aunties know. We’ll make sure to introduce you to the prettiest and most capable girl in the entire area!”

Lin Xiaohan nodded and replied, “Alright, Auntie. When the time comes, I’ll definitely come to you.”

It was getting late by then, so after a bit more small talk, Auntie Liu and Auntie Li didn’t linger. They reminded Lin Xiaohan to hurry up and steam the buns, then left the kitchen, smiling and greeting Chu Xia one more time before they went.

Chu Xia stood up from the table to see them off.

Once they lifted the curtain and stepped out, Lin Xiaohan dropped the polite expression he’d been wearing and turned back into the kitchen, while Chu Xia sat down again to finish her meal.

As she took the last bite of her bun, she looked at Lin Xiaohan and thought to herself—
With how fast he could change his face and voice, he’d definitely be famous if he ever acted in a movie.

And he wouldn’t even need to play the hero—just go with roles like the villain Ma Wencai from The Butterfly Lovers.

All that effort he put into being helpful and friendly in front of the villagers wasn’t because he wanted to settle down in the countryside with a hardworking, pretty wife. No way.

A guy like him, cold and emotionless, would never let something like that derail his future.

Sure, on the day they all first arrived at the Tanxi Brigade, he was the one who shouted “devote your life to the revolution in the countryside” the loudest. But deep down, his mind was already made up.

If the village ever got a spot for someone to be recruited for a job in the city, he would be the first to grab it—no question.

Of course, those job quotas were few and far between.

Most people didn’t bother to pin their hopes on something so uncertain. They didn’t push themselves to perform just for the slim chance of a way out.

Besides, at their age, most of them were still rebellious, and didn’t care much for brown-nosing to begin with.

Chu Xia had been watching Lin Xiaohan a little too long.

He looked up and met her gaze. “What? Jealous someone brought me pickled vegetables?”

“…”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Chu Xia quickly looked away and picked up her bowl to drink the now-lukewarm water.

Then she swiftly packed away the leftover canned food and buns, washed the dishes, and put everything away. With her thermos of hot water in hand, she headed back to the dorm.