Chapter 6

“Eldest Sister-in-law, don’t worry about how much the medicine costs. As long as it can make you better, that’s all that matters.”

Gu Keqing smiled and patted Qi Zhiyun’s shoulder.

As she spoke, she was calculating when the female lead would appear. It should be in the next few days.

It was time to prepare countermeasures.

After lunch, Shen Yan and Han Dashuan were sent by Han Deguang to pick up the new educated youths.

They didn’t want to be late and get complaints, which could damage the reputation of Caohua Brigade.

“Brother Yan, those educated youths can’t lift or carry a thing. A whole bunch of them came down here and are completely useless—every day they just stir up trouble. It’s annoying as hell,” Han Dashuan grumbled, sitting on the right side of the tractor’s handrail.

Shen Yan didn’t respond, thinking to himself: My wife is an educated youth too.

After a moment, Han Dashuan realized he’d misspoken and hurried to add, “I wasn’t talking about Sister-in-law. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

“Have you got all the tools ready?”

Shen Yan didn’t care about his earlier words—his mind was on tonight’s hunt.

“They’re ready. The brigade office has two big iron rods with sharp ends—perfect for stabbing a wild boar in the eye.”

Han Dashuan had grown up in the mountains and was skilled at hunting.

But compared to Shen Yan, he was still a bit inferior.

Shen Yan had come from the army, and his skills were formidable.

The last time they ran into a wild boar attack, it was Shen Yan who had saved Han Dashuan.

So in the village, Han Dashuan didn’t submit to anyone—except Shen Yan.

“Mm, the two of us should each take a machete, bring a few mousetraps, and set some snares.”

Ever since getting married, Shen Yan wanted to hunt more game and make more money.

He planned to take whatever they caught tonight and sell it at the black market before dawn.

Han Dashuan grinned.

“Alright, I’ve got everything ready.”

…

At the bus station, the educated youths had been waiting so long that they were getting impatient.

One after another, they began to complain.

“Caohua Brigade is outrageous! They knew we were coming today, and in this scorching heat, they still didn’t send anyone to pick us up.”

Sun Lili stomped her foot and spoke loudly.

Xia Ye chimed in,

“Exactly. They don’t take the educated youths seriously at all. We came here to help with construction, and they’re trying to roast us alive. Just wait, I’m going to report Caohua Brigade to the commune.”

Qi Zhilan cast a sidelong glance at the two complaining in front of her, the corners of her mouth curling in ridicule.

She hadn’t come here to do any “construction.”

She was here to find the man she loved—Shen Yan.

In her past life, she had missed her chance with him.

This time, she had come early to stay close to him.

Thinking of this filled her with a surge of excitement.

“They’re here! The people from the brigade are here to pick us up.”

Among this batch of educated youths, he was the only man—Luo Yang.

Not only did he not complain, but he also helped the female educated youths carry their luggage.

“What took you so long? I’ve gotten tan from all this sun. It’s so annoying.”

Sun Lili continued to frown and complain.

“Get on the tractor,” Shen Yan said coolly.

Wang Zishan, though also suffering under the scorching sun, thought of how hard farming people worked and chose not to add to the complaints.

After helping a few of the women load their luggage and parcels onto the tractor, Han Dashuan heard Qi Zhilan say with a smile,

“Comrade, can I sit where you were sitting just now? I get carsick.”

Before Han Dashuan could respond, Shen Yan’s cold voice cut in: “No.”

Qi Zhilan refused to give up. She jumped down from the tractor bed and went straight up to Shen Yan.

“I get carsick really badly. Could you please help me out?”

Han Dashuan let out a low whistle. So this new educated youth had her eye on Brother Shen Yan?

Oh no, that wouldn’t do. He had to watch out for his sister-in-law and guard against these scheming “spider spirits.”

“Go, go, go! Stay in the back. Why are you making such a fuss? Sit if you want, don’t sit if you don’t. If you don’t like it, walk back!”

Han Dashuan shot her a fierce glare before climbing into the front seat.

Qi Zhilan was so angry she nearly choked.

She huffed and climbed back into the tractor bed, thinking: Damn country bumpkin. Just wait until I marry Shen Yan—then I’ll deal with you!

When that day comes, I’ll be the wife of an army officer, and people will be begging to curry favor with me.

Qi Zhilan had been reborn.

She remembered that in her previous life, not long after Gu Keqing’s death, Shen Yan had returned to the army.

But back then, she had been short-sighted and married someone else.

If she had known how capable and successful Shen Yan would become, she would never have let that fat piece of meat slip away.

In this life, Qi Zhilan swore to seize the opportunity.

She would get rid of Gu Keqing early and marry Shen Yan to become an official’s wife.

Thinking of this swept away her earlier gloom and made her happy again.

Sun Lili, however, had no patience for her antics and sneered:

“Well, well, trying to seduce that tractor driver, huh? You see someone handsome and just throw yourself at him?”

Qi Zhilan shot her a glare and retorted, “None of your business.”

“None of my business? Of course it’s my business. You kept dawdling and whining down there, wasting my time and making me get sunburned. You tell me—doesn’t that concern me?”

Sun Lili’s father was a deputy factory director in the city, and she had grown up pampered.

She was used to mocking others, never being mocked herself.

So Qi Zhilan’s behavior had made her very displeased.

“I can’t be bothered to talk to you.”

Qi Zhilan turned her head to look at Shen Yan, saying nothing more.

In her mind, these educated youths were small fry—not worth her time.

Her target was that man.

—

At the educated youth dormitory.

Han Deguang hadn’t gone to work that afternoon.

He and a few of the older educated youths had cleaned out an empty room.

More and more educated youths were arriving, and soon there wouldn’t be enough space.

“Dad, they’re back,” Han Dashuan said, putting down the newcomers’ luggage before preparing to leave.

Shen Yan went to the brigade office to park the tractor.

Han Deguang called after him,

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve got something to do with Brother Shen Yan. I’ll be back late tonight!”

Without looking back, Han Dashuan headed toward the brigade office.

Qi Zhilan didn’t even bother unpacking her things, just stared blankly in the direction of the brigade office.

“What are you staring at? Careful you don’t twist your neck,” Sun Lili snorted with disdain. “A country bumpkin like that is worth staring at for so long? You act like you’ve never seen a man before.”

“None of your business. Mind your own affairs.”

Qi Zhilan was angry now, a trace of malice flashing in her eyes.

She had lived two lives—she didn’t mind killing a few people.

The female educated youth’s room housed five people, the male’s housed four.

Some of the earlier arrivals had already married locally and moved out.

Qi Zhilan remembered that when she was sent down, her father had mentioned that her cousin Qi Zhiyun’s husband had been sent to Caohua Brigade as well.

He had told her to visit when she had the chance, so they could look out for each other.

Qi Zhilan went up to Han Deguang and asked,

“Captain, I want to ask about someone.”

“Who?” Han Deguang was about to leave, but stopped when he heard her.

“Qi Zhiyun,” she blurted out.

“Oh… you mean Shen Long’s wife? That’s the sister-in-law of Shen Yan, the one who just brought you all back.”

Han Deguang had no idea about her ulterior motives.

“Really? Then… where does the Shen family live?”