Chapter 6

Shen Yuling was getting married. Everyone was shocked—why was she suddenly getting married? No one had even heard of her being in a relationship.

After returning home, Erlai thought about it and felt that Gu Nian’s idea was excellent. For the sake of having a wife, he was willing to risk everything.

That day, after finishing work, He Yirou deliberately took a detour to Niupeng. She remembered that in her past life, all the people who lived there were highly respected figures who would later return to the city to enjoy good lives.

He Yirou thought that if she helped them now, she would also have a good life in the future.

She was so engrossed in her plans that she didn’t notice the footsteps behind her. By the time she realized it, Erlai had already grabbed her.

“Wife, come home with me. I will treat you well.”

Erlai, in a hurry, tried to drag He Yirou toward the cornfield. As a girl, she couldn’t break free from a strong man like him. In desperation, she screamed.

“Help! Someone save me!”

Erlai grinned wickedly. Seeing his yellowed teeth with vegetable bits stuck in them, He Yirou felt utterly disgusted.

“Don’t come near me! If you do, Brother Yunchen won’t let you off!”

“Once you marry into my family, it’ll be too late for him to do anything.”

Realizing that Erlai was serious, He Yirou quickly thought of a plan. No, things couldn’t develop this way. She was meant to marry Ji Yunchen, take the college entrance exam, and return to the city.

After a brief moment of thought, she made up her mind.

“Erlai, don’t rush. I’ll agree to marry you. How about this—go home for now. Tomorrow night at 11 p.m., meet me here.”

Erlai hesitated. He wasn’t a fool to let such an opportunity slip away. But He Yirou added,

“Once we… solidify our relationship tomorrow, we can get our marriage certificate the day after. Right now, if someone catches us, you could be accused of being a hooligan. That would be bad.”

Erlai knew how serious hooligan charges were—it could even mean facing the firing squad.

Seeing him waver, He Yirou forced herself to kiss his cheek.

“Alright, Erlai-ge, I’ll wait for you tomorrow night.”

“Alright! You promised! You can’t go back on your word.”

“I won’t. Now go home quickly.”

After sending him away, He Yirou breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the Zhiqing station.

—-

The next day, the autumn harvest began.

At noon, He Yirou found Shen Yuling.

“Yuling, Erlai’s plan failed. But I have a new way to deal with Gu Nian. Want to hear it?”

“Of course! What’s the plan?”

Seeing that Shen Yuling took the bait, He Yirou smirked maliciously. She had no intention of marrying Erlai, so she had to sacrifice Shen Yuling instead. Wasn’t Shen Yuling her best friend? It was only fair for her to take one for the team.

“Tonight at 11 p.m., meet me on the small path near Niupeng. There are too many people around now—I don’t want anyone overhearing us.”

Shen Yuling completely trusted He Yirou. She would never forget that He Yirou was the only one who visited her when she was hospitalized.

“Okay.”

Satisfied, He Yirou left.

That night, at 11 p.m., Shen Yuling hurried to the meeting spot but didn’t see He Yirou.

Suddenly, someone jumped out from the cornfield, startling her.

“Who are you?”

It was too dark, and Erlai couldn’t see her face clearly. He mistook her for He Yirou.

“Who am I? Didn’t you promise to be my wife? You can’t go back on your word.”

Hearing the male voice, Shen Yuling realized something was wrong. She tried to run but was grabbed by Erlai, who dragged her into the cornfield.

No matter how much she screamed, no one heard her.

At midnight, He Yirou returned to the Zhiqing station, pleased. If Shen Yuling moved out, the rented room would be hers.

The next morning, Shen Yuling returned, looking disheveled. Only He Yirou knew what had happened—others assumed she was just feeling unwell.

By noon, Wang Qini came with a marriage proposal. That morning, Erlai had discovered that the person he met last night wasn’t He Yirou.

But it didn’t matter—he just wanted a wife.

Shen Yuling thought that even if she lost her innocence, she could still return to the city one day.

But Wang Qini spread rumors all over the village, saying she and Erlai were in a relationship and had already rolled in the cornfield the previous night.

To avoid being accused of hooliganism, Shen Yuling had no choice but to marry Erlai.

Only she knew this was no coincidence—He Yirou had to be behind it.

—-

At lunch, Gu Nian’s group chatted.

Song Youyou said, “Gu Nian, do you think Shen Yuling is stupid? Everyone knows Erlai is bad news, yet she’s still marrying him. She’s bringing this on herself.”

“Exactly! People say Erlai doesn’t bathe for a month, and he listens to everything his mother says. We should stay away from him.”

Fang Siyi added his opinion, discussing the matter excitedly with Song Youyou.

But Gu Nian was deep in thought. If Erlai followed through with what she had suggested earlier, then it was Shen Yuling who had originally ordered him to ambush her.

This situation was too suspicious.

As expected, after lunch, Shen Yuling came looking for her, eyes swollen like a toad’s. Gu Nian felt oddly satisfied seeing her like that.

“Gu Nian, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone against you before. I came to apologize.”

“No need. You’ve already gotten what you deserve. Tell me, was it He Yirou who ordered Erlai to ambush me?”

At the mention of He Yirou, Shen Yuling’s eyes turned vicious. Her life was ruined, and she wouldn’t let He Yirou off.

“Yes, it was He Yirou.”

After confirming the truth, Gu Nian stopped talking. This so-called female lead really knew how to stir up trouble.

Shen Yuling went to the county to register her marriage with Erlai.

On the day she moved out, the Zhiqing members just watched coldly. No one said a word to her.

He Yirou was lying in bed, enjoying having the room to herself, when the village chief suddenly walked in.

“Comrade He, Shen Yuling has canceled her lease. You need to move out.”

“What?”

He Yirou had underestimated Shen Yuling.

“Village Chief, if I move out, I’ll have nowhere to go. Can I stay for a month and pay with work points?”

“No. Either pay in cash or leave.”

The village chief showed her no mercy.

With no money and nowhere to go, He Yirou was kicked out.

The Zhiqing station refused to take her back.

Ye Qing gathered everyone for a meeting about He Yirou’s situation.

“Since He Yirou is Ji Yunchen’s fiancée, why not let them live together?”

“Yes, she should just move in with him.”

After everyone agreed, Ye Qing turned to Ji Yunchen, whose face was dark with anger.

“Comrade Ji, are you willing to let He Yirou move in with you?”