Chapter 4 – Her Heart Was a Little Stirred

“I know you want to leave this place. I have a way to help you!” Yi An’an whispered as she held onto Zhan Nanhui.

Zhan Nanhui’s eyes darkened. Just her?

If this woman really had a way, she wouldn’t be in such a miserable state now.

“I mean it. Trust me this once!” Yi An’an pleaded. Yi Mother and Yi Daping had already stepped forward and begun dragging her away—she had no other choice left.

But the man still didn’t respond.

Yi An’an felt regret—she’d backed the wrong horse. If she’d known earlier, she would’ve hidden in the dry well. Maybe there would have been a sliver of hope there.

Just as Yi An’an was being pulled away, the man suddenly reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms.

Yi Mother raised her eyes, glaring coldly at Zhan Nanhui. “You degenerate. Clearly your reform wasn’t thorough—you even dare have designs on the village girls.”

“We’re getting married. I may be a degenerate, but I still have the right to marry,” Zhan Nanhui said slowly, enunciating every word. His fingers clamped down on Yi Mother and Yi Daping’s hands like iron pincers, causing them to yelp in pain.

“I’m Yi An’an’s mother. I don’t agree to this marriage!” Yi Mother shouted.

“Last night, over by the haystack at the east end of the village…” Zhan Nanhui said suddenly.

Yi Mother’s face changed instantly.

Last night, she had been fooling around with the village chief by that very haystack… Did this brat actually see them?

Yi Daping lunged forward, raising his hand to slap Zhan Nanhui.

“Medicine,” Zhan Nanhui said coldly, lifting his head and uttering a single word.

Yi Daping froze.

The medicine used on Yi An’an had been stolen from the village clinic and purchased secretly from a veterinarian. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it wasn’t a small one either.

More importantly, Yi Daping was hoping to be recommended for university next year—to live off the state. He couldn’t afford any stains on his record.

But he also needed the money from selling Yi An’an!

As the two sides reached a deadlock, someone shouted, “The village chief is here!”

Yan Mother’s eyes darted nervously, and she quickly tugged Yan Dabao back.

Even Yan Dabao seemed afraid of his father and hid behind his mother.

Village Chief Yan entered with a cold expression, hands clasped behind his back. He wore a blue Mao suit, a black cap, and a pen clipped to his breast pocket. His face was grim.

“What kind of mess is this?” he barked. “Stop gawking! All of you, disperse!”

The villagers were reluctant but dared not disobey the chief and quickly left, leaving only the Yi and Yan families behind.

Village Chief Yan gave Yi Mother a cold glance. “Return the money. Then we’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”

Yi Mother was stunned and opened her mouth to speak, but one look from the chief shut her up. “It’s already blown up this much and you still want to get involved? Do you have any idea what kind of situation we’re in right now?”

Tensions were high among the collective production teams lately. The educated youth were returning home, rightists were being rehabilitated, and there were rumors the commune system was ending. If a scandal broke now, it would be serious trouble.

And now, with the two of them soaked in a trough and clinging to each other—bringing a daughter-in-law like this into the Yan family would only disgrace them!

Yan Mother had no choice but to drag Yan Dabao away. As she passed by Yi Mother, she hissed, “Tomorrow, bring me back that money. Two hundred yuan—not a cent less!”

Yi Mother wanted to say something, but another glare from the village chief silenced her. She pulled Yi Daping away instead.

The Yi family were outsiders in the village. Yi Mother was hoping her son would be recommended for university—she didn’t dare offend the village chief!

As for Yi An’an, she didn’t believe the girl would actually marry a degenerate!

The village chief glanced back at the two in the trough, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Yi An’an was still holding Zhan Nanhui, only now starting to feel the cold seeping in from the water. She shivered and instinctively inched closer to the man—but his cold, sharp gaze made her freeze.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Yi An’an climbed out of the trough. Her clothes were soaked through. She looked pleadingly at Zhan Nanhui. “Do you have any other clothes?”

Zhan Nanhui didn’t respond. He stepped out with a cold expression, went to a nearby patch of grass, and pulled out a bundle. From it, he took out an old military uniform with the insignia removed.

Yi An’an quickly wrapped herself in it, wiped her legs dry as best she could, then hesitated before saying, “Turn around. I need to put on pants.”

Zhan Nanhui didn’t respond—he wasn’t even looking her way.

Feeling a little awkward, Yi An’an crouched and quietly took off her soaked underwear, putting on a still-dry pair of pants.

Zhan Nanhui stood stiffly, his face blank, staring out the door. Even as the wind blew in, he didn’t bother to shut it—deliberately keeping his distance from her.

“I want to explain…” Yi An’an started, but tripped on the grassy mat and stumbled right into Zhan Nanhui’s back. In a panic, her hands gripped his waist tightly.

Flushed with embarrassment, she quickly stood up and apologized softly, “I’m sorry…”

Her voice was soft and low, her head bowed. A few messy strands of hair hung down, brushing her pale neck, and further down…

Zhan Nanhui turned his head and happened to see her apologetic expression. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, quickly darting away. The spot on his back where she’d touched still burned. That warm softness had stirred something in him.

Earlier, the cold water had dulled his senses. Now that he was dry, the effects of the drug seemed to be returning, his breathing growing uneven.

“You should leave now,” Zhan Nanhui said in a low voice, pointing toward the pigpen door.

Yi An’an bit her lip. She couldn’t leave. Who knew what would happen to her if she went back?

Mustering her courage, she took two steps forward and stood in front of him. Tilting her small face up to meet his, her dark eyes were filled with resolve. “I’m not going back. Tomorrow, we’ll go get a marriage certificate. We’ll live together from now on.”

She was so close that Zhan Nanhui could smell her faint fragrance. Even after soaking in that filthy water, the scent hadn’t washed away…

Zhan Nanhui was certain this was due to the breeding drug. That water—used for feeding pigs—couldn’t possibly smell like that!

Still, an inexplicable feeling flickered in his heart.

“Tonight, this is as far as I can help you. From now on, your path is yours and mine is mine,” Zhan Nanhui said coldly, his expression unmoved as ever.

He stepped past Yi An’an, intending to go sleep on the grass mat.

Maybe a night’s sleep would make things better.

Seeing him leave, Yi An’an suddenly found her resolve. She grabbed his arm, wrapped her other arm around his neck, stood on tiptoe—and pressed her lips to his thin, cool ones.

“Do you really not want to marry me?” Yi An’an asked softly, her voice tender and pleading, with a trace of coquettishness and earnest hope.