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Chapter 10
“No, stop prying.” After saying that, Xie Beishen lay down on the bed.
Lin Yu was hot to the point of frustration. If only there were electricity in the room, at least they could have a fan. He grumbled:
“This weather is unbearable. Brother Shen, take me along next time you go for a soak, will you? That place you mentioned before—I really want to try it out. Bathing in the river here is crowded, and the water’s warm, not refreshing at all.”
Xie Beishen said calmly:
“Fine. But tomorrow, you must find me a black dog.”
He then pulled out the sketch from his pocket and began to study it again.
Lin Yu instantly broke into a wide grin.
“Deal! I’ll get it done tomorrow morning.”
Xie Beishen knew that finding her wouldn’t be difficult. If he just handed the portrait to Lin Yu, he’d instantly recognize who it was. But he didn’t want anyone else to see the woman on that sheet of paper.
Any normal man who looked at this would have his soul hooked away by her charm.
That afternoon, after a short nap, Su Wanwan went up the mountain with her second brother.
Just thinking about eating fish for dinner made the long road seem much shorter. Ever since she drank the spiritual spring water, her body felt lighter and healthier. Every time she drank it, she secretly added a little to the family’s water jar. Over the past few days, her parents’ energy had noticeably improved.
As for her brother—she wasn’t sure if he felt any difference. He hadn’t shown anything unusual.
This was actually her first proper outing since arriving. As soon as she stepped outside, she noticed most villagers wore drab, grayish clothes, many patched and worn.
“Hey, haven’t seen Wanwan for days! How did you get even prettier? Your skin’s glowing white now!”
It was Auntie Liu from next door, chatting with a few other women. All their gazes landed on Su Wanwan.
One echoed:
“She really is glowing. She was already a beauty before, but now she’s even fairer than the city girls.”
Before Su Wanwan could answer, her brother Su Heng spoke up first:
“My sister hurt her foot during work. She’s been resting at home for half a month. Of course her skin’s fairer.”
Su Wanwan smiled sweetly:
“Yes, I’ve just been resting at home and not going out to work. That’s why I look fairer.”
One aunt muttered enviously:
“Then I should let my girl stay home for half a month too. She’s gotten so dark from working under the sun. If her skin lightens, it’ll be easier to arrange a good marriage for her.”
Auntie Liu’s eyes lit up at the idea. Her daughter Xiaofeng was already twenty-two without a suitor—she worried every day. If she kept her home to recover her complexion, maybe they could arrange a better match and higher bride price. It was certainly better than laboring in the fields.
Soon, the group of women were deep in discussion.
Then Auntie Liu sneered, glancing at the siblings walking away:
“No wonder I saw the captain riding his bike to town with gifts a few days ago. He must be looking for a match for his daughter.”
The gossip spread quickly through the entire village. Even the educated youths at the work point heard about it.
Rumors flew:
Soon, in the following weeks, any family with a daughter of marriageable age found excuses to keep her from working in the fields, hoping to “pamper” her for a better marriage match—just like the captain.
Su Wanwan never imagined her offhand comment—“Resting at home makes you fairer”—would spark such a chain reaction.
When she and her brother reached the pool, both were drenched in sweat.
“Wow, second brother, this place is beautiful!” she exclaimed.
Last time she came, it had been dark, she was dizzy, and too scared to notice. But now, seeing it clearly, she was amazed.
The pool was surrounded by lush forest, with wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze, and the air carried a fresh herbal scent. Birds chirped above, and the water was so clear she could see fish darting about at the bottom.
The scenery was vibrant and alive—she couldn’t help but fall in love with it.
Her thoughts drifted to that night’s illusion, when she had thrown her arms around Xie Beishen’s neck and kissed him. Remembering it now, her heart fluttered with bittersweet warmth.
Meanwhile, Xie Beishen, under Lin Yu’s constant nagging, reluctantly set out early to the mountains for his bath.
Wanwan turned to watch her brother set the fish trap. Puzzled, she asked:
“Brother, don’t we have a fishing net at home? If we just cast a net, we could catch plenty of fish in one go.”
Su Heng paused and looked at her like she’d said something foolish.
“Sis, have you gotten dumber lately? Don’t you know fishing nets are collective property? Private fishing is forbidden. If you’re caught, you’ll lose work points. You forgot?”
Her heart skipped. Of course, how would a modern person like me know that? Quickly, she covered up:
“Then if you only brought one trap, what if we don’t catch anything?”
He snorted.
“You think I don’t want more? This one I secretly made myself.”
Wanwan sighed. So everything here counts as collective property… looks like we might not even have fish today or tomorrow.
She walked to the stone she remembered sitting on before, dangling her feet into the cool water. The chill crept up her calves—refreshing and soothing.
If it weren’t such a conservative era, I’d love to swim here. Forget it—next time I’ll swim in my space instead. Much better.
Looking back at her brother, she grinned slyly:
“Second brother, don’t you crave meat? I can make a fish dish Mother never cooked before. Want to try it? I promise it’ll be delicious.”
Her mischievous smile made Su Heng laugh.
“You really are clever. Catching a big fish is luck, but at least we’ll have small ones to eat tonight.”
“Small fish are still fish!” Wanwan chirped happily.
The next second, she saw her brother roll up his pants to his thighs, take off his shoes, then strip off his patched shirt—revealing a strong, muscular frame with faint abs.
He neatly folded the worn clothes before placing them on a rock. She suddenly remembered—every year, he scrimped on his own clothes just to buy her pretty floral dresses.
Her heart softened with a pang of emotion.
Tomorrow in town, I’ll use the money to buy them all proper clothes. If I’m here now, I’ll rewrite every family member’s fate.
She splashed her feet idly, watching her brother wade through the water, feeling around the rocks and weeds.
After several minutes, he pulled out a small fish the size of his palm, holding it up proudly.
“Sis, we’ll have fish tonight!”
He grinned from ear to ear, tossing it into the basket.
Wanwan stared blankly.
…That’s it?
She almost laughed out loud. How can my brother be this… not very bright?