Three days remained until the Military Support Gala, and at home, Su Rui watched as Su Chang’e dressed up flamboyantly.

Su Chang’e had heard that her future fiancé would be working on a construction project nearby. She figured there was a chance she might see him at the gala. Even if she didn’t, she could at least ask around about his character.

Su Rui had no desire to interact with the male lead, Fang Chiye, so she silently decided not to attend the event. Instead, she stayed home, focused on sewing quilts.

Upon learning that Su Rui wasn’t going, Su Chang’e breathed a sigh of relief and continued her beautification routine in peace.

Meanwhile, Su Hongpei carried a slop bucket toward the drainage ditch out back. Suddenly, Wang Luxing, who had been lurking nearby, ran out. He was short, dark-skinned, and his face was covered in bruises. His sudden appearance startled Su Hongpei.

When Su Rui noticed that Su Hongpei had been gone for a long time, she went to check behind the house and found Wang Luxing pulling at Su Hongpei.

Without hesitation, Su Rui grabbed a sugarcane stalk, charged over, and swung it hard on Wang Luxing’s shoulder. “You dare come to our house to bully people? Are you tired of living?”

She struck him over ten times before Wang Luxing finally let go, clutching his shoulder and retreating. He pointed at Su Rui and shouted, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done! I were just talking to your eldest sister—what right do you have to hit me?”

Su Rui pulled the teary-eyed Su Hongpei behind her and snapped, “I used to think you were still human, so I didn’t bother with you. But now I see you’re nothing more than a beast. Be careful when walking at night—if I see you again, I’ll teach you another lesson!”

Wang Luxing had been hoping to reconcile with Su Hongpei. She had always listened to him, but this time, she refused. He figured it had to be her good little sister whispering in her ear.

Infuriated, he tried to retaliate against Su Rui but was shocked to find he wasn’t her match. After taking another beating, he spoke recklessly in his frustration. “If Su Hongpei won’t be with me, I’ll tell everyone that we already slept together! I—”

Before he could finish, Su Hongpei dumped the entire slop bucket over his head. The rancid stench froze Wang Luxing in place. “Pah, pah, pah, you, you——”

Su Hongpei’s face burned red as she shot back, “If you dare say that, I’ll tell everyone you’re useless! Let’s see which woman would ever marry you then!”

What’s a man’s worst fear? Being called useless!

Su Rui applauded wildly for her sister’s perfect comeback!

“Who’s useless? Who are you calling useless?” Wang Luxing trembled with rage, unable to believe that the usually timid Su Hongpei had said such words.

“Get lost and never come back,” Su Hongpei said firmly, pulling Su Rui along as they headed back inside. She no longer spared Wang Luxing another glance.

Back in the house, after setting the slop bucket down, Su Hongpei ran into Su Yuqin, who had just returned. Instantly, she wilted again.

“Where are you two going now? Stop right there.” Su Yuqin held a floral cotton fabric she had fought hard to snatch back. She held it up against Su Hongpei and said, “Quit looking so miserable. You’re not a widow.”

Su Hongpei muttered, “Mom, I really don’t want to go.”

Su Yuqin’s eyes widened. “Don’t be ungrateful! Every woman out there is desperate to go! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn things around—if you want a good man, you have to seize the opportunity. Sister Zhao said each household can only send two people; otherwise, the school won’t have enough space. Since the third girl isn’t going, you and the second girl must go.”

Su Hongpei looked at Su Rui, silently pleading for help. But Su Rui, hoping to let her meet Chen Haiyan, kept her lips firmly shut.

Just then, Su Chang’e, who had just received a box of Shanghai-brand pearl face powder, called from her room, “Third Sister, come here and check if I’ve applied it evenly.”

Su Rui raised a brow—oh? Getting bold, aren’t we?

She stepped inside, ready to tease, but then noticed a letter placed in front of Su Chang’e.

Su Rui picked it up and saw that it was from her ‘Big Brother’.

Su Chang’e looked up. “How does it look?”

Su Rui forced a smile and said sweetly, “Looks great! Apply it even thicker—it’ll make your complexion even brighter.” A bright red monkey’s butt—how lively!

Satisfied, Su Chang’e waved her away, and Su Rui left with her brother’s letter in hand.

Damn it, didn’t they say she had to receive her letters personally? How did Su Chang’e end up with it?

After checking that the envelope was intact, Su Rui finally sat down and tore it open.

This time, his reply had taken longer. She wasn’t sure if the labor reform camp had stricter management and restricted outgoing mail. Initially, she had been thrilled to receive a letter, but as she opened it, she felt uneasy.

The handwriting was upright and neat, but the strokes looked hurried.

‘The west wind scatters fallen leaves, the scent of osmanthus drifts through the air.’

‘Many misunderstandings between people arise from distance…’

What does that mean? He doesn’t want distance anymore?

Su Rui’s hands trembled. Oh no, is he about to be released?

‘I have read your letter without missing a single word. Considering the impression he left on you, it would be best for him to apologize to you.’

Su Rui closed her eyes. Is he trying to help her take on Fang Chiye?

‘Comrade Su, in my world, I have never met a woman as unrestrained, brilliant, and outspoken as you.’

Brother, maybe you should take a closer look at your bunkmates?

‘I will arrive in Suihua Township at the beginning of the month. There are too many things I can’t explain in a letter—I hope we can meet. Please don’t hold past grievances against me.’

Don’t hold past grievances?

Sir, you committed a crime—this will stay in your records for life! Your descendants won’t even be able to take the civil service exam!

Su Rui read the letter through her own lens and didn’t notice someone approaching.

“Oh? Is he trying to court you?” Su Chang’e craned her neck, her face flushed like an opera performer’s. She excitedly yelled, “Mom! Mom! Su Rui is getting a boyfriend!”

Before Su Rui could reach out to pinch her, Su Chang’e turned and ran.

“Don’t talk nonsense! He just wants to meet.”

Su Chang’e smirked. “Bullshit! Who knows what else is in that letter? Look how eager he is—when you meet, he’ll probably hug and kiss you on the spot!”

Su Rui was both furious and embarrassed. “I’d rather kiss a dog than kiss him!”

Su Chang’e sneered. “He’s defending you, complimenting your looks and personality—he already sees you as his. I’d advise you not to reject him, or he might escape from the labor camp and come after you.”

Su Rui glared. “You do know something!”

Su Chang’e shrugged. “If you weren’t so busy building roads, you could’ve asked around. Look down the northern slope—those men hauling stones all wear labor camp uniforms. Where else would he be if not there?”

In recent years, various places have assigned a small number of reformed labor prisoners to participate in manual labor as a means of rehabilitation, helping them acquire skills and reintegrate into society. Three batches had come to Suihua Township before, and the locals had long grown accustomed to it. Su Rui had even helped prepare large meals for them twice.

She plopped down on a chair, thinking it over, and to her surprise, she found that Su Chang’e might actually have a point.

Seeing Su Rui lose her sharpness, Su Chang’e leisurely walked over and said, “I suggest you agree to date him for now and just drag it out. Maybe before he even comes looking for you, you’ll have saved enough money to marry a husband. By then, if he dares to show up, that would be interfering with your marriage, which is considered hooliganism. He’d be arrested again, and it wouldn’t be too late to deal with him then.”

Su Hongpei came out from the main hall, glanced at Su Chang’e, then entered the room and took Su Rui’s hand. She said, “I can tell he’s sincere. I think you should at least give him a chance. Just like you told me before—think of it as giving yourself another opportunity.”

Another opportunity for disaster? My dear sister.

Su Rui was going crazy.

When would this string of bad luck finally end?

Su Hongpei held onto her hand and, after thinking for a moment, said, “Write him back now. Tell him you’re willing to give it a try but ask him not to rush things and to take it slow.”

Under Su Hongpei’s insistence, Su Rui hastily scribbled a few lines, reluctantly acknowledging this so-called relationship.

***

The day of the Military Support Gala arrived.

After lunch, Su Chang’e and Su Hongpei went together to Qingfeng Middle School.

Su Rui, on the other hand, went to Wanzi’s house. She had patrol duty with Wanzi in the afternoon.

Wanzi might be young, but at least she was another person. As a patrol partner, she wasn’t too bad.

To attend the Military Support Gala, one had to pass through Xiaoba Village. The streets were packed with people, even livelier than New Year’s, and the air seemed to be filled with pink bubbles of excitement.

Su Rui knew that with so many people around, it was easy for troublemakers to blend in, so she paid extra attention to unfamiliar faces. She stationed Old Lady Ah Xi and four or five other elderly women with bound feet at the village entrance to keep watch. Sister Zhao also sent out two teams to patrol the mountains, determined to protect the peach trees at all costs.

Meanwhile, Su Chang’e and Su Hongpei squeezed through the massive crowd, making their way to Qingfeng Middle School.

The school had been requisitioned by the military, and its walls had been freshly repainted with slogans like “A Mighty Army That Cannot Be Violated” and “Sacrifice for the Revolution.” The atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

On the northern wall, a screening of the movie Heroes of Shangganling was already drawing a crowd, with people scrambling to sit at the front. Occasionally, groups of soldiers marched neatly across the playground.

A temporary stage had been set up in the middle of the field, where a military band was tuning their instruments, filling the air with beautiful string music.

Unlike Su Rui, Su Chang’e lacked the agility to climb trees for a better view, so she stood on tiptoe among the crowd, scanning the area but failing to spot any high-ranking officers.

A few days ago, in the security office, she had run into Captain Fang. Later, she heard that he was the head of this construction regiment—and still single! Young, handsome, and a golden opportunity she had completely missed.

But today, she had come prepared. She had painted her lips red, shaped her eyebrows into elegant arches, and tailored the back of her blouse for a more flattering silhouette.

Unfortunately, she spent more than half the gala waiting in vain. Instead of Captain Fang, it was the officer she had seen carrying sugarcane the other day who took the stage to speak.

Though disappointed, Su Chang’e quickly shifted her attention to other officers, eagerly joining the crowd chasing after them.

Meanwhile, in the office of the Joint Defense Office, Fang Chiye was quietly reading a thick, five-page letter, scrutinizing every word. Occasionally, a cold smile flickered across his lips. His sharp, phoenix-like eyes narrowed, making his expression unreadable.

He had already read the letter multiple times. Five full pages, and according to her, he was as terrifying as a demon.

Fang Chiye originally thought their arranged matchmaking would end here. But just before coming over, he received another letter that made his eyes widen slightly.

‘Dear Comrade Ye, greetings. I hope this letter finds you well…’

Comrade Ye?

Was this an acknowledgment of their relationship?

What exactly was going on in that little head of hers?

Outside, Qin Shan had just finished speaking and was immediately surrounded by villagers bombarding him with questions, eager to know everything about him—including his birth date. But even more people were using him as an excuse to ask about Fang Chiye.

By the time he finally made his way back to the office, he found Fang Chiye quietly gazing out the window, as if searching for something.

Qin Shan smirked. “She’s not here.”