Time passed quickly, and it was already November.

Su Rui’s quilts, winter clothes, and hats had all been made.

She took them out in the morning to dry in the sun while heading to training.

She had learned all the military drills, and this was Fang Chiye’s last day of teaching. Su Rui was full of joy as she arrived at the practice field.

As usual, Fang Chiye had arrived early and was doing one-handed push-ups.

Su Rui wasn’t surprised. She hid in a wind-sheltered corner, munching on a large pancake.

The pancake had been made by Su Chang’e the night before, and it was massive, about the size of a pot’s bottom, with thirty of them! Not a single one was round! Last night, the whole family had eaten seven, and this morning, everyone took two pancakes each for the day.

Su Rui gritted her teeth as she ate, feeling like she was chewing on Su Chang’e’s skin.

She was furious. After finally getting two pounds of flour before the New Year, all of it was ruined by her!

Su Yuqin even supported Su Chang’e, saying she had to learn how to cook for when she got married.

Su Rui rolled her eyes and pounded her chest to swallow the pancake, then looked at Fang Chiye from afar, watching him train.

Nearby, on the sidewalk under the gray mud wall, a group of women were watching Fang Chiye’s training from a distance, attracted by the smell of meat.

These women…tsk!

Su Rui redirected her gaze to Fang Chiye.

Fang Chiye didn’t plan to continue training them on the last day. After checking their military drills, he had them practice boxing routines with each other, and that was it.

Su Rui, along with Wanzi and the others, practiced the routines twice. She wasn’t sure if the others were satisfied, but she felt good about it.

Around ten o’clock, during the break, Sister Zhao returned from the meeting in the village.

She usually didn’t skip the Women’s Affairs study session, but today, she came straight to the practice field and called Su Rui over.

Su Rui handed her small bamboo stick to Wanzi and went over to ask, “Sister Zhao, what can I do for you?”

Sister Zhao took a form out of her pocket and handed it to Su Rui. “This is the appointment letter for the grassroots village officials of the People’s Commune. Fill in your personal information. I’ll submit it to the commune next Monday.”

Su Rui trembled slightly as she asked, “What is this?”

Sister Zhao, putting her arm around Su Rui’s shoulder, smiled. You’ve done well as the acting group leader, so I applied to the brigade office to make you permanent. From now on, you’ll be the village clerk of our Xiaoba Village.”

Su Rui asked, “Officially?”

Sister Zhao replied, “Yes, officially. You’ll also get a monthly allowance of ten yuan.”

Su Rui’s face turned red with excitement. She ran over to Wanzi and the others, shouting, “Everyone! I’m officially promoted! I’m a real cadre now!”

Wanzi jumped up joyfully, “There’s a position! Su Rui is a cadre now!”

Si’er and Old Lady Ah Xi were also happy. Now that Su Rui had a position, they would be part of the official militia and no longer worried about being eliminated.

Fang Chiye, watching from the side, clapped to show his support.

Old Lady Ah Xi took a small floral handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her eyes, “Good, good! Now that you’re a cadre, you won’t be sold off to the mountains as a wife.”

Fang Chiye paused his clapping, bent down, and asked, “Old Lady, what did you just say?”

Old Lady Ah Xi said, “Her stepmother isn’t a good person. She wanted to sell her off to some old widower in the mountains after taking the dowry money. If Su Rui hadn’t been smart and refused to go, we might never have seen her again.”

Wanzi quickly added, “And there was a big fool who wanted to marry her. The whole family came to pressure her, even beating up Guo Jiarong so badly he didn’t dare come home. None of them are good people.”

Old Lady Ah Xi lovingly patted Wanzi’s head, “Thankfully, she has someone now, and no one will bother her anymore.”

Fang Chiye asked, “Is it that person she frequently writes letters to?”

Wanzi glanced back and saw Su Rui crouched on the curb, filling out the form. She lowered her voice and replied, “Yes, that’s right. I heard he looks like a big gorilla, but she’s happy about it.”

Fang Chiye didn’t know what to say.

Knowing her situation, Fang Chiye’s gaze softened. With wolves in front and tigers behind, no wonder she needed to find someone quickly.

Fang Chiye no longer doubted that Su Rui was using a beauty trap for enemy espionage. Which enemy would capture themselves?

After the training, just before leaving, he called Su Rui over. “From now on, you should be called Cadre Su.”

Su Rui shyly replied, “Yes.”

Fang Chiye held back a smile, handed her a Shanghai Baosteel pen, and said, “I’ll bring you two bottles of ink later as a gift for your promotion.”

Su Rui had really wanted a pen. She had envied Comrade Zhao’s Parker pen before, and the one at home always leaked ink. She couldn’t bring herself to buy a new one.

Receiving the precious pen, Su Rui’s smile grew brighter. “I really needed a pen, so I won’t be shy. Thank you, Captain Fang.”

It was nice; now that she had a gift, she no longer called him “Little Uncle.”

Fang Chiye expressed his satisfaction.

After Fang Chiye left, Wanzi and the others began pestering Su Rui to treat them.

“Come, come, eat your fill, and then come to me for more after you finish,” Su Rui waved her hand and pulled out a handful of dried fish from her pocket, handing it out to everyone. It was cheap stuff, but it made the team members feel happy and united, leaving Su Rui floating on cloud nine the entire day.

When she got home, Su Chang’e found out that Su Rui had truly been promoted to the village cadre, and was so angry she didn’t eat dinner. Su Rui sneaked some leftover flatbread through the window crack for her, then happily sneaked off to the back room to eat eggs.

Today’s eggs were extra special. She boiled them, dipped them in sesame oil, soy sauce, and salt—delicious. It was a little celebration.

The next day, she began attending the Women’s Federation morning meetings every day. After the meeting… she still had to carry a shovel to repair the roads.

After finishing the work assigned by the army, she and Wanzi took turns patrolling the mountain in the evening. Using Sister Zhao’s big flashlight, they walked around the foot of the mountain twice before sending Wanzi back home. Su Rui then fearlessly headed toward the small cabin.

It would snow soon, and temperatures would drop to minus 20 degrees. She had to check if there was enough whitewash for tomorrow’s use.

Peach Mountain was the lifeblood of Xiaoba Village now. As winter approached, certain fungi and pests would try to hide in the tree trunks. The whitewash could help insulate and eliminate the pests, so applying it early would ensure better peach harvests next year.

She figured it would be fine. It would take her until 9:30 p.m. at the latest, and she could be back before then.

However, just as she reached the halfway point of the mountain, a loud thunderclap echoed from the sky.

“No way, not today…” Su Rui quickened her pace. After a few steps, rain the size of soybeans started falling.

She tucked the flashlight into her sleeve and moved quickly, taking two steps at a time.

There was no time to head back down now. Fortunately, this wasn’t her first encounter with a storm; she’d once been trapped for three days in the small cabin due to heavy snow.

Su Rui ran toward the cabin, drenched in rain. The path ahead was unclear—trees swayed and cast shadows, and everything was pitch black. She could hardly see a thing.

She felt her jacket was soaked through, and the wind and rain made her shiver uncontrollably.

Thunder rumbled again, followed by a flash of lightning. Su Rui halted in her tracks. When she looked up, she saw a tall shadow looming above her on the stairs, watching her from a height.

She didn’t know how long the person had been watching, but the stillness of the figure made even the usually brave Su Rui feel nervous for once.

She glanced at the mud-covered path beside the stone stairs, which was now a slippery mess. Anyone stepping on it would definitely fall face-first.

Who could be up here at this hour? Bandits stealing wood? Or some criminals?

Su Rui quickly turned to run, but the figure above moved even faster.

“Ahhhhh!!”

“Don’t scream.”

Su Rui slipped on the wet ground and almost fell.

Fang Chiye grabbed the collar of her jacket and, with muscles bulging on his arm, effortlessly lifted her up.

“What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?”

They both spoke at the same time.

Fang Chiye was wearing a military green raincoat. His hand accidentally brushed against Su Rui’s cold neck, and without thinking, he took off the raincoat and draped it over her.

“Put this on, we’ll talk later.”

Su Rui felt warmth envelop her, and she couldn’t help but sneeze. “Hurry, hurry, let’s get to the cabin.”

Fang Chiye was still thinking about heading down the mountain through the rain that night. When he saw the small cabin, he sighed with relief and turned on his flashlight. The bright beam cut through the misty rain ahead. He wiped the flashlight and said, “You lead the way.”

Su Rui spoke in a muffled voice, “Go up, the north side. I’ll follow behind.”

Fang Chiye then noticed Su Rui’s face was pale. When he crouched down to check, he saw her holding her ankle.

“Did you twist your ankle?”

Su Rui wiped the rainwater off her face. “I’m fine, I can walk. Just slower…”

Fang Chiye turned and said again, “Get on, don’t waste time.”

Su Rui hesitated but then climbed onto his back. She was amazed by how effortlessly Fang Chiye carried her.

Wow, he’s tall.

Su Rui clung to his neck, worried. “Slow down, don’t drop me.”

Fang Chiye patted her arm and said, “Take it easy.” He was almost out of breath.

The warm, soft body against his broad back made him loosen his grip slightly. But the moment he moved, she tightened her hold again.

Fang Chiye had no choice but to quicken his pace.

Su Rui held the flashlight, pointing the way forward. Fang Chiye walked confidently, as though nothing on this mountain could stop him.

The small cabin wasn’t locked. It was for people on the mountain to take refuge and rest.

Su Rui climbed down from Fang Chiye’s back and shivered.

“Stand still. I’ll light the fire,” he said, removing his military hat and hanging it on the door. The night concealed his flushed ears. He quickly checked the surroundings with the flashlight, then picked up the stove and moved to Su Rui’s side.

Once the stove was lit, the room warmed up and had some light, allowing the two of them to finally take a closer look at each other.

Fang Chiye took out some medicinal alcohol from the cupboard and naturally extended his hand. “Let me see your foot.”

Su Rui hugged her knees by the stove and waved her hand. “No need, I’ll do it myself.”

Fang Chiye didn’t insist. He handed her the alcohol, then walked to the far side, removing his military jacket.

Su Rui said, “There are clothes in the cupboard. One for you, one for me.”

Fang Chiye followed her directions and found two patched-up old jackets. He sniffed them, and then heard Su Rui say, “I washed them the day before yesterday. Usually, no one wears them.”

Fang Chiye handed one to her and kept one for himself, turning his back to her. “You change. I won’t look.”

Su Rui was speechless. What if I look at you?

Fang Chiye did exactly as he said, walking to the door, hunching his back, and turning away from her to remove his military vest.

Su Rui swallowed. He really is stripping without hesitation.

In the dim light of the fire, Su Rui saw his muscular torso—his V-shaped waist and well-defined abs. In that moment, surrounded by the rumbling thunder and faint light, a subtle tension filled the air.

Just a while ago, she had been resting on his back, feeling the strength beneath her.

Su Rui’s head was once again filled with colorful thoughts.

No, that won’t do! He had just helped you!

You animal!

Slap!

Fang Chiye bent down, twisting his vest, wondering whether she had changed her clothes. Suddenly, a sharp “slap!” froze him in place. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

Su Rui covered her face with one hand, gritting her teeth and saying, “I’m fine, but please don’t turn around!”

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Hey guys, do check out Ayalee’s new translation work (❀‿‿❀)

I’m Not Going to Be This Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Anymore