As a village official, Su Rui not only had to do more work but also set an example as a model laborer.

Sister Zhao specifically appointed her as a production team leader, putting her in charge of leading a group of women in the fields.

The rice seedlings had already been transplanted into the paddies. The instructors from the ideological class taught them that fewer river crabs should be stocked in the fields since paddy crabs could feed on pests naturally. This would reduce feeding costs while increasing economic benefits.

For several days, Su Rui went back and forth to the agricultural market, carefully selecting fifty pounds of crab seedlings to release into the designated farmland. She planned to experiment for a year. If the results were good by autumn, she would increase the number of crabs next year.

With so much work keeping her busy, she completely forgot about the breakup letter.

When she finally had time to think about it again, she hoped—just maybe—Ye Chifang had truly let go.

By mid-April, after the busiest farming period had passed, Su Rui sat on a field ridge, chatting with the other women.

She was young, capable, and full of energy. With Sister Zhao’s support, many women who had unmarried male relatives started to take an interest in her.

In the past, she had nothing, so no one cared.

But now, she had an official position. Rumor had it she was applying for a personal housing plot, likely planning to build her own house and live independently. A household with its own land was an attractive prospect—it wouldn’t matter whether the man moved in with her or not. For the groom’s family, this was a huge advantage.

Wanzi, who was sitting next to Su Rui and munching on malt candy, whispered, “Why do so many men keep hanging around you? We already have enough laborers, don’t we?”

“They don’t want to be laborers,” Su Rui sighed. “They want to be my live-in husband. But I don’t fancy any of them.”

She was genuinely troubled by it. One or two suitors would be fine, but now, every day, someone new came to watch her work. It felt like she was being put on display in a storefront. What was going on?

Wanzi vowed confidently, “There are clumps of dirt on the field ridges. If another man comes to see you, I’ll throw them at him!”

Su Rui squeezed her little comrade’s hand affectionately but didn’t believe a word of it.

“The fertilizer is here! Come and get it!”

In the distance, a few aunties called for people to help. Everyone was responsible for their own assigned land, so Su Rui hurried over to collect her share, hoping to finish early.

Holding a fifty-pound bag of fertilizer in her arms, she broke out in a light sweat. She staggered forward, and Wanzi used her small, thin arms to help drag it along.

“A jeep is coming!”

Wanzi let go of the fertilizer, wanting to pick up some dirt clumps. But then she remembered the adults saying that jeeps belonged to the army and that the people inside were all good guys. So, she tossed the dirt clumps down the ridge instead.

At first, Su Rui thought the jeep was just passing by.

But unexpectedly, it drove all the way to the end of the small road and stopped.

Her heart inexplicably sped up as she watched Fang Chiye step out of the driver’s seat.

She couldn’t make out his expression clearly, but she noticed the mud splattered on the jeep, suggesting that he had traveled a long distance. What kind of matter would make Fang Chiye rush back like this?

Several women working on the field ridges recognized Commander Fang and greeted him, “Captain Fang, are you here to see Cadre Su?”

Fang Chiye nodded and greeted them in return. “Yes, I have some business with her.”

He walked over to Su Rui, took off his military jacket, handed it to Wanzi, and then wordlessly shouldered the bag of fertilizer, carrying it to Su Rui’s plot of land.

After setting the fertilizer down, Wanzi pointed to the remaining bags in the distance and said, “Uncle, there are still five more!”

Uncle?

Fang Chiye’s already gloomy mood darkened even further.

“What do you call Cadre Su then?”

Wanzi answered, “Sister!”

Fang Chiye took off his military shirt and threw it over Wanzi’s face.

Wanzi clapped her hands excitedly and cheered, “Go, go, go! Keep going!”

Without saying a word, Fang Chiye, now only in his military undershirt, carried the remaining fertilizer bags one by one.

Su Rui noticed that a few male comrades who had been watching her from a distance left as soon as Fang Chiye arrived, their expressions complicated.

The remaining female comrades—well, she wasn’t one to criticize them, but where were they looking?! Looking exactly where they shouldn’t!

After stacking the last bag of fertilizer together, Fang Chiye clapped the dust off his hands.

Su Rui held up his military shirt and handed it back to him, her face serious. “Hurry up and put it on. Male comrades also need to be mindful of personal boundaries.”

Fang Chiye chuckled in disbelief. It was rare for them to see each other, and the first thing she said was this?

He replied lightly, “Got it. I’ll change next time.”

Next time?

Since when did Captain Fang speak so obediently?

Su Rui’s eyelid twitched. She looked up at him in surprise and accidentally locked eyes with his sharp, fox-like gaze.

She quickly looked away. Fang Chiye took the military shirt from her, fastening the buttons one by one. He buttoned all the way up to the top, the disciplined collar neatly framing his Adam’s apple—restrained yet undeniably attractive.

He watched Su Rui quietly. She had never seen him like this before. The atmosphere felt… different.

“Would you like a glass of water?” she asked.

Fang Chiye lowered his voice. “No need.”

Su Rui hesitated. “Something bothering you? Is the recruitment process not going well?”

Fang Chiye said, “Recruitment is going smoothly. The main force is behind me. I came back early to see you.”

Su Rui was stunned. “Why are you looking for me?”

Fang Chiye replied, “I want you to get to know me better.”

Su Rui was at a loss. “Why do I need to know you better? You’re acting really strange today.”

Fang Chiye said, “Strange? Isn’t this the natural course of things?”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean,” Su Rui said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She could feel the eyes of others on her and suggested, “Why don’t we talk somewhere else?”

Fang Chiye nodded. “Get in the car. I’ll take you to lunch. I don’t think letters can fully convey my feelings. There are things I’ve thought long and hard about, and I believe saying them face-to-face is more sincere.”

Su Rui blinked. “Letters?”

Fang Chiye nodded.

Su Rui followed him toward the jeep. As they walked, Wanzi ran over, and Su Rui told her, “I’m going for lunch. If anyone asks, just let them know.”

Wanzi responded cheerfully, “Got it!” Then she ran back to the ridge to resume selecting dirt clumps.

When they reached the jeep, Fang Chiye opened the passenger door and quietly looked at Su Rui.

She had never been treated like this before. It felt like Fang Chiye was planning something big.

Once inside the jeep, the two sat close but remained quiet. Su Rui sat obediently in the passenger seat.

Noticing her demeanor, Fang Chiye decided not to waste the precious time on the road. He said directly, “There have been many misunderstandings between us.”

Su Rui turned to him, her lips slightly parted. “Misunderstandings?”

Fang Chiye gripped the steering wheel, turned it to the left, and drove toward the county town. “What do you think?”

Su Rui frowned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Fang Chiye glanced at her, trying to gauge whether she was genuinely unaware or simply upset.

Judging from her expression, she truly had no clue. His brows furrowed.

Just as Su Rui was about to question him further, Fang Chiye pulled the jeep over to the side of the road, turned to face her, and said sincerely, “First of all, I need to apologize to you.”

Su Rui was caught off guard. “Why?”

Fang Chiye sighed. “Have you ever read the name ‘Ye Chifang’ backward?”

Ye Chifang?

Fang Chiye…?!

Su Rui’s fingers trembled as she pointed at him. “Don’t tell me… you’re Ye Chifang?!”

Fang Chiye nodded. “Yes. I’ve been the one writing to you all along. The last letter I sent was a confession letter. But you never replied. I sent a few more afterward…”

Su Rui let out an awkward laugh, leaned back against the seat, and stared blankly at the pedestrians outside. “A confession letter? I… I lost it.”

“As I suspected,” Fang Chiye said, lowering his gaze. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t look this surprised today. But let’s set the letter aside for now. I want to go over everything with you and explain why I kept this from you. I hope that after hearing me out, you can forgive me.”

Su Rui was equally eager to know why Fang Chiye had posed as Ye Chifang. There was no way Su Chang’e had genuinely introduced her to a military officer out of goodwill—let alone someone like Fang Chiye!

“At first, I thought you were an enemy spy, so I deliberately approached you, asked about your daily life and habits, and made a preliminary judgment that you were not an enemy spy.”

“Wait a minute, how could I possibly be an enemy spy?” she exclaimed. She was just a cannon fodder female supporting character—how could she handle such a significant role?

Fang Chiye felt his ears heat up slightly. He turned his head a little, hoping Su Rui wouldn’t notice. Trying to act natural, he said, “Because… you’re just too beautiful. Both Commissar Qin and I thought you might be part of a honey trap. The construction of the military hydroelectric station is extremely important as it affects the strategic layout of the central region. I couldn’t afford to be careless.”

If this were a personal matter, Su Rui wouldn’t forgive him. After all, calling her an enemy spy was even worse than calling her a little rascal. However, since it involved military security, she had no choice but to say, “Alright, I can understand that.”

Fang Chiye clenched his fists under the steering wheel and said, “As for why your photos and letters ended up in the military base, I investigated. It seems there was an issue with the sender. I will continue looking into it.”

Su Rui said, “Back then, Su Chang’e said she would introduce me to a military officer. Later, she admitted that the person was actually a reformed convict…”

“A reformed convict?” Fang Chiye asked in surprise. “You really thought you were corresponding with a reformed convict? Even considering a relationship with one?”

Su Rui lowered her head, feeling a little embarrassed. “I was being pestered by a fool at the time. I had no other choice. Besides, you can’t be mad at me. After all, you thought I was an enemy spy. One thing led to another, so I guess we’re even now.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Fang Chiye let out a short laugh—he was probably so angry that he laughed.

“Fine, let’s put that behind us too,” Fang Chiye said. “But she deceived you, and you just played along with it?”

Su Rui corrected him, “I turned the situation to my advantage. However, I think the problem might have come from my eldest sister. She was the one who helped me mail the letters. We even specifically told her not to mix them up, but Su Chang’e told her, ‘It’s all the same.’ Maybe my sister really believed it was the same and just sent them randomly.”

Fang Chiye thought for a moment and said, “That is possible… You should ask her about it when you get the chance.” As he spoke, he restarted the jeep.

Su Rui stole a glance at him, feeling conflicted inside. She had been writing letters to Fang Chiye all along. No wonder he later gave her the things Ye Chifang had given to her so directly.

Su Rui felt annoyed with herself—she should have figured it out sooner. But even now, she still found it hard to believe.

Fang Chiye remained calm, his large hands gripping the gear shift. He patted it lightly and casually asked, “There’s one more question I want to ask you.”

Su Rui assumed it was just a random question and replied, “Go ahead.”

Fang Chiye didn’t start the car immediately. Instead, he turned his head, his sharp eyes locking onto Su Rui’s fair cheeks, which had a rosy tint. He asked, “So… do you still want to break up with me?”

Su Rui’s eyes widened in shock. “You—you’re serious?”