Chapter 5

Seeing the look of anticipation in Zhou Mingyue’s eyes, Lan Yun’er sneered inwardly but sighed helplessly, “Oh, don’t even mention it. He said he loves me, that he only wants to marry me in this lifetime.

He said that even if I committed heinous crimes like murder or arson, he wouldn’t give up on me. Tell me, what’s so special about me? Why is he holding on to me so tightly?” Lan Yun’er wore a troubled expression, letting out another low sigh after speaking.

Zhou Mingyue and her sister Zhou Mingli were both so angry their teeth itched. Zhou Mingli, with her impatient nature, frowned deeply and said immediately, “Xiaoyun, you must divorce him. How else can you be with my cousin? My cousin has already told his family that he’ll bring you to the city in a few days.

If you don’t divorce Huo Jincheng, how can you leave with him? Do you want my cousin to become your lover?” Zhou Mingli practically roared out the last few words.

Lan Yun’er shrank back slightly as if frightened. She looked weakly at Zhou Mingli and said, “Mingli-jie, you’re so scary! I do want to get a divorce, but what can I do when Huo Jincheng loves me so much? I’m helpless!”

These words only made Zhou Mingli and Zhou Mingyue even angrier.

Zhou Mingli’s face darkened as she tried to say something, but Zhou Mingyue pulled her back, signaling her to stay calm.

Zhou Mingyue’s gaze grew gentler as she looked at Lan Yun’er and smiled. “Xiaoyun, don’t blame your sister. She’s just worried about you. My cousin has worked so hard to convince his family to accept you. After all, my cousin is a city dweller and a university graduate with a promising future.

And Xiaoyun, while you’re beautiful, you’re just a village girl. It’s not easy for the family in the city to accept you. But now that my cousin has managed to persuade my aunt and uncle, you must seize this opportunity, okay?”

Lan Yun’er thought about the novel’s plot where the protagonist used similar tactics to brainwash the supporting female character, praising Wang Zhiqiang’s supposed excellence and urging her to hold on to him. The supporting character, naive and gullible, was easily led astray by the protagonist.

And as for Wang Zhiqiang… Ha! Wang Zhiqiang’s looks were average at best. He wore glasses and appeared refined, but he was actually a hypocritical scumbag.

He was indeed a university student, but he had already been expelled! The reason? He got a girl at school pregnant but refused to take responsibility. Worse, he spread rumors about the girl’s promiscuity. The girl, pushed to the brink, eventually committed suicide by jumping off a building.

Before her death, she left a letter exposing Wang Zhiqiang’s true nature, which led to his expulsion and his disgrace among the neighbors. To shield him from the fallout, his parents sent him to the countryside.

Now, during the winter break, he claimed to be vacationing in the village. With his scholarly glasses and city-dweller status, the villagers chose to believe him.

Running through Wang Zhiqiang’s profile in her mind, Lan Yun’er sneered inwardly but kept smiling outwardly. “Yes, I understand. I’ll make sure not to disappoint Zhiqiang-ge.”

Hearing this, Zhou Mingyue secretly smiled. Thankfully, Lan Yun’er was an idiot; otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to manipulate her.

Gently patting the back of Lan Yun’er’s hand, Zhou Mingyue said, “Xiaoyun, you’ll be heading to the city with my cousin in a few days. So before you go, you must get divorced. Don’t worry, my sister and I will help you figure it out. We’ll make sure you can follow my cousin to the city as you wish.”

Lan Yun’er looked grateful. “Thank you, Mingyue-jie. You and Mingli-jie are my saviors.”

Zhou Mingyue smiled, “Of course.”

Zhou Mingli clenched her fists and quickly said, “I think it’s because you haven’t done enough to anger Huo Jincheng. If you push him hard enough, he’ll definitely agree to a divorce.

How about this? Go steal something from the captain’s house.

If you’re caught stealing from the captain’s house, the Huo family’s reputation will be completely ruined. Even if Huo Jincheng still wants you, the Huo family won’t tolerate you anymore.”

Zhou Mingyue’s eyes gleamed as she looked at Lan Yun’er and nodded. “Yes, my sister is right. That’s a great idea. Xiaoyun, why not visit the captain’s house today?”

Lan Yun’er sneered inwardly. Only the original host, who was simple-minded, would believe such nonsense. Even if the original host succeeded in getting divorced, could she truly come out unscathed?

A thief’s reputation would ruin any chance of marrying into a decent family. Especially in this backward era of the 1980s, it would be nearly impossible to marry into a respectable household.

These two were trying to destroy her completely!

Her lips curled slightly in disdain, but she quickly masked it, nodding. “Alright, I’ll go to the captain’s house later. But what if I’m caught again? Last time, when Aunt He chased me, I was terrified. I still shiver just thinking about it.”

Both Zhou Mingli and Zhou Mingyue frowned.

Zhou Mingli asked, “So what do you want to do?”

Lan Yun’er replied, “How about this? Mingyue-jie, could you go check if the captain’s house is empty first? If it’s safe, let me know, and I’ll go.”

Zhou Mingyue smiled, “The captain’s house should be empty now. They’re probably out in the fields…”

“You said that about Aunt He’s house last time, but when I went, Aunt He came back.

So, this time, I need to be sure. Mingyue-jie, if you don’t help me, I won’t go.”

Lan Yun’er picked up her basket and turned as if to leave.

Zhou Mingli panicked and quickly said, “Fine, fine, I’ll go check. Wait here, okay?”

Lan Yun’er smiled. “Thank you, Mingli-jie.”

Zhou Mingli turned and headed down the path they came from. “Wait here. I’ll come back as soon as I’ve checked.”

Lan Yun’er nodded enthusiastically. “Alright, Mingli-jie.”

Zhou Mingyue stood still for a moment, then suddenly smiled at Lan Yun’er. “Xiaoyun, I’ll help Mingli check too. Wait here for us, okay?”

“Sure,” Lan Yun’er said without suspicion.

Zhou Mingyue quickly followed Zhou Mingli.

But she wasn’t going to help scout; she was going to call the captain’s family back—and perhaps some villagers too.

She wanted Lan Yun’er caught stealing in front of everyone and branded as a thief!

…

Watching Zhou Mingyue and Zhou Mingli’s retreating figures, Lan Yun’er’s eyes turned cold. She flipped her wrist, intending to cast a spell to make them trip.

However, the spell had no effect on them.

She frowned. What was going on? Why wasn’t her spell working on them?

Hearing chirping nearby, she realized it was those five silly birds perched on a tree branch, spying on her.

Turning slightly, she beckoned with her fingers, and the birds instantly appeared before her.

Raising her eyebrows, she noted that her spell worked on animals but not on humans. Why was that? Was it due to some restriction in this timeline?

“Immortal, are you really going to steal? Those two women are bad people. Don’t listen to them,” one of the birds chirped cautiously.

Although they were afraid of this immortal, they believed she wouldn’t harm birds; otherwise, she’d have killed them earlier.

Lan Yun’er crossed her arms and sneered coldly. “Steal? Someone like me would never steal.”

“Then just now…”

“Are there any hedgehogs nearby?” Lan Yun’er interrupted before the bird could finish.

Hedgehogs? The five silly birds were momentarily stunned. Then one quickly chirped, “Yes, I know a place where there are a few hedgehogs. If the immortal wants to find them, I can lead you there.”

Lan Yun’er raised an eyebrow. “Alright.”

But before finding the hedgehogs, she needed to collect a certain herb. With the herb, she could properly “repay” her “benefactors.”