Chapter 39

Ruan Changsheng ran up to Qian Chuan and asked, “Why are you here?”

Since they were far apart, Qian Chuan hadn’t heard what he said to Xie Tao. She glanced at Xie Tao, who was still standing there looking dejected, and then asked Ruan Changsheng, “Did I come at a bad time?”

Ruan Changsheng replied, “No, you came at the right time. She’s just a friend.”

He then looked Qian Chuan up and down, saying, “I didn’t expect this.”

Qian Chuan rolled her eyes at him, smiling smugly, “There are many things you didn’t expect.”

Previously, he had always said she didn’t look like a girl. Today, she had to show him otherwise.

Ruan Changsheng smiled apologetically, “I was indeed blind.”

As they talked, Xie Tao approached them.

Qian Chuan, always friendly, greeted Xie Tao warmly, “Hello.”

Xie Tao, forcing a smile, replied, “Hello.” She wanted to ask Qian Chuan directly if she was Ruan Changsheng’s girlfriend, but her remaining pride held her back. Even without asking, she already knew Ruan Changsheng’s attitude.

Still, she felt unwilling to give up. So she asked Qian Chuan, “Which brigade are you from?”

Qian Chuan smiled and said, “My family isn’t from a mountain village. We’re from the town.”

Hearing this, Xie Tao’s face darkened even more.

Ruan Changsheng, no longer interested in dealing with her, turned and said, “I have things to do. You should head back. Be careful on your way. I’ve made myself clear; it’s best if we don’t see each other again.”

With others watching, Xie Tao felt humiliated by Ruan Changsheng’s words. She clenched the cloth bag tightly, trying to maintain her dignity, and quickly walked away.

Ruan Changsheng didn’t say much to her and turned to Qian Chuan, asking, “So, what brings you here?”

Qian Chuan shifted her gaze from Xie Tao and patted her backpack, saying, “I brought you some good stuff.”

Ruan Changsheng smiled at her, “Let’s find a place to check it out.”

The kid who had been leading the way had been silent, but upon hearing about the good stuff, his eyes widened with curiosity. He looked at Qian Chuan and asked, “What good stuff? Can I see it?”

Ruan Changsheng playfully put his hand on the kid’s shoulder, turned him around, and gave him a gentle kick, saying, “Scram.”

The kid turned back and shouted, “Xiao Wu, I’m telling my mom!”

Ruan Changsheng made a funny face at him and waved, “Go ahead, tell whoever you want. Bye-bye.”

The kid, not satisfied, picked up a stone and threw it at Ruan Changsheng, hitting him and making him yelp. The kid laughed triumphantly, stuck out his tongue, and ran off.

Ruan Changsheng didn’t chase after the kid. He turned back to Qian Chuan, smiling, “Let’s go.”

Qian Chuan squinted at him, saying, “Are you three years old?”

Ruan Changsheng replied, “Aren’t I thirty?”

Qian Chuan nodded with a smirk, “Thirty on the outside, three on the inside.”

Ruan Changsheng: “…” Does this girl ever say anything nice?

Seeing his expression, Qian Chuan laughed happily. After a moment, she stopped teasing him and led him to a secluded spot. They found a small cave nearby, slipped inside, and squatted down to talk.

Facing each other, Qian Chuan asked, “Did you sell all the stuff I gave you?”

Ruan Changsheng smiled, “It was easy. I sold everything on the way back.”

Qian Chuan’s eyes lit up, and she praised him, “You’re amazing.”

Ruan Changsheng couldn’t help but laugh more, “It’s nothing.”

Qian Chuan then took off her backpack, opened the flap, and showed it to Ruan Changsheng, asking, “All for you. Do you want it?”

Ruan Changsheng looked at Qian Chuan, easily seeing through her intentions. After meeting him, she found a new way to make money. She wanted to turn him into her distributor, selling all the goods she acquired, making him do the legwork and take the risks while she earned money effortlessly.

This girl was sharp, truly a money magnet!

But could he refuse the goods delivered to his door?

Ruan Changsheng asked, “How much?”

Qian Chuan held up five fingers, “Five yuan.”

Ruan Changsheng immediately said, “I’d like to, but I don’t have that much money.”

In those days, anyone who could casually spend five yuan was considered wealthy.

Qian Chuan suggested, “Ask your mom for it.”

Ruan Changsheng: “…” She sure knew how to come up with ideas.

Ruan Changsheng thought for a moment and said, “How about this: I’ll give you two yuan first and owe you the rest. I’ll pay you the remaining three yuan once I sell everything and get the money back. How about that?”

Qian Chuan blinked at him, “What if you take the goods and run without paying me back?”

Ruan Changsheng said, “You know where I live now. You can go straight to my mom if I run off without paying.”

Qian Chuan: “…” What kind of son who put his mother in such a spot…

Ruan Changsheng laughed, “Just kidding. Since you chose to work with me, we need to trust each other, right? Although we haven’t known each other long, I think you’re a good person.”

Qian Chuan looked into Ruan Changsheng’s eyes and suddenly changed the subject, “Who was that girl earlier?”

The sudden shift in topic made Ruan Changsheng pause for a moment, and then he replied, “She was my previous match. She didn’t like my conditions back then and rejected me. Now she suddenly came back, saying she regrets it.”

No wonder her eyes were red. Qian Chuan asked, “Did you reject her?”

Ruan Changsheng nodded and leaned in close, whispering, “I told her you were my girlfriend.”

Qian Chuan’s eyes widened, and she slapped him, “Are you looking for trouble?”

Ruan Changsheng yelped and covered his shoulder, “Did you have to hit so hard?”

Qian Chuan considered hitting him with her backpack but worried about damaging the contents. She glared at him, “No wonder she looked at me so strangely and asked where I was from.”

Ruan Changsheng laughed, “It doesn’t matter. We won’t see her again anyway.”

Qian Chuan thought about it and agreed. She didn’t know the girl, and they didn’t even know each other’s names. The girl didn’t live in town, so they wouldn’t run into each other. With that settled, she looked at Ruan Changsheng and said, “You used me as a shield without my permission. That’s an extra yuan.”

Ruan Changsheng’s eyes widened, “Are you robbing me?” How could he make any money like this? If he sold the goods too expensively, no one would buy them, and all the money would go to her!

Qian Chuan closed her backpack and stood up to leave, “If you don’t want it, forget it.”

Ruan Changsheng quickly stood up and grabbed her, saying, “I want it, I want it.”

Satisfied, she turned back with a smile, and he added, “We’ll be family anyway.”

Qian Chuan: “???” Who said we’re family?!

Ignoring her expression, Ruan Changsheng took her backpack and said, “Wait here for a bit. I’ll go home to get the money and be right back.”

With that, he walked off with the backpack.

When he got home, he transferred the miscellaneous items from Qian Chuan’s backpack into his own, took out his two yuan of private money, and packed some dry food and clothes. He then informed Liu Xinghua, “Mom, I’m going out for a few days. I won’t be back for a while.”

Liu Xinghua looked up at him, “Where are you off to now?”

Ruan Changsheng smiled, “Wait for my good news. I’ll bring you a daughter-in-law soon.”

Hearing this, Liu Xinghua perked up, “You’re not joking, right?”

Ruan Changsheng replied, “Of course not. I already have someone in mind.”

Liu Xinghua asked, “Where is she from? Whose daughter is she?”

Ruan Changsheng said, “I’ll tell you once it’s settled.”

Ruan Changsheng often went out and sometimes didn’t come home for ten days or half a month. Liu Xinghua was used to it and didn’t worry much, only saying, “Remember, you can have fun, but don’t do anything harmful.”

Ruan Changsheng, always mindful of his limits, replied, “Got it, Mom.”

After saying goodbye to Liu Xinghua, Ruan Changsheng returned to the small cave.

Seeing him return, Qian Chuan stood up, took the backpack from him, and muttered, “I waited here for so long, I thought you ran off with the goods.”

Ruan Changsheng took out two yuan from his pocket, placed it in her hand, and said, “I may not have many other virtues, but I’m loyal and trustworthy. My word is my bond.”

Qian Chuan, pleased with the money, put it in her pocket. After securing the money, she said to Ruan Changsheng, “Once you sell the goods, come find me in town. My house is near Tianfeng Elementary School. Remember to bring the money, and don’t forget you still owe me four yuan—not a cent less.”

As she was about to leave, Ruan Changsheng suddenly grabbed her arm.

She turned back and asked, “What else?”

Ruan Changsheng replied, “Aren’t you going down the mountain? I’m going out to sell things, so let’s walk together for a bit.”

Qian Chuan looked at him and didn’t refuse, “Let’s go.”

As they left Fengyan Village and walked for a while, Ruan Changsheng suddenly remembered something and said to Qian Chuan, “If you’re not in a hurry to go home, I can take you somewhere to get some food first. Do you want to go?”

Food? Qian Chuan couldn’t help but swallow, “Where?”

On her way up the mountain, she had been eating dry food, buns, and drinking water borrowed from people. She hadn’t had a proper meal in two days. It would be a blessing if she could get a hot meal now.

Ruan Changsheng didn’t say, only replied, “Just follow me.”

By now, Qian Chuan almost considered him one of her own, so she didn’t ask further and followed him. She didn’t know where Ruan Changsheng was taking her, but when they arrived, she found it was a tailor shop. The shop’s gate was locked and wasn’t open for business. She peeked through the gate and saw a grape arbor in the yard with a few small bunches of grapes hanging from it.

While Qian Chuan was peeking through the gate, Ruan Changsheng retrieved a key from under a small stone by the wall. He waited for Qian Chuan to step aside, then unlocked the gate and led her into the tailor shop.

Qian Chuan remembered what Ruan Changsheng had told her and asked, “Is this your niece’s tailor shop?”

Ruan Changsheng closed the gate behind them, “Yes, she’s out working today.”

Qian Chuan looked around, “Your niece is really impressive.”

Ruan Changsheng, used to hearing praise for his niece, replied, “Of course, my niece is amazing.”

Qian Chuan didn’t contradict him this time and said, “Are you going to cook for me here?”

“Yes,” Ruan Changsheng nodded straightforwardly, “What do you want to eat? How about I cook you a bowl of noodles?”

Qian Chuan looked at him, “Can you cook?”

Ruan Changsheng replied, “It’ll be edible. Want to give it a try?”

Qian Chuan didn’t hold back, “Sure, let’s try.”

As Ruan Changsheng kneaded the dough, rolled it out, and cut the noodles, Qian Chuan sat beside him, resting her face in her hands, watching him with a twinkle in her eyes—this man was becoming more and more pleasing to the eye.

While cutting the noodles, Ruan Changsheng asked, “How’s my cooking skill?”

Qian Chuan deliberately gave a modest evaluation, “It’s okay, I guess.”

Ruan Changsheng glanced at her, smiling without saying anything. He had seen the admiration in her eyes earlier.

Ruan Changsheng didn’t say anything, so Qian Chuan asked, “I think you’re pretty good. Why didn’t that girl like you?”

Ruan Changsheng knew she was referring to Xie Tao and didn’t avoid the topic. He continued, “My third sister had a tough marriage. Her husband beat her for many years. About this time last year, she decided to divorce him and moved back home. Her in-laws couldn’t accept it and wanted me to send her back.”

Qian Chuan thought for a moment and said, “What kind of request is that? Your third sister is living with her own parents. What does it have to do with them? Honestly, it’s not even your business. If you can live with your parents, why can’t your third sister?”

Ruan Changsheng continued cutting the noodles, “That’s why I didn’t agree, and it didn’t work out.”

Qian Chuan, curious, asked, “So why did she come looking for you today?”

Ruan Changsheng wasn’t very skilled with the knife, cutting the noodles slowly. “Because my third sister learned the craft from my niece and went to their brigade to make clothes yesterday. She must have seen my third sister and regretted it, so she came to find me.”

Qian Chuan furrowed her brows, unable to understand. “She actually had the nerve to come find you?”

Ruan Changsheng chuckled, “Since our failed matchmaking, I found arranged marriages quite pointless and didn’t ask my mom to find another matchmaker. She thought I was still thinking about her and believed I was single because of her.”

Qian Chuan was stunned, “???”

After a moment, she said, “She’s really confident.”

Ruan Changsheng laughed, “Well, she is quite good-looking, so she can be confident.”

Qian Chuan dismissed it, “What’s the use of being good-looking?”

Ruan Changsheng believed she genuinely thought looks were useless. Otherwise, with her appearance, she wouldn’t go out and make herself look like that. To her, money was everything.

Pretty?

Is it more valuable than money?

Definitely not!

So he said, “Money is still more useful.”

Qian Chuan agreed wholeheartedly, nodding, “Kindred spirits!”

Ruan Changsheng couldn’t help but laugh, finding her obsession with money quite endearing for the first time.

Once the noodles were cut, Ruan Changsheng let them rest on the board for a while, then went to the vegetable garden to pick some greens. After washing the vegetables and cooking the noodles with spicy oil, he brought the bowl to Qian Chuan.

The aroma of the spicy oil made Qian Chuan’s mouth water. When the hot noodles were placed in front of her, she immediately picked up her chopsticks and slurped down a big mouthful.

Ruan Changsheng sat across from her, “No one’s going to take it from you. Eat slower.”

Qian Chuan, eating, replied, “I haven’t had a proper meal in two days.”

Ruan Changsheng let her be, allowing her to eat as she pleased.

Having finished talking about his own matters, he watched Qian Chuan eat and asked, “You’re not that young anymore. Has your family found you a match? Anyone you like?”

Qian Chuan, still eating, said, “Not interested. Met a few, but they ran off as soon as they saw me.”

Ruan Changsheng: “…” She must have shown up looking like a mess.

Clearing his throat, he asked, “What do you think of me?”

Qian Chuan slowed her eating, looked up at Ruan Changsheng, and after a moment, looked away. She took a couple more bites and said, “You’re okay, I guess.”

Ruan Changsheng didn’t beat around the bush, “Want to give it a try with me?”

Qian Chuan froze and quickly finished her noodles. Satisfied, she slammed her chopsticks on the table and ran off: “One bowl of noodles, and you think I’ll marry you? Dream on!”

Ruan Changsheng hadn’t even reacted before she disappeared out the gate.

“…”

In Chiyu Village, the sun was setting in the western sky.

Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi had finished making two uniforms but stayed to alter clothes for other villagers. Once they were done, they planned to head back to the tailor shop.

Because of Xie Tao, Er Mei couldn’t get her clothes altered yesterday, so she brought them back today. After getting her clothes altered and paying, she happily headed home. Halfway there, she ran into Xie Tao returning from outside.

Seeing Xie Tao, she waved and called her name, but Xie Tao didn’t seem to hear, not even glancing at her, and went straight home.

Confused, Er Mei thought Xie Tao hadn’t heard her and followed her home. As soon as she entered, she heard Xie Tao crying.

Entering Xie Tao’s room, she saw her lying on the bed, face buried in the pillow, shaking with sobs.

Not knowing what was wrong, Er Mei sat down and put a hand on her shoulder, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Xie Tao just cried, ignoring her, and continued until dusk.

When Mother Xie and her aunt returned from work, they heard Xie Tao crying as soon as they entered. They went to her room and, seeing Er Mei, asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

Er Mei shook her head, “She’s been crying for a while.”

Mother Xie and her aunt exchanged a glance, guessing what might have happened. They needed Xie Tao to talk and vent, so they asked Er Mei to move aside, sit next to Xie Tao, and gently ask, “What’s wrong?”

Xie Tao cried so hard she could barely breathe. After loosening her grip on the pillow to take a breath, she choked out, “It’s too late, everything is too late… I went too late… He already has a girlfriend, and she’s from the town.”

Hearing this, Mother Xie took a deep breath and comforted Xie Tao, “Then let it go. There isn’t only one man like Ruan Changsheng in the world. If we missed this one, we’ll find another.”

Xie Tao cried, her eyes red and swollen, “Where can I find someone better than him? It’s impossible!”

She hit her leg in frustration and regret, “I shouldn’t have brought up his third sister back then. If I hadn’t, we would be married by now. Now there’s no chance, no chance at all!”

Seeing her like this, Mother Xie felt a mix of anger, frustration, heartache, regret, and helplessness. The demand they made to the Ruan family was a collective decision of the Xie family, with her playing a major role. She sat there, unable to say anything harsh, feeling stifled and taking deep breaths.

Xie Tao’s aunt, standing nearby, didn’t dare to speak, fearing she’d be blamed if she did. She had learned her lesson this time—she would never meddle in Xie Tao’s affairs again!

Understanding the situation, Er Mei shook her head, sighed, and went home with her clothes.