Chapter 17 ☆ Detoxification (Part 3)

While I was busy, I heard a voice calling from not far away: “Sister Yaoyao, Sister Yaoyao——”

“Someone is coming. It’s my stepsister! I’ll go stop them!” Cheng Yaoyao said, wiping her mouth and running out.

Xie San immediately sprang into action, kicking apart the extinguished charcoal fire, grabbing a handful of dead branches and leaves to cover the remnants of the fire, and tossing all the chicken bones into the stream to let the water carry them away.

Cheng Yaoyao ran toward the soybean field. A clear bell rang, and a voice grew louder: “Sister Yaoyao! Sister Yaoyao! We’re here to bring you food!”

Shen Yan was seen riding a Phoenix-brand bicycle, approaching from afar. The timid voice definitely wasn’t his. When Shen Yan stopped the bike, Cheng Nuonuo jumped out of the back seat.

Shen Yan parked the bike in the shade of a tree and came over with Cheng Nuonuo. Cheng Nuonuo stopped at the edge of the field, seeming unable to get down by herself. Shen Yan quickly helped her down with a look of concern.

This scene was charming and picturesque, but Cheng Yaoyao wasn’t impressed. She tossed the crushed mint leaves aside, crossed her arms, and waited for them to come over.

Shen Yan and Cheng Nuonuo exchanged flirtatious glances and slowly approached.

Under the scorching sun, Cheng Nuonuo wore a short-sleeved shirt that exposed her white, slender arms. Her fair face was sunburned red and covered in sweat, but she didn’t seem bothered by the heat at all.

Cheng Yaoyao, feeling a pang of sympathy, wished she had a golden finger like in some stories.

Cheng Yaoyao lowered her eyebrows, a trace of sadness crossed her beautiful face, which evoked sympathy. Shen Yan immediately forgot about Cheng Nuonuo and walked over quickly. “Yaoyao, why are you here alone?”

Cheng Yaoyao raised her eyebrows, her beauty and aura fiercely apparent. “What do you mean I’m alone? Xie San is here too.”

The tall and handsome Xie San responded and walked out, standing not too far from Cheng Yaoyao.

Shen Yan and Xie San exchanged glances filled with the kind of hostility only men understand.

Cheng Nuonuo stepped out from behind Shen Yan at just the right moment, holding a kettle. “Sister Yaoyao, the production team has made mung bean soup as a reward for everyone today. I brought some specially for you and Xie San.”

“A bowl of mung bean soup isn’t much of a gift,” Cheng Yaoyao replied skeptically.

Cheng Nuonuo and Shen Yan exchanged a quick glance, but it didn’t escape Cheng Yaoyao’s notice. Cheng Yaoyao continued, “That’s fine. Mung bean soup can detoxify. I was bitten by a snake today, so it’s perfect for that.”

“What?!” Shen Yan exclaimed. “How did you get bitten by a snake?”

Seeing Shen Yan’s worried look, Cheng Nuonuo’s smile faltered slightly. She quickly asked Cheng Yaoyao with concern, “Sister Yaoyao, what happened? Where were you bitten by the snake? How could there be a snake in the soybean field?”

Cheng Yaoyao regretted oversharing and quickly said, “On my foot.”

Shen Yan looked at Cheng Yaoyao’s foot, clearly distressed. “How could you get bitten by a snake? Is it poisonous? I’ll take you to the clinic to get it checked. Does it still hurt?”

Cheng Yaoyao enjoyed being pampered and had just acted like a spoiled child with Xie San to hear a few caring words from him. However, Shen Yan’s concern came across as overly sentimental and off-putting.

Cheng Yaoyao waved her hand impatiently. “It’s okay, the poison has…”

Xie San immediately looked up at Cheng Yaoyao. Cheng Yaoyao bit her tongue, realizing she’d said too much, and quickly corrected herself, “It’s okay anyway!”

Fed up with the two men’s bickering, Cheng Yaoyao grabbed a handful of beans and turned to Xie San. “Put down the mung bean soup and go. We still have half a ridge of land to plant.”

Shen Yan’s face turned green with anger.

Men often have this mindset: even if they’ve rejected a woman, they still see her as their own. Shen Yan wasn’t in the paddy field that morning and heard in the afternoon that Cheng Yaoyao and Xie San were alone in the soybean field. This made him furious.

Not only was Shen Yan angry, but the other educated youth were also upset. In the countryside, female educated youth were highly sought after, and they rarely ventured out alone, especially someone as stunning as Cheng Yaoyao.

Captain Lin Dafu had assured everyone of Xie San’s reliability, but Shen Yan remained worried. In the end, Cheng Nuonuo persuaded everyone with her gentle words. “It would be too distrustful to bring Sister Yaoyao back abruptly. Why don’t I go to see her and deliver the mung bean soup? This way, we ensure her safety and avoid creating a scene.”

Cheng Nuonuo’s suggestion was a reasonable compromise, and since she was Cheng Yaoyao’s blood-related sister, everyone agreed.

Shen Yan borrowed a bicycle from Lin Dafu’s house and rushed to the soybean field with Cheng Nuonuo.

Shen Yan was in high spirits the entire way. He imagined Cheng Yaoyao being terrified and uncomfortable with a dirty, rude country boy like Xie San. He hoped she would be so relieved to see him that her admiration would be evident, and he envisioned himself as her savior.

However, Shen Yan was surprised to find that Cheng Yaoyao was neither afraid nor disgusted by Xie San. Instead, she followed him eagerly, and they seemed quite close.

As Shen Yan watched Cheng Yaoyao approach Xie San, his jealousy flared.

Shen Yan, excited, marched over and grabbed Cheng Yaoyao’s wrist. “How could the captain let you work alone with a man? Is he mistreating our educated youth? Come on, come back with me. I’ll tell the captain!”

As Shen Yan approached, Xie San turned to face him. Shen Yan suspected Xie San might do something to Cheng Yaoyao, but Xie San didn’t even raise an eyebrow. When Shen Yan reached out to grab Cheng Yaoyao’s wrist, Xie San’s veins bulged, and he yanked his hand away. “Let go!”

“Mind your own business!” Shen Yan told Xie San to ignore him, thinking Xie San was just a simple country person and not worth worrying about. But Xie San’s grip was incredibly strong, holding Shen Yan tightly and making it impossible for him to move.

“You… dare to attack me? You’re just a landlord’s son, a piece of trash… hiss!” Faced with Xie San’s overwhelming strength, Shen Yan, the so-called child of destiny, could only resort to empty threats.

Xie San tightened his grip, causing Shen Yan’s cheeks to contort as he struggled to speak.

Cheng Nuonuo, panicked, shouted, “Let go! Don’t do this, Xie San! Let Shen Yan go! Sister Yaoyao, please say something!”

Xie San’s eyes were cold and unforgiving. Shen Yan’s face was twisted in pain, and despite his gritted teeth, he refused to beg for mercy. The two men were like two beasts in a standoff, neither willing to back down.

Cheng Yaoyao had seen many men vying for her attention, but she had never felt so exhilarated. She crossed her arms and watched with a smile. When she saw that Shen Yan’s fingers were turning purple and his wrist seemed on the verge of breaking, she finally said, “Xie San, please let go.”

Cheng Yaoyao gently patted Xie San’s wrist. She realized that if Shen Yan’s bones were broken, Xie San would be responsible for the medical costs. Xie San seemed to snap out of his anger and release Shen Yan.

Shen Yan sighed in relief, hiding his numb, pain-wracked hands behind his back. He turned to Cheng Yaoyao and said, “Yaoyao, you’re going to stay with such a barbarian? It’s too dangerous. Come back with me!”

“Go back? Who will work for me if I leave? I still need to earn work points,” Cheng Yaoyao shrugged casually.

Cheng Nuonuo, looking glum, added, “Sister Yaoyao, everyone heard that you came here alone to plant beans, and they’re very concerned about your safety. Shen Yan is the same. He brought me here just to make sure you’re safe.”

Hearing Cheng Nuonuo’s considerate explanation, Shen Yan felt a pang of guilt and looked at Cheng Nuonuo with a tender gaze.

He started to believe more that his feelings for Cheng Yaoyao were just about feeling responsible and guilty, and that he really connected well with Cheng Nuonuo.

However, Cheng Yaoyao’s safety was the priority. Shen Yan said earnestly, “Yaoyao, don’t joke about your safety just to spite me. How can you, a girl, stay in a place like this with someone from the ‘five black categories^[1]refer to groups considered dangerous or undesirable in the socio-political climate of early Communist China.’?”

Cheng Yaoyao was furious at being referred to as unsafe. “What do you mean, ‘unsafe’? How can it be unsafe? You have dirty minds and think that everyone is as dirty as you.”

“It turns out the mung bean soup was just an excuse to keep an eye on me! I’m okay and safe here, and Xie San will protect me if anything happens! Leave now!”

Cheng Yaoyao, very angry, pointed at Shen Yan and told him to leave.

Shen Yan, who was used to everyone’s support and had Cheng Yaoyao pursuing him since childhood, was unwilling to leave in front of a country bumpkin. He glanced at Xie San, noting his ragged clothes. If Xie San were on the streets of Shanghai, Cheng Yaoyao would probably not even glance at him!

Shen Yan’s face went pale, and he was breathing heavily with anger. It looked like he was about to lose control. Cheng Nuonuo hurriedly stood between Cheng Yaoyao and Shen Yan, her eyes filled with tears. “Sister Yaoyao, I know you’re angry with me, and it’s all my fault, but please don’t speak to Shen Yan like that, okay?”

Cheng Nuonuo’s plea reminded Shen Yan of a possibility: Cheng Yaoyao might be using this peasant to deliberately provoke him. Cheng Yaoyao was ruining him!

Yes, that must be it! There’s no other explanation for why Cheng Yaoyao would abandon him so quickly and get close to that peasant!

Cheng Yaoyao was unaware of Shen Yan’s thoughts, but his expression became a mix of shock, regret, pity, and deep self-blame. “Yaoyao, Nuonuo and I are both concerned about your safety. Regardless, you should come back with us.”

Cheng Yaoyao blinked. “Okay.”

Xie San was stunned.

Cheng Yaoyao’s agreement was unexpected. Shen Yan, surprised, asked, “Ah? You agreed to come back with me?”

Cheng Yaoyao chuckled, her lips curling up in mockery. “Didn’t you ask me to go back with you? Were you just saying that casually?”

Her beauty and mocking demeanor made it hard for anyone to resist her. Shen Yan responded repeatedly, “Of course not!”

As Cheng Yaoyao walked toward Shen Yan, Xie San’s cold face seemed to freeze. He turned away, picked up his shovel, and resumed working.

Shen Yan saw this and raised his eyebrows, declaring loudly, “Yaoyao, see? I borrowed a bicycle just to pick you up!”

Cheng Nuonuo added, “We came here specifically to pick you up, Sister Yaoyao.”

Shen Yan and Cheng Nuonuo both looked extremely sincere. Cheng Yaoyao then said, “You only brought one bike. How are we all supposed to get back?”

Shen Yan was momentarily stunned. Lin Dafu’s bicycle had no crossbar and could only carry one person at a time. He looked between Cheng Yaoyao and Cheng Nuonuo in embarrassment. Cheng Nuonuo said sympathetically, “Shen Yan, you can take Sister Yaoyao home first. It’s okay for me to stay behind.”

Shen Yan was once again moved by Cheng Nuonuo’s thoughtfulness and replied softly, “Don’t worry, Nuonuo. I’ll take your sister home and come back to pick you up soon.”

Cheng Yaoyao interrupted coldly, “Leaving Cheng Nuonuo here alone with Xie San? Are you comfortable with that?”

Shen Yan’s jealousy flared again. How could he leave his timid Nuonuo with a country boy? “No, Nuonuo, you can’t stay here alone.”

“You can’t leave me here, and you can’t leave Cheng Nuonuo either.” Cheng Yaoyao feigned innocence, her lips curling up in embarrassment. “So, do you expect me, a wounded soldier, to carry Cheng Nuonuo back? Or should Cheng Nuonuo try to reach the handlebars?”

Cheng Nuonuo’s face went even paler than Shen Yan’s! She was only about 1.48 meters tall, so she definitely couldn’t ride the bike.

Seeing Shen Yan’s dumbfounded expression, Cheng Yaoyao sneered, “Two people came to pick me up on a bike—are they crazy?”

Shen Yan’s mind was a whirlwind of frustration, having completely forgotten about this detail. Cheng Nuonuo had insisted on coming to check on Cheng Yaoyao, and Shen Yan had been touched by her kindness. Now, however, he couldn’t help but blame her—how could he have made such a foolish mistake!

Cheng Nuonuo timidly apologized, “I’m sorry, Sister Yaoyao. It’s my fault for not thinking this through. Let Shen Yan take you back on the bike first.”

Shen Yan immediately protested, “No, I won’t leave you alone.”

The situation seemed to loop endlessly, with the two of them re-enacting a melodramatic scene.

Cheng Yaoyao, feeling exasperated, yawned and said, “Okay, stop worrying. Give me the keys; I have a good idea.”

With a smile on her lips and a cunning glint in her eyes, Cheng Yaoyao resembled a clever little fox. Shen Yan, sensing it was a trap but feeling resigned, handed over the keys and asked, “What’s the good idea?”

Cheng Yaoyao took the keys and turned to Xie San, calling sweetly, “Brother Xie San, can you ride a bike?”