Soon she noticed he had followed her again, standing directly behind her.

His tall stature immediately made her feel oppressed.

Was he eyeing her ten dollars or eyeing her and the two kids?!!

Jiang Lin quickly glanced back at him, only to find him looking down at her with dark, intense eyes.

His gaze was focused and cold.

She glared back at him without reservation.

What are you looking at! Not only did he not avert his gaze, but he also shamelessly scrutinized her and even tried to speak to her.

Jiang Lin immediately turned her head away, ignoring him.

Tracking her like this to create a chance encounter—oh, so familiar, have they met somewhere before?

She had seen plenty of tricks to pick up girls! His antics were child’s play!

Cheng Rushan took a deep breath and tried to explain, “I didn’t steal before—”

“Special offer on cloth! Special offer on cloth! Two feet of cloth per foot of cloth coupon!” Suddenly, a loud and piercing announcement drowned out his voice.

Many people rushed over here, causing Jiang Lin to panic and quickly shield the two children in front of her.

But she underestimated the powerful force of the crowd rushing for goods.

From various angles, people surged in, all trying to reach the front of the counter, ignoring the shopkeeper’s calls for orderly queues.

Jiang Lin was instantly squeezed to the point where she couldn’t stand.

“Be careful,” Cheng Rushan said as he saw her about to fall, reaching out to support her.

He also pushed away two men who were squeezing her. “Line up behind! Don’t push!”

His large hand rested on her arm, and the warmth seeped through her thin summer clothes, making her feel hot.

It wasn’t her blushing; his hand was just too warm! She immediately sidestepped, pressing her hand against her bag.

This time, she couldn’t let him pickpocket her wallet.

Cheng Rushan was about to say, “Someone stole your wallet before, and I helped you get it back,” but her quick movement interrupted him, leaving him frustrated.

However, this noisy and chaotic environment was not suitable for serious conversation.

Quietly, he placed his backpack to block the people squeezing behind them, ensuring the two children wouldn’t get pushed.

Cheng Xiaobao turned and sweetly smiled at him, “Uncle, you’re so handsome.”

Cheng Rushan smiled back at him.

Cheng Dabao, always feeling suspicious when men stared at his mother and she acted sternly toward them, immediately pulled his little brother back, giving Cheng Rushan a disdainful look.

Looking at the two children, Cheng Rushan thought about how they were her children with someone else, and for some reason, his chest tightened.

These past few days of rushing around without much rest hadn’t bothered him before, but now he suddenly felt weary.

Ahead of Jiang Lin, three people were in line.

After they finished, one of them regretted, “Ah, I should have had a few more feet of cloth with my coupon.”

Cheng Dabao and Cheng Xiaobao were too short to see the counter among all the adults.

But Cheng Dabao had sharp ears; he heard and tugged on Jiang Lin’s sleeve, reminding her, “You don’t have a cloth coupon.”

Jiang Lin: “…”

I do! But unfortunately, it’s only two inches long, useless for anything.

She turned back and saw that the small cooperative store was now packed with several queues, making it difficult to move.

It was her turn now, and the shopkeeper impatiently said, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and show your cloth coupon!”

Jiang Lin asked, “Can I buy cloth without a coupon?”

The female shopkeeper, with two braided hair twists, rolled her eyes and scolded, “No cloth coupon, what are you messing around for? Just here to squeeze in? Next!”

Jiang Lin couldn’t believe it.

Seriously?

She was about to use her two-inch cloth coupon when she heard a young man behind her say, “Her cloth coupon is with me.”

Cheng Rushan pulled out a stack of cloth coupons from his backpack, wrapped his arms around Jiang Lin’s body, slapped the coupons on the counter, sorted them out, and returned the unusable ones from out of town, leaving only the ones that could be used.

The shopkeeper had noticed him long ago, amidst the crowded room, he stood out the most.

His tall figure and clean-cut appearance made him quite striking, especially with his military-style haircut that accentuated his masculine features—exactly her type.

She had intended to talk to him after shooing Jiang Lin away, but seeing him help Jiang Lin with the cloth coupons made her instantly disappointed.

She looked down at the cloth coupons and her eyes widened.

Oh my, how many cloth coupons were these? All military and nationally recognized ones!

So he was a soldier! But why wasn’t he in uniform?

She glanced at him again.

He was in a short-sleeved undershirt, tucked into his belt, broad-shouldered and slim-waisted, with long legs and a confident posture.

Not an ounce of excess fat on him; definitely a soldier’s physique.

She pursed her lips and asked Jiang Lin, “Hey, your boyfriend gave you these coupons. How much cloth are you getting?”

Jiang Lin: “!!!”

Boyfriend? I don’t even know him!

People behind them grew impatient and started pushing again.

Cheng Rushan kept his legs firmly planted, but his upper body was leaning forward due to the crowd.

He had to support himself with both hands on the counter, inadvertently pulling Jiang Lin closer into his embrace.

Jiang Lin was instantly overwhelmed by his masculine aura, feeling dizzy as his chest almost touched her back several times, the intense heat radiating through their clothes undeniable.

Couldn’t pickpocket, so now trying to take advantage?

Jiang Lin didn’t hesitate to stomp on his foot. “Move! We don’t have a cloth coupon, we’re not buying anymore.”

She tried to reach for Dabao and Xiaobao’s hands, but bumped into Cheng Rushan’s arm instead.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Lin’s lack of security suddenly surfaced, making her voice sharp.

Cheng Rushan saw her pale face flush red and knew that calling her by name and revealing himself as Cheng Rushan would only make things worse.

He withdrew his arm and spoke gently, “I gave you the cloth coupons.”

Jiang Lin glared fiercely at him, gritting her teeth with resentment, “Helping for no reason!”

A wolf in sheep’s clothing!

That’s what you are! Acting all saintly!

Her anger made her eyes unusually bright.

He actually felt a twinge of remorse and started, “Jiang Lin, I…”

A loud “slap” interrupted him.

As soon as he uttered her name, Jiang Lin had already raised her hand and slapped him hard, right across the face.

…

The slap was so loud that it startled not only the shopkeeper but also the crowded people around, who looked at them in confusion.

The young couple are having a quarrel, huh? Oh dear, this woman is fierce—slapping her own man in public like that, quite something.

Jiang Lin: “Don’t think calling my name will get you close to me. I don’t know you at all. If you dare follow me again, I’ll report you to the police!”

Cheng Xiaobao looked bewildered, not understanding what was going on.

Cheng Dabao raised his foot and gave Cheng Rushan’s shin a hard kick, which made his face scrunch up in pain.

Jiang Lin quickly picked up Xiaobao and took Dabao’s hand, squeezing their way out.

Because she had slapped a man, many men nearby either whistled, chuckled, or hurriedly made way for her.

Someone even joked, “Hey lady, if the couple fights in bed, how come you’re slapping a man here? Where will you make up then?” The comment was accompanied by suggestive laughter.

Jiang Lin felt a bit scared.

In her previous life, there were cases where women were mistaken for wives by other men, and bystanders didn’t know the truth.

This man was handsome and tall; if he claimed to be her husband and they had a dispute, people might believe him.

Feeling insecure in this unfamiliar place, she hastily picked up Dabao as well and pushed her way out desperately.

The shopkeeper, patient with Cheng Rushan, watched him turn his head to follow the direction in which the woman and children had left.

She teasingly asked, “Comrade from the People’s Liberation Army, are you going to chase after your wife or buy cloth?”

With such a feisty woman, will you leave her alone until next Chinese New Year?

Cheng Rushan listened to Jiang Lin and realized she hadn’t recognized him and mistook him for a bad guy instead.

He picked up his backpack and said to the shopkeeper, “I’ll come back later to make my purchase.” With that, he turned and walked away.

The shopkeeper hurriedly handed him his cloth coupons, saying, “Here are your coupons.”

Cheng Rushan didn’t even look back. “Please keep them safe for now. I’ll be back later.”

Jiang Lin finally managed to squeeze out of the supply and marketing cooperative with her two children, and she set them down to catch their breath.

Subconsciously, she turned around and was horrified to find that the weirdo had followed them out!!

His gaze locked onto her immediately!

Jiang Lin’s scalp tingled with anxiety.

She quickly grabbed Dabao and Xiaobao and hurried away.

“Jiang Lin!” Cheng Rushan didn’t hesitate to push other people aside and squeeze out of the cooperative.

He called her name, but unexpectedly, another man across the street also shouted her name.

She happily led her children towards that man.

The man smiled brightly like a flower and excitedly shouted, “Jiang Lin, Jiang Lin, it’s really you! I finished my business and rushed back to pick you up.”

Cheng Rushan’s heart sank instantly, his steps halting, a complex mix of emotions filling his chest.

Jiang Lin didn’t expect to encounter Qianbo as soon as she left the cooperative, and now she found Qianbo quite familiar.

She glanced back and saw that young man hadn’t followed her, but was watching her with a cold gaze.

She sneered inwardly, confirming he wasn’t a good person since he didn’t dare continue pursuing her now that she had met someone she knew.

Seeing the man not daring to approach, Jiang Lin breathed a sigh of relief and stood there waiting with Qianbo for the bus.

However, Dabao and Xiaobao harbored a deep animosity towards Qianbo, glaring at him with hostility.

Qianbo had just returned from the train station and came here to catch a ride back to Shuihuai Village, never expecting to see Jiang Lin here.

He was still deeply moved by the imagined fate, unable to contain his excitement as he said eagerly, “Jiang Lin, I’ve completed my work in the provincial capital. I’m now a worker. I came back specifically to pick you up.”

Dabao and Xiaobao muttered, “Hmph!” and kicked Qianbo, one on each side.

Their kicks weren’t very strong, and Qianbo was too excited to even notice.

He sincerely cared for Jiang Lin and didn’t hold it against her for marrying and having children.

In just a few days, he had already forgotten Jiang Lin’s previous kick to his sensitive area.

When Jiang Lin had kicked him earlier, it was out of confusion and resentment, but now she had recognized the reality and wouldn’t act impulsively like that again.

Jiang Lin said firmly, “Qianbo, I’m telling you seriously, we’re just classmates. You’re not allowed to have these thoughts anymore. Otherwise, I won’t be polite.” She raised an eyebrow, lifted her foot, and gave him a threatening glance.

Qianbo’s face changed, instinctively stepping back to avoid her. “Jiang Lin, why are you so cold-hearted?”

Jiang Lin replied sharply, “Without any affection, how can there be cold-heartedness? I’m warning you, this is your last time saying such things. The next words should only be about classmates. If you say one more word beyond that, hmph!”

Qianbo looked at her intently.

She had truly changed.

He couldn’t help but feel discouraged. “Jiang Lin, I went back to the city and saw your parents. Don’t you want to know about their situation?”

“I’ll write to them myself. You don’t need to worry,” Jiang Lin responded curtly.

She noticed Dabao looking sulky beside her and Xiaobao turning his head in confusion.

Following their gazes, she realized that the weirdo was approaching!

Cheng Rushan had initially mistaken Qianbo for the man she liked, but after observing for a couple of minutes, he realized they weren’t intimate, understanding they didn’t have that kind of relationship.

Therefore, he decided to step forward and clarify.

Following her gaze, Qianbo immediately spotted Cheng Rushan.

Being sensitive to his own romantic rivals, Qianbo’s expression changed. “Jiang Lin, I understand now.”

“Cheng Rushan’s back, a tall and handsome man. Jiang Lin must be reluctant to leave,” Qianbo thought.

Seeing Cheng Rushan approaching, Jiang Lin told Qianbo, “You understand nothing. Just help me block him. We’re going back to the village first.”

Qian Bo looked at her in surprise, then glanced back at Cheng Rushan. “Jiang Lin, why are you leaving? You and him…”

He saw the guarded look on Jiang Lin’s face and suddenly understood. “You don’t know him?”

Jiang Lin replied coldly, “Why should I know him?” She led Dabao and Xiaobao away.

Cheng Rushan strode over, but Qian Bo intercepted him.

Cheng Rushan said coldly, “Move aside.”

Qian Bo was intimidated by his demeanor and forced a smile. “Hey buddy, why are you sneaking around chasing after my girlfriend?”

Cheng Rushan raised an eyebrow. “Girlfriend?”

Qian Bo smirked proudly, “Yes, we’re going back to the city. I’ve already sorted things out to get the stamps from Shuihuai Village and bring her back with me.”

Cheng Rushan asked, “What about the children?”

“The children?” Qian Bo hesitated. “Of course, I… Ah!” Before he could finish, Cheng Rushan grabbed his shoulder, causing him to wince in pain.

Cheng Rushan observed Jiang Lin’s conversation with Qian Bo and noticed how the children viewed Qian Bo with hostility.

He realized there was no intimate relationship between her and this man.

Qian Bo’s random words were obviously getting him into trouble.