Chapter 76: Playing in the Creek

The creekside in the afternoon was pleasantly cool. A soft breeze blew intermittently, accompanied occasionally by birdcalls. Xu Jiaojiao dipped her fair feet into the creek water and lay back on the grassy ground.

Squinting, she enjoyed the breeze brushing past her face, so comfortable that she didn’t want to move.
“Honey, let’s make up,” she said.

Xie Zhi turned his head to look at the girl and affectionately rubbed her nose.
“Okay. But Jiaojiao, I still worry about you. Next time you go out with Yang Mei, can you let me know?”

Thinking about the perverts she had encountered in recent months, the girl still felt a lingering fear and nodded repeatedly.

Their fiery gazes met, and soon their lips and tongues touched.

But the two quickly separated again. It was cool by the creek, and quite a few people were playing in the water. Many couples were being affectionate. From a distance, Xu Jiaojiao spotted Shen Yun and Feng Yuan in a more secluded area. If she hadn’t looked carefully, she wouldn’t have noticed them at all.

Xie Zhi asked hoarsely,
“What are you looking at?”

Then he gently turned her face back toward him, clearly displeased that she was distracted.

“Your admirer has someone now—are you heartbroken?” she teased.

In response, Xie Zhi gave her a helpless look, pulled her tightly into his arms, and said,
“Heartless little thing, my heart belongs only to you.”

“We’re going to look at storefronts tomorrow. Want me to come with you?” he offered.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

“I can reschedule.”

“No need. I’ll go with Fourth Brother and Mom. I wonder how the shop inquiry went. My business hasn’t even started yet,” she said, clicking her tongue in frustration, clearly dissatisfied with the lack of progress.

Shen Yun shoved the annoying man away, glaring at him while drenched from his splashing.
“Ugh, stay away from me, or I won’t come with you next time,” she said irritably.

Feng Yuan licked his teeth wickedly upon seeing her messy appearance, then patted her cheek. Her lips were sweet, and her cheeks were as soft and pink as a peach.

“You really are a beauty.”

Shen Yun, after all, was the heroine of this world. Despite working hard year-round, she had a solid foundation. Aside from Xu Jiaojiao, she stood out among the other village women.

Feng Yuan handed her a few hair ties from his pocket. The floral patterns were pretty and youthful, with fresh colors perfect for summer.

Sure enough, Shen Yun’s eyes lit up when she saw them. She quickly took them and examined them lovingly, far preferring them to the red ribbon in her hair.

Delighted, she hugged Feng Yuan and kissed him repeatedly. A soft, sweet scent unique to young girls filled his nose, and a subtle heat rose from his lower abdomen. He shifted slightly, trying to hide his reaction.

“Thank you, Feng Yuan. I really love this gift. You don’t know how much I envy Jiaojiao. All her stuff is so pretty.”

Seeing her so happy, Feng Yuan’s heart swelled. These little trinkets weren’t even worth mentioning to other girls, but she treated them like treasures.

“You’re so easily pleased,” he said gruffly. “If you were with me, I’d give you all the good stuff.”

His words sent a tremor through Shen Yun’s heart. She had always hated tying herself to any man. Smiling, she replied,
“Let’s wait and see. I’m afraid you’ll abandon me once you go back to the city.”

Feng Yuan scoffed dismissively.

Xu Jiaojiao wiped her feet on Xie Zhi’s clothes and had him put her shoes on, still feeling a little slippery.

“Let’s go back.”

“Mm.”

…

Three days later, Xu Jiaojiao took her brother and mother to the county town, just like last time. The three of them went directly to Boss Hu to see if there were any suitable storefronts. If not, they would ask Third Brother for help.

They arrived around 9 a.m., and since no one was in the shop, they sat down to eat breakfast.

“Jiaojiao, do you want a bun or something else?”

“No, this is fine.”

Xu Jiaojiao held a meat bun in her hand, eating while scanning the area, occasionally glancing toward the most secluded alley, where that house was. It was unclear what she was thinking.

Sheng Jie was grinding his molars in frustration. After last time, those men had dumped him a few hundred meters from the village entrance and threatened him.

“You look pretty good. Why not come entertain us brothers again?”

One of them grinned, revealing filthy yellow teeth. They had never seen such a tender-skinned little pretty boy and liked him far too much.

One slapped ten yuan onto Sheng Jie’s face.
“Buy an old hen and replenish your strength.”

The man said nothing, lying dazed on the wooden plank, enduring their humiliation in silence, tears streaming from his blank eyes. He didn’t realize that giving him money was just a tactic to avoid future trouble—they didn’t want things getting out.

Paying might even be their way of justifying it as a transaction.

“Three days. If you don’t show up, we’ll come find you.”

Thinking of what had happened, Sheng Jie wished he were dead. He had even stolen the only kitchen knife at home, ready to kill those men.

Now, he kept his head low, walking close to the wall. He no longer wore his usual flashy clothes—just an old, faded gray-blue shirt, likely many years old.

He looked so hunched and timid that most people didn’t notice him, but Xu Jiaojiao did. She knew that little girl all too well—once she targeted someone, they wouldn’t get away without shedding a layer of skin. Remembering what she had suffered on the train, her heart still trembled.

“Let’s go see Boss Hu. I saw her go in.”

As she spoke, the others quickly got up. Yan Fenglian paid the bill and followed her daughter. She spotted a familiar silhouette heading into a dark alley.

She squinted, frowning, trying to see clearly. The back looked familiar yet strange—she just couldn’t place it.

Sheng Jie stood in front of a door, taking a deep breath and patting the knife in his pocket, as if making a firm decision.

Yan Fenglian nudged her son and nodded toward the alley.
“What’s that Sheng boy doing there?”

Xu Yan glanced at the man and chuckled,
“Who knows? Just ignore him. Don’t let Jiaojiao see him or she might get back together with him.”

Yan Fenglian figured that was probably true and followed them into the shop.

Xu Jiaojiao placed a box of cookies on the table and smiled sweetly.
“Boss Hu, how’s it going? I bought you a box of cookies.”

Boss Hu looked at the expensive cookies, smiling as she touched them. It made her feel the past few days of effort were worth it.

“I did find a place for you—right across from the department store. It’s the best location. But they’re only selling, not renting.”

The girl’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Great! I was planning to buy anyway.”

When it came to doing business, buying a storefront was always better. She had seen too many cases of landlords raising rent when business got good.

Especially with the current legal system still immature, landlords might not even honor the contract.

“Can we go check it out now?”

“Let’s go. The previous tenants are just moving out.” Boss Hu closed her shop—business was slow anyway—and figured the cookies made the day worthwhile.

They arrived across from the state-run restaurant. The shop had previously sold clothes but hadn’t done well and was now shutting down.

“Jiaojiao, there’s even a sewing machine inside,” Xu Yan whispered to his sister.

Boss Hu warmly led Xu Jiaojiao over to Guan Zhimai.
“Boss Guan, you’re here. This is Jiaojiao—she’s here to look at the place.”

Guan Zhimai rested her chin on her hand, giving Jiaojiao a long look before suddenly laughing.
“So this is why that Xu Bai has been so friendly lately—his little sister is opening a shop.”

Xu Jiaojiao hadn’t expected her to be the owner. What a small world. Thinking of how she had treated her brother, rage bubbled up inside.

She forced a smile.
“What a coincidence, Brother Zhimai.”