Xu Ying was in an exceptionally good mood.
After having a satisfying meal at the restaurant, she returned home and, still feeling light-hearted, made herself another bowl of warm porridge. The soft steam curled into the air as she stirred it, the fragrance mingling with her contentment. Everything felt pleasant, like the world itself had tilted slightly in her favor.
She had destroyed Chen Yanran today.
Utterly and completely.
The mere thought filled her with glee.
Just as she was savoring her porridge, a familiar voice rang out.
“Yingying!”
Lu Daya had just stepped into the courtyard, her face lit with joy. There was a rare glow in her eyes as she looked at Xu Ying—an admiration that brimmed with sincere gratitude.
If it weren’t for Yingying, she wouldn’t be standing here with pride in her chest and the future in her hands. She had become a teacher—something that once felt like a distant dream. And it was all thanks to Yingying’s words.
Yingying had been right all along: only when you become strong will people stop trampling on you.
These days, even at home, her once overbearing mother had softened. She didn’t scold her anymore, and even gave her tasty leftovers on weekdays. It was a change she’d never imagined, and she owed it to the young woman in front of her.
Xu Ying looked up in surprise. “Sister Da Ya? You actually have time to come home today?”
Her tone was teasing, but there was genuine surprise behind it.
Lu Daya had become just as busy as her—constantly on the go since starting her job. There was rarely a moment of rest.
Lu Daya ducked her head shyly, her cheeks tinged red with embarrassment. “There are some questions I don’t understand… so I came to ask.”
She fiddled with her book, avoiding Xu Ying’s eyes.
There was no end to learning. Even as a teacher now, she dared not slack off. Xu Ying had once told her, “The ocean of knowledge has no shore. What you learn is yours to keep.”
She remembered that vividly.
And Xu Ying had also said something else—something bolder. That one day, university entrance exams might be reinstated. It sounded absurd to some, and Da Ya knew better than to repeat it out loud, but deep in her heart, she believed it.
Xu Ying blinked. Her cheerful heart skipped a beat.
No way. Please don’t let it be what I think it is…
She had nothing against Lu Daya. On the contrary, she respected her. But her second brother… he was already involved with Qiuye.
If this turned into a messy triangle, no one would come out unscathed.
“Sister Da Ya’s looking for you, second brother!” Xu Ying suddenly called toward the house, voice intentionally loud.
Xu Shengcai—her second brother—walked out, slightly disoriented from the sudden summons. When he spotted Lu Daya standing there, books in hand, his brows lifted in confusion. “Da Ya? What do you need from me?”
As soon as she saw him, Lu Daya’s heart betrayed her, thumping wildly in her chest.
The Xu family had good looks running through their blood. In the entire village, few could rival their appearance. And Xu Shengcai, tall and sun-kissed, stood out like a spotlight.
No wonder she’d fallen for him over time.
“I… I had a few questions. Could you help me?” she asked softly, offering the open book.
Xu Shengcai glanced at the pages, his brow furrowed briefly before he gave the answers with ease. Lu Daya quickly understood, her eyes lighting up in realization. She nodded slowly, her cheeks blushing deeper.
“Thank you.”
Xu Shengcai waved her off casually, not giving it much thought. “No need for that. You saved my sister’s life. That alone is worth more than helping with a few problems.”
Meanwhile, Xu Ying sat in the courtyard, enjoying the subtle tension in the air. She stirred the pot a little, her voice light and careless, “Mom, when are we inviting Sister Qiuye’s family over? You know, second brother hasn’t visited them in a while. He used to be so sweet on her, but now he acts like a scumbag. Bah!”
Xu’s mother, who was picking vegetables from the garden, froze for a moment. She looked up, stunned. Her daughter… was she stirring the pot or just plain delusional?
Xu Shengcai stiffened like he’d been struck.
“Yingying! Don’t talk nonsense!” he shouted, ears turning red. “If Qiuye hears about this, she’ll make a big fuss again! I’ve just been busy. It’s not like I don’t want to see her!”
But the words had already done their damage.
Lu Daya stood frozen in place, her smile faltering. She stared at him, disbelief flashing across her face.
He… he already had someone?
Her lips trembled slightly, and she held the book tighter to her chest.
“I— I get it now. I understand the problem. I should go back,” she said abruptly, turning around.
Her heart was in turmoil. A storm churned in her chest as she walked away from the Xu house.
It was over before it even began.
She’d fallen for him unknowingly—ever since they were kids and he used to play with her second brother, Lu Aimin. The familiar face had become part of her life. And now, just like that, the little hope she’d cherished quietly in her heart was gone.
Back in the yard, Xu Ying wasn’t done.
She turned to her brother, wagging a finger. “Second brother, you’re not young anymore. You should know how to act appropriately, especially when you already have a girlfriend!”
Xu Shengcai still hadn’t recovered from earlier. “Yingying, what the hell was that about? Was Da Ya…?”
Before he could finish, Xu’s mother spoke up curiously, her eyes glinting with surprise. “Da Ya likes your second brother? Well, she’s a fine girl. A shame he’s already taken.” Her tone carried a touch of smugness—after all, it meant her son was a desirable catch.
Xu Shengcai scratched his head awkwardly. “Little sister, don’t go around talking nonsense. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Xu Ying stretched lazily in the yard, arching her back before heading back inside. Her thoughts were elsewhere.
It seemed the time had come to rent a place in the county.
All this back-and-forth between town and village was draining. She was tired. Wasting over two hours daily commuting—those two hours could be put to better use. Much better.
Meanwhile, at the Educated Youth Center…
Chen Yanran sat on her bed, gently tracing the bruises on her skin—the ugly, painful reminders of her clash with the Dong brothers earlier that day. Her expression was twisted with hatred. Her eyes brimmed with venom.
Xu Ying.
The name burned in her mind like fire.
If it weren’t for her, none of this would have happened. It was her fault. Her innocence, her dignity—gone. She clenched her fists tightly, nails digging into her palms.
She wanted Xu Ying dead.
“Yanran, still not asleep?” yawned Sun Yunjuan from the next bed over, groggy and half-awake. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, puzzled at the sight of Chen Yanran sitting upright in the darkness.
Yanran quickly lay down under the covers, her face buried in the pillow.
Sun Yunjuan frowned. “Isn’t it uncomfortable to sleep in those clothes?” she asked.
Chen Yanran snapped, “No. Just go to sleep!”
Sun Yunjuan blinked. That tone… it was like the girl had swallowed a gun barrel.
She shrugged and turned back over.
Later, in her dreams, Sun Yunjuan smiled sweetly. She dreamed that she and Xu Shengcai were married and that she had given birth to a chubby little son. The entire Xu family adored her. Even Xu Ying had to bow to her now.
In the morning, she woke up giggling.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she noticed everyone in the room staring at her.
“What are you all looking at me for?” she asked, flustered.
“You were laughing in your sleep, Yunjuan,” one of the girls teased. “Must’ve been a sweet dream. Tell us—what was it?”
Yunjuan blushed, rubbing the corner of her quilt shyly. “It’s nothing. I was just dreaming about… chicken legs.”
“Yeah right!” someone joked. “More like you were dreaming about a man!”
Laughter erupted. It wasn’t far-fetched. Many educated youth girls were starting to look for husbands in the countryside. No one knew when—or if—they’d ever return to the city.
“Yunjuan, don’t tell me you’re thinking of marrying into the village?” one asked curiously.
Sun Yunjuan didn’t deny it.
That only made them more eager to know.
“Who are you eyeing? The most decent men in the village are probably the captain’s sons.”
“The second son used to be a fool but became a teacher. The third son works with the transport team—he’s practically a city guy.”
Sun Yunjuan looked at them sharply. She didn’t want any of these nosy girls getting ideas.
So she declared, loud and proud, “I don’t care what any of you think. I want to marry Xu Shengcai!”
The room went silent for a beat.
Then came the sighs.
“Well, go ahead. But don’t be shocked if someone else beats you to it,” one girl muttered.
Sun Yunjuan turned red. “I have a high school diploma. I’m better than any of you! Who else would be qualified besides me?”
In her mind, she was already the second daughter-in-law of the Xu family.
But dreams are fragile things.
And reality—harsher than ever.