Thinking back to the black, tough steamed buns she’d been eating these past few days, Chen Yanran almost burst into tears. “Brother Wenzhong, what’s wrong with her?
If she really doesn’t like you anymore, then we won’t even have enough to eat in the future! We’ll be stuck eating those awful black noodle buns again.
That stuff’s so hard and tastes weird. I really don’t want to eat it…”
But Dong Wenzhong was too upset to care about Chen Yanran at the moment. He roughly shook off her hand, snapping irritably, “You’re asking me? Then who am I supposed to ask?”
It was all Chen Yanran’s fault. If she hadn’t insisted on talking to him that day, Xu Ying wouldn’t have gone chasing after them and fallen into the river. If she hadn’t fallen into the river, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.
A surge of regret welled up inside Dong Wenzhong.
Chen Yanran hadn’t expected him to treat her so harshly. Her face flushed red with anger and hurt, and she spoke in a tearful voice, “Brother Wenzhong, you’re so cruel to me.”
With that, she covered her face and ran off crying.
Dong Wenzhong didn’t even glance at her. His face was dark with frustration.
The young men nearby were thoroughly entertained by the scene, especially the other male educated youths.
They had all come to the countryside alongside Dong Wenzhong. Back home, who of them had not ever been pampered young ladies, but here in the village, not only did they have to work hard every day…
They also had to eat the worst food. When they first arrived, their hands were covered in blisters after just one day in the fields, and they collapsed into bed, sore and exhausted after work.
And because they didn’t get much done, they were given even less food. Some of them barely had enough to eat.
But Dong Wenzhong was different. This guy was pale and clean-cut, always wearing a crisp white shirt and glasses, looking cultured and polite. Naturally, he was popular with the girls.
Not long after arriving, he managed to attract the attention of the village captain’s daughter.
The captain’s daughter was pretty and well-loved at home. Every time she came to see Dong Wenzhong, she’d bring him goodies—sometimes an egg and a multi-grain steamed bun, other times a chicken drumstick or a cookie.
Thanks to her, Dong Wenzhong lived quite comfortably. And because of their relationship, even the captain started assigning him lighter tasks.
But now? Nobody knew what had gone wrong between them. Ever since Xu Ying fell into the river and woke up, she hadn’t spoken to Dong Wenzhong once.
It had been four days already. Truly strange.
Even the captain had begun assigning Dong Wenzhong the same hard labor as everyone else.
Without Xu Ying’s support these days, Dong Wenzhong’s life had taken a sharp turn for the worse.
Just now, the others thought maybe the two had reconciled. But it seemed they’d misunderstood.
“Wenzhong, what happened between you and Xu Ying? Are you two fighting?” someone asked.
Dong Wenzhong stayed silent, his face grim.
The others immediately laughed and teased him. “Dong Wenzhong, you better fix things with her quick! Without Xu Ying backing you up, how are you gonna survive?”
“Yeah! We’ve gotta hand it to Dong Zhiqing. Didn’t learn much after coming here, but sure learned how to mooch off a girl!”
A burst of laughter erupted around him.
Dong Wenzhong’s face burned with anger. He glared at them, his fists clenching with frustration. He wanted to lash out, but with his thin frame, he couldn’t win against these guys who were used to heavy farm work.
“Quit talking nonsense! Xu Ying and I are just having a little spat. Just wait—she’ll come around,” he declared, forcing calm into his voice.
The others quieted down, glancing at each other uncertainly. Could it be true? If they really made up and Dong Wenzhong complained to Xu Ying about them, they’d be in trouble.
After exchanging looks, one of them smiled and said, “Come on, Dong Zhiqing, we were just joking! Don’t take it seriously.”
“Yeah, just messing around!” the others chimed in.
Dong Wenzhong gave a faint “Hmm” in reply, but his eyes flickered toward Xu Ying.
At that moment, under the big tree, Xu Ying stood beside Lu Daya, holding her hand affectionately as she spoke softly into her ear:
“Sister Daya, I heard the elementary school is hiring teachers. But there’s an exam. I’m sure you’d do really well! Spend these next few days reviewing at home. I’ll help you sign up when the time comes.”
Lu Daya’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really, Yingying?”
Xu Ying smiled and nodded. “Of course.”
Lu Daya’s face glowed with hope. “But I don’t have any textbooks. My mom threw out all my elementary school books…” she said anxiously.
Getting a teaching job wasn’t just about having lighter work—it meant earning a stable salary every month. Much better than working the fields.
But without study materials, how could she pass the exam?
Xu Ying smiled mysteriously. “Don’t worry, Sister Daya. I’ve got it covered.”
She’d been involved in this very matter in her past life. But back then, it wasn’t Lu Daya who took the exam—it was Chen Yanran and Dong Wenzhong.
Back then, Dong Wenzhong had begged her to help him find elementary school textbooks.
For him, she’d sought out the school principal, diligently buttering up the principal’s wife, until she finally managed to get some insider tips.
Afterward, she spent days and nights compiling key study notes for the exam, working tirelessly for a whole week.
In the end, she handed them over to Dong Wenzhong and Chen Yanran, who both successfully became elementary school teachers thanks to her efforts.
But in this lifetime? There was no way she’d help those two again!
Lu Daya smiled gratefully at her. “Thank you, Yingying.”
“Why thank me? If anyone should thank someone, it’s me thanking you,” Xu Ying replied with a warm smile.
Xu Ying was pretty to begin with—tall and slender, with delicate fair skin from never having worked the fields.
Now, as she smiled, a subtle radiance bloomed on her face, a natural girlish charm that made her even more captivating.
In the past, the villagers always thought Xu Ying looked cold and aloof. Yet she’d once smiled foolishly at Dong Zhiqing…
The young men who were used to seeing her icy face were stunned. “Look, Xu Ying’s smiling!” they murmured in amazement.
Hearing the commotion, Dong Wenzhong sneered dismissively.
A smile from Xu Ying wasn’t anything special. She used to smile at him all the time—those eyes brimming with obvious flattery. It was disgusting.
But as he watched her now, something felt different.
Under the tree stood two girls. One of them had bright, lively eyes, a faint smile on her lips, like a peach blossom in bloom—mesmerizing at a glance.
Just one glance, and Dong Wenzhong’s heart skipped a beat. This wasn’t the same foolish, naive smile as before.
Today’s Xu Ying smiled with quiet confidence, her air pure and untainted.
Dong Wenzhong felt his chest tighten with longing.
Meanwhile, Chen Yanran noticed his gaze. Jealousy surged in her chest. Her fingers twisted together, nails digging into her palms as she hissed through clenched teeth: “Hussy.”
Xu Ying felt someone’s heated gaze on her. Turning around, she caught sight of Dong Wenzhong’s infuriating face. She quickly turned back and pulled an egg from her pocket, handing it to Lu Daya.
“Sister Daya, save this to eat later. I’m heading home now.”
Lu Daya accepted it gratefully, smiling. “Thanks, Yingying.”
Xu Ying gave a little wave and walked off.
Lu Daya tucked the egg away and went back to her work.
Watching from a distance, Dong Wenzhong’s face twisted with frustration as he saw Xu Ying give the egg to Lu Daya.
What was wrong with Xu Ying? She was really ignoring him just because he’d defended Chen Yanran and lied to cover it up?
He’d done worse before, and she’d always forgiven him. Why was she so angry this time?
Deep down, Dong Wenzhong convinced himself Xu Ying still liked him—she was just giving him the cold shoulder out of anger.
When Xu Ying arrived home, she saw her mother in the yard, scrubbing some freshly picked radishes clean…