Only Yan Xue, Qi Fang, Liu Weiguo, and a few other educated youths knew about the incident with the watch repair. Neither Yan Xue nor Qi Fang were talkative, and the educated youths involved felt too embarrassed to spread the story. The only exception was Liu Weiguo, who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and was also worried about implicating Zhou Wenhui.
As a result, very few people knew about the matter, including the person who had just bought Qi Fang’s radio. Naturally, he was unaware of the past friction between these two groups.
When Zhang Guogang asked about it, the man was puzzled. "Huh? Do you two know each other?"
Know each other? That was putting it mildly. Zhang Guogang had even played the role of a troublemaker between Liu Weiguo and Zhou Wenhui—only for them to now be on the verge of marriage.
Zhang Guogang gritted his teeth. Liu Weiguo, however, chuckled. "Yeah, we know each other. My wife was in the same educated youth team as him."
The way he said "my wife" was dripping with affection, confidence, and triumph.
The visitor, suspecting nothing, said, "Even better. You two can sort it out yourselves—saves me the trouble of playing messenger."
Liu Weiguo immediately turned to Zhang Guogang with a grin. "So, what kind of radio are you looking for?"
If this had been Jiang Debao, he would’ve lost his temper on the spot. But Zhang Guogang wasn’t Jiang Debao, and Zhou Wenhui had never been introduced to him by her family.
Thinking this, Liu Weiguo’s grinning face didn’t seem quite as irritating anymore. Zhang Guogang answered bluntly, "Something smaller than a regular radio, easy to carry, but with more stations."
Since he was already here, leaving now would make him look like a sore loser.
Still, he couldn’t resist a jab. "Can the guy you know actually assemble one?"
"Of course, of course." Liu Weiguo nodded as if he were the one who could assemble it. "Let me ask him about the price and get back to you."
Even though the actual craftsman was right there, Liu Weiguo insisted on going through the motions—clearly not trusting Zhang Guogang.
No matter how Zhang Guogang looked at it, he just couldn’t bring himself to like the guy. It was like their personalities clashed by default. With a snort, he left.
Liu Weiguo immediately went to Qi Fang. "So? Can you make the kind he wants?"
"Yeah, a three-tube one, running on two batteries. Ask him if he needs a power cord."
"Got it. I’ll make sure to squeeze as much as I can out of him."
Liu Weiguo deliberately waited until evening to get back to Zhang Guogang, quoting a price of fifty yuan—no discounts.
Though still much cheaper than store-bought radios, Qi Fang had only charged Liu Weiguo forty for his. The thought alone made him feel like he’d scored a major deal.
However, after assembling this one, Qi Fang had nearly exhausted his stock of spare parts. He told Liu Weiguo not to bring him any more business for the time being.
The fifty yuan went straight to Yan Xue, who counted it and remarked, "You’ve been bringing home quite a bit this month."
"Yeah." Qi Fang responded casually, then added with equal nonchalance, "Don’t want it?"
"Who wouldn’t want extra money?" Yan Xue was pragmatic—she had no intention of pretending money meant nothing to her.
If her family had been well-off in her past life, she and her father wouldn’t have suffered so much.
If she had money in this life, she wouldn’t have had to marry so young just to secure a future for herself and her brother.
Though, in hindsight, the marriage had turned out to be worth it.
Unexpectedly, just two days later, Zhang Guogang showed up at their door with his radio in hand, his expression far from pleased.
At first glance, Yan Xue thought Qi Fang’s handiwork had malfunctioned, and Zhang Guogang was here to complain.
But then she reconsidered—she had read the original novel and knew better than to doubt Qi Fang’s skills. In the book, Changqing Heavy Industries was renowned for its product quality, dominating domestic markets and even exporting overseas.
Qi Fang, confident in his work, asked first, "What happened?"
Zhang Guogang’s face darkened further. "Jiang Debao lost his mind last night and threw it."
"Jiang Debao lost his mind?" Yan Xue was genuinely shocked.
Even if Jiang Debao and Zhang Guogang were just fellow educated youths who got along decently, who would dare wreck something so valuable?
Zhang Guogang fumed at the memory. "Who knows who he pissed off outside? Someone jumped him, beat him up, and he came back in a rage, taking it out on everything. I’d left the radio out after listening to it, and when he tripped over the power cord in the middle of the night, he just grabbed it and smashed it."
Jiang Debao must’ve been truly furious—in the dark, he hadn’t even realized what he was destroying before it was too late.
As for who had ambushed him… Yan Xue had a suspicion.
She glanced at Qi Fang, who remained utterly unfazed, calmly fetching his toolbox.
Zhang Guogang knew this wasn’t a quality issue. "Just take a look and fix whatever’s broken. I’ll pay for the repairs."
Regardless of how shady the watch incident had been, his family was well-off, and he had no problem spending money when needed.
With that assurance, Qi Fang inspected the radio and found the issue—poor battery contact and a damaged power cord.
Neither was his fault. The cord was a store-bought component, not his soldering work. Zhang Guogang had no grounds for complaint.
Qi Fang tightened the battery compartment and reconnected the broken power cord, charging Zhang Guogang a mere thirty cents.
After testing the radio and confirming it worked, Zhang Guogang’s mood improved slightly, and he left with it in hand.
The moment he was gone, Yan Xue blinked at Qi Fang. "That ambush… was Liu Weiguo behind it, wasn’t it?"
Qi Fang, still organizing his tools, didn’t look up. "You can drop the ‘wasn’t it.’"
"So it really was him!" Yan Xue laughed. "Was he still holding a grudge from last time?"
"Pretty much."
Jiang Debao had crossed a line—not only threatening to make Zhou Wenhui’s life miserable after marriage but also getting handsy with her.
If it had been Yan Xue, a beating would’ve been the least of his worries. Qi Fang wasn’t nearly as forgiving—Jiang Debao was lucky to be walking around after just a few days of recovery.
Before, Liu Weiguo had held back, fearing that if Zhou Wenhui ever ended up with Jiang Debao, she’d pay the price. Now, with that fear gone, he had no reason to hold back.
Jiang Debao’s bad luck didn’t end there. Tripping over the radio cord in the dark had not only aggravated his injuries but also led to him smashing Zhang Guogang’s radio in a fit of rage.
Compensation was the least of his worries. Zhang Guogang wasn’t known for his patience, nor did he care about saving face—as evidenced by how he’d publicly shamed Jiang Debao for harassing women.
Sure enough, in the following days, Jiang Debao found himself ostracized from the group. Zhang Guogang stopped including him in activities and even showed up at Liu Weiguo and Zhou Wenhui’s wedding to join the celebration.
Everyone knew Zhou Wenhui had nearly been forced to marry Jiang Debao. The group’s presence at her wedding to someone else was nothing short of a deliberate provocation.
Jiang Debao could do nothing about it. He had never been the core of their circle—that role belonged to Zhang Guogang and Yang Tao—and he couldn’t compete with them in status or connections.
But Liu Weiguo, having already settled the score with his fists, had no room in his thoughts for Jiang Debao anymore. His heart was too full—finally marrying the girl he loved.
When it comes to matters of the heart, what comes too easily often feels bland. It’s the twists and turns, the hurdles and hardships, that make love feel truly precious.
At first, the two of them were just dating, merely drawn to each other by a flicker of affection. But after going through so much together, they’d grown to feel that they were truly meant for each other—that no one else would do.
That morning, Liu Weiguo couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. When it was time to fetch the bride, he stood in front of the mirror, checking his reflection three or four times, worried he might not look handsome enough.
Yan Xue tugged at Qi Fang’s sleeve, telling him not to follow along—or at least to keep his distance if he did.
The bridal pickup was set at the educated youth dormitory, where the female educated youths had all become "bridesmaids," helping Zhou Wenhui block the door. In contrast, only Mother Zhou and a younger brother from Zhou Wenhui’s actual family had come.
Father Zhou was in a sour mood and didn’t even show his face. He only had Mother Zhou relay a message to Zhou Wenhui: "You chose this path yourself. If you end up begging on the streets someday, don’t come knocking on our door."
Zhou Wenhui, equally stung by her father’s coldness, told her mother to take back a message of her own: "Father Zhou sold me off to the Liu family like a prized ginseng root. From now on, the Zhou family has nothing to do with me."
Just as her younger brother was about to carry her out, Liu Weiguo stepped forward and hoisted her onto his back instead.
Zhou Wenhui froze for a moment, then flushed bright red. "Why are you carrying me yourself?"
Liu Weiguo grinned. "You don’t know? I learned this from Qi Fang."
The crowd, already in high spirits, burst into laughter at the mention of Qi Fang. "We’ve never seen two people so eager to get married—rushing like monkeys!"
Liu Weiguo shot back, "Oh, like you weren’t in a hurry? You were so afraid we’d mess up your wedding night, you kicked us all out!"
That only made everyone laugh harder, with a few rowdy whistles thrown in for good measure.
Neither Qi Fang nor Yan Xue had much family in the area, so when they got married, they’d only set up one banquet table. Liu Weiguo, on the other hand, had a whole crowd—grandmothers, uncles, and more.
Plus, the Liu family had been in the forestry station since its founding, so they had plenty of friends. And since Old Man Liu was a skilled hunter who never ran short of game, they set up four tables right in the yard.
Yan Xue and Qi Fang were seated at the table reserved for the Liu family’s closest relatives. Liu Weiguo even made a point of telling everyone that Qi Fang couldn’t drink—clearly treating them like family.
Still, when Liu Weiguo and Zhou Wenhui came to toast, Qi Fang took a small sip, raising his cup graciously. "Congratulations."
Yan Xue picked up her glass too, but before she could speak, Liu Weiguo waved his hands. "Oh no, don’t you dare! If I drink that, there won’t be a wedding night." Zhou Wenhui discreetly stepped on his foot.
Yan Xue couldn’t help but laugh. "Then I’d better not. I’ll just take a sip, and you do the same."
She turned to Zhou Wenhui and raised her glass. "May you grow old together in happiness and have many children soon."
"Absolutely, absolutely!" Liu Weiguo agreed enthusiastically, even adding, "We’ll follow Qi Fang’s example—aiming for one this year, three in two years." Zhou Wenhui stepped on his foot again.
Hearing that familiar "one this year, three in two years," Yan Xue paused, keenly aware of the man beside her glancing at her with those peach-blossom eyes.
The look in his eyes was loaded—as if he was afraid she wouldn’t get the hint. After she set her cup down, he even picked up a bite of food for her. "Weiguo moves fast."
Yan Xue lowered her head to eat, not responding.
The man served her another bite. "They met before we got married, and it’s only been half a year."
But Yan Xue couldn’t shake the feeling that what he really meant was—"It’s already been half a year."
Yan Xue wasn’t one to feel guilty easily, but seeing Liu Weiguo—who’d had a love marriage—already wed and even "expecting" on paper, she picked up a bite for him too.
The man looked at the food in his bowl, then back at her, his gaze deepening.
Only then did Yan Xue realize what she’d just served him—a stir-fried kidney. Flustered, she quickly snatched it back and stuffed it into her own mouth.
With so many relatives around, there was no need for them to stay and help clean up. After the banquet, Yan Xue and Qi Fang left with the others.
Liu Weiguo and Zhou Wenhui saw them off personally, whispering, "There were too many people at lunch, and we didn’t get to drink properly. Let’s have a smaller gathering tonight, just us younger folks."
Qi Fang wasn’t much of a drinker, nor did he enjoy crowds. Yan Xue expected him to decline, but to her surprise, he agreed right away.
Liu Weiguo was visibly thrilled. "Then come straight to our new place tonight. The older folks are all at my parents’."
The Liu family’s old house was cramped, so they’d built two new rooms for Liu Weiguo’s wedding, not far from Yan Xue and Qi Fang’s home. Today’s banquet had been held there.
Outside, the firecrackers from the celebration still littered the street, their red remnants a festive sight. A few boys were sifting through the debris, searching for unexploded firecrackers.
The mischievous Liu Weibin had even brought Yan Jigang along, the two boys wide-eyed with excitement.
It was rare for Yan Jigang to have a playmate, rarer still for him to venture out like this. Not wanting to interrupt, Yan Xue tugged at Qi Fang, ready to slip away quietly.
But just as they were about to leave, Yan Jigang spotted something and brightened. "H-here! Here’s one!"
Before he could pick it up, another boy with yellowish hair dashed over, snatched it, and stuck out his tongue. "S-s-slowpoke, little stutterer!"
Yan Xue froze, her expression darkening.
Her worst fear had come true. Even in a new environment, there were still people who mocked Yan Jigang for his stutter.
Not everyone knew how to respect others. Some children weren’t even being malicious—they just mimicked him for fun—but the damage was the same.
Still, despite her anger, Yan Xue held back, even raising an arm to stop Qi Fang from intervening.
She wanted to see if, in this new life—free from tension, surrounded by the love of his grandmother, sister, and brother-in-law—Yan Jigang had grown bolder.
Hearing the taunt, Yan Jigang’s face paled, his lips pressing tightly together.
Yan Xue knew him well. She noticed his hands twisting nervously, fingers picking at each other.
But after a moment, he spoke up. "W-who says I stutter? I-it’s my dialect!"
His voice wasn’t loud, but in that moment, Yan Xue didn’t know whether to feel moved or amused.
Liu Weibin was always going on about dialects, and somehow, Yan Jigang had picked it up.
The firecracker thief blinked in confusion. "What kind of dialect stutters like that?"
"My f-family’s d-dialect does!" Yan Jigang insisted, louder now, nodding emphatically.
Liu Weibin ran over from the other side. "I can vouch for him! That’s how they talk where he’s from!"
The other boy still didn’t buy it. "Yeah right! No dialect stutters! He’s just a little stutterer, nyah nyah!"
"You don’t believe me? I’ll get my brother and his brother-in-law to tell you!" Liu Weibin shouted even louder, already calling out, "Brother! Qi Fang! Come out here!"
Today was Liu Weiguo's wedding, and there were plenty of brothers from the Liu family in the courtyard—several had already stepped out, with Qi Fang standing right behind Yan Jigang.
In those days, families had many children, and parents couldn't keep an eye on them all. With little entertainment to speak of, fights between kids were common, and so was running home to fetch an older brother after losing. But it wasn’t every day that so many brothers and brothers-in-law showed up at once. The boy across from them, whether from fear or shock, let out an involuntary hiccup.
That hiccup actually eased Yan Jigang’s nerves a little. Plus, his brother-in-law was right behind him, and he could see his sister, Yan Xue, nearby. He had to be brave, just like she always told him.
Yan Jigang puffed out his small chest. "I—I was just speaking in dialect! You don’t—don’t understand because you’re ignorant!"
After saying this, he couldn’t help but glance at Yan Xue. When he saw her encouraging smile, his three parts of confidence instantly swelled to seven.
In contrast, the boy across from him had lost his nerve, and his friends didn’t dare make a sound either—after all, the other side had far more people.
Eventually, someone tugged at the boy’s sleeve. "Let’s go play somewhere else."
Though the boy clearly still wanted to argue, he let himself be dragged away without another word.
Once they were gone, Yan Jigang exhaled as if he’d been the one facing a crowd of older brothers and brothers-in-law.
Yan Xue found it amusing. She walked over and glanced at the firecracker nearly crushed in his hand. "How many did you pick up?"
"O-one," Yan Jigang admitted sheepishly, opening his small palm.
"I got two!" Liu Weibin, far less shy, immediately boasted.
"Really? You two are amazing," Yan Xue praised with a smile before turning back to her brother. "How about I buy you another string tomorrow, and you can share it with Weibin?"
"Really?" Liu Weibin’s eyes lit up first.
Firecrackers weren’t something they got to play with often—only during New Year’s celebrations would his family buy him a couple of strings to set off one by one.
Yan Jigang, however, hesitated until Yan Xue ruffled his hair. "It’s a reward for our brave Jigang."
That made him crack a smile, and he turned to Liu Weibin. "I’ll—I’ll share half with you."
No sooner had he spoken than his brother-in-law’s hand landed on his head too. "I’ll buy you another string as well."
The couple didn’t linger, leaving the children to their fun after a few words. As they walked away, Yan Xue’s lips stayed slightly curved.
Her fair skin contrasted with the natural pink of her lips—soft and full, tempting one to brush a finger over them just to check if she’d applied anything.
Qi Fang had the same thought. Once they stepped inside, he did exactly that, his thumb grazing her lower lip before lingering there.
"What’s wrong?" Yan Xue thought she might have missed wiping her mouth and rubbed at it with her knuckle.
"Don’t move." Qi Fang tilted her chin up, his expression serious as he continued to stroke her lips, the friction only deepening their color. Then, without warning, he dipped his head and stole a quick kiss.
Yan Xue pushed at him, flustered. "We’re still in the courtyard—are you drunk?"
Qi Fang didn’t answer, letting her push him back a step. His dark, languid eyes held hers before he turned toward the house. "Grandma," he called as he entered the elderly woman’s room. "Yan Xue and I have another round of drinks tonight, so we might be back late."
In that instant, Yan Xue realized why he’d agreed so readily to Liu Weiguo’s invitation earlier.
Sure enough, the old woman replied warmly, "Don’t rush back on our account. Jigang can sleep here if needed."
Yan Xue pinched Qi Fang’s waist in retaliation, only for him to catch her hand and give it a teasing squeeze.
That evening, Qi Fang drank far less restrainedly than he had at noon. Soon, a faint flush crept over his handsome features, and he undid the top two buttons of his shirt.
The glimpse of his collarbone, tinged the same shade of pink, drew Yan Xue’s gaze like a magnet.
But "a glimpse" meant she couldn’t see properly—and she strongly suspected he’d done it on purpose. Still, it worked, distracting her enough that she ended up drinking more than she’d intended.
The newlyweds couldn’t be kept too long, though. As dusk settled, the group dispersed. Instead of heading straight home, Qi Fang turned to Yan Xue. "Walk by the river?"
She knew exactly what he was after, but she didn’t refuse or call him out. Her lashes fluttered slightly. "Good. We can sober up."
And so, two people pretending not to see through each other strolled toward the riverbank, the night breeze carrying away the scent of alcohol but not the quiet tension between them.
The riverside at night was far quieter than in daylight, stripped of all daytime clamor. The wind skimmed the water’s surface, cooling their skin but doing nothing to dispel the growing intimacy.
After a while, Qi Fang brushed the back of his hand against Yan Xue’s arm. "Cold?"
Even that fleeting touch felt oddly warm to her. "It’s barely mid-August. How could I be cold?"
Silence settled between them again, much like on their wedding night.
But this was different. Back then, they’d been strangers struggling for conversation. Now, even the simplest words seemed weighted with unspoken meaning.
So they said nothing at all, walking in companionable quiet until the distant flicker of house lights began to dim.
As if sharing a thought, they slowed at the same time, eyes meeting—and speaking in unison:
"Let’s go back."
"Go back?"
One pair of eyes round and bright, the other dark and fathomless—the contrast made Yan Xue laugh. "Yes, let’s. My feet are starting to ache."
"Mm." Qi Fang studied her smiling face, then her feet. "I’ll rub them for you later."
She very nearly asked, And just how proper will this foot rub be? But she held her tongue.
They paused at the gate, waiting until they were certain the lights inside had gone out before slipping in, quietly amused.
This time, the old woman didn’t come out to greet them, merely cracking the door open to inform them Yan Jigang was already asleep before urging them to wash up and rest.
Not wanting to disturb the grandmother and child, they carried their washbasin to the courtyard. Only after finishing and dumping the water did they return to their room.
With a soft click, the light cord was pulled, and the familiar sound of the lock turning followed.
Bathed in the sudden warm glow, Qi Fang moved with the same unhurried ease he’d had while washing up—first arranging the bedding on the kang.
Then he turned, fingers going to the buttons of his short-sleeved shirt.
Yan Xue’s gaze followed, watching as those long fingers undid each button, revealing pale skin flushed faintly pink beneath.
His expression remained composed, save for the heat in his dark eyes—a silent promise, unfolding before her like the rest of him.
Soon the shirt was tugged free from his waistband, baring the lean lines of his torso. Just as Yan Xue leaned in for a better look, her view was abruptly blocked—by the shirt itself, draped over her head.
Now he decides to be shy?
She reached to push it aside, but Qi Fang had already lifted the fabric, pulling it over both of them as he ducked beneath.
Then his hands cradled her face, and the kiss they’d both been waiting for all evening finally arrived.
Qi Fang: First day without the little brother-in-law~
