Shen Nan walked out of the mountains, his steps lighter than usual.
Who wouldn’t be happy after finding so much gold?
"Nanchu girl, did you stumble upon treasure? You look so cheerful," teased Aunt Li at the village entrance.
Shen Nanchu’s eyes curved into crescents. "Of course! Another great achievement."
This time, with the discovery of pyrite and gold deposits, surely the higher-ups would reward her handsomely.
O(∩_∩)O
Walking along the dirt path toward home, the yellow mud-brick building by the threshing ground served as the classroom for Wang Village Elementary School.
The sound of desks and chairs being moved echoed from inside, mixed with voices.
Shen Nanchu caught Pei Yunxi’s voice saying, "Zheng Tongwei, stop making trouble here."
Oh?
Drama alert.
This must be juicy.
Shen Nanchu raised an eyebrow and tiptoed to the base of the window.
Inside the classroom, Pei Yunxi was briskly flipping over desks and chairs, wiping away a semester’s worth of dust with a rag.
She wore a faded blue blouse, her two dark braids swaying slightly with her movements, a speck of dust on her nose unnoticed.
"Yunxi, let me help you clean the desks," offered Zheng Tongwei, stepping closer in his crisp white shirt, smiling warmly.
Shen Nanchu’s brow arched.
So that’s why!
No wonder she hadn’t seen Zheng Tongwei around lately—he’d been circling Pei Yunxi!
This guy… was he trying to win her over as a roundabout way to get what he wanted?
Shen Nanchu was almost certain of it.
"No need. Wang Weimin already went to fetch water," Pei Yunxi replied without looking up.
As if on cue, a tall, lean figure strode in carrying a bucket. Wang Weimin’s sun-darkened face glistened with sweat, clearly fresh from farm work.
He ignored Zheng Tongwei entirely.
Pei Yunxi hurried over to take the bucket. "Did you finish all the work at Aunt Lanhua’s place?"
"Yeah, done," Wang Weimin answered gruffly, though his eyes flicked toward Zheng Tongwei.
Not to be outdone, Zheng Tongwei cut in, "Yunxi, there’s a movie showing in town tomorrow—The Red Lantern. I’ve got two tickets—"
"She’s busy," Wang Weimin abruptly interrupted. "There’s a school meeting tomorrow."
Pei Yunxi blinked in confusion. "Since when was there a meeting tomorrow?"
"Last-minute decision. Uncle Chaoying just asked me to tell you."
Wang Weimin lied without batting an eye.
"Alright then."
Pei Yunxi wrung out the rag and resumed cleaning.
Zheng Tongwei shot Wang Weimin a glare.
This guy looked honest but was sneakier than he let on.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself—after all, getting close to the Pei family was his goal—Zheng Tongwei forced a smile.
"Well, Yunxi, no worries. The movie’s in the evening. The meeting won’t interfere."
Pei Yunxi didn’t even glance up. "Not going."
"If you want to help, then work. If not, don’t block the way."
Shen Nanchu outside nearly laughed aloud.
Zheng Tongwei awkwardly rubbed his nose and reluctantly pitched in, while Wang Weimin silently helped move furniture.
One girl, two guys—the peace lasted mere seconds.
Zheng Tongwei resumed his peacocking.
Wang Weimin wasn’t about to back down either.
Meanwhile, Pei Yunxi, the oblivious center of attention, remained focused on her task.
Shen Nanchu watched with amusement.
Who knew Wang Weimin had feelings for Pei Yunxi?
And now, with Zheng Tongwei crashing the scene, things had gotten even more interesting.
"Sis-in-law!" Pei Yunxi suddenly spotted her by the window. "What are you doing there?"
Caught red-handed, Shen Nanchu strode in casually. "Just passing by. Heard it was lively in here."
She deliberately eyed Zheng Tongwei and Wang Weimin. "Well, well, what do we have here?"
"They’re just helping," Pei Yunxi quickly interjected.
Zheng Tongwei didn’t dare act familiar with Shen Nanchu this time. "Good day, Comrade Shen! I was just inviting Yunxi to the movies tomorrow!"
"No more 'Yunxi-mei'?" Shen Nanchu teased.
Zheng Tongwei grimaced. "Your husband’s jealousy runs deep! I wouldn’t dare."
"And yet you dare chat up my little sister?" Shen Nanchu wasn’t letting him off easy.
[Dislike Points +20]
"I—I’m just being helpful," Zheng Tongwei straightened his posture.
"Then help me out," Shen Nanchu said with a mischievous grin.
"My husband and I have never been to the movies. Why not give those tickets to us?"
Those tickets had cost him forty cents!
Forty cents wasn’t nothing!
Zheng Tongwei didn’t want to hand them over at all.
Shen Nanchu had no shame.
[Dislike Points +30]
Gritting his teeth, Zheng Tongwei feigned generosity and held out the tickets.
"Here. Take them."
"No need to thank me."
Shen Nanchu accepted without hesitation.
Free movie? Why not?
Especially since it came from Zheng Tongwei—she’d watch it out of spite if nothing else.
Having successfully swindled the tickets, Shen Nanchu spared Zheng Tongwei further torment.
She turned to Wang Weimin. "Comrade Wang, I heard the tomatoes in your family’s private plot are ripe?"
Wang Weimin nodded. "Yeah, big and red."
After a pause, he added, "My mom set aside a basket for you..."
Shen Nanchu smiled. "Looking at your face, I can tell they’re ripe and delicious."
"Perfect. Our Yunxi loves tomatoes with sugar. Right, Yunxi?"
"Sis-in-law?" Pei Yunxi looked puzzled.
Since when did she like sugared tomatoes?
She didn’t even know that about herself.
"Sis-in-law, wait here for a bit. I’ll finish up, and we can head back together."
Pei Yunxi’s focus remained on the desks.
"Sure." Shen Nanchu took a seat on a clean chair.
Pei Yunxi then shooed the two men away. "You two can go. I’ll handle the rest."
Once they were gone, Pei Yunxi exhaled deeply and slumped onto a freshly wiped chair.
"Ugh, buzzing around like flies."
"Can’t blame them when our third sister’s as pretty as a flower."
"Sis-in-law, you love teasing me."
Pei Yunxi chuckled and stood to resume cleaning.
Curious, Shen Nanchu asked, "So, third sister, is Wang Weimin also a fly to you?"
"Him…" Pei Yunxi hesitated. "He’s… alright."
After all, he’d saved her life—she couldn’t call him a fly.
Plus, the man was kind of interesting, so shy it made her want to poke fun at him.
Oh?
So something had happened between them without her knowing!
Shen Nanchu decided she’d make time to enjoy this era’s love story unfold.
It was bound to be entertaining!
