Three figures were walking toward the production fields. Leading the way was Wang Xiuying. Beside her walked Li Fengying and Zhao Hongmei.
The moment Wang Xiuying stepped into the production fields, her eyes instinctively sought out a particular figure among the crowd and almost immediately, she found him.
Li Guoqiang.
The morning sunlight fell across his broad shoulders and straight back. Standing among the villagers, he was like a pine tree rising from a field of reeds.
His cloths were simple and crude, yet it could not conceal the powerful physique forged by years of service. Nor could it diminish the striking features that had once caused countless young women to steal glances at him.
For a moment, Wang Xiuying forgot the voices around her. Her gaze lingered on him. Complicated emotions surged within her heart. Five whole years had passed. Yet seeing him again, she discovered that time had done nothing to diminish her feelings. Instead, they seemed to have grown stronger.
Beside her, Li Fengying's voice suddenly broke her trance, "Mother." She wrinkled her nose in disgust, "Why did you bring me here so early in the morning?"
She looked around with obvious disdain, "The wind is cold, the roads are dirty, and just look at these villagers." Her brows furrowed, "They're all thin, shabby, and smell strange."
As she spoke, her gaze landed deliberately on Zhao Hongmei, "And I don't even want to talk about the way they dress." She waved her hand before her nose, "It's like standing among beggars."
The smile on Zhao Hongmei's face immediately stiffened. A flash of anger surged through her chest. Since yesterday, Li Fengying had mocked her repeatedly.
Every sentence carried contempt and disdain. And because of the ridiculous system mission, Zhao Hongmei had been forced to endure it all.
Suppressing her anger, she forced out a smile, "Fengying, you're right." Her voice was sweet, but her eyes were cold, "Compared to city people, these villagers naturally can't compete. I heard city households have electricity. Perhaps your family even owns an electric fan right?"
Li Fengying's expression instantly froze. The smug look on her face faltered. After all, despite living in the city, her family didn't even own a proper electric fan. Not even a light bulb.
Her life in the city wasn't as glamorous as Zhao Hongmei imagined. Yet she would never admit that. Immediately, she glared at Zhao Hongmei.
"Did you forget you are one of this nasty villager as well?" Her voice became sharp, "What? Trying to distance yourself from the reality? No matter how much you pretend, you're still just another muddy-legged country girl."
The last trace of Zhao Hongmei's smile disappeared. Her nails dug into her palms. At that moment, she genuinely wanted to slap the spoiled girl across the face. But reason restrained her.
Yet every word Li Fengying spoke only deepened her dislike.
Just then, Wang Xiuying stopped walking and slowly turned around. The smile on her face remained gentle. Yet for some reason, Zhao Hongmei felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Wang Xiuying's gaze settled upon her daughter, "Fengying." Her voice was soft, "A young lady should learn to be more reserved. There are some truths that everyone understands. So there is no need to say them aloud. Didn't I teach you? A person with breeding keeps certain thoughts to themselves. Speaking carelessly only makes others think you lack manners."
Li Fengying immediately stiffened. She understood, that her mother wasn't disagreeing with her. She was warning her.
Wang Xiuying stepped forward and gently adjusted her daughter's collar. Yet the words that followed carried a hidden sharpness beneath their polished surface.
"Remember this, Fengying. The more obvious something is, the less reason there is to discuss it. So stop showing your contempt so openly." A faint smile appeared on her lips, "A proper young lady from the city must learn restraint. They are not worth your emotions."
Li Fengying immediately understood. Her mother's words were not a reprimand, they were instruction. She obediently lowered her head, "I understand, Mother."
Only then did Wang Xiuying's expression soften, "Good girl." After a brief pause, she added, "And remember, today we are meeting someone very important." Her tone grew even gentler, "So you must leave the best impression possible."
Li Fengying's brows furrowed slightly. She rarely heard her mother speak of anyone in such a manner. Curiosity flickered in her eyes, but seeing the look on Wang Xiuying's face, she wisely swallowed her questions, "Yes, Mother."
Wang Xiuying nodded in satisfaction. Only then did she turn away. As she did, her gaze briefly landed on Zhao Hongmei.
The look lasted only a second, yet Zhao Hongmei felt a chill run down her spine. It was cold, measured and dismissive. As though Wang Xiuying were looking at something entirely insignificant. By the time Zhao Hongmei blinked, the expression had already disappeared.
Wang Xiuying had once again become the refined and graceful city woman everyone admired. But Zhao Hongmei no longer felt deceived by that image.
Not after hearing those words and seeing that gaze. For the first time, she truly understood the difference between mother and daughter.
Li Fengying wielded her knife openly, she insulted people directly, mocked them without restraint and everyone could see her hostility.
But Wang Xiuying was different. She smiled while hiding the blade inside her sleeve. Her words sounded reasonable, yet somehow they cut deeper than Li Fengying's insults ever could, and that made her far more frightening.
Still, another thought quickly occupied Zhao Hongmei's mind. Who exactly was this "important person" Wang Xiuying wanted her daughter to impress?
Since arriving at the Li household yesterday, Li Fengying had behaved terribly. She looked down on everyone, displayed open disdain toward the Li family, especially toward Zhao Hongmei herself. The entire household had felt uncomfortable. Yet Wang Xiuying had never once corrected her daughter. But now she suddenly cared about manners and appearances?
Just who was important enough to warrant such caution? Zhao Hongmei discreetly scanned the crowd ahead. The production team's members moved back and forth carrying tools. Nothing appeared unusual. Unable to find an answer, she could only continue watching.
Meanwhile, near the production warehouse, Li Guoqiang and his sons had already collected their farming tools.
Li Jianhua had gone ahead earlier to fetch the sweet potato seedlings from the nursery plots. Li Jianguo adjusted the hoe on his shoulder and spoke, "Father, let's get going. Elder Brother has already collected the seedlings."
Li Guoqiang nodded, "I'll head to the field first and prepare the soil." Then he looked toward his younger sons, "Jianguo, Jianmin, you two go with the others and carry water for the seedbeds."
Both brothers nodded immediately, "Yes, Father."
The two were just about to leave when a sweet voice suddenly rang out behind them. A voice so gentle that it seemed to drip with honey, "Brother Guoqiang..."
The words floated through the morning air and Li Guoqiang's steps halted.
Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo also instinctively turned around.
Even the nearby villagers paused, the voice was simply too familiar.
Across them, Wang Xiuying stood quietly beneath the morning sunlight. Her eyes were fixed solely on Li Guoqiang. Complicated emotions flickered within them. Longing, admiration and regret.
The corners of her lips lifted into a smile, asmile she had practiced countless times imagining her first meeting with Li Guoqiang after four years, "Brother Guoqiang..." Her voice softened further, "We finally meet again."
Dozens of heads turned simultaneously. Expressions of shock spread through the crowd. The older villagers immediately exchanged meaningful glances. Those who remembered the past nearly choked on their own breath.
Among them, Li Fengying was the most stunned. Her eyes widened, for as long as she could remember, she had never heard her mother speak to anyone in such a tone. Yet now... Her mother's voice was softer than spring water.
Beside her, Zhao Hongmei was equally shocked. Her mind suddenly connected everything. The important person Wang Xiuying had been talking about was Li Shuying's father?
But what was so special about him? Zhao Hongmei could not understand it.
Only moments ago, Wang Xiuying had been looking at the villagers with barely concealed disdain. Her attitude had been cold, aloof, and condescending.
Yet now, the same woman was looking at Li Guoqiang as though he were the only person in the world. The contrast was so great that it almost seemed absurd.
Zhao Hongmei was not a naïve little girl. She had lived an entire lifetime before being reborn. She understood such looks all too well. The admiration, longing and the unwillingness were emotions a woman could never completely hide. And judging from the increasingly strange expressions on the villagers' faces, she knew she was not the only one who had noticed.
At that moment, Zhao Hongmei felt as though she had accidentally uncovered a secret she shouldn't have known.
Her gaze shifted toward Li Guoqiang. Even she had to admit that Li Shuying's father was truly exceptional. His features were handsome to an almost unfair degree. Even standing silently, he attracted attention. It was no wonder Wang Xiuying had been unable to forget him.
A trace of jealousy flashed through Zhao Hongmei's eyes. Because only she knew what kind of future this man possessed.
In her previous life, Li Guoqiang had risen step by step through the ranks. By the time she died, he had already become a Lieutenant General. And who knew? Perhaps after her death he had climbed even higher.
The more she thought about it, the more complicated her emotions became.
Envy, jealousy and resentment intertwined within her heart. For a brief moment, an absurd thought surfaced in her mind. If only this man were her father. How wonderful would that have been? With such a powerful background and such an extraordinary future, would she ever have needed to struggle against Li Shuying? Would she have needed to fight fate itself?
Her cheeks grew slightly warm, as her gaze lingered on Li Guoqiang, another realization slowly formed. Perhaps Li Shuying's greatest fortune had never been her fate, but this man. After all, in her previous life, Li Shuying's fortunes had begun to rise only after Li Guoqiang's status steadily increased.
The more Zhao Hongmei thought about it, the more convinced she became. Her eyes gradually brightened. Then, for the first time, a dangerous idea entered her mind.
If Li Guoqiang was truly the source of Li Shuying's fortune... Then what would happen if he disappeared from her life? Wouldn't Li Shuying lose everything? The thought struck her like a bolt of lightning and her heart immediately began to race.
Meanwhile, Li Guoqiang stood facing Wang Xiuying. His expression remained as calm and cold as ever. There was neither surprise nor excitement in his eyes, only indifference.
"What do you want?" he asked.
The straightforward question caused Wang Xiuying's smile to stiffen slightly. Still, she quickly regained her composure. Her voice remained gentle, "Brother Guoqiang, aren't you happy to see me? After all, we haven't met for so many years."
For a brief moment, silence fell and Li Guoqiang frowned slightly. He could feel dozens of eyes fixed upon them. The entire production team seemed to be watching. Even the villagers carrying tools had slowed their movements. Under so many gazes, openly ignoring Wang Xiuying would only create unnecessary gossip.
Finally, he nodded, "Yes." His voice was polite, "It's nice to see you again after so many years." And nothing more.
Wang Xiuying's heart immediately sank. It felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. The smile remained on her face, yet bitterness quietly spread through her chest. She had imagined countless reunions over the years.
She had imagined surprise, joy, perhaps even lingering feelings. But never this.
His eyes were calm, as though she were no different from any ordinary acquaintance. As though the years she had spent thinking about him meant absolutely nothing. For a brief moment, she felt both embarrassed and unwilling.
But she quickly suppressed those emotions. This was her chance. The opportunity Heaven had finally given her. She could not allow it to slip away so easily.
Gathering herself, she immediately turned and pulled Li Fengying slightly forward, "Brother Guoqiang." Her smile brightened once more. "Look who I've brought with me, this is Fengying. She..."
"...Your daughter." Li Guoqiang interrupted before she could finish, "I know."
Wang Xiuying froze, even Li Fengying looked surprised.
Li Guoqiang merely nodded politely toward the girl. Then he adjusted the farming tools on his shoulder. His eyes held no particular emotion, "I'm getting late. The seedlings still need to be planted, so please excuse me."
With those simple words, he turned around and without hesitation walked directly toward the fields, leaving Wang Xiuying standing where she was.
The moment Li Guoqiang turned around and left, the crowd that had been holding back their curiosity finally erupted into whispers.
"Eh? When did Wang Xiuying return to the village? Why didn't I hear Wang Chunhua shouting to announce her city nieces arrival?" One of the men scratched his head.
A nearby woman immediately snorted, "You didn't know? Li Changfu beat Wang Chunhua so badly that she hasn't even left her kang properly"
The man's eyes widened, "Oh! No wonder."
The discussion quickly shifted elsewhere.
A middle-aged woman glanced toward Wang Xiuying, "I can't believe she's still hung up on Li Guoqiang after all these years. Isn't she a city resident now? Doesn't she work in a factory? Couldn't she find a city man with an urban household registration?"
Another woman immediately rolled her eyes, "Find one?" She pointed toward Li Guoqiang's retreating figure, "You make it sound so easy. Can an ordinary city man compare to Li Guoqiang?"
The women subconsciously followed her gaze and sighed, "Just look at him. I'm not exaggerating when I say that even if you searched Beijing, you might not find many men as handsome as him."
Several women nodded instinctively. They genuinely could not refute that statement.
One older woman clicked her tongue, "If I were Wang Xiuying, I probably wouldn't forget him either."
Another old man immediately disagreed, "Hmph. What nonsense are you talking about? Li Guoqiang is already married. His children are practically grown. If she's still chasing after him, what does she want?" His voice rose slightly, "Does she want to become a concubine?"
The surrounding villagers immediately shifted uncomfortably. New China had abolished concubinage years ago, but the old term still occasionally appeared in village gossip.
Another woman shook her head, "Whatever Wang Xiuying wants is her business. But looking at Li Guoqiang's attitude, I don't think he'll let anyone interfere with his family. He barely looked at her."
Someone else nodded, "That's right. He serves in the army. People's Liberation Army soldiers value discipline. And don't forget how much he cares for Chen Meilan."
The crowd chuckled. Meanwhile, a younger man stared enviously at Li Guoqiang's departing figure.
After a moment, he sighed, "Tsk... Some people are truly blessed. Almost forty years old, yet women still flock around him."
The moment he finished speaking, Smack...!
A sharp slap landed on the back of his head. His wife glared at him fiercely, "What are you sighing for? You are not him." Her hands rested firmly on her hips, "And you only need one woman in your life, that is me."
The surrounding villagers burst into laughter.
The unfortunate husband immediately shrank his neck, "Yes, yes, yes."
The laughter grew even louder.
Not far away, Widow He and Lu Lingmei were laughing so hard that tears almost appeared in their eyes.
Then Widow He suddenly turned toward Yang Yufen. A smug smile spread across her face, "Yufen, weren't you saying that Li Guoqiang would throw Chen Meilan away and get together with Wang Xiuying?" She deliberately looked toward the direction Li Guoqiang had left and clicked her tongue, "But from what I just saw... It doesn't seem to be the case."
Yang Yufen's face instantly darkened. For once, she couldn't think of a response. Because she was genuinely confused. Her eyes followed Li Guoqiang's departing figure. Then shifted toward Wang Xiuying. The more she looked, the more bewildered she became.
In her eyes, Wang Xiuying had everything. Compared to the worn and impoverished Chen Meilan of the past, the difference should have been obvious.
So why?
How could Li Guoqiang choose Chen Meilan over Wang Xiuying even now? Did the man not have eyes?
Before she could think further, another burst of whispers erupted around her. Her gaze instinctively shifted toward Wang Xiuying, who had arrived with such confidence now stood frozen in place.
The smile on her face had long disappeared. Her cheeks were flushed red from humiliation. Wang Xiuying felt the weight of dozens of eyes upon her. Every whisper sounded like mockery. Every glance felt like ridicule.
Her fingers tightened around the hem of her cloths. A trace of humiliation flashed through her eyes. Without another word, she turned around and began walking away.
Beside her, Li Fengying remained unusually quiet. She did not dare say a single word at this moment. She could sense her mother's foul mood.
Zhao Hongmei also stood rooted in place. Her eyes moved between Wang Xiuying's retreating figure and the gossiping villagers. The more she listened, the more astonished she became.
So what she thought was true. Wang Xiuying's actually had feelings for Li Guoqiang, and judging from today's scene, those feelings seemed even deeper.
Meanwhile, Wang Xiuying had only taken a few steps when a voice suddenly called out from behind, "Wait... Wang Xiuying!"
Her brows immediately knitted together. Reluctantly, she turned around, the moment her eyes landed on the speaker, her expression darkened even further.
The woman standing before her wore faded, heavily patched clothing. Her hair was messy and sleeves were stained with dirt from fieldwork. Even from several steps away, Wang Xiuying felt she could smell the mixture of sweat, soil, and smoke clinging to her body. Disgust immediately surfaced in her eyes.
The woman, however, seemed completely unaware. A flattering smile spread across her face, revealing yellowed teeth.
Wang Xiuying instinctively took a small step backward, "Who are you?" she asked coldly.
The smile on the woman's face faltered, "Wang Xiuying, don't you recognize me?" She laughed awkwardly, "I'm your childhood friend, Fenfen. It's only been two years since we last met. Surely you haven't forgotten me already?"
Only then did Wang Xiuying examine her more carefully. After a moment, recognition flashed through her eyes, "Oh, so it's you. Yang Yufen."
Yang Yufen immediately nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, yes, that's me!"
Her smile widened. But Wang Xiuying felt only increasing discomfort. She could hardly believe that as a child she had once played with this woman. Even worse, she had affectionately called her "Fenfen." Thinking about it now made her feel vaguely embarrassed.
Her expression became even colder, "What do you want?"
Yang Yufen failed to notice the disdain hidden beneath the words. Instead, she continued smiling, "You've truly become a city person."
Her eyes moved enviously over Wang Xiuying's fitted blue jacket and neatly tailored trousers, "I must say, just look at these clothes, the fabric is so fine and the colors are so bright. They must have cost a fortune."
Her voice carried obvious envy, "But of course, for someone like you, spending money on clothes is probably nothing. I'm genuinely happy for you."
Then her expression suddenly fell, "Last time you came back to the village, we only spoke for a few moments before Aunt Chunhua chased me away. She even warned me not to bother you." Yang Yufen sighed dramatically, "I was so disappointed, after all, we were such good friends growing up. How could I not want to speak with you?"
The more Wang Xiuying listened, the uglier her expression became. Under normal circumstances, she would have bared with this woman, just to satisfy her vanity. Today, however, her mood was already terrible.
Being forced to listen to this nonsense only worsened it. Her voice became noticeably colder, "So you stopped me for this?" Her eyes narrowed, "You..."
The curse almost left her mouth. Fortunately, years of living in the city allowed her to restrain herself at the last moment.
She swallowed the insult, but the coldness in her gaze remained.
Yang Yufen finally sensed something was wrong. Her smile stiffened, "N...no." She hurriedly waved her hands, "I didn't stop you for that. I wanted to tell you something. Something about Li Guoqiang."
The moment Li Guoqiang's name was mentioned, Wang Xiuying's expression softened slightly. The irritation in her eyes lessened, "What is it?" She crossed her arms, "If you have something to say, then say it. Stop wasting my time."
Yang Yufen secretly clenched her teeth. She disliked Wang Xiuying's superior attitude. But she endured it. After all, she had her own plans. Lowering her voice slightly, she said, "You shouldn't be too disappointed because of a few words from Li Guoqiang. Think about it carefully, he's married and serves in the People's Liberation Army. Do you really think he could openly show his feelings in front of the entire village?"
She pointed toward the production warehouse, "Everyone was watching, his sons were standing right there. If he acted too warmly toward you, wouldn't people start talking?"
Yang Yufen nodded confidently, as though her reasoning was flawless, "In my opinion, Li Guoqiang was simply being cautious. After all, a soldier values reputation. He couldn't very well embarrass himself in front of so many people."
The words sounded reasonable. Anyone else might have found comfort in them.
But Wang Xiuying did not. Because she remembered something Yang Yufen had not seen. Li Guoqiang's eyes. The moment those cold eyes landed on her, she had understood. There had been no hesitation, conflict or hidden emotion, only indifference.
The kind of indifference one reserved for a stranger. No matter how many excuses Yang Yufen invented, she could not erase that memory. A trace of bitterness surfaced in Wang Xiuying's heart.
Her eyes redenned and she glared at Yang Yufen, "stop that immediately. Don't give me false hopes, I know exactly what Li Guoqiang feels about me and I'm not as delusional as you think I'm."
She than was about to turn around when Yang Yufen spoke again, "so are you going to let go yoir feelings for Li Guoqiang?"