She was considered the prettiest girl in the village, and her family wasn’t poor, so many young men in the village wanted to start a romantic relationship with her.
But she had high standards and hadn’t found anyone she liked.
However, the very first time she saw the refined and handsome Fang Zhiyuan, her heart fluttered.
Fang Zhiyuan said, "I’m really sorry."
Seeing his resolute attitude, Feng Min felt a bit heartbroken and embarrassed, especially since she, as a lady, had already taken the initiative to express her feelings.
So she didn’t say anything else and just turned around and left.
Fang Zhiyuan watched her walk away, then turned and went back to the Jiang family.
Jiang Mianmian had quietly watched the whole drama unfold, marveling at Uncle Fang’s charm. It was only after she saw Fang Zhiyuan walk away that she stood up straight and also prepared to head home.
But just as she turned around, she was startled by Yu Cheng suddenly appearing.
"Ah, Brother Yu, what are you doing here?" Jiang Mianmian’s heart was pounding, and she patted her chest, asking somewhat fearfully.
Yu Cheng raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that? Little Lamb, what are you doing here?"
"Um, well, hehe, Brother Yu, I saw Uncle Fang leaving, and I was afraid he wouldn’t know his way around our village, so I just followed him out. I didn’t expect to witness this scene—it’s such a coincidence, huh?" Jiang Mianmian said cheerfully.
Yu Cheng reached out and tapped Jiang Mianmian on the forehead, "Really now, you’ve learned how to lie, have you? If you were worried about Uncle getting lost, why didn’t you come out openly and walk with them instead of sneaking behind?"
Jiang Mianmian covered her forehead, pleading her case, "Why are you blaming me? Weren’t you also secretly following me here?"
"I did that because I care about you—I was afraid you’d get carried off by wolves while walking on the road," Yu Cheng said, arms crossed, his demeanor full of righteousness.
"Well, I was just caring about Uncle Fang," retorted Jiang Mianmian, using his own logic against him, leaving Yu Cheng at a loss for words.
Seeing Jiang Mianmian’s aggrieved expression, Yu Cheng reached out to rub the spot on her forehead he had tapped, relenting, "Alright, my apologies for wrongly accusing you, okay? I didn’t even use much force; how did it turn red?"
"Hmph, you did wrongly accuse me, but I’m magnanimous and won’t squabble over it with you," Jiang Mianmian said triumphantly as Yu Cheng let the matter go.
Neither the village beauty nor Fang Zhiyuan spoke about her confession to anyone, and Yu Cheng and Jiang Mianmian tacitly pretended as if it had never happened.
The villagers and the Jiang family members were unaware, but Feng Min still felt humiliated and henceforth, was never seen again in front of Fang Zhiyuan and the Jiang family members.
Fang Zhiyuan’s life at the Jiang family was no different from that in town—he would read books every day, occasionally go out with Jiang Changhai and others for a stroll, and chat with the villagers. His days were relaxed and comfortable.
Soon it was New Year’s Eve, a day when, per tradition, the Jiang family’s women prepared a New Year’s Eve dinner, with the men laughing and chatting indoors, and the children, dressed in new clothes, playing noisily outside.
The large family gathering was lively and festive, a feeling Fang Zhiyuan had not experienced in many years.
He really liked it and enjoyed this long-missed bustle and liveliness.
Jiang Changhai realized they hadn’t put up Spring Festival couplets or blessings and remembered they had forgotten to buy them when they came back from town.
"Laosan, I’ll give you the money, you go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and bring back the Spring Festival couplets—I forgot to buy them last time." Since it was freezing outside, Jiang Changhai was reluctant to exert himself; he decided to pay while sending Jiang Changtao to do the task. The source of this content ɪs 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝘯𝘦𝘵