Zhou Cheng’s gaze lingered on Xia Xiaolan, carrying with it a faint hook—subtle, but unmistakable.

Xia Xiaolan might not have eaten pork before, but she’d certainly seen pigs run. She knew perfectly well that Zhou Cheng had taken a liking to her, and he wasn’t making any effort to hide it. She understood this face-obsessed world all too well. With a face like hers, it was genuinely difficult for men not to feel some sort of fondness.

Otherwise, why would today’s disaster have happened at all?

Zhou Cheng and Kang Wei were her lifesavers. Xia Xiaolan’s conscience was clear, and she wasn’t the type to put on airs.

“Wouldn’t this be too much trouble for you?”

“It’s no trouble.” Zhou Cheng replied.

“We’ve been driving long-distance for days anyway. We were planning to stop and rest. We’ll take you home, then head back to the county.”

Kang Wei opened his mouth... then shut it again.

Zhou Cheng had never spoken to women with this much patience. Plenty of girls had chased after him, yet he’d never even spared them a second glance. And earlier on the road, no one had mentioned stopping in Anqing County. They were hauling a full truck of goods. Getting back to the capital earlier would mean peace of mind.

Kang Wei stole a glance at Xia Xiaolan.

She really was too beautiful.

Had she actually bewitched Brother Cheng, the man who’d always kept women at arm’s length?

He didn’t dare say anything outright and quickly played along. “It’s really no trouble. It’s so late! How dangerous would it be for you to walk alone? What if those scumbags had accomplices? Don’t worry, we’re definitely not bad people. The police station has our records, right?”

If she refused again, it would look like she was treating her benefactors as wolves. Xia Xiaolan looked at the big Dongfeng truck, unsure where she should sit.

Zhou Cheng shoved her bicycle into Kang Wei’s hands. “You go to the back. Keep an eye on the cargo while you’re at it.”

Kang Wei’s heart instantly turned ice-cold.

But he didn’t dare defy Zhou Cheng. He could only load Xia Xiaolan’s bicycle into the truck bed. The back was stacked full of crates, and it took real effort for him to climb in. Xia Xiaolan almost suggested sitting in the back herself... but it was full of goods. Maybe they simply didn’t trust her.

She took the passenger seat. The Dongfeng rumbled to life.

Once they left the provincial road, the path toward Qijing Village became rough. More than once, the wheels skimmed dangerously close to the roadside. Xia Xiaolan pointed out directions from time to time. A truck really was much faster than a bicycle. A journey that took two hours on foot or one hour cycling only took half an hour by truck.

“That’s my village up ahead.” Xia Xiaolan said, pointing.

“The roads inside are too narrow for the truck. You can let me off here.”

Along the way, the fields were full of people working busily. Before night fully fell, they were rushing to haul threshed rice home. Sacks upon sacks, each one carried on human shoulders.

Smoke rose from the village kitchens.

During the farming season, two meals a day wouldn’t cut it. Everyone ate three solid meals, otherwise, no one could keep working. Xia Xiaolan had planned to come back early to cook dinner, but the trip to the police station had delayed her.

She felt a little anxious. Zhou Cheng noticed, and as she got out of the truck, he suddenly asked.

“Are you still going to Anqing County tomorrow?”

After something like today, most young girls would be scared out of their wits. Probably unwilling to continue doing business. Even if they kept selling eggs, they’d rest a few days first.

But Zhou Cheng didn’t think Xia Xiaolan was ordinary. She looked delicate, but she was actually quite bold.

Sure enough, she answered without hesitation. “Of course. Brother Zhou, are you staying at the Anqing County guesthouse tonight? I’ll come find you tomorrow and bring you breakfast.”

Zhou Cheng usually carried a roguish air, but hearing this, his expression softened.

The little girl had a conscience, at least.

“Go on home. Don’t head out too early tomorrow... it’s not safe.”

Xia Xiaolan pushed her bicycle and walked away.

Kang Wei crept over hesitantly. “Brother Cheng… you've really fallen for her?”

Zhou Cheng snorted.

Kang Wei wailed internally. Where’s the justice in this?

He’d been eyeing her the whole way, only to have Brother Cheng swoop in and steal her first?!

---

Xia Xiaolan pushed her bicycle home. Liu Fen had been worried sick.

Xia Xiaolan had come back late, and after finishing work in the fields, they hadn’t seen her anywhere. Liu Fen was just about to go looking when Xia Xiaolan returned.

Though she’d tidied her clothes, the fishy smell of broken eggs couldn’t be hidden.

“I fell on the road.” Xia Xiaolan explained first.

“I had to walk the bike back. A lot of the eggs broke.”

Liu Fen didn’t care about the eggs at all. “Did you get hurt? Let Mom take a good look!”

Xia Xiaolan spun in place and even hopped twice. “I’m really fine. I just happened to meet two kind comrades who drove me part of the way. Tomorrow I’ll bring them breakfast to thank them.”

“Why don’t you rest tomorrow?”

“I already promised. Oh! And I ate dinner in the county. What are you having tonight?”

Harvest work left people sweaty and itchy, grass scraps clinging everywhere. Liu Yong and Li Fengmei went to wash up. Liu Fen cooked while watching Tao Tao, and once Xia Xiaolan was back, she chased her off to bathe too.

Tao Tao circled Xia Xiaolan eagerly. “Sister Xiaolan, when are you taking me to the county to play?”

He stared up at her, eyes bright like a little lapdog. Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help pinching his cheek.

“Your sister’s busy making money. How would I have time to take a little brat like you to play? But if you behave, I’ll bring you a gift tomorrow.” Taotao circled around Xia Xiaolan eagerly.

He really wanted to go to the county mostly because he wanted to stick close to Xia Xiaolan. But his dad said she was doing business and he wasn’t allowed to bother her. Now that she promised a gift, Taotao was satisfied. A gift was good enough!

He stuck out his hand. “I don’t believe you. You said you’d take me to the city before, then snuck out early in the morning. Pinky swear!”

He hooked out his little finger. Xia Xiaolan had no choice but to hook hers with his.

Pinky to pinky, thumbs pressed together.

Happy with the mass update? 

I might just do the same on Chinese New Year!

Comment: Mass Update for Chinese New Year!