Chapter 44

The small vegetable plot, two people, different thoughts. Bai Xinmei watched Song Jinping hoeing, his butt sticking up, feeling he didn’t belong in this place.
Thinking again about him not wanting to take the exam this year, she felt a thousand worries pressing down. She pressed her lips together, grinding her teeth, occasionally sneaking a glance at him, utterly unsure how to persuade him.
Finally, a clear male voice broke the cute silent performance. “It’s almost noon. Are we going to take two days for such a tiny plot?”
He raised his eyebrows slightly, teasing, naturally unconcerned with any awkwardness between them.
“Ughhh…”
Bai Xinmei had to suppress her thoughts, finding no chance to speak about it. What could she do? It wasn’t her fault that Song Jinping wasn’t taking the exam. Why did everyone look at her as if the beautiful woman was trouble? None of it was her business.
Who knew what madness he was acting on, inexplicably wanting to be with her? She remembered that in the past, on the ox cart, he had been so lofty, staring only at the fields without so much as a glance her way. And when she helped catch turtles, he had kept a cold expression the whole time. She owed him nothing, ah, what a hassle.
After finishing their work, Bai Xinmei carried a small basket and hoe back toward the Qin family home. Song Jinping followed, hands in pockets, a smile on his lips, eyes bright, focused and full of tender attention on the girl ahead.
The man had rolled up his linen shirt sleeves, revealing arms with faint but strong muscle lines, broad shoulders, narrow waist, a truly well-proportioned handsome man, catching the eyes of every returning daughter-in-law at lunchtime.
The midday sun hung in the sky, red tints drifting through quirky clouds. A gentle breeze came. He followed slowly, unhurried.
“Isn’t that Song Jinping?”
“He’s really a handsome man.”
Not far away, several village women gossiped. Since Song Jinping’s first day in the village, they had agreed to strip Qin Yuanzheng of the title of Lotus Village’s most handsome man, giving it instead to the Jing City transfer Song Jinping.
“I heard he’s not taking the university exam. Oh my! I wonder what he’s thinking.”
“What else could he be thinking? He’s been enchanted by the widow fox spirit.”
“Are they together now? Look at them, tsk tsk tsk.”
“Song Jinping isn’t taking the exam because she’s pregnant, and he has to care for her.”
“Pregnant? Really? Shufen, you’re not making this up, are you…”
Bai Xinmei heard every word clearly. The moment she heard “pregnant,” she choked on her own saliva. She turned fiercely, eyes wide, glaring at Song Jinping, her gaze threatening: It’s none of my business if you don’t take the exam! These ridiculous rumors only exist because of your reckless actions, fix them immediately!
Song Jinping shrugged innocently. “This time it’s really not my fault.”
“This time?” Did that mean there was a last time? Bai Xinmei wrinkled her nose, puzzled.
He quickly clarified, “I mean, I don’t know why they said that. I know about us, but we’ll discuss it after the exam…”
Saying this, he looked slightly dejected.
Seeing him like that, Bai Xinmei felt she was overstepping. He was kindly tutoring her, even delaying his own year for her sake, and she was being so stubborn.
“No… I just… never mind. You still have to cook at the sent-down youth station. Why don’t… come back with me to eat?”
She invited him, a little embarrassed.
Song Jinping immediately agreed, afraid she would change her mind if he hesitated. “Okay, let’s go.”
The two strode forward side by side. The nearby onlookers whispered as if their suspicions were confirmed.
“You see, I wasn’t just saying it,” he said.
“Well, looks do count,” she replied.
…
As the chatter of the village women gradually died down, Bai Xinmei tentatively asked, “You’re really not going to take the college entrance exam this year…”
“Mm.”
Song Jinping replied, as if it were no big deal to him.
“Why? You studied so hard! It’d be such a waste if you didn’t go!”
“But if I get into the University, my file will be transferred, and I’d have to return to the city early. What would you do then, Comrade Bai?”
When he said “what would you do,” his tone was soft, tinged with helpless affection. He was explaining why it was important for him that she and he take the college entrance exam at the same time.
“As you said, you never attended high school, and your basic knowledge system isn’t fully formed. If I only spend fragmented time teaching you, I can’t guarantee you’ll get there. I also don’t want you to go to any other university, do you understand what I mean?”
“I know this is selfish… I just want to be closer to you. I don’t want to control you in any way.”
As if realizing his desire for her to attend the same university might be too forceful, he quickly explained further.
Bai Xinmei’s heart was in turmoil. Any woman, facing the confession of an outstanding man, would have complicated feelings.
Did he really like her? Or just wanted to play? The village people said she was just Song Jinping’s pastime before he returned to the city, but he had attended to every detail, considering everything, surely, he wouldn’t lie to her.
Maybe… she should try dating him first? Bai Xinmei asked herself.
As for Song Jinping skipping the exam, once he explained, she understood, his staying in the village to tutor her was for her benefit. She didn’t bother persuading him otherwise. His family was well-off; taking the exam next year would be just as fine.
She acknowledged this with a simple “Mm.”
The two walked back side by side.
After Bai Xinmei expressed her wish to remarry, the Qin family rearranged the rooms, giving the mud-brick house farthest from the main hall to her.
After all, the house already had Third Brother’s share. Bai Xinmei had borne his child, so this room could count as the child’s portion, indirectly giving her some independence.
Though the Qin family understood the situation and accepted her remarriage, they weren’t so indulgent as to let her openly date a man at their home, this would infuriate Third Brother’s memory from beyond the grave.
Before they reached the house, they saw Niuniu waiting outside.
Niuniu also spotted Song Jinping and obediently called out, “Uncle Song.”
He naturally scooped her up.
Niuniu was thrilled, demanding to be tossed into the air like the village’s big and little oxen were by their father.
Bai Xinmei crossed her arms, disapproving, “Niuniu, get down from Uncle Song.”
Qin Sisi, seeing Bai Xinmei’s dark expression, was slightly intimidated but her desire to be thrown high was stronger. She whined, “But Niuniu wants to fly!”
Bai Xinmei, always doting on her daughter, allowed her to get down, only concerned that being tossed so high was too dangerous. Song Jinping seemed good, but no man would be indifferent about his beloved having a child with someone else.
“Meimei, don’t worry. My arms are strong,” he said.
“If Niuniu falls, I’ll take full responsibility and apologize to the beauty,” he added smoothly, showing an unexpectedly slick side.
Bai Xinmei rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance.
“Fun!”
“Hahaha, fun!”
After preparing a simple meal, Bai Xinmei returned to find her daughter excited, cheeks flushed, as Song Jinping tidied her braids and wiped her sweat with a handkerchief.
The two interacted harmoniously, as if true father and daughter. Niuniu clearly liked Song Jinping even more after being tossed into the air.
Understandable, village children often said Niuniu had no father. She was young, sensible, but surely had always felt sad.
Perhaps Song Jinping really was her destined partner, Bai Xinmei mused.
A month or two passed. The college entrance exams were over. At first, people thought Song Jinping’s refusal to take the exam was a lie.
After all, teaching an uneducated widow to take the exam, to attend the same university as him? Ridiculous.
In the end, he really didn’t go. Word spread that even the shy Wang family second girl from Shizi Gou, secretly in love with Song Jinping, came crying to persuade him before the exam. He refused.
People initially thought he was merely coaxing Bai the widow, but Song Jinping truly was devoted, not play-acting. This Bai widow was skilled, she had men lining up for her. One even risked persecution to marry her; this one skipped the exam for her.
Some even said it was because she was pregnant with his child and he couldn’t bear to leave the child.
Fortunately, Bai Xinmei didn’t hear this, or she’d have ripped the liar’s mouth apart, her own charm didn’t need a child to bind anyone.
One day, the Qin family received a notice from town and went there.
Bai Xinmei carried laundry for the whole family to the river.
As she staggered back with a huge tub of clothes, she saw a small car at the village entrance.
Surprise flashed in her eyes, but more than that, envy, her family used to have one too…
Almost at the Qin house, she suddenly heard a familiar voice calling her, trembling with excitement:
“Meimei.”
Turning around, she nearly fainted, wasn’t this her supposedly deceased husband?
Though he had a scar on his face, it didn’t prevent her recognition.
Four years had passed. His former sharpness had been reined in; he now resembled a sheathed treasured sword. His features were still strong, arched brows, bright eyes, imposing, but from his left cheekbone to the corner of his mouth ran a pale, finger-width scar.
This scar gave him an added aura of fierceness.
She hurriedly searched for the system, damn, this NPC hadn’t appeared in the story!
The “Victor” System seemed offline, silent.
Her mind went blank for a moment. This world… could it be a spiritual or alternate world?
Shivering, she asked in disbelief, “Yuanzheng, you… you came up?”
Why hadn’t her deceased parents controlled their son-in-law? If they really missed her, they could have sent a dream.
The tall, imposing man looked at her intensely, eyes glistening with tears, “Meimei, I’m back.”
Bai Xinmei’s legs shook as she stepped back two paces, “Yuanzheng, I visit you every Qingming. Were you short on joss paper? Next year I’ll burn more for you.”
She began sobbing, “Even if you miss me, you can’t take me now! Niuniu is still small, you heartless fool!”