Chapter 24: Heading to the Market

At 5:10 AM, Fang Yinnian picked up his backpack and stepped out of the house first.

Today, they were heading to the nearby town to buy daily necessities. Although they had brought quite a few things from the capital, they still lacked items like a thermos and washbasins for grooming. Since they were to live on the farm from now on, they also needed to purchase pots, pans, bowls, and a coal stove to be prepared for any needs that might arise.

As Fang Yinnian stepped out the door, he tucked the paper listing their shopping items into his pocket. Just then, a middle-aged couple emerged from the neighboring apartment. The man, leading the way, wore a dark blue work uniform and carried a military-style canteen.

Seeing Fang Yinnian, he subconsciously glanced toward Fang Yinnian's home. "Morning, comrade. You must be the new neighbor, right? Which department do you work in? By the way, since you’ve just moved in, if you need any furniture built, feel free to come to me. I work at the furniture factory; my name is Yang Jianmu."

"And this is my wife, Comrade Zhao Yanqiu. She works in the kitchen at the farm canteen."

Fang Yinnian’s body stiffened abruptly. A memory flashed through his mind of someone pinning him down and commanding him not to change, and his earlobes turned a deep shade of red. "Hello," he said.

With trembling eyelashes and his sleepy, almond-shaped eyes cast downward, he forced himself to remain calm. "My name is Fang Yinnian. I will be working at the mechanical repair shop."

"Who is it?" Mu Wanguan had forgotten her satchel after getting dressed, and having gone back to the closet to retrieve it, she was a step behind.

"It’s our neighbors, Brother Yang Jianmu and Sister Zhao Yanqiu." Fang Yinnian stepped aside, and Mu Wanguan hopped out of the doorway.

Her personality was innocent and lively; she smiled and greeted the neighbors, "Hello, my name is Mu Wanguan."

Yang Jianmu and Zhao Yanqiu hadn't expected their new neighbors to be such a young couple. Both of them were so striking that the couple stood there in a momentary daze.

"Hello there. Are you two heading out?" Zhao Yanqiu was the first to snap out of it, her eyes fixed on Mu Wanguan’s face as she responded. She thought to herself that this girl was truly beautiful, and it was a good thing she was already married; otherwise, the bachelors on the farm would have gone crazy.

"Yes, we are." Mu Wanguan turned her head and asked Fang Yinnian, "Can we go now?"

Fang Yinnian, still keeping his eyes lowered, gave a hum of agreement.

"Well, we won't bother you then. If you need anything, just come find us." Zhao Yanqiu hurried Yang Jianmu along. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was a bit off about this young couple.

Mu Wanguan felt it too, though she couldn't pinpoint what it was. She tilted her head and asked, "What were you two talking about just now? What did you mean by 'building' things?"

"Do you need to have things built?"

"No," Fang Yinnian replied quickly. He took a shallow breath and reached past Mu Wanguan to pull the door shut. "We don't need any furniture for now."

"If we don't, we don't. But you have to buy me some picture books later." Fang Yinnian didn't respond immediately, and Mu Wanguan, fearing he might go back on his word, grabbed his arm and pouted coquettishly, "You promised me."

"No backing out."

The sweet, pampered demand didn't sound like a plea, but rather like playful coaxing. Zhao Yanqiu, already thirty-five, felt for the first time that a woman’s coquettishness could sound so pleasant that even she wanted to buy things for the girl.

Zhao Yanqiu hurried Yang Jianmu down to the first floor, whispering with a sigh, "That young couple... they really have a good relationship."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Yang Jianmu asked, puzzled. "Would you rather it be like the Zhang family, fighting every other day and keeping everyone awake at night? If it were like that, you’d be complaining endlessly again."

"Go on, go on! Do you even understand what I’m saying?" Zhao Yanqiu didn't want to deal with the old man and turned away, waving her hand. "Forget it, I don't want to talk to you. I don't feel like cooking at noon; let's just eat at the canteen."

...

Mu Wanguan, unaware of the situation downstairs, kept pestering Fang Yinnian to promise to buy her the picture books. Once he agreed, she pushed her luck and wanted to buy even more.

At this point, Fang Yinnian didn't even want to entertain this "rebellious child" who was becoming increasingly "naughty." No matter how Mu Wanguan coaxed him, he refused to give in a second time. The two of them—one "clinging" and the other tolerating the "fuss"—continued until they reached the main gate of the Red Star Farm.

"Huh?" Mu Wanguan suddenly let go of Fang Yinnian's hand and pointed forward. "Fang Yinnian, it's those people who were acting crazy yesterday."

It was just dawn, and in April in Heilongjiang, the sun rises quickly. It wasn't even 5:30 AM yet, and the sun was already up.

At this time, there were quite a few people standing by the farm's main gate. They were educated youths or family members waiting for the farm’s ox carts or tractors to head to the nearby town. Since there was a market in town today, there was a large crowd waiting for transport.

By the time Mu Wanguan and Fang Yinnian arrived, there were twenty or thirty people standing at the waiting area, including Wu Siqi and her group from yesterday’s trip to the countryside.

On the other side, Wu Siqi was clinging to a male educated youth, chatting away, when her scalp suddenly tingled. She turned her head sharply. When she saw Mu Wanguan and saw her pointing in their direction, she shivered involuntarily.

A chill rose from the soles of her feet, and she scrambled to hide behind the male youth.

"...What's wrong?" Xie Wenhao, the head of the second dormitory for educated youths, twitched his mouth. Wu Siqi’s movement to hide behind him was so fast that it reminded him of someone being pushed out to take a bullet for someone else... it must have been an illusion. "Who did you see?"

Following the direction of Wu Siqi’s gaze, Xie Wenhao looked toward the rising sun. His pupils dilated, and a flash of awe crossed his eyes.

Under the morning sun, Mu Wanguan, carrying her small satchel, was wearing a rust-red wool coat over a white turtleneck sweater, making her look both stylish and beautiful. She was naturally stunning—with a fair, oval face and delicate features—and the contrast of red and white created a third kind of breathtaking charm.

"Who is she?" Xie Wenhao murmured.

Wu Siqi had not yet recovered from the shock of the day before and was terrified of Mu Wanguan. But hearing Xie Wenhao ask for her name made her face twist with spite. "Why are you asking about her? She’s already married!"

"Don't you see? That man next to her is her husband."

The way she said it made it sound as if Xie Wenhao were trying to steal someone else's wife. Wu Siqi didn't watch her tone, and the surrounding people waiting for the cart looked at Xie Wenhao with strange expressions.

Xie Wenhao: "..."

He had thought her foolish last night and believed she could be controlled and useful, but he hadn't realized she could be this incredibly stupid. Was that something that should be said out loud?

"Comrade Wu! Please watch your language. And—!" Xie Wenhao stepped back twice, his tone cold. "Do not stand so close. Men and women should maintain their distance."

"Men and women... should maintain their distance?" Mu Wanguan didn't quite understand the meaning of the phrase. Ignoring the person acting "crazy," she turned to ask Fang Yinnian.

Just then, a beam of morning sunlight fell on Fang Yinnian, illuminating his flushed ears.

"Huh? Why are your ears red?" Mu Wanguan reached out to poke his ear, but before her hand could touch him, Fang Yinnian sidestepped as if he had been struck by lightning.

"Don't... don't mess around."

"I'm not messing around," Mu Wanguan complained, pouting. "You've been so strange lately, always dodging me and saying I'm messing around."

"Where am I messing around?"

"I'm not even as troublesome as a pig having a fit."

Wu *the pig having a fit* Siqi: "..." Could she please let that title go?

First acting crazy, then being called a pig. One day, she, Wu Siqi, would definitely make this b*tch Mu Wanguan pay!