Chapter 9: Heading to the Countryside

"Fang, Fang Yinnian, what about, what about Mu Wanguan?" the leader at the courtyard gate asked, trembling.

"I'm right here," Mu Wanguan said with a smile, stepping to Fang Yinnian's side.

A streetlight stood across from the Fang family residence. Its dim, yellow glow failed to illuminate the group of troublemakers, instead casting them into the shadows, making them look like maggots crawling out of a sewer.

Mu Wanguan looked at them, but though she was smiling, there was not a trace of warmth in her eyes.

Fang Yinnian glanced down at her. He realized that the Mu Wanguan before him was truly different from before.

Perhaps, this was the real Mu Wanguan?

Sensing his gaze, Mu Wanguan nudged him with her elbow. Taking advantage of the fact that the people outside had not yet recovered, she seized the moment to whisper, "I'm going to the countryside. How was my performance?"

Fang Yinnian: "..." A soft chuckle escaped him.

Just as he was about to tell her it was good and to keep it up, the man opposite them seemed to snap out of his daze and shouted, "S-since you are Fang Yinnian and Mu Wanguan, hurry up and pack your things. Be at the train station by two o'clock tomorrow afternoon to head to the countryside."

"What?!" Ru Xiuhua exclaimed in shock.

Fang Xun’s brow furrowed deeper. "Why must Mu Wanguan go to the countryside as well?"

"Are you from the Educated Youth Office?" Fang Yinnian walked over to open the gate. Fearing he might be attacked, the leader scrambled backward. "Y-yes, so what if we are?"

"Why is Mu Wanguan’s name on the list? I recall that I did not sign her up."

"Why do you ask so many questions!"

Of everyone present, Mu Wanguan was perhaps the most delighted. Fearing that the opportunity to go to the countryside might vanish, she quickly rushed over and hugged Fang Yinnian. "You don't need to ask. I'm going with you."

Fang Yinnian’s cold eyes flickered, and he forcibly pulled the annoying girl behind him.

The leader of the Educated Youth Office had initially thought the old man who had just shouted was the most frightening. But now, as Fang Yinnian stepped out, he didn't even make a move; he merely swept a cold gaze over them, making them feel a bone-chilling cold that caused them to tremble all over.

The leader took a step back, accidentally stepping on the foot of the person behind him, who let out a cry of pain.

"Shut up!" the leader roared in fear, then stammered a threat at Fang Yinnian: "S-someone registered her. Tomorrow, remember to show up. Otherwise, you will be counted as evading the countryside assignment." After shouting this, he hurriedly led his group away.

The area in front of the gate became quiet instantly. The only sound was the muffled laughter of the impish girl behind him.

Fang Yinnian rubbed his forehead in resignation. Knowing he couldn't change the situation, he turned around and, mimicking her, nudged her with his elbow. "Tone it down."

"Mm-hmm." Mu Wanguan covered her mouth and looked up, her eyes bright and filled with excited cunning. "Now I don't even have to put on an act to go to the countryside."

Fang Yinnian: "..." So infuriating.

***

The news of Mu Wanguan’s departure threw the elder Fangs into a state of chaos. Ru Xiuhua was deeply worried about a young girl like Mu Wanguan going to the countryside.

Because Fang Yinnian had chosen a farm in the Nonglin County of YC City, Heilongjiang Province—the most arduous place possible—just to avoid the escalating conflicts. How could a delicate young girl handle such grueling labor?

"Maybe, maybe we should just forget it? Old Fang, why don’t you find someone, see if you can—"

"Grandma," Mu Wanguan had already finished packing her things and came downstairs. Hearing Ru Xiuhua ask Fang Xun to find a way to replace her, she panicked.

She quickly set down her suitcase and hugged Ru Xiuhua. "Grandma, I’m not afraid of hardship. Whatever hardships Fang Yinnian can endure, I can too."

"Besides, if you're worried about me suffering without care in the countryside, aren't you worried about Fang Yinnian?"

"If he goes alone, how lonely he would be."

"But it's different now. With me there to look after him, he will surely stay safe and healthy."

Mu Wanguan had made up her mind: once her supernatural abilities returned, she would just protect Fang Yinnian. She would consider it repayment for his kindness in letting her join him.

She remembered from the novel that Fang Yinnian, the protagonist, was sharp-minded but physically frail. It seemed that after going to the countryside, he couldn't handle the strain and fell seriously ill several times, nearly dying twice.

Now that she was here, once her powers returned, even if she couldn't use healing abilities, she could use them to find all sorts of medicine, and she wouldn't let Fang Yinnian die so easily.

"You... you are such a fool!" Ru Xiuhua gently patted Mu Wanguan’s arm, unable to hold back her tears. She was partly heartbroken for the child and partly moved.

She hadn't expected that when her little grandson was in trouble and everyone else was avoiding him to avoid being implicated, the one who would stand firmly by his side would be the young girl he had kindly married. Perhaps this was their destiny.

Ru Xiuhua cried while calling Mu Wanguan a fool. Fang Xun, watching from the side, also thought the girl was foolish. But he didn't want his grandson to go alone either; having someone to accompany him was better, at least there would be someone to keep him company.

Fang Xun leaned on his cane and turned into the study; he needed to make that interrupted phone call again.

Fang Yinnian stood at the turn of the stairs, most of his body hidden in the shadows. No one could tell what he was thinking, only that his eyes, hidden in the darkness, were deeper and blacker than the night itself.

The next morning, before dawn, Ru Xiuhua took Fang Xun and their guard out to buy supplies for the two young ones. Because their departure was so rushed, many daily necessities hadn't been prepared.

After the elders left, Fang Yinnian quietly slipped out as well. He left the compound and, after many twists and turns, arrived at a large, crowded tenement building after walking for over half an hour.

***

Before six in the morning, the tenement was already bustling. People were waking up to head to the public restrooms, others were cooking or doing laundry, and parents were loudly shouting at their children to wake up for school...

Fang Yinnian didn't enter the tenement. He ducked into a narrow alley between two buildings and knocked on a dilapidated window covered in old newspapers.

*Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock.*

"...Who is it?"

"It's me."

"Boss Fang?!" The window flew open, forcing Fang Yinnian to step back against the wall.

Fang Yinnian looked coldly at Zhu Xiangdang, who had stuck his head out. Zhu Xiangdang was just about to greet him with a grin, but upon meeting Fang Yinnian’s gaze, he immediately shrunk back, looking cowardly.

His mannerisms were so much like someone else's that Fang Yinnian let out a soft huff.

"How have you been? Did you get your position confirmed?" Fang Yinnian asked.

When it came to work, Zhu Xiangdang poked his head out again, grinning from ear to ear. "Yes, yes, it'll be confirmed by the end of the month."

"Boss, why did you come here? Oh, right, about the matter you asked me to investigate, I already have some clues..."

"No rush for now. If you've found something, just mail it to me once I send you word."

"Mail? Boss, where are you going?" Zhu Xiangdang realized something, his expression darkening as he gritted his teeth. "Are you going to the countryside?"

When Fang Yinnian first got into trouble, he had mentioned that if he couldn't get past it, he would go to the countryside to lay low. But Zhu Xiangdang had thought he was only joking, after all, given the Fang family's standing...

"Did that mongrel Fang Wenbin give you trouble again, didn't he?"

"Yes. That’s why I’m here—I need your help with something."

Zhu Xiangdang’s veins bulged with rage, and he jumped out of the window. "Tell me, I'll go kill that bastard."

A cold glint flashed in Fang Yinnian's eyes. He had never intended to let Fang Wenbin off the hook in the first place. If Fang Wenbin had only succeeded in deceiving Mu Wanguan, that would be one thing, but now that he had... then he shouldn't blame him for overturning his entire hand.

Fang Yinnian leaned toward Zhu Xiangdang’s ear and whispered, "Go to the Di family... do this, and then go to the Pan family..."

As Zhu Xiangdang listened, the rage in his eyes was soon replaced by a sharp, calculating gleam. "Brilliant, Boss. If this succeeds, Fang Wenbin and the Di family... Hahaha!"

"They will be finished for good."

"Let's see how that mongrel Fang Wenbin acts arrogant after this!"