The only thing that upset Cheng You was what Cheng Wenyu had said. Otherwise, she felt the entire day had been wonderful.
Cheng You took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and leaned against her headboard, drying her hair absently.
She was never one to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just because her mother hadn't met a good man didn't mean good men didn't exist in the world.
On the contrary, her own capabilities were limited, and she needed a man to help her escape the mire of the Cheng family.
If that person were Qi Chengyan, she would be overjoyed.
Cheng You lay on her bed, a smile curving her lips, and drifted off to sleep peacefully.
For the next few days, Cheng You followed Uncle Li up the mountain to gather herbs.
Due to the busy farming season, many people were injured while harvesting rice or suffering from heatstroke.
Even with Cheng You's help, they were sometimes overwhelmed.
Cheng You couldn't imagine how Uncle Li would manage if she weren't there; he would surely be exhausted.
Despite the hard work, she inadvertently discovered the secret of the condensation dew.
Over the past few days, the condensation dew, which was originally only five centimeters in diameter, had clearly expanded somewhat through repeated "plus one" actions.
At first glance, it was about the size of a dinner bowl.
This also helped her find a pattern: only by doing good deeds, like Lei Feng, could the condensation dew regenerate.
The condensation dew became her motivation for working.
After seeing off the last patient, Cheng You slumped onto the steps like a deflated fish.
San Leng ran in from outside and said, "Sister Cheng You, Brother Yan is going up the mountain, are you going!"
Uncle Li raised an eyebrow. "Chengyan is going up the mountain, why are you telling her?"
Qi Chengyan could drive a tractor and had been helping with the farm work these past few days.
If Cheng You wanted to find him, she could just go to the fields.
San Leng chuckled. "Sister Cheng You asked me to keep an eye out for her. Going up the mountain allows for private space. With so many people watching in the fields, who would dare talk about romance?"
Cheng You glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed. "San Leng, you're spouting nonsense!"
"Who's spouting nonsense? Do you dare say you have no ulterior thoughts about Brother Yan?"
Uncle Li didn't see anything wrong with it. If men could propose, why couldn't women pursue the men they liked?
However, he still offered a reminder: "That Chengyan kid is a bit rigid. Don't provoke him."
No one liked being secretly watched, especially someone like Qi Chengyan who had served in the army.
Cheng You mumbled, "I just want to know where he's going."
She wasn't a mind reader, so she had to find a way.
After he carried her home last time, they hadn't spoken in days.
Not only hadn't they spoken, but they could barely even see each other.
She had to figure out how to break off her engagement with Zhao Yunlin, and at the same time, try to interact with him more. It was exhausting.
She wanted to go to the educated youth point, but it felt too conspicuous. She could only wait for him to go up the mountain, and then she could use the excuse of gathering herbs to get close to him.
But today was just too tiring...
"Sister, are you still going? Don't let Brother Yan go down the mountain without you."
Cheng You thought for a moment, then stood up with her tired body.
She picked up her carrying basket and slung it over her shoulder.
Uncle Li let out a chuckle. "You're really going all out."
Despite Qi Chengyan's upright appearance, he was a novice when it came to romance. Encountering a beautiful and clever girl like Cheng You, who knew a few tricks, was uncertain whether it was a blessing or a curse.
Cheng You tilted her chin up, her small, palm-sized face lifted.
"Of course. I'm putting my heart into it."
San Leng accompanied her to the halfway point of the mountain and didn't go any further. He called out, "If you find anything good, give me a share!"
Without Cheng You these past few days, his luck had plummeted.
Cheng You waved her hand. "Don't worry, you won't be left out."
With that, she carried her basket up the mountain.
Indeed, she found quite a few medicinal herbs, and finally discovered a wild Polygonum multiflorum. However, digging it up was a bit troublesome.
Cheng You used both hands, holding a stick to dig the soil.
"Cheng You?"
Before she could dig up the Polygonum multiflorum, she heard Qi Chengyan's voice.
His tone was uncertain, and only when he confirmed it was her did his gaze slightly darken, and he looked her over.
"What are you doing here?"
It wasn't his first time here, but it was the first time so late at night, encountering a girl on the mountain.
Qi Chengyan had been tricked before, and the person who did it was a woman, so he was somewhat guarded in this regard.
Especially after being overcome by the softness of the girl's body that night, now that he had calmed down, he felt how absurd it was.
Cheng You blinked innocently. "I was up the mountain with Uncle Li gathering herbs today. I saw this wild Polygonum multiflorum here. Uncle Li said it's worth some money, so I secretly came up to dig it."
Qi Chengyan's gaze lowered, and he saw the dirt smudges on her fair, delicate face. She was holding a stick and digging, and it didn't look like she was acting.
His suspicion dissipated, and he walked over.
"Let me help you."
Otherwise, she would be digging until tomorrow.
Cheng You stuck out her tongue and handed him the stick.
"Educated Youth Qi, thank you."
With Qi Chengyan taking over, Cheng You sat down beside him contentedly.
She looked at the bamboo rat Qi Chengyan had placed nearby and felt a pang of envy.
People with abilities could eat meat every few days.
Soon, Qi Chengyan dug out the Polygonum multiflorum for her.
It was quite large.
"Educated Youth Qi, I'll give you half of this Polygonum multiflorum, since you helped me dig it."
Qi Chengyan said indifferently, "No need."
He had no use for it.
Cheng You didn't insist further, but instead, packed the Polygonum multiflorum into her basket and slung it over her shoulder.
Qi Chengyan walked ahead, and Cheng You followed behind, keeping her distance.
His indifferent back seemed to tell her that what happened that night was just a dream.
She could clearly feel that Qi Chengyan wasn't completely unaffected.
Cheng You pouted, glanced at her feet, and a sly expression flickered in her eyes.
She suddenly let out a scream and lunged forward.
Fortunately, Qi Chengyan, who was in front, reacted quickly and turned around to catch her.
His strong, powerful arms held her securely. The warmth and softness in his embrace reawakened the memories of the past few days.
God only knew how many times he had chanted the mantra of purity to suppress those absurd thoughts.
Because of this one action, it all fell apart.
Qi Chengyan stiffly set her down, his voice low and hoarse, "Watch your step."
Cheng You pouted her red lips. "Educated Youth Qi, why don't you carry me? The road is too difficult to walk."
Qi Chengyan turned and strode forward. "It's not appropriate."
"You've carried me before, what's not appropriate about it?"
Qi Chengyan: "An unmarried man and an unmarried woman, and you are engaged, so it's not appropriate."
Cheng You huffed, "But I told you, I'm going to break off the engagement!"
"It's not broken off yet."
He was utterly cold and ruthless.
Cheng You bit her lip. "But I can't walk anymore, I want you to carry me."
Qi Chengyan still didn't turn around. "Then stay here."
To Cheng You's disbelief, the man actually walked away.
She had dragged her weary body up here precisely to have some alone time with him.
And he just left like this!
Hypocrite! A hard stone!