When Jiang Ren carried his great-grandfather back home, his grandmother was cooking. In the countryside, without natural gas, mealtime was heralded by wisps of smoke from the chimneys.
Seeing her husband brought back pale-faced on someone’s back, Grandmother inquired about the incident and then berated the old man. She had no choice but to boil water for him to bathe and then tend to his sprained foot.
Great-grandmother was overcome with gratitude towards Jiang Ren. If not for him, her husband’s old bones would have been left in the fish pond.
“Young man, change your clothes first, don’t catch a cold. We don’t have much to repay you with, but please stay for a meal before you leave.”
With hot water ready, the life-saving benefactor naturally got priority.
Seven or eight fluffy yellow chicks scampered around the courtyard.
Jiang Ren could bear it no longer, feeling he was about to suffocate from the stench. Especially with Meng Ting helping to boil water and find clothes nearby.
He asked Grandmother where to find water, then went to draw some from the well in the backyard.
He had never used a hand-cranked well before, but he was strong. Once the water came up, Jiang Ren, disregarding the temperature, took off his shirt and doused himself.
Inside the house, Grandmother said to Meng Ting, “Tingting, find a towel and clothes for that young man and take them to him.”
With the old man’s injured foot, Grandmother still had to help him change and bathe in the inner room.
Meng Ting responded with a clear “Yes.”
She found a clean towel, but for clothes, she could only use Great-grandfather’s. Fortunately, the old man used to be a teacher, and students had gifted him some new shirts. Though the colors were dated, they were unworn. She also found a pair of new trousers.
However, realizing his underwear would be wet too, her mind went blank for a moment.
What could she do? She couldn’t possibly find underwear for him. Grandmother, being old and forgetful, had overlooked this detail.
Meng Ting steeled herself. Jiang Ren would surely stay at a hotel that night; he could buy some then.
She skipped this step, leaving it for him to deal with. Then Meng Ting found Jiang Ren in the backyard.
He was shirtless, and as soon as she arrived, she saw his sturdy, broad back and lean waist.
Meng Ting hadn’t expected him to start washing without any clothes ready. How carefree. She turned around in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed red.
Hearing her, Jiang Ren noticed her turn away and sneered. He felt no discomfort and continued washing.
Meng Ting went back inside to find a clean bag, packed everything, and brought a small stool, placing it by the door. Without looking at him, she politely said, “Clothes and shoes are here. They’re unworn. Our conditions aren’t great, so please make do for now.”
Jiang Ren finished washing and went to the storage room to change.
The clothes were dull and of poor quality. He frowned in disgust.
Then he rummaged through the bag, raising an eyebrow.
“Meng Ting.”
Meng Ting was pouring water outside when she heard him call. She guessed what he might say and felt immediately uneasy. However, they truly owed him for his help today.
She slowly walked over and gently knocked on the door: “Yes?”
“Don’t I need underwear?”
His bluntness made her want to hit him!
Meng Ting bit her lip, her ear tips turning red. Grandmother was still in the house, so she lowered her voice, “Can you buy some yourself tonight?”
“No.”
She was at a loss. Jiang Ren wasn’t at fault here; he had done them a favor, so any request wasn’t unreasonable. She said softly, “Then I’ll ask Grandmother, she might have a solution.”
The next moment, the door suddenly opened.
She instinctively closed her eyes.
Jiang Ren leaned against the doorframe, looking down at her.
She was still wearing that Republican-era style blouse, her long lashes fluttering as she asked, “Have you dressed?”
Jiang Ren didn’t answer, just looking at her. Before coming, he had many whys to ask her.
Why did she treat him like this, why did she prefer Xu Jia? But now, beside her, with a thousand pear trees in bloom, she tiptoed to gently remove a petal for him. He no longer wanted to ask anything.
At this moment, as she shyly discussed the underwear situation with him, he suddenly felt his anger dissipate.
Never mind, she never liked him anyway, so why be angry with her? She didn’t understand.
He said lazily, “Mm.”
Meng Ting opened her eyes cautiously, not daring to ask if he had put on underwear. Most likely not. It was April, and spring air carried a hint of restlessness. She said, “I’ll go find Grandmother.”
He held her shoulders: “Not allowed.”
Meng Ting looked at him with her almond eyes, and he smiled: “Not allowed to go. I have some pride, you know? If I don’t wear any, so be it. It’s just for an hour or two.”
She didn’t want to go either. Discussing someone else’s underwear with Grandmother? She’d rather find a hole to crawl into.
He said she wasn’t allowed to go, and Meng Ting blinked, softly agreeing.
However, she also felt like laughing.
Jiang Ren had a bad temper, usually acting all high and mighty, but now… he was going commando.
Although it wasn’t very kind, he often bullied her before, so now she tried hard to suppress her amusement. Only her eyes sparkled brightly.
Afraid she might laugh out loud and anger him, she hurried to the kitchen to serve the meal.
Meng Ting brought out the dishes, set the table, and then went upstairs to call her great-grandparents for dinner.
Grandmother had finished helping Great-grandfather change and helped him downstairs.
Not knowing they’d have a guest like Jiang Ren, they had prepared only simple home-cooked dishes.
Great-grandfather took out a bottle of baijiu, wanting to pour some for Jiang Ren: “Thank you for today, young man.”
He kept thanking him, and Jiang Ren smiled, glancing at Meng Ting who was eating seriously: “It’s nothing, just happened to be there.”
He knew to be polite now.
Meng Ting held her chopsticks, watching in disbelief as they drank glass after glass.
Grandmother was also very enthusiastic, praising Jiang Ren non-stop. How the young man was kind, handsome, good-hearted, and even asked where he was from and what brought him to Pear Blossom Village.
Meng Ting’s bright eyes stared at him, afraid this troublemaker might say something inappropriate and get kicked out.
Meeting her eyes, he answered leisurely: “I’m from B City, came here to find my girlfriend.”
Meng Ting: “…” She couldn’t say anything, only silently continued eating.
Seeing it involved personal matters, Grandmother didn’t ask further.
The family ate early; they finished by 5:30 PM.
The sky hadn’t darkened yet, with only occasional barks from dogs.
The young man ate two bowls of rice. He wasn’t picky and had a good appetite. After eating, he said goodbye. He held the clothes he had changed out of, intending to throw them away.
Jiang Ren smiled: “I’ll wash the clothes and return them to you.”
Great-grandfather said: “Don’t be so polite, we’ve troubled you. In the future, Xiao Ren, if you need any help, just ask.”
Jiang Ren: “I won’t be shy about it.”
“Such a forthright young man.”
Meng Ting supported her great-grandfather, suddenly unable to lift her head.
Fortunately, he didn’t cause any trouble or say anything that would make Great-grandfather chase after him. He left as he said he would. The town had hotels and supermarkets. A short bus ride, and he’d be there in about ten minutes.
After the guest left, in the evening, Grandmother rubbed medicinal alcohol on Great-grandfather’s foot. Suddenly, she slapped her forehead: “Oh my, this old woman was so flustered this afternoon.”
“What’s wrong?”
Grandmother went to Meng Ting’s door, about to knock. Meng Ting had just finished washing up and was texting Mr. Shu to report she was safe.
Grandmother reached the door and sighed, never mind, Tingting probably forgot too. Asking a young girl about this would embarrass her.
The elderly couple slept early, usually by 8 PM.
That year, the countryside sky was beautiful. Meng Ting’s bed was by the window, allowing her to see the twinkling stars in the ink-black sky.
This was where her mother, Zeng Yujie, grew up. She couldn’t help but get lost in thought. Great-grandfather had sprained his foot due to the accidental fall into the water, and wouldn’t be going out for a long time. This meant he wouldn’t experience the fall down the slope in April that broke his leg in her previous life. She had warned Great-grandfather, and with this recent scare, he promised not to go.
The thing she had been worrying about seemed to have passed just like that.
At 8:30 PM, her basic phone buzzed.
Meng Ting thought it was Mr. Shu, fished it out from under her pillow, lit up the screen, only to find it was an unknown number.
[I’ll be waiting for you at your house]
No need to guess who it was this time! She frowned in her blanket, and stuffed the phone back, planning to pretend she was asleep.
The next moment, the monotonous ringtone sounded, particularly jarring in the night. She tensed up and reflexively hung up.
“…” Great, now he knew she wasn’t asleep.
Meng Ting typed on the keypad [It’s late, go to sleep]
The reply came almost instantly [Can’t sleep, how about I chat with your great-grandfather?]
Meng Ting angrily got up from bed [Wait a moment]
When she went downstairs dressed, sure enough, there was a tall, slender figure in the moonlight.
His phone screen was lit, not far from the wheat field. Come autumn, it would be a sea of gold, surrounded by the soft chirping of insects. The spring in F City had the comfort of spring and the warmth of early summer.
She had changed into a pair of pants but still wore the soft yellow blouse.
Jiang Ren had also changed clothes, presumably having sorted himself out at the hotel.
Meng Ting was a bit afraid of him but had to steel herself to approach.
As she reached him, she noticed the smell of alcohol. Meng Ting recalled he and Great-grandfather had drunk quite a bit during dinner.
“Why did you come?”
“Let’s talk further away.”
Meng Ting didn’t refuse, afraid of waking her great-grandparents.
Jiang Ren had saved Great-grandfather today, which also confused her. Would someone who became a serial killer in her previous life actively save people? For the first time, she felt curious about why this young man would kill in the future.
Only a few households in the village still had faint lights on.
Tonight was moonlit, gentle as water. Jiang Ren had an excellent memory for routes; he led her along the path lined with pear blossoms from earlier that day.
Although Meng Ting knew he wasn’t as bad now, she was still afraid of him. He was fierce when hitting people and unreasonable when bullying others.
“Alright, this is good enough.” Any further would be too far.
“Tired?”
“No.”
Moonlight covered the ground; she could see his features. The fierce-looking young man in the moonlight… still looked fierce.
There was a hint of amusement in his eyes: “Your great-grandfather said I could make a request. What do you think I should ask for, Meng Ting?”
Meng Ting’s heart raced: “What do you want? Don’t trouble him, he didn’t mean to today.”
“I won’t trouble him.” He couldn’t help but laugh, “How about troubling you instead?”
Meng Ting wanted to say no, but she also felt indebted to him and uneasy.
She finally nodded, her voice soft: “Don’t go too far.” She was truly afraid of him, “Dating is not allowed.”
Jiang Ren was about to speak.
She added softly, “Kissing is not allowed either.”
He cursed inwardly, unable to hold back a laugh. Seeing she was about to add more, “This isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed, are you making the requests or am I?”
Meng Ting’s face reddened, looking down at her shoetips, she said softly, “You.”
For some reason, her simple “You” sent his heart racing. Jiang Ren said, “Look at me.”
A thin crescent moon hung in the sky. She raised her eyes, clear and transparent.
All the discontent that had been simmering for so long, all those nights during the winter break that made him jealous enough to die. And that cold, icy snow on Christmas Eve. Suddenly, it all came rushing out frantically.
Before coming here, he had taken medication. Many mood stabilizers, but at this moment, they all seemed to lose their effect instantly.
He knew this was despicable.
But he had nothing that could make her like him, he had no other way.
He said, “Break up with Xu Jia.”