She saved her own food rations to make chicken soup for her daughter; she even took apart her own cotton-padded coat in the dead of winter and knitted a sweater for Su Yueyue overnight.

That doting affection he had for his daughter was genuine and unadulterated.

Even outsiders couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh – the bond between this mother and daughter was truly profound, so profound that it was both enviable and heartbreaking.

"Brother, I really didn't do this! Why don't you believe me?"

Su Yueyue's eyes were red and swollen with tears. Her voice trembled and choked with sobs, as if she had been wronged by the whole world. "You raised me since I was a child. You cooked for me and mended my schoolbag. You know what kind of person I am. How could I possibly harm our father? He's my own father!"

She spoke with tears streaming down her face, almost moving everyone who heard her.

Su Yicen kept a cold face and pursed her lips, refusing to respond to her words at all.

His gaze was like a nail, driven into the soil beneath his feet, as if even glancing at her was an insult.

That deep distrust, like a thin thorn, silently pierced her heart, causing her chest to ache and making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

It's not that she's not afraid.

She was terrified of this indifference, terrified that this family would completely push her away.

But she was even more afraid of the truth being exposed, and of losing everything she had already gained.

So she can only act; the more realistic her acting, the safer she is.

"Ignore her and get back to work."

Zhu Xiuqin glanced at Su Yueyue, her brows furrowed tightly, like a knotted rope.

The more she looked at the girl, the more disgusted she felt; the more she looked, the more nauseous she became.

I used to think she was delicate, quiet, spoke softly, and walked without any swagger; she was a pitiful little girl.

Now I realize it was all an act.

On the surface, they are as docile as lambs, but in reality, they are as venomous as snakes.

Only when her true colors are revealed do we realize how heartless and disgusting she is.

Perhaps we spoiled her too much in the past, letting her eat first at the dinner table, letting her rest while working, and even when she made a mistake, we always downplayed it and let it go.

Because I spoiled her so much, I never saw her true colors.

Now, her every word and action reveals the true nature of her, the scheming hidden behind her smiles and the indifference behind her tears.

"Okay, Mom!"

Su Yicen responded with a low but firm voice.

He picked up the hoe, slung it over his shoulder with practiced ease, and turned to walk towards the edge of the field, not even sparing Su Yueyue a second glance.

The wind ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead, revealing his cold, stern eyes—there was no longer any warmth, only resolute indifference.

Su Yueyue bit her lip, her fingertips turning slightly white, and her lips were already marked with red marks from biting them.

She slowly turned her head, her gaze searching for Zhu Xiuqin's figure, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, as if if he were to turn around and look at her, or say a word, she could still stand firm in this indifferent crowd.

But they had already reached the other end of the field ridge, their steps swift and decisive, without even a moment's pause.

Sunlight fell on his broad shoulders and back, casting a distant and indifferent silhouette, not even bothering to show her his back.

She didn't expect that not a single person would even bother to talk to her.

All the insincere small talk and deliberate enthusiasm of the past have now vanished.

She was like a speck of dust, blown by the wind into a forgotten corner.

"Su Yueyue! Are you just standing there like a wooden doll? Aren't you going to do anything?"

Su Wanshan's voice suddenly exploded, rough like sand rubbing together, startling her so much that she trembled as if she had been awakened from a dream.

He gripped the hoe even tighter, his knuckles turning white from the effort, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his palms.

Tears welled up in her eyes, hot and stubborn, but refused to fall.

But nobody was looking at her.

Nobody paid any attention to her.

No one cared whether she felt wronged or heartbroken.

It was as if she was the only person left in the world, standing alone on this patch of yellow earth, surrounded by indifferent gazes and mocking eyes.

The older women glanced at her from afar, rolled their eyes, and muttered something unintelligible, their expressions full of contempt and disdain.

When she first returned to the village, many people came up to her and asked: "Oh, isn't this the girl who came back from the city?"

She has a fresh, fair complexion and looks like she's blessed with good fortune. Her skin is delicate and smooth, and she walks with an elegant air.

At that time, many families in the village were thinking to themselves – this girl must be well-mannered and know the rules. If they could marry her, wouldn't that bring honor to their ancestors?

The storefront itself looks presentable!

Now?

Hmph, I want to avoid her whenever I see her.

Who would dare to propose marriage now?

Who would dare to get involved?

This girl has never done any manual labor; she can't lift anything with her hands or carry anything on her shoulders. She also lacks patience, and can even throw her hoe when she's just hoeing the ground. Furthermore, she's arrogant and speaks in a sarcastic tone, always thinking that she's superior to others.

Will you really marry her?

They're probably treating their home like a gambling table, making a huge fuss every day, making life unbearable!

"He has all his hands and feet, but all he knows how to do is slack off!"

A plump old woman sneered, "What a fine young lady, how did she end up looking like this? What a waste of such a beautiful face!"

"you do not say!"

Another chimed in, his tone sharp, "I even asked someone to propose marriage to my son. The matchmaker went twice, but his parents were always making excuses. Later I found out that she already had a terrible reputation in the village! Now that I see her, she's practically a jinx; anyone who gets involved with her will have bad luck for three years!"

"Are you out of your mind?"

The third woman scoffed and patted the other woman on the shoulder. "Back then, when Wang Chunhua married Su Qingzhi to Shen Zhiyu, she asked for a dowry of eight thousand eight thousand! A whole eight thousand eight thousand! Who in the surrounding villages wasn't envious? With your family's meager assets—three mud houses and an old sow—can you afford such a spectacle? What will you use to pay off the dowry? Will you pay off the debt with your life?"

"Just say you can't afford it!"

The man's face flushed red, but he still stubbornly shouted, "With her character, she's as stubborn as a mule, lazy, and has a mean mouth! I wouldn't even consider it bad luck to give her to my son! Whoever wants her can have her, I don't care!"

The words of the elderly women pierced my ears, like needles pricking my heart.

Su Yueyue bit her lip hard, her jaw clenched so tightly it almost bled.

Her fingernails dug deep into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks that stung painfully, but she couldn't feel it—her heart ached even more than her hands.

Her gaze shifted, and her eyes suddenly landed on Su Yicen, who was not far away—

The man was bending over, arranging the rice seedlings, his movements steady and his expression calm.

He was wearing a faded blue cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms.

He was an ordinary young man, yet he inexplicably exuded a reassuring aura.

perhaps……

Are there other options?

Isn't that right?

Although Su Yicen was not wealthy, he was down-to-earth and never gossiped or participated in idle chatter.

If only...

If I could find someone else to rely on and leave behind these cold-hearted people, perhaps I could start my life anew?

Thinking of this, she smiled faintly, like a spark suddenly popping out of ashes.

My heart immediately brightened, as if a crack had appeared in the dark clouds and sunlight was streaming in.