"ah?"

Ruan Miaomiao, who was enjoying the freshly stir-fried pumpkin seeds that Zhou Taohua had just made, looked up at Ruan Wenbin when she heard his question, staring blankly at him:

"They are hardworking and kind, how could they possibly kill someone?"

It was Ruan Miaomiao who committed the murder.

Hearing Ruan Miaomiao's answer, Ruan Wenbin felt helpless: Indeed, these two girls are quite hardworking.

"Then why do they look like they're really enjoying serving you?"

Zhao Yajing, who was standing to the side, asked the question that Ruan Wenbin hadn't said.

Ruan Wenbin immediately gave Zhao Yajing a knowing look before turning to Ruan Miaomiao.

Ruan Miaomiao shrugged innocently and calmly said in a tone that was infuriating:

"Perhaps, maybe, it's because I'm pretty!"

"..."

The two were speechless.

However, they couldn't refute this statement. Ruan Miaomiao was indeed very beautiful, the most beautiful person they had ever seen: with a face as beautiful as a flower, skin as smooth as cream, and a slender waist like a willow.

If it weren't for her excessive strength, she could be considered a delicate and gentle woman...

******

At the educated youth settlement, after a long day's work, the educated youth, their legs aching and their feet weak, began to chat while washing up:

"Oh dear, it's true that different people have different fates."

We're all educated youth sent to the countryside, but look at us, who among us is living as comfortably as Ruan Miaomiao?"

The speaker's tone betrayed an undisguised sourness.

Another envious person chimed in, "Let alone the educated youth sent to the countryside, I doubt many city workers are as well off as Ruan Miaomiao."

"That's right, we educated youth were supposed to go to the countryside to receive re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants. But look at that Ruan Miaomiao, does she look like she's being educated at all?"

"Ha, what can we do when we don't have a division commander as a father?"

...

Hearing these sarcastic remarks, Zhou Weihong coldly said, "Commander Ruan's position as division commander didn't fall from the sky. He earned it by risking his life on the battlefield."

Instead of saying these things here, we should read more of Chairman Mao's quotations, constantly reflect on ourselves, and ask ourselves if we have truly embodied the spirit of "cultivating a loyal heart in the vast countryside and remaining steadfast in our commitment to rural life!"

Zhou Weihong's words immediately ruined the atmosphere of the casual conversation, and the educated youth who had been chatting happily fell silent.

One of the bolder ones muttered under his breath, "What a hypocrite!"

Zhou Weihong shook her head helplessly, sighed, and walked out.

Watching Zhou Weihong's departing figure, the educated youth behind her began to grumble discontentedly:

"What are you pretending for? Still clinging to your rural roots! I have no desire to settle in this wretched place!"

"Exactly, if there had been any other option, who would have wanted to come to this wretched place and suffer?"

"He always puts on a serious act and speaks up for Ruan Miaomiao. If he wants to flatter Ruan Miaomiao, he doesn't have to step on us!"

"Yeah, if you didn't know better, you'd think Ruan Miaomiao and she were very close. But actually, she has a division commander as her father. Who would know that Zhou Weihong is just some nobody?"

...

Separated by an earthen wall, listening to the educated youth's conversation, Zhou Weihong's face grew increasingly grim. She shook her head helplessly, picked up a dustpan, and headed towards Qinglong Mountain, intending to dig up some wild vegetables before it got completely dark.

In the kitchen of the educated youth settlement, Li Yuying, who was adding firewood to the stove, suddenly had a thought when she heard the name of Ruan Miaomiao's "commander father":

Yes, Ruan Miaomiao has a division commander as her father.

The one who came with us today is Ruan Miaomiao's third brother.

If I were to win over the man who was with Ruan Miaomiao today, wouldn't I then have a father-in-law who is also a division commander?

At that time, Ruan Miaomiao will have no choice but to call herself sister-in-law.

Just thinking about this scene made Li Yuying feel completely refreshed!

God knows what kind of hardship those educated youth endured during those days.

Because of the misconduct of Zhao Xiuyun and Shen Qingming at the educated youth settlement, the settlement's reputation was ruined.

Originally, some educated youth who couldn't endure hardship wanted to compromise and find a suitable person in the village to marry and live a better life.

However, with these two people around, the reputations of both men and women in the educated youth settlement were ruined, and the villagers were wary of them, as if they were afraid of getting involved with them.

Later, it was revealed that Zhao Xiuyun had killed Zhou Weijie, the second scoundrel, and the villagers ostracized the educated youth even more.

Being ostracized means that you'll only be assigned the hardest and most tiring jobs when you're on duty.

Even the women in the educated youth settlement couldn't escape the heavy work of carrying manure to the fields. When planting crops, the task of disposing of manure was always theirs.

Not only was I exhausted after a long day, but I also smelled terrible.

In this situation, Li Yuying desperately wanted someone to pull her out of her misery.

Ruan Wenbin, who came with Ruan Miaomiao, is a very good match:

He comes from a good family, seems to be a soldier, is good-looking, and tall.

Aside from having a not-so-likable younger sister, she's perfect in every way!

Having made up her mind, Li Yuying wanted to find an opportunity to get close to Ruan Wenbin and try to win him over in one fell swoop...

Sitting in the courtyard, enjoying a local specialty hot pot of cured pork and beans with Ruan Miaomiao, Ruan Wenbin couldn't help but remark:

"Miaomiao, no wonder you still came to the countryside after the New Year."

You're living the life of a god here! If I were in your shoes, I'd want to come too!

Ruan Wenbin finally understood that his sister didn't have to do any work here; two girls were vying to do it for her, and even her food was delivered to her.

That's not all; no matter what she does, people always praise her.

These days are just too awesome!

For a moment, he even felt a pang of jealousy.

He leaned close to Ruan Miaomiao and whispered:

"Miaomiao, what do you think? Should I go back and ask my parents to arrange for me to come here to work in the countryside?"

Looking up at Ruan Miaomiao's yard, Ruan Wenbin pointed to the storage room and said, "It's perfect timing. You built two rooms. When I come, my brother and I will each have one."

When Ruan Wenbin mentioned her little house, Ruan Miaomiao objected: she could have continued renting Zhou Weiguo's house, but she insisted on paying to build a new one, just so she could live comfortably and freely.

Every part of this courtyard was built according to her living requirements, even the height of the kitchen, the shower facilities in the toilet, and the flush toilet, all were built according to her wishes.

Besides, she went to the countryside precisely to get away from the Ruan family, to let time fade their impressions of each other, and to let them accept her changed self.

If Ruan Wenbin really comes, what's the point of her going to the countryside?

Without even thinking, Ruan Miaomiao rejected Ruan Wenbin in her heart.

However, she didn't say "no." Instead, she looked up at Zhao Yajing, who had just come out of the kitchen to get rice.

"Sister Yajing, my third brother has also fallen in love with this place and wants my parents to help him get a job in the countryside. Would you like to come along?"