As Shen Qingming watched the two leave, chatting and laughing, he felt a pang of emptiness and pain in his heart.

These days, although he managed to coax a few girls in the production team to bring him food and even money and tickets.

However, after living with him for a while, Shen Qingming realized just how generous Ruan Miaomiao had been to him!

Even the little bit that slips through their fingers is far more than what these country girls give.

Moreover, having endured enough hardship, Shen Qingming, who spent his days either working or digging for wild vegetables, never mentioned going to the most remote and difficult places again.

She even secretly hated herself for thinking she had Ruan Miaomiao under her thumb and using the excuse of wanting to distance herself from the Ruan family.

Now, all he wants is to return to Ruan Miaomiao's side and back to the Ruan family's sphere of influence.

He was originally planning to coax Ruan Miaomiao back after the corn harvest, and ideally, to persuade the Ruan family to make a concerted effort to bring him back to Haicheng.

Even if Haicheng doesn't work, the county seat will do.

As for Zhao Xiuyun, she was no longer within his consideration.

When you can't even afford to eat, it's definitely not the right time to talk about relationships.

Little did he know, just when he had all his plans, Ruan Miaomiao found a boyfriend.

God knows, when he heard the news from Li Yuying in the morning, he felt like he had been struck by lightning, and he wanted to find Ruan Miaomiao to ask her for clarification.

Deep down, he felt that Ruan Miaomiao was using other men to provoke and pressure him.

That's what he hoped for too.

But just now, all he felt from Ruan Miaomiao's eyes was disgust and hatred!

It seems he has truly lost Ruan Miaomiao completely!

The moment Shen Qingming realized he had truly lost Ruan Miaomiao, his mind went completely blank:

what to do?

Am I really going to spend my whole life farming in the countryside?

Am I really going to become the peasant I despise?

Thinking of all this, Shen Qingming's vision went black, and he fainted...

But the villagers had already gone to work, so who would be here to watch him perform these love stories?

Only Zhao Xiuyun, who was hiding to the side, noticed him.

However, Zhao Xiuyun dared not get too close to Shen Qingming in public, so she could only find Feng Yong and others to take Shen Qingming to the production team's clinic.

Watching Shen Qingming being carried away, Zhao Xiuyun didn't follow, her mind in turmoil.

It seems like she and Qingming really lost Ruan Miaomiao!

Thanks to the Ruan family's help in her past life, she and Qingming didn't suffer much hardship when they went to the countryside.

However, this time, perhaps because of her rebirth, Ruan Miaomiao abandoned them.

The hardships she endured these days made her realize what kind of miserable life they would have to live without Ruan Miaomiao.

Fortunately, he managed to hook up with the brigade leader's son and Wang Heping, who became his sycophants. With their help, he wasn't in too much trouble.

This is also why she didn't dare to go up and help Shen Qingming up immediately when she saw him collapse on the ground.

If she acts too close to Qingming in public, how can she keep other men hooked up with her and give her benefits?

"Imperial Jade Liquor?"

As Ruan Miaomiao finished her work in the field and was walking back with her basket, someone suddenly jumped out of the cornfield and shouted this at her.

Following the sound, Ruan Miaomiao looked over and saw Zhao Xiuyun with an expectant expression.

In an instant, the phrase "180 yuan a cup" was swallowed back down and replaced with: "Are you crazy? Scaring people in broad daylight!"

Zhao Xiuyun did not give up after hearing Ruan Miaomiao's answer.

She had just sensed that Ruan Miaomiao hesitated for a moment.

She immediately continued, "Though the wind may be against me, it understands my heart..."

After saying that, he continued to look at Ruan Miaomiao expectantly.

Seeing that Ruan Miaomiao still didn't speak, he added, "Which company has the best excavator technology...?"

In an instant, Ruan Miaomiao realized: This person probably thinks he is reborn like her, right?

So, is this a test of her using these familiar tropes from later generations?

Surprisingly, she knew all these inside jokes.

However, those who struggle to survive in the apocalypse are very particular about keeping their mouths shut.

She didn't say anything, but instead slapped Zhao Xiuyun across the face.

After finishing, he looked at Zhao Xiuyun with disdain: "Zhao Xiuyun, are you trying to escape labor by pretending to be crazy?"

Let me tell you, this is the crucial time for the autumn harvest, and no one can shirk their labor under any pretext.

It's shameful to shirk work. If you dare to, I'll report you!

I refuse to believe that the Revolutionary Committee will let you off the hook…

"..."

Upon hearing Ruan Miaomiao's answer, Zhao Xiuyun didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

Good news: Ruan Miaomiao was not reborn and doesn't know about her past life when she and Qingming had an affair and she died of a stroke. She has no grudge against either of them.

The bad news is that although Ruan Miaomiao has no grudge against them, she doesn't seem to have any feelings for them either.

Could it be that my excitement after being reborn led me to confess to Qingming, and the butterfly effect caused everything to change...?

Watching Ruan Miaomiao's retreating figure, Zhao Xiuyun began to feel a deep sense of bewilderment...

Ruan Miaomiao, who had already walked away, appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was in turmoil:

Was I being too obvious?

It's incredible that Zhao Xiuyun would suspect she's been reborn!

Fortunately, I reacted quickly and managed to smooth things over.

However, I must be extra careful from now on and not let anyone find any fault with me.

Once again, Ruan Miaomiao felt fortunate for her decision to continue working in the countryside.

Even an outsider like Zhao Xiuyun could sense the changes in him. If he continued to stay in Haicheng, the Ruan family would likely notice something was wrong eventually...

******

"Hey, Brother Yun!"

Zhou Jingyun earned all ten work points for the day in one morning and hurriedly returned home, preparing to take his tools to the mountain to get some good food for Ruan Miaomiao to nourish her body.

The team was busy with the autumn harvest, and disappearing for a day or two would probably attract attention. So, he planned to wait until the harvest was over before going to the county town to get some good food for Ruan Miaomiao.

Little did they know, as soon as they stepped outside, they saw the brigade leader's youngest son.

As soon as Zhou Weijie saw him, he immediately came to greet him, as if he had been waiting for him on purpose.

Zhou Jingyun was busy preparing a delicious meal for his wife when he was stopped. His mood instantly soured, and his brows furrowed.

Zhou Jingyun had a bad temper to begin with, and many of the young men of his generation in the village had been beaten by him.

Upon seeing Zhou Jingyun frown, Zhou Weijie instinctively stepped back.

He stepped back a few paces before forcing a smile and speaking to Zhou Jingyun:

"Brother Yun, I heard you're dating Ruan Zhiqing?"

Seeing that Zhou Jingyun didn't seem inclined to speak, Zhou Weijie remained unperturbed and continued:

"Brother Yun, we used to pee and play in the mud together when we were kids. I never thought we'd both end up dating former educated youth. We're really good brothers!"