When Qin Yao saw Mu Jinghuai looking travel-worn, she thought she was seeing things.

She turned and closed the door, and Mu Jinghuai stood there in the frozen snow, watching the door that Qin Yao had closed.

Several people from the compound came together, and when they saw that Mu Jingheng had been locked out of the house by Qin Yao, they kindly pulled him to the male educated youth's dormitory.

In Northeast China, people sleep on large kang beds, with many people sleeping on one kang.

Everyone's indoors playing during this hibernation season.

Everyone looked over curiously when they saw Mu Jinghuai in his military uniform.

The man who led Mu Jinghuai into the house was Shao's grandson. He was about the same age as Mu Jingheng. His father had signed him up to be an educated youth in the countryside. The main reason was that he was good at nothing at home, but he was the best at eating. During those difficult years, he managed to gain a lot of weight.

The reason we signed him up for the rural service program was simply to let him experience the hardships of life.

So when he went to the countryside for several years, his family rarely sent him anything. If they did send him anything, it was clothes. They would never send him food or money.

However, this person was a natural optimist with a good ability to adapt. He was also not pretentious and quickly integrated into the life in the village, living quite comfortably.

He protected the women who came with him quite a bit, especially Qin Yao. Too many people had designs on her. If it weren't for him, the Qin family would probably be too far away to help her, and even having local people to take care of her wouldn't have helped.

Someone mustered up the courage to ask, "Qifeng, are these your family members?"

Shao Qifeng replied with a smile, "This is my older brother who lives in the same compound. He came to visit us this time."

"Brother, it must be very cold in Northeast China. Take off your shoes and get on the kang (heated brick bed) to warm up."

Shao Qifeng waved his hand and said, "You guys have fun, I'm going to talk to my brother."

Although it was cold outside in Northeast China, it was quite warm inside. Mu Jinghuai had recovered by now.

After pouring Mu Jinghuai a cup of hot water, Shao Qifeng sat down next to him and whispered, "Jinghuai, why did it take you so long to come see Sister Yao? She's had a tough two years. You know Sister Yu, right? She couldn't take it anymore after a year here, and her family wouldn't take care of her. Luckily, a cadre from the commune took a liking to her, so she married him. Now, overall, she's doing alright. Jinghuai, many of us female educated youth who went to the countryside married local men. Some did it voluntarily, and some were forced into it. Sister Yao is beautiful, you know!"

Mu Jinghuai patted Shao Qifeng on the shoulder and said, "Thank you, Qifeng! I know you must have helped a lot. I'll remember you as my sweetheart."

Shao Qifeng scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Hey! Brother, what are you saying? We're all from the same compound, we're practically brothers and sisters, how could I not protect you?"

Mu Jinghuai: "You've lost so much weight, do your family members know? Aren't your parents worried about you?"

Shao Qifeng pouted and said, "What's there to feel sorry about? They only signed me up to go to the countryside because I'm too fat. They've been so generous. They haven't sent me a single bite of food in the past few years, not even money or tickets. But their decision was right. I've learned a lot here and I've also learned how hard life is."

Mu Jinghuai: "Then your parents' hard work has not been in vain. Have they said when you can return to the city?"

Shao Qifeng shook his head and said, "My parents say it's safer in the countryside. If someone as clueless as me went back now, I might just be a disaster."

Mu Jinghuai had to admire the Shao family's vigilance.

This is a critical period, and Kyoto is actually not safe.

The Mu family has weathered the storm, but they can't afford to let anyone take advantage of them. So they still need to be careful. He has to admire his younger brother in this matter; otherwise, the Mu family would probably be gone by now in Kyoto.

Mu Jinghuai: "Your parents are right."

Shao Qifeng then asked, "Brother, do you know why Sister Yao came to the countryside?"

Mu Jinghuai shook his head.

Shao Qifeng leaned closer and whispered, "Someone told Sister Yao that you like ambitious people. That person said that it is most honorable for educated youth to go to the countryside to help with rural development. They also said that you once said that if you weren't in the army, you would also go to the countryside to help with rural development. Sister Yao decided to go to the countryside at the last minute in order to keep up with you."

Mu Jinghuai frowned. When had he ever said something so brainless? Besides, he had planned to join the army and make a name for himself since he was a child. He never even thought about going to the countryside.

Mu Jinghuai: "Do you know who said that to her?"

Shao Qifeng: "It was said by the daughter brought by Yu's sister's stepmother. Isn't she a classmate of Yao's sister? I heard they have a good relationship."

Mu Jinghuai thought carefully and realized that Qin Yao had been accompanied by a withered girl for a period of time, but he had forgotten what the girl looked like.

Shao Qifeng chuckled twice and said, "Brother, if I'm not mistaken, that stepdaughter has fallen for you. She must know how difficult it is to be an educated youth, so she's thinking that she might be able to ruin Sister Yao, thus eliminating a competitor for her. I've seen this kind of trick many times, but Sister Yao values ​​you too much, so she hasn't thought that far ahead."

Mu Jinghuai thanked Shao Qifeng again, saying that this kid was no ordinary person after all.

Mu Jinghuai stayed with the male educated youth, and he didn't shy away from it, taking every opportunity to get close to Qin Yao.

I didn't realize it before, but after thinking it through, I realized how much I liked Qin Yao.

They were both interested in each other, so they started dating the next day.

Since they were still hibernating during the winter, the two decided to go back to Kyoto together to finalize their marriage.

After dropping Xu Xinning off at class, Mu Jingheng went to find Xu Yao.

This time, Xu Yao's yard was no longer full of potholes, but it still looked desolate.

Mu Jingheng didn't have a key to Xu Yao's house; he climbed over the wall to get in.

When he came last time, he left Xu Yao a lot of food. Several months have passed, and now his kitchen is destitute again, with only a few sprouted potatoes lying forlornly in the basket.

Mu Jingheng knew where Xu Yao hid the grain, but he was not giving up, so he went to check the place where the grain was hidden, and it was still empty.

It has to be said that Xu Yao is really ruthless to himself.

Mu Jingheng sighed. For the sake of his future right-hand men, he filled his granary again.

Xu Yao was startled when he opened the door and saw Mu Jingheng.

Having not seen him for several months, he assumed that Mu Jingheng had only taken pity on him back then. After all, Mu Jingheng was a member of the Mu family, so it was only natural that he would forget about him.

Having experienced so much over the years, Xu Yao didn't have many expectations, so his heart wasn't greatly affected.

However, he was still grateful to Mu Jingheng for helping him during his most difficult time.

Seeing Mu Jingheng again stirred something within him. For some reason, he suddenly felt that this young man could really help him out of his predicament.