A crescent moon hangs in the sky, making the night seem even darker.
In the desolate mountains where no one should be, an anxious and helpless figure paced back and forth under a tree. Only when he saw the familiar figure in the darkness did Liu Chun breathe a sigh of relief.
As the others entered, Liu Chun called out to him in a low voice, "Brother Li."
Li Xian, dressed in black, tall and aloof, gave a cold "hmm" and handed the item to him.
Liu Chun's eyes welled up with tears, and he quickly reached out to take it, his voice filled with endless regret: "Brother Li, it's my fault. If I had listened to you that day, Xiao Liu wouldn't have been arrested, and I wouldn't have..."
Like a stray dog, he spent his days trying to evade the police.
When Li Xian stopped, he reminded him that the cops were definitely lurking in the shadows, waiting to wipe them all out, but Eighth Master didn't take it to heart, and Liu Chun naturally didn't care either.
Li Xian glanced at the sky and pursed his lips: "Take the money, don't stay in Lu County anymore, and don't show your face in front of Eighth Master."
Liu Chun understood: "Thank you, Brother Li, thank you so much."
Li Xian turned and left, and Liu Chun's trembling voice rang out: "I heard, I heard your parents... Congratulations, really congratulations, good people are rewarded, really, good people are rewarded."
Li Xian didn't turn around, but said, "Thank you, take care."
Liu Chun squeezed the money in his hand tightly, his heart filled with gratitude towards Li Xian.
Fortunately, Li Xian stopped in time, and those who were arrested happened to be rookies under Eighth Master. Apart from himself, who is now wanted by the police, no one would implicate Li Xian.
Liu Chun stared at his retreating figure disappearing into the night and murmured sincerely, "Thank you."
After delivering the things to Liu Chun, Li Xian returned to Luxian Village along the mountain road. His gaze fell on the clump of wild white chrysanthemums at the entrance, and he squatted down.
With a gentle gaze and a slight smile, she softly said to Xiaohua, "Nuonuo got first place."
The little flower swayed gently in the evening breeze, as if in response to him.
...
After the results were released, some people were happy while others were sad.
Xu Nuo ranked first in the county and third in the province this time, making her quite the star in Lu County.
The number of people coming to congratulate the Xu family almost broke down their doorstep.
These days, most families aren't doing very well, so some brought two cabbages, others brought some eggs, and Xu Jin'an happily accepted them all.
"Xiao Nuo."
Xu Nuo snapped out of her daze, smiled at the person looking at her, and asked sweetly, "Auntie, what did you just say?"
Xu Hongmei's smile froze. She had been trying to persuade her for so long, but the girl hadn't listened to a word she said.
She stood up, plopped down next to Xu Nuo, and enthusiastically reached out to grab her hand.
When he touched Xu Nuo's hands, which were as soft as tofu, he thought to himself that Xu Jin'an must have spent a lot of money raising his daughter; her hands looked like they had never done any work.
Xu Nuo was caught off guard when her hand was pulled, and she felt a little uncomfortable. She pretended to want to drink water, but subtly pulled her hand back and took a small sip from her cup.
She drank water with a refined manner, and her face was beautiful. Xu Hongmei felt more confident and said with a smile, "I'm telling you, you've become the top scorer in the county this time. That's really remarkable."
Almost everyone who came to the Xu family these past two days said the same thing, and she was so tired of hearing it that she felt like her ears were about to fall off. Xu Nuo smiled and said, "Thank you, Aunt. I have something to do. I'm going to visit my sister in Luxian Village today. Aunt, please stay here. I'll be going now."
Xu Jin'an hadn't heard Xu Nuo say she was going to Luxian Village, and asked curiously, "Why didn't you mention it? Are you going today?"
"Yes, we already made plans, I told you, you must have just forgotten."
Xu Jinan scratched his head and nodded: "Then Dad probably forgot."
Actually, going to Luxian Village was just a spur-of-the-moment decision for Xu Nuo. These past two days, guests at her home have been coming one after another like leeks, seemingly without end. She didn't want to stay at home dealing with these people all the time, so she decided to go to Luxian Village.
I haven't seen Xu Yan for several days. She must be feeling down after failing the exam. I'll go see her.
By the way...
Go find Li Xian again.
Xu Nuo left without a word, ignoring Xu Hongmei's expression as if she had something to say. She went straight back to her room to pack her clothes and left a few minutes later.
"Oh, this..." Xu Hongmei felt both regretful and displeased to see Xu Nuo leave so easily. She hadn't come today simply to give gifts and say nice things, but now that Xu Nuo was gone, she could only say to Xu Jin'an, "Jin'an, well, I came today because I have some really great news."
Xu Jinan had a good relationship with this cousin when they were young, so he politely asked, "What good news is it?"
Xu Hongmei has a large face and dark complexion, but her features are quite striking. However, she is laughing too hard right now, which makes her look rather strange.
“I work at a power plant, but our plant manager has a son who is also in the system.”
Xu Hongmei emphasized again: "He has a secure job. He's twenty-five this year and still doesn't have a girlfriend. Our factory director heard that Nuonuo got first place in the county this time, so he asked me to come and ask about it."
Xu Jin'an frowned. He realized what was going on. His cousin wanted to introduce a potential partner to Nuonuo. He shook his head and said, "Cousin, this won't work. Nuonuo is still young. There's no rush to find someone."
Xu Hongmei was displeased: "What do you mean 'not in a hurry'? Jin'an, don't let your studies make you stupid! A girl should take advantage of her youth to find a good family."
Xu Jin'an had his own thoughts, but he also echoed Xu Hongmei: "Yes, yes, but Nuonuo still has to go to university, so we should talk about it after she graduates from university."
“Going to university will take many years, how can anyone wait for her for so many years? This time, they asked me to inquire because she got the top score in the county. I think we can get married before she goes to university. When she graduates and comes back, she'll have a house and no worries about a husband. She'll just be able to enjoy life. Otherwise, when Nuonuo graduates from university, she'll be old. Where will she find someone so good?”
Xu Jin'an felt very uncomfortable when he heard Xu Hongmei say that. He put down his cup, sat up straight, and said calmly, "I'm not worried about Nuonuo. She's been likable since she was little and is also very good at studying. This time she got first place in the county. Director Chen from the county government even came to visit in person. We were going to invite Nuonuo to their house for dinner a few days ago, but her son had something to do in Shanghai and it got delayed, so we changed it to a few days later."
Xu Hongmei's heart skipped a beat, and she tentatively asked, "Is Director Chen's son not married either?"
Xu Jinan nodded with a smug look in his eyes: "Yes, he was last year's provincial champion, named Su Zhao. He's at Shanghai University, the same school as our Nuonuo. He's come to our house several times. He's very handsome and he's very respectful to me and Nuonuo's mother."
This was practically a direct statement. Xu Hongmei frowned slightly, thinking that if that were the case, then the factory director's family really wouldn't be a match for them.
It's all her fault for not asking around beforehand. She showed off at the factory, saying that her niece was the top scorer in the county this time. When the factory manager heard this, he came to ask her what Xu Nuo looked like and whether she had a boyfriend.
The factory manager has a 25-year-old son who is still unmarried. It is said that he has been asked to marry a lot of women, but he either finds them unattractive or too short.
Xu Hongmei immediately assured her that Xu Nuo was good-looking and definitely not dating anyone.
I didn't expect Xu Nuo to be so popular. Didn't she just waste her money on fruit?
As Xu Hongmei left, filled with disappointment, Xu Nuo had just arrived at the fertilizer plant gate, waiting for the tractor to go to Luxian Village.
At this moment, not far from her, at the back gate of the fertilizer plant, Duan San said anxiously, "Okay, Brother Li, don't worry, I've got it. I'll go back and pack it right away."
He was about to leave with his bicycle, but in his panic, he fumbled with his right foot several times without being able to get it on the pedal.
Duan San was so anxious he wanted to curse. Luo Chen hadn't been released yet, and Liu Chun had been arrested.
What kind of place is that police station? If someone goes in there, how can they possibly hide? I'm afraid the cops will find Li Xian's place soon.
Duan San finally managed to step onto the pedals when Li Xian's voice rang out again: "Duan San."
"Brother Li, you go ahead."
Li Xian's expression was very serious as he instructed him word by word: "There are four books in the right drawer. You must take them."
Duan San nodded and rode his bicycle quickly towards Luxian Village.
The tractor arrived late today, and Xu Nuo waited for almost half an hour.
Before getting on the bus, she wisely drank some herbal water, so she wasn't bothered by motion sickness much. However, it was a hot summer day, so she specially brought a wide-brimmed hat and a light pink dress, making her skin look as white as if it were glowing.
He stood out from the tractor beneath him and the villagers riding alongside him.
The villagers of Youlu County recognized Xu Nuo, but because of what happened with Shen Cuiping, no one dared to greet her.
Xu Nuo didn't bother with it and focused his gaze on the field ridges outside. After an hour of waiting, the tractor finally arrived at Luxian Village.
She paid the fare and got off, ignoring the villagers she occasionally encountered, and slowly walked towards Li Xian's house.
As she passed by, she overheard villagers chatting: "I heard that the organization gave him a subsidy of eighty yuan and also assigned him a job at a fertilizer factory."
"This kid is really lucky. Working at the fertilizer plant is a lucrative job."
"Lucky what? They've been carrying the burden of these old right-wingers' children for decades, what kind of life are they living here with Li Chengyan..."
"Isn't that Xu Nuo?"
"It really is that female teacher from before."
Why is she here?
"I guess the person who came looking for Xu Yan, the former educated youth, failed the exam, didn't he?"
"You don't know yet, do you? Xu Yan's younger sister, she got first place in the county exam, she's the top scorer!"
Xu Nuo didn't stop walking, and her voice gradually faded away.
It turns out Li Xian has been assigned a new job; no wonder he hasn't gone to see her for so many days.
"What if he's not home?"
Xu Nuo muttered to herself, looked at the things in her hand, and decided to go to Li Xian's house to check on things and water the plants in the yard.
...
The courtyard is full of plants and lush greenery.
The wooden door was open and unlocked, indicating that the person who went in was in a hurry.
The things that were originally piled up were cleared away overnight, and the land where Xu Nuo planted ginseng was also turned over, leaving no trace of the original planting. Only messy footprints could be seen on the yellow soil.
Xu Yan was in Li Xian's room at that moment.
Following Duan San's instructions, she carefully searched every corner of Li Xian's room, taking out anything that might arouse the police's suspicion, intending to carry it up the mountain and bury it there.
However, some things were troubling her.
For example, the double-sided fleece blanket, cotton quilt, brand-new pillows in Li Xian's room, and the food in the kitchen.
Previously, Li Xian was burdened by the right empress and the landlord, and had no source of income. He relied solely on the work points of the production team, so it was impossible for him to have these things.
If the police really find this place, how will Li Xian explain himself?
Thinking of this, Xu Yan quickened her pace, gathering the things together. She remembered what Duan San had said: "Remember, there is an iron box under Brother Li's bed. Make sure to clean out everything inside. There are letters and a few books in the right drawer. Brother Li specifically told me to take those books. Also, there are clothes. I've seen Brother Li's clothes before."
Xu Yan tied the box and the book into a cloth bag, intending to bury them on the mountain first. When she went out, she saw Li Xian's clothes and took them into her arms as well.
She hurriedly left the room.
Just then, Xu Nuo pushed open the courtyard gate.
The two stared at each other, both frozen in place.
Xu Nuo was surprised to see Xu Yan at Li Xian's house and asked curiously, "Sister...you, what are you doing here?"
Xu Yan tightened the clothes in his arms and made up a story: "I...I came to wash Brother Li's clothes."
do the laundry?
Xu Nuo frowned slightly, her gaze falling on Xu Yan's arms.
It was indeed Li Xian's clothes, which dimmed the smile in her eyes.
She looked at Xu Yan: "Washing clothes? You're helping Li Xian?"
Xu Yan was preoccupied with something else and didn't notice Xu Nuo's unusual behavior at all. She swallowed and nodded, "Yes."
Xu Nuo hummed in agreement and said, "I just remembered I have something to do, so I'll be going now."
After saying that, she turned and left, her back straight, her steps normal, and she walked quickly toward the village entrance.
Fortunately, there was plenty of fertilizer today, and the tractor hadn't left yet when Xu Nuo arrived.
On the way back to the city, Xu Nuo sat in the car, lost in thought.
Although today's events were unpleasant for her, deep down she still believed in Li Xian and Xu Yan's character.
Only she knows how Li Xian has treated her these past few days.
She planned to go directly to Li Xian and get to the bottom of things.
At this moment, the two women sitting next to Xu Nuo began to speak, their voices loud and unabashed: "You know that Luo Zhiqing who left, right?"
Xu Nuo was taken aback, then heard another voice: "I know, you mean him and that Xu educated youth, right?"
"Oh, you know that? I heard that during the flood in Gaoshan Village, the female educated youth slept in the male educated youth's bed."
"Tsk tsk tsk, how shameless. Now that she's gone back to her hometown, I bet that woman is going to cry."
Xu Nuo turned her head and looked at the two of them coldly.
The two men had originally intended to say it to Xu Nuo, but now, frightened by Xu Nuo's gaze, they opened their mouths but dared not say anything more.
He thought to himself: Oh, they do shameful things and don't even want people to talk about it.
Seeing that they had shut up, Xu Nuo looked away.
His brows were furrowed tightly.
In the original book, it seems that around this time, rumors started circulating about Luo Chen and Xu Yan.
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