The poor girl from the 1970s was forced to kiss by the damp educated youth.

"Xi Lang, there's a snail on the rock!" Chen Zhi exclaimed in surprise, waving the snail in her hand.

If you can't catch fish, eating snails is a good alternative.

Xi Lang had never eaten river snails before. "Are they tasty?"

"It's delicious." Chen Zhi went to the shore to get a bucket. "But I don't know how to cook it, otherwise I could make it for you to try."

"I can learn," Xi Lang said, though he wanted to cook for her even more.

The two began to collect snails in the river.

Chen Zhi, who had given up hope of catching any fish that day, unexpectedly caught a few catfish, a few loaches, and two large eels while searching for river snails. Xi Lang, on the other hand, caught nothing but river snails.

The bucket was full, and the two men came out of the water.

The midday sun was scorching hot, and even with wet clothes, I wasn't cold; it was just that the clothes clung to my body, revealing the curves of my figure.

Chen Zhi had always thought Xi Lang was thin and weak, but now she realized how wrong she was. The young man before her had broad shoulders and a narrow waist; even through the fabric, one could see some muscle definition. The muscles might not be large, but they were definitely not skinny. His legs were straight and long, making one both envious and jealous.

She's really good-looking!

Chen Zhi stared at Xi Lang in a daze, unaware that Xi Lang was also looking at her. In the past six months, Chen Zhi had entered her rapid development period. The once dark and thin bean sprout had now become exquisitely shapely with beautiful curves. Her already fair and snow-white skin, glistening with water droplets, was even more dazzlingly beautiful in the sunlight.

Xi Lang's eyes darkened. He could barely suppress the malice in his heart, wanting to hide her away from everyone else and make her belong only to him.

"Go back." His voice was slightly hoarse.

Xi Lang carried the bucket in front, with Chen Zhi following behind. Xi Lang had long legs and big strides, so he would pause slightly every two steps to make sure Chen Zhi wasn't left behind.

Chen Zhi noticed that Xi Lang had taken a detour; to be precise, Xi Lang was deliberately avoiding people. She didn't ask why, and was even secretly pleased, as she didn't want others to see the soaking wet Xi Lang.

By the time they reached the village entrance, their clothes were almost completely dry.

Xi Lang escorted Chen Zhi to her doorstep. "Want to have dinner at my place?"

Chen Zhi was uncertain, "I might not be able to go out."

Xi Lang was visibly unhappy.

"I'll try my best to get out," Chen Zhi added.

Xi Lang hummed in agreement, "You can arrange it as you see fit. If it's inconvenient for you, then don't come."

Chen Zhi went home, took a shower, and washed her dirty clothes before the rest of the family returned.

"Who found these snails? There are so many!" Chen Fu immediately noticed the bucket full of snails.

"What a huge catfish, almost as thick as my wrist. And this loach is so fat, it's rare to see such fat loach. Hey, these two are eels, I almost thought they were water snakes! They're so big, where did you catch them?" Chen Da grabbed this one and then that one, and when he looked up, he saw Chen Zhi hanging clothes to dry on the side.

"Zhizhi, did you bring these back?"

"Yes, I caught it in the river this morning."

Which part of the river?

"At the chicken's beak."

"Are there really fish that big there? You're not kidding me?"

"I was there all morning, and someone saw me."

"You'll take us there this afternoon."

"No, I'm tired, I can't walk."

The snails need to expel sand, and the catfish, loach, and eel are still alive. They need to be kept alive until tomorrow to be slaughtered and served to our distinguished guests.

Chen Zhi ate the porridge with only a few grains of rice and bit into the bland, unsalted vegetables, her face contorted in pain.

Sure enough, it's hard to go from frugality to extravagance, and even harder to go from extravagance to frugality. She had no desire for the meals at home anymore.

In the afternoon, Chen Zhi stays home to twist straw ropes and weave straw sandals.

After the sun sets in the west, she still has to carry water to water the ground.

Before it got dark, the family had already started eating dinner.

After the meal, no one was in a hurry to go to sleep. The adults went to the village's threshing ground to chat, while the children went there to play and have games.

Chen Zhi quietly headed towards the educated youth settlement.

Xi Lang had already cooked dinner: a pot of cold rabbit, a plate of cold black fungus salad, and a plate of stir-fried bok choy.

He lit a kerosene lamp and some mugwort to repel mosquitoes. He sat quietly at the table, motionless, like a stone statue. Only when he heard familiar footsteps did he seem to come alive and suddenly turn his head to look.

Their eyes met, and Chen Zhi's heart skipped a beat.

Xi Lang stood up and pulled out a chair for her. "Don't just stand there, come over here."

Looking at the untouched food and the two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, Chen Zhi was glad she had come.

"It smells so good!" she exclaimed.

Xi Lang sat down and placed a piece of rabbit meat on her plate. "Eat more."

The people at the educated youth settlement were also eating.

A pot of stir-fried mixed fish, with more chili peppers than fish.

Occasionally, someone would cry out in pain after eating chili peppers, while others would burst into gloating laughter.

"The shrimp and fish are delicious, let's continue tomorrow."

"Uses too much gas!"

"Then boil it in water."

"I'm fine with either."

"By the way, what did Xi Lang cook tonight? It smells so good, it doesn't smell like fish."

"If you're curious, just ask."

"I wouldn't dare. I feel like Xilang is a bit scary today."

......

Chen Zhi glanced at Xi Lang silently, realizing that she wasn't the only one who felt this way.

Ignoring the noise from next door, Xi Lang put another piece of meat on Chen Zhi's plate, saying, "You're too thin, eat more."

"I have guests coming to my house tomorrow, so I might have to stay home," Chen Zhi said.

Xi Lang paused with his chopsticks, then said, "You can come out tonight."

Just like tonight.

Chen Zhi thought about it and agreed, "Okay, I'll come find you tonight."

Chen Zhi felt that Xi Lang was a bit clingy now, but she felt the same way; she wished she could be with Xi Lang every moment.

Xi Lang kept putting food on Chen Zhi's plate, and Chen Zhi accidentally ate too much.

"I'll take you home, as a way to digest your food after dinner," Xi Lang said.

"No rush, I'll wash the dishes first." Chen Zhi felt a little embarrassed to leave right after finishing her meal.

"It's okay, I'll wash it when I get back." Xi Lang helped Chen Zhi up, and once she was steady, he let go of her.

The moonlight, gentle and clear, fell softly, and a few fireflies flitted about, twinkling like fallen stars.

As Chen Zhi watched Xi Lang's retreating figure, perhaps because the night was so beautiful, she thought that if this road never ended, she would be willing to walk with him forever.

Xi Lang paused, walked to Chen Zhi's side, and said, "Let's walk side by side."

Chen Zhi didn't ask why they were walking side by side. Their arms brushed against each other from time to time, and a secret pleasure and excitement arose spontaneously.

They all slowed down, but the road was too short. Before they could even react, the Chen family's gate was already in front of them.

"Let's go back," Xi Lang said.

Chen Zhi hummed in agreement and walked home, her back pierced by the intense gazes that seemed to burn her alive.

Another night has passed.

Today, guests are coming to the house, and Chen Zhi noticed that everyone was wearing their nicer clothes. Chen Zhi, however, was wearing her older outfit. She was hesitating whether to change when she heard her grandmother say to her, "After breakfast, you'll go into the mountains."

Chen Zhi asked, puzzled, "What are you going into the mountains for?"

"Do whatever you want, but you can't go home before it gets dark." Ding Fangfang said expressionlessly.

Chen Zhi was taken aback. "Why can't we go home?"

Ding Fangfang frowned, looking displeased. "Your cousin is going to have a marriage proposal today. What are you doing at home? Are you trying to bring bad luck to your cousin? Don't you know you're cursed with bad luck?"

Chen Zhi remained silent. Was she unlucky? She brought so much food home, and they still thought she was unlucky?

"In short, you can't stay home today. If your cousin's marriage doesn't go well because of you, I'll skin you alive," Ding Fangfang said viciously.

Chen Zhi pursed her lips, shifting her gaze from Ding Fangfang to her mother, only to find her mother with her head down, as if she hadn't heard anything. She then looked at the others, who were all doing their own things, avoiding her gaze one by one.

Ah!

What is she expecting?