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

The truck roared to life and arrived at the town's health center in less than twenty minutes.

Chen Zhi helped everyone open the truck bed door and helped carry the children out of the truck. After the children entered the health center, she closed the door. Knowing that Shi Xin's family would be very busy, she went home first without saying goodbye.

The basket and straw hat are still at the Shi family's house; she plans to take them with her next time she comes.

It was very hot, and there weren't many people on the road. Chen Zhi didn't slow down, and her clothes fluttered in the wind. The scenery on both sides of the road blurred into a blur. Before she could even react, she was already in Sandong Village ahead.

Meanwhile, at the local health center, the children gradually woke up and regained consciousness. Only when the doctor informed them that the children were healthy did the parents finally feel completely relieved.

"Where's your sister-in-law?" Shi Xin searched for Chen Zhi's figure in the crowd.

The other three members of the Shi family also remembered Chen Zhi and turned to look at her.

"Could they have gone back? I'll go check the car." Sister-in-law Shi jogged out the door, and returned a moment later. "I didn't see them. They must have gone back."

Aunt Shi slapped her thigh, "It's all our negligence. We let her go back like that, and we didn't even have a chance to thank her."

Uncle Shi also said, "If it weren't for her today, these children would probably be in grave danger. Eldest son, you must prepare a generous gift for them."

Shi Xin nodded, "Dad, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Sister-in-law Shi: "Xi Lang saved you, and his wife saved our three children. They are truly our family's benefactors."

Aunt Shi: "Both of them are capable people. We should visit each other more often. They live in the countryside, so it's a bit inconvenient for them to buy things. Eldest son, you should send them some things often."

Shi Xin: "Mom, I know. Xi Lang and Chen Zhi don't like to take advantage of others. We'll just continue to interact as we always have."

Aunt Shi: "Then you should visit Sandong Village more often, whether you have something to do or not. Relationships grow closer the more you visit each other, just like between relatives."

When Chen Zhi got home, she took a shower, changed her clothes, and then made herself something to eat. She didn't have the habit of taking a nap, so after eating, she started cleaning the old house.

Shi Xin is very efficient; he said he'd get himself some piglets, and they might be delivered to him in a couple of days. She needed to tidy up the house first to avoid being in a rush later.

After cleaning the house, Chen Zhi went to read a book and reviewed the characters that Xi Lang had taught her before.

As night fell, Chen Zhi lay alone on her bed in her new house, feeling a profound emptiness in both the house and her heart. She tossed and turned for a long time before finally drifting off to sleep, listening to the hooting of owls on the mountain.

Since she didn't have to work recently, Chen Zhi listened to the rooster crowing, turned over, and went back to sleep.

When she woke up again, it was already broad daylight; she had been awakened by urgent knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" Chen Zhi asked.

"It's me," Chen Peng said from outside. "Someone saw the Little Red Guards coming this way. Chen Zhi, quickly put away any things in the house that might cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhi panicked. She quickly put on her clothes, found a bamboo basket, put her clothes and quilt into it, and then took out another bamboo basket and put rice, flour, and cooking oil into it as well.

She carried two bamboo baskets out the door, where Chen Peng was still waiting. Looking at the contents of her baskets, Chen Peng asked in surprise, "Why did you bring everything?"

"I didn't bring everything; I left rice bran, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. In previous years, when they came to ransack my house, the grain was dumped all over the floor, and the blankets and clothes were also thrown on the ground, leaving many footprints," Chen Zhi said angrily. She didn't want anyone to ruin her things, so she brought everything with her.

Chen Peng thought about it and agreed. He pointed to the four hens under Chen Zhi's eaves. The four hens had grown from chicks into adult hens. He wondered how Xi Lang and Chen Zhi had been feeding them. The four chickens changed every day.

"Take that one away too. Last year, my family only had two chickens, and they took one away. There's no point in trying to reason with them."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhi immediately put the four chickens into the chicken coop without saying a word.

"The house can't be left unattended. If you trust me, I'll keep watch for you," Chen Peng said. He was worried that the Red Guards would be unhappy to see an empty house and that they would vandalize it.

Chen Zhi had also thought of this, and handed the key to Chen Peng, saying, "Then I'll leave it to you. If they take things, don't worry about it, just let them take them. Don't get into any conflict with them, and protect yourself."

Chen Peng nodded. "I know. They should be getting ready to enter the village. You'd better hide in the mountains."

Chen Zhi nodded, "I'll be going now."

Chen Peng watched Chen Zhi walk away. Actually, there was another reason why he didn't want Chen Zhi to stay: Chen Zhi was too eye-catching, and he was worried that people would take advantage of her.

Xi Lang has been gone for many days, why hasn't he come back yet?

Chen Zhi wasn't the only one who hid in the mountains; almost every household had someone taking their valuables to hide there.

"Chen Zhi, come quickly." Chen Da's mother waved to Chen Zhi.

Chen Zhi was taken aback, wondering if she had misheard.

"Oh dear, come here quickly, let's walk together," Chen Da's mother urged.

Chen Zhi then realized that the other person was calling her.

"Zhizhi saved my son Ada's life, she's a good girl," Chen Da's mother said to those around her. "I'm going with her today. If you have any reservations, we can separate."

The others looked hesitant.

"This is a good child," said an old man.

Chen Zhi knew her; she was her second aunt.

Auntie Chen examined Chen Zhi's face and nodded, "She has the appearance of someone destined for wealth and honor."

She could only tell that the child was incredibly wealthy, but she couldn't quite put her finger on how wealthy he was.

After hearing what the second aunt said, those who originally planned to leave stayed.

"Didn't the Chen family say before that she had a tough fate, that she would bring bad luck to her relatives, and that she was destined for misfortune?" someone asked, puzzled.

"Facial features are not static," Auntie Er explained.

"Oh my, Zhizhi's life has really improved now," said Chen Da's mother. "Tell me, besides the Party Secretary's daughter, isn't Chen Zhizhi the one who married the best?"

"That's true."

"That settles it then." Chen Da's mother smiled and leaned closer to Chen Zhi. "I was wrong before. I apologize to you. If there's anything you don't understand in the future, feel free to ask me."

Chen Zhi shook her head, "Auntie, you're being too kind. You didn't do anything wrong, so you don't need to apologize to me."

When Chen Da's mother, Cai Hongmei, saw that Chen Zhi's expression was normal and there was no reluctance on her face, she knew that the other party was not angry with her. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Da had told Cai Hongmei before that Chen Zhi had saved his life, but Cai Hongmei didn't believe it. Her son was tall and strong, why would he need a maid to save him? She guessed that her son had seen that Chen Zhi had become beautiful and wanted to get close to her, so he made up an excuse.

The turning point came a little over a month ago when Chen Da brought back a talisman from Xi Lang. Even his second aunt couldn't do anything about it, but Xi Lang's single talisman silenced the incessant crying, allowing the whole family to squeeze into one room and get a good night's sleep.

This Xi Lang is quite capable!

She couldn't afford to offend such a capable person; in fact, she had to find a way to get closer to him. That's why she invited Chen Zhi to walk with her as soon as she saw him.

Chen Zhi was unaware of Cai Hongmei's ulterior motives and silently followed at the back of the group.

The group didn't go far; they stopped at a nearby mountain hollow.

Chen Zhi put down her things and sat down next to a large rock.

The commotion in the village was loud, but Chen Zhi could faintly hear some of it, including crying, shouting, and commotion.

Once upon a time, someone accidentally said in front of the Red Guards, "This is a bandit." That person was beaten half to death and thrown into a farm for reform. No one knows whether he is dead or alive now.

Chen Zhi also thought those people were bandits, but she never mentioned it to anyone. Every time they came, she would stay far away. Anyway, she was dressed in rags, dark and thin, and had nothing of value on her, so those people wouldn't care about her at all.

Everyone looked anxiously in the direction of the village, restless and uneasy.

"I hope nothing bad happens," Cai Hongmei murmured.

"When will this ever end? It's making everyone anxious and uneasy."

"Our village was considered relatively good. In the county and city, there were Red Guards everywhere on the streets. They would interrogate anyone they saw. Neighbors were always on guard against each other, and colleagues would often write letters of denunciation. Those were truly miserable days."

"No matter how bad things are, they're not as bad as us. They have government-supplied food, unlike us, who depend on the weather. Whenever disaster strikes, the villages have always been the most affected by starvation."

"We work hard all year round, but we still can't get enough to eat. Life is really too hard."

......

As everyone talked, it turned into a grievance session.

The sun rose higher and higher, and it was already noon. Chen Zhi had already eaten breakfast, but her stomach was growling with hunger.

She rummaged through the bamboo basket and took out some candy, giving one to everyone present.

"Oh, these are fruit candies, right? I just ate one a few days ago. I got two on the day Li Zhou'an went to the secretary's house to propose marriage."

"I also got two."

"I even ate Xi Lang and Chen Zhi's wedding candy."

"Yes, yes, our whole family got to eat some. Xi Lang gave out a lot of candy that day."

"Chen Zhi, where is Xi Lang?"

"An elderly person in his family is sick, so he went back to visit them."

"Oh, I see. No wonder you've been carrying water these past few days and I haven't seen him."

"Why didn't you go with him? You're married now, shouldn't you go and meet his family?"

Chen Zhi was stumped by the question, feeling a tightness in her chest. Actually, she also wanted to know why Xi Lang didn't take her along.

Just as Chen Zhi was at a loss, Chen Da arrived. "Mom, the Red Guards have left. You can go home now."

Upon hearing that the Red Guard soldiers had left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "They're finally gone. I hope nothing happened?"

Chen Da's face was contorted with anger. "They chopped down the pear tree at Grandma Zhen's house!"