Carrying a bamboo basket filled with chicken and cornbread, Xu Wannin instantly became the center of attention wherever she went.
In these times, people were lucky to have brown rice and wild greens to fill their bellies. No one had enough oil to cook with, so when the smell of meat drifted through the air, everyone couldn't help glancing her way a few more times.
At the youth commune, Gu Jun had been waiting outside since early morning. He'd smelled the meat from a distance, his stomach growling non-stop, saliva almost dripping—but on the surface, he kept up that fake arrogant act, ready to take the food and then scold Xu Wannin to his heart's content.
She refused to sell the kids—how the hell is he supposed to make money now? Useless woman, always getting in the way!
Based on the original's memories, Xu Wannin quietly studied him. Thin body, dark circles, greasy hair, that pale, pampered face—obviously overindulged and sleezy. She wouldn't want him even if someone paid her!
Seeing her looking over, Gu Jun leaned lazily against the stone mill, pretending to gaze into the distance with a "melancholy poet" expression.
The old Xu Wannin used to fall for that act every single time. Unfortunately for him, there was a new Xu Wannin now—one who only found him disgusting. Just looking at his greasy face for more than a second made her want to gag.
To her surprise, the man who used to ignore the original now actually ran up to her.
"Xu Wannin! Didn't you see me here? Where the hell do you think you're going?"
He'd been waiting forever, stomach growling like crazy. Damn woman—couldn't even show up earlier with the food!
"I see you just fine. You're kind of hard to miss—big and annoying like that," she said dryly, walking right past him.
Gu Jun blocked her path, reaching out his hand. "Alright, give it here. And hurry up with that kid-selling deal. If you don't, I'll never talk to you again!"
Wow, she thought, that tiny brain of yours really works overtime, huh? Even from the 21st century, she could hear the stupidity echoing.
If she weren't holding the basket, she would've slapped him silly.
"Don't talk to me then. You think I care?"
Gu Jun froze, not expecting her to snap back. He grabbed her arm roughly. "What the hell's wrong with you today? Give me the food and I'll forget it ever happened!"
Xu Wannin rolled her eyes. Typical scumbag behavior—coveting someone else's food and still acting like he's doing them a favor.
"Give it to you? Oh, you've got some nerve. If you want good food, go ask your mama. I don't have such a shameless son!"
Her sharp accent—thick with a rural twang she'd just learned—caught the attention of nearby villagers. They started whispering.
"Hey, isn't that the Lin family's daughter-in-law? Wasn't she always cozy with that Gu fellow?"
"Pfft, only in the Lin family could a daughter-in-law talk like that. Any other family would've beaten her eight times a day!"
Hearing their chatter, Xu Wannin frowned slightly. Perfect, she thought. Time to fix my reputation and turn public opinion in my favor.
She was a modern woman who'd watched enough palace dramas to know exactly how to play this game. One sleazy man was nothing.
Putting on a righteously wounded look, she yanked her arm free.
"Comrade Gu," she said loud enough for everyone to hear, "we're classmates and came down to the countryside together. I've been taking care of you out of kindness, but you can't just keep leeching off me forever!"
Then she dabbed at nonexistent tears and accused, voice trembling, "I still have two kids to feed at home. Even real brothers can't rely on each other like that, let alone classmates!"
"When I refused to keep helping you, you started spreading rumors, ruining my reputation!"
She turned dramatically, grabbing the village head's wife's hand, forcing out a few tears. "Auntie, you know my husband's serving in the army. I'm raising two kids alone. Life's not easy, but I've always kept my head down and endured whatever I could…"
She paused, then glared at Gu Jun with tear-filled outrage. "But he's gone too far! It's one thing to ask for food, but he actually went to a broker and tried to sell my two children for money!"
"What?!"
The village head's wife gasped so hard she nearly choked. Trafficking children was a serious crime—it could get you executed! And if it got traced back, their entire village would be in trouble.
"Comrade Xu, you'd better mean what you just said!"
Xu Wannin's eyes shimmered, a tear threatening to fall as she pointed at Gu Jun. "He told me there were wild fruits behind the hill, lured me and the kids there—and that broker woman was waiting! Said if I handed them over, he'd get the money! I refused, and she pushed me down!"
She lifted her hair to reveal a bluish lump on her forehead.
"Oh my goodness…"
The village head's wife stared at the bruise, speechless with rage.
Everyone knew—no mother would ever sell her children. Gu Jun had truly crossed the line.
Xu Wannin's delicate face and slender figure made her look pitifully fragile, her watery eyes perfectly matching her "pure and bullied" act. The villagers' wives instantly sided with her, whispering harshly about Gu Jun.
Gu Jun's face flushed deep red. He pointed at her, shouting, "Don't make things up! You wanted to sell them yourself!"
"If that's true, then why didn't I sell them? And why did I end up beaten instead? Tell me, which mother would sell her own kids?!"
While she argued back, she subtly stepped behind a group of older women, trembling like a frightened flower in the wind—helpless and pitiful.
"Comrade Gu, you're scaring her!" one woman snapped.
"Exactly! If he dares yell like this in public, imagine what he does to her in private!" another added.
Now surrounded by angry village women, Xu Wannin peeked out from behind them and gave Gu Jun a small, victorious smile.
Outnumbered and overpowered, Gu Jun couldn't fight back. His face twisted with rage as he spat out, "Women and petty men—impossible to handle!" and stormed off.
Once he was gone, Xu Wannin stepped forward and wiped her eyes.
"Thank goodness you were all here, or he would've taken this basket of meat for sure."
"So he's been robbing you all along? We really misunderstood you, Comrade Xu."
The village head's wife took her hand warmly. "Well, since the kids are safe, let's just forget about that broker business, alright?"
If they reported the incident, the entire village would lose its "model village" title—and with it, hundreds of yuan in government subsidies. No one wanted that.
"Don't worry, Auntie," Xu Wannin said softly, lowering her eyes humbly. "I understand. The village's interests come first."
"Good girl. You really know how to behave for a city-educated youth," the older woman praised, patting her shoulder in approval. "If that Gu Jun dares bully you or your kids again, I'll personally deal with him!"
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Xu Wannin smiled sweetly. Perfect. Half the village aunties are now on my side.
Just then, a thin woman walked up. "Comrade Xu, you looking for my husband?"
"Yes, Aunt Tian. Is Uncle Tian home?"
She frowned. "What for?"
Uncle Tian—Tian Bao—had once been a high school teacher in town, but was sent down to the countryside during the political movement. He lived with the young intellectuals, but most people avoided him.
"I want to borrow a couple of books from him—to teach my kids how to read."
As she spoke, Xu Wannin slipped the bamboo basket into Aunt Tian's hands. "These are for you and Uncle Tian."
Everyone nearby stared in surprise. So the Lin family's daughter-in-law, the one everyone thought was stuck-up, actually knew how to handle people after all.