Chapter 686

Picking up mushrooms was a small task, but cleaning the soil and removing dead branches and leaves took far more time than expected. The three sat in the courtyard, working until past 1 p.m. to finish.

After washing a basket of milk-cap mushrooms, Li Heng told Yu Shuheng: “I’ll cook lunch myself—stir-fried cured pork.”

Yu Shuheng had exercised more today and was slightly hungry. “Fine, go ahead.”

In the following days, the two often hiked up the mountain to forage for wild delicacies or visited the tea hills across the valley to admire the scenery. Yu Shuheng seemed especially fond of the lush, terraced tea hills, often taking her camera and dragging him along, staying for an entire morning.

She sat on a rock and sighed, “Your village is perfect for retirement—I really like it.”

Li Heng sat beside her. “Retirement? No thanks. Even beautiful places get boring if you see them too often. Coming back for ten or fifteen days every now and then keeps it fresh.”

Yu Shuheng glanced at him, half-smiling. “You’re only twenty and already bored of your hometown? By forty, will you be replacing every woman who’s with you now?”

Li Heng: “...”

He countered: “Don’t put it like that. This mountain village is remote, lacking everything—healthcare, economy, culture, infrastructure—all lag behind.”

Don’t laugh at me, but if a farmer accidentally gets bitten by a venomous snake, he might not even survive. Over the past years, villagers have died from snakebites almost every year. Now that you know that, do you still think this place is beautiful?”

Yu Shuheng froze, then fell silent.

July 8th, morning.

After breakfast, Li Heng and Yu Shuheng got into the Mercedes.

Before leaving, Yu Shuheng took two expensive watches from her bag and gave them to the elderly couple. “Dad, Mom, I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought these randomly. I hope you don’t find them too crude.”

The watches were too valuable; Li Jianguo and Tian Rune felt they burned in their hands. But remembering their daughter-in-law’s family background and wealth, they glanced at Li Heng, saw he didn’t object, and gladly accepted.

Tian Rune held Yu Shuheng’s hand and whispered, “Shuheng, come home often when you have time. Keep in touch. And about what I mentioned—hurry up. I’m still young enough to help raise your children.”

Yu Shuheng’s heart ached, but her face beamed with a smile. “Okay, I’ll try my best.”

The Mercedes drove off; Yu Shuheng leaned out and waved.

The elderly couple walked all the way to the road, waving until the car disappeared from sight.

Back home, Li Jianguo asked: “Did you bring up the baby issue again with Shuheng?”

Tian Rune sat on the bamboo chair, sighing. “I’m afraid this advice went straight down the drain. This past week, I carefully checked Shuheng’s underwear laundry and the trash bin—not a single drop of blood, not even a tissue.”

Li Jianguo didn’t know how to respond. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and smoked silently.

Tian Rune asked: “Shuheng is beautiful, refined, charming—she’s clearly intelligent. Why isn’t she in a hurry? What’s she thinking?”

Li Jianguo exhaled smoke. “Of course she’s anxious—otherwise she wouldn’t have come back with our son. You’re missing the point. I don’t blame Shuheng. The problem’s probably with Manzai.”

Tian Rune caught on. “So you think he’s still dead-set on marrying Song Yu?”

Li Jianguo said: “Nine times out of ten.”

Tian Rune asked: “Then what do we do about Shuheng?”

Li Jianguo had no answer. He didn’t know what to do either.

After a while, Tian Rune thought of Wang Runwen and shook her head. “Shuheng lacks backbone. She’s too accommodating to your son. That’s not good.”

Li Jianguo, unusually defiant, spoke up: “Shuheng hasn’t even married into the family yet, and she’s this tolerant. I think that’s admirable. You say she lacks courage—but you can’t even manage your own child. Why blame her?”

Tian Rune widened her eyes. “Did I raise Manzai alone? His womanizing—whose fault is that? Isn’t it yours?”

Li Jianguo’s head throbbed. He hadn’t cheated on anyone, yet he always got blamed. Raising such a son was a curse—he was constantly scolded by Run’e.

…

As the car passed through Shaodong County, Li Heng suddenly spoke: “I’ll explain the baby issue to my parents myself. Don’t worry.”

Yu Shuheng exhaled in relief. “Good.”

Then she asked: “Where are you getting off?”

Li Heng said: “I need to go to Shaodong. Drop me at Chengnan Park.”

Yu Shuheng didn’t press further about Shaodong. At Sangesikou intersection, she turned onto a rural road to pick up Wang Runwen.

She asked: “Wenwen quit her job. What are you planning to do with her?”

Li Heng understood her meaning. “For now, just leave it like this. Wait until Zijin gets pregnant first.”

Hearing this, Yu Shuheng smiled knowingly, and her jealousy vanished instantly.

She didn’t know why, but she always felt compelled to compete with Runwen on this matter. She hoped Li Heng would consummate their marriage first, then consider Runwen.

The rural road was short—barely two or three li to the Wang family ancestral home. Wang Runwen had already packed her bags and was waiting for them.

Wang Runwen asked: “Are you hungry? Should we eat lunch before leaving?”

Yu Shuheng shook her head. “Not hungry. Let’s go to Changshi first—we’ll eat there.”

After quitting, Wang Runwen felt lighter and more cheerful. “Alright, let’s go straight then.”

Entering Shashi, Li Heng got out at Chengnan Park.

Wang Runwen asked: “When are you returning to Shanghai?”

Li Heng said: “Probably around the start of the semester.”

Wang Runwen glanced at her friend, waved her hand. “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you in Shanghai until September.”

“Alright.” Li Heng replied.

It wasn’t a deathbed farewell—he turned and walked away without hesitation.

Watching his back, Wang Runwen asked: “Did you gain anything from this trip?”

Yu Shuheng said: “He changed his mind.”

Wang Runwen spun around sharply. “That much?”

Yu Shuheng nodded with a smile. “It’s just a pity…”

Wang Runwen pressed: “What’s the pity?”

Yu Shuheng briefly explained Li Heng’s plan for the first child.

After listening patiently, Wang Runwen said: “Giving the first child to Chen Zijin is excellent—I’d even prefer it be a boy. That girl has suffered too much.”

Yu Shuheng remained silent.

Wang Runwen tilted her head. “Are you upset inside?”

Yu Shuheng scoffed. “Why should I be upset? As long as it’s not Song Yu or Zhou Shihe having the first child, I can accept it.”

Wang Runwen thought for a moment. “Even if that’s what you say now, stay alert. If Song Yu or Zhou Shihe act unpredictably, it’ll be hard to handle.”

Yu Shuheng said: “Song Yu won’t. But with Zhou Shihe—I can’t be sure.”

Wang Runwen asked: “You still don’t understand her?”

Yu Shuheng shook her head, speaking her true thoughts for the first time: “She’s young and frail, but she never shows her emotions. Her depth is terrifying. Every time I face her, I feel an inexplicable dread—I’ve never felt this with anyone else.”

Wang Runwen blinked. “That serious?”

Yu Shuheng said: “Knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory. Since I’m uncertain facing her alone, I chose to reach a silent understanding with Song Yu for now.”

Wang Runwen clicked her tongue, sarcastic. “You’re fighting over a man like you’re vying for the empress’s throne. You’re not the Yu Shuheng I used to know. Good luck.”

Yu Shuheng didn’t mind. “Wait until you face Zhou Shihe yourself—you’ll understand. Don’t mock too soon.”

Wang Runwen crossed her arms. “What do I fear? I bet she never marries Li Heng. As long as she’s not the official Lady of the Li family, she can’t control me.”

…

Chengnan Park.

When he arrived at the hilltop clearing with his newly bought gifts, he immediately saw Maidong and Maisui—father and daughter—watching an old man play the suona under a tree.

Li Heng crept up quietly, tapped Maisui gently on the shoulder from behind.

Maisui turned instantly. Her eyes lit with fleeting surprise as she saw him. Softly, she said: “You’re here.”

Hearing her voice, Maidong looked over.

Li Heng greeted warmly: “Uncle.”

“Ah, have you had lunch yet?” Maidong smiled.

Li Heng shook his head. “I just had breakfast—not hungry yet.”

Maidong said: “Then let’s head back to Shaodong first.”

Li Heng replied: “Alright, thank you, Uncle.”

“No need to thank me. You and Maisui are classmates and friends—don’t be so formal.” He led them toward the minivan.

The minivan was parked near the park’s main entrance. Li Heng opened the door and got in, then asked Maisui: “Are Shihe and Mannin at your place?”

Maisui whispered: “It’s too hot, so I didn’t bring them. Our hometown’s at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by forests, bamboo groves, and rivers—much cooler.”

Li Heng looked up at the blue sky and white clouds. “It’s sweltering. If I could avoid it, I wouldn’t step outside on days like this.”

Maisui’s hometown wasn’t in the county—it was in the countryside, just over an hour from Shashi. They chatted and laughed, arriving quickly.

As soon as they stepped inside, Li Heng met Sun Mannin, who was washing Zhou Shihe’s hair beneath a osmanthus tree.

Seeing him, Sun Mannin shouted loudly: “Hey! Big spender! You finally show up! If you don’t come soon, the snails will starve!”

Li Heng realized: “You picked up snails?”

“We did! I’m telling you, the reservoir’s packed with them—everywhere! We collected two huge buckets that day. Look—over there, in the water tank by the wall, they’re soaking in clean water.”

Li Heng walked over and stared. Wow! At least sixty or seventy pounds—each snail large and gleaming, clearly raised in pristine water.

Sun Mannin asked: “All of these for spicy snails?”

Li Heng rolled his eyes. “If you ate them all, you’d be a pig and still couldn’t finish.”

Sun Mannin huffed. “Who says? I could eat a whole pig.”

After bantering, Li Heng greeted Ma’s mother and Maisui’s grandmother, presented his gifts, and chatted with them for a while.

Ma’s mother had already slaughtered a rooster. She told her husband: “You cook. I’ll tend the fire.”

She felt her cooking wasn’t as good as his, so she said this.

Thinking how much time they’d spent to pick him up, Li Heng interjected: “Uncle, if you have business to attend to, go ahead—I can cook.”

Maidong smiled and shook his head. “No need. Business has been slow these past few days—I usually stay home.”