Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

The next morning, Li Xiangyang got up early.

The day was unusually sunny, and the sunlight shone on the thick snow in the yard, reflecting a crystalline glow.

This kind of weather is perfect for chopping wood.

Li Xiangyang got up very early and followed the route he remembered to arrive at a grove of trees.

There are many dead branches here, which are all excellent firewood.

He deftly broke off the dead branches and tied them into bundles.

Wow, people are already up the mountain chopping firewood so early!

With a gasp, Li Xiangyang looked in the direction of the sound and saw several educated youths picking pine cones.

After recognizing him, the group smiled and greeted him.

Li Xiangyang nodded in acknowledgment and continued with his work.

In his previous life, he had tried his best to please these people; now that he thinks about it, it's really laughable.

After chopping more than ten bundles of firewood, Li Xiangyang dragged them back to the village, and it was nearly noon.

As soon as I reached the gate of the courtyard, I heard voices coming from inside.

"Auntie, please don't bother. I'm here to relay the message from the messenger."

He knew that voice all too well—it was Li Xiaoyun's.

In his past life, this self-proclaimed superior female educated youth had humiliated him quite a bit.

Li Xiangyang sneered and pushed the door open to enter.

"Oh, Li Xiangyang's back." Li Xiaoyun sat on the kang (heated brick bed), looking at him arrogantly. "Why didn't you go hunting? Did you fail to catch anything?"

Li Xiangyang was busy putting away the firewood and didn't bother with her.

"What are you so smug about?" Li Xiaoyun persisted. "Do you know why I'm here?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to know," Li Xiangyang said calmly. "If you have something to say, say it; if not, please leave."

This attitude surprised Li Xiaoyun.

Where did Li Xiangyang, who used to fawn over Su Yan to please her, go?

"You..." Li Xiaoyun stood up angrily, "I'm here to inform you on behalf of the counselor! It's so cold, do you want to freeze to death on the mountain? The counselor said that, considering you helped the educated youth group before, you're allowed to come down the mountain with us for the winter."

As she spoke, she gestured with her chin, "If you were more polite, I might even give you a cotton-padded coat."

Li Xiangyang finally couldn't help but laugh out loud: "That's all?"

"What do you mean, 'just this'?" Li Xiaoyun's eyes widened. "Do you know how many people want to come down the mountain with us but don't even have the chance?"

"Then I wish you a safe journey." Li Xiangyang walked straight to the kitchen. "No need to see me out."

"You..." Li Xiaoyun's face turned pale with anger, "Don't be ungrateful! Do you think you can survive the winter on the mountain? It's freezing cold, and your house is drafty from all sides. Isn't it hard to endure? You're ungrateful!"

Li Xiangyang stopped and turned around: "This doesn't seem to concern you, does it?"

After saying that, he ignored her.

Li Xiaoyun stomped her foot on the spot and stormed off.

Just as I left the hospital, I ran into Su Yan walking towards me.

"Xiaoyun, what's wrong?"

"It's all because of that Li Xiangyang!" Li Xiaoyun said indignantly. "I really don't know what you saw in him before; he has absolutely no manners!"

“You’re right.” Su Yan tugged at her sleeve, her eyes flickering. “He used to be so good to me, he always did whatever I wanted. Now…”

She hesitated, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

Li Xiaoyun sneered, "What are you pretending for? He only acted that way before because he wanted to please you and make you his wife. Now that you're with Wang Ming, he's naturally showing his true colors."

"Wang Ming and I really have nothing going on..." Su Yan hurriedly explained.

"Really?" Li Xiaoyun gave her a meaningful look. "So you're planning not to go back to the city and instead live with Li Xiangyang?"

Su Yan opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Returning to the city was the dream of every educated youth. Any price to pay for it was worthwhile.

To be honest, no matter how good Li Xiangyang is, she doesn't want to spend her whole life with him.

"I want to go back to the city, but who can say for sure that it's possible..."

It's rare for Su Yan to speak so frankly.

Just then, an enticing aroma of meat wafted out from the courtyard.

The two female educated youths swallowed hard in unison.

"It smells so good..." Li Xiaoyun's eyes lit up. "I heard he hunted a deer a couple of days ago, he's probably stewing venison now."

The fragrance made Su Yan feel even more distressed.

In the past, whenever Li Xiangyang got something good, the first thing he thought of was sending it to her.

Now she can only smell it.

Seeing her like this, Li Xiaoyun suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Su Yan, to be honest, my family doesn't have any connections in the city, so the chances of us going back are slim. If you really don't plan to be with Li Xiangyang anymore, why don't you..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already quite clear.

Su Yan suddenly looked up, staring at her in disbelief: "You..."

“What? I didn’t say anything wrong,” Li Xiaoyun said matter-of-factly. “Anyway, you’re not planning to live with him, so you might as well let me have him. A hunter like that is quite a figure in the countryside.”

"You..." Su Yan was so angry she couldn't speak.

She never expected that Li Xiaoyun, who had always been on good terms with her, would try to steal Li Xiangyang away.

In an instant, a mix of emotions—bitterness, anger, and resentment—surged into my heart.

"Alright, don't be angry." Li Xiaoyun patted her shoulder. "Everyone's heading back to the city. Who isn't doing it for themselves? Aren't you too?"

These words were like a slap in the face, leaving Su Yan's cheeks burning.

“I’m not like you!” Su Yan said through gritted teeth, then turned and left.

Li Xiaoyun watched her retreating figure, a mocking smile appearing on her face: "Isn't it different? You have Wang Ming."

In the courtyard, Li Xiangyang was busy working in front of the stove.

The venison in the pot was stewed until tender and fragrant.

He added a spoonful of salt to the pot and was about to taste it when he heard the courtyard gate being pushed open heavily.

Looking up, he saw Su Yan.

"Li Xiangyang!" Her voice trembled slightly. "Did you do this on purpose?"

Li Xiangyang ignored her and continued to focus on the venison in the pot.

"You knew I was coming to see you, yet you deliberately chose this time to cook meat..."

"You're overthinking it," Li Xiangyang interrupted her calmly. "My mother and sister love it, that's why I made it. It has nothing to do with you."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, chilling Su Yan to the bone.

She then realized that the Li Xiangyang in front of her was no longer the silly boy who would do anything to please her.

"Li Xiangyang, you..."

"Get out," Li Xiangyang said without looking up. "And don't come back again."

Su Yan stood there, tears welling up in her eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall.

Just then, Li Xiaohua came home from school.

Upon seeing Su Yan, the little girl frowned, then quickly walked to Li Xiangyang's side: "Brother, are you stewing venison today? It smells delicious!"

"Okay, go wash your hands, it'll be ready soon." Li Xiangyang affectionately ruffled his sister's hair.

Su Yan felt a pang of sadness as she watched this scene.

She then realized that she had completely lost her place in Li Xiangyang's heart.

As she turned to leave, she heard Li Xiaohua's cheerful laughter behind her: "Brother, your cooking smells amazing!"