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

Li Xiangyang looked at Su Yan, whose eyes were glistening with tears, but felt no emotion whatsoever.

"Su Yan, stop bothering me. We're really not a good match. I like Li Xiaoyun, and she likes me too. She worries about me, cares about my family, and even suggested I come talk to you. She didn't come because she didn't want to embarrass you."

The cold wind howled outside, making the windows rattle slightly.

Su Yan's shoulders trembled slightly, whether from the cold or something else, it was hard to tell.

"You want to like me? I can really like you too," Su Yan said eagerly. "Just give me a chance, and I'll cherish it."

“Su Yan, that’s not liking her,” Li Xiangyang shook his head slightly. “You’re just unwilling to accept it. Like a little girl who doesn’t want a toy anymore, but feels sad seeing someone else playing with it.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yan's face turned pale.

This analogy is indeed apt.

"Alright, let go. I truly hope that from now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Let bygones be bygones. When you go back to the city, change your environment, meet more people, and you'll find that life is far broader than you imagined."

Li Xiangyang turned and walked towards the door. "You should get some rest. I'm leaving now."

"Wait." Just as Li Xiangyang was about to step out of the room, Su Yan suddenly spoke, her voice surprisingly calm.

Li Xiangyang stopped, but did not turn around.

"Congratulations on your marriage." Su Yan's voice was gentle, as if the earlier commotion had never happened. "Please thank Xiao Yun for me, thank her for thinking of me so much. Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble on your wedding; I'll send you my sincerest blessings."

Li Xiangyang paused for a moment, then nodded slightly, pushed open the door, and walked out.

A cold wind, carrying snowflakes, rushed towards my face.

Through the window covered in frost flowers, Su Yan watched the receding figure, her tenderness instantly turning into coldness.

The tears in her eyes gradually dried, replaced by a kind of fanatical obsession.

Yes, the toy analogy is very apt!

But she would never allow anything she didn't want to fall into the hands of others, even if it meant destroying it.

She walked to the table, picked up a handkerchief, and wiped her face hard, a twisted smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

Returning to the city is the priority now. As for Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun's marriage, she will not only not stop it, but will also watch them get married happily.

The wedding dress should be bright red, the bridal chamber should be warm and cozy, and everything should be perfect and complete, so as to match her future plans.

"Li Xiangyang! You think this is the end of it?"

She muttered through gritted teeth, her voice filled with twisted glee, "I refuse to believe there's any man in this world who doesn't cheat! Just you wait, I'll let your good wife see with her own eyes how I snatch you back and then throw you back to her like trash!"

……

As Li Xiangyang walked home, he recalled his conversation with Su Yan and felt that something was off.

That final blessing came so suddenly, like the calm before a storm.

However, he couldn't imagine what else Su Yan could do.

"Never mind, let's take care of business first." Li Xiangyang shook his head, temporarily suppressing his worries.

The most important thing right now is to finalize the matter of separate households.

The next morning, Li Xiangyang went to Zhang Lao's house.

As soon as the courtyard gate was opened, a strong smell of medicine wafted towards them. Chu Qingxuan was simmering Chinese medicine over a low flame in the courtyard.

"Xiangyang is here." Old Party Secretary Zhang leaned slightly on the kang (a heated brick bed). Although his face was still a little pale, his spirits were much better than when he was hospitalized.

"Old Party Secretary, are you feeling better?" Li Xiangyang asked as he entered the house.

"Much better," Old Party Secretary Zhang said with a smile. "It's a shame Qingxuan has to suffer in the countryside with this old man like me."

Chu Qingxuan walked in carrying a bowl of medicine: "Grandpa, what are you saying? I'm perfectly fine here."

She placed the medicine bowl on the kang table and then tucked the quilt on the kang into the old Party Secretary's bed.

"Li Xiangyang, have you had breakfast?" Chu Qingxuan asked, her tone natural, as if she were talking to a familiar neighbor.

"I've already eaten, thank you," Li Xiangyang replied politely.

“Old Party Secretary, I’ve come to discuss the matter of dividing households with you,” Li Xiangyang said bluntly.

"Separate households?" The old Party Secretary blew on the medicine bowl. "Tell me about it."

"Well, I'm not getting any younger, and I'm at the age to settle down. I'd like to build a house on the land belonging to Old Zhou across the street. I heard they've all moved to the city."

The old Party Secretary nodded: "Yes, that piece of land is indeed vacant. I've heard about what happened between you and Li, the educated youth; it's time to move out and settle down."

He said this calmly and naturally, without any hint of regret or pity.

As he's gotten older, he's become more shrewd. He knows that matters of the heart cannot be forced, nor should they be.

The old Party Secretary put down his medicine bowl: "This is easy. Just fill out the application form, and I'll stamp it for you where needed."

"Thank you for your help." Li Xiangyang said.

"What's the trouble? You're a model young man in our village now."

The old Party Secretary said he wanted to get out of bed, and Chu Qingxuan quickly helped him. He opened a drawer, rummaged around for a while, and took out a piece of paper.

"Grandpa, don't worry, I'll find it," Chu Qingxuan said.

"It's alright," the old Party Secretary waved his hand. "I have the household registration documents ready here. I prepared them when the Zhou family left, and I'm just waiting for a suitable person to come and ask."

He took out a pen and said, "Here, fill in what you need to fill out. Once you're done, just report it to the brigade headquarters. I'll stamp it later, and everything will be fine."

"By the way, there are quite a few materials needed for building the house, so I can't help you much. Dr. Qian's timber is quite good; if you'd like to use it, I'll have someone inquire about it for you."

That's wonderful...

"Okay, it's settled then. It's a pity, I was hoping you could meet my granddaughter sometime, but it seems that opportunity won't come."

"Grandpa!" Chu Qingxuan said reproachfully, "Don't worry about these things."

She turned to Li Xiangyang: "What do you mean there's no chance? We've met now, haven't we? Hello, Li Xiangyang. I heard from Grandpa that you often go hunting in the mountains. Could you show me around? I've always been curious about what these mountains are like."

"This..." Li Xiangyang hesitated, wondering if Li Xiaoyun would mind.

You wouldn't...

Chu Qingxuan stopped halfway through her sentence, a mischievous smile flashing in her eyes.

Li Xiangyang then realized he had lost his composure and felt somewhat embarrassed.

She's a well-bred young lady from the city, and the granddaughter of the old Party Secretary. And here I am, a country boy, thinking about this and that. I really have too much of an ego.

“Okay, let’s go then.” Li Xiangyang readily agreed.

"You young people go have fun," the old Party Secretary said, picking up the bowl of medicine. "Qingxuan, come back soon."

Just then, footsteps sounded in the courtyard, and a familiar voice rang out: "Everyone's here?"