Chapter 92: Chapter 89: Innocent Young Man

Being led by Yun Di, I crossed Baihua Forest and headed to the southwest corner. Near the foot of the mountain lies a stream that flows year-round, which is why the crops in Qingshan Village grow so well, without having to worry about irrigation like other villages.

Seeing the shallow stream, Jiang Mingyue felt at ease, and Xiao Ran would be fine going down to play too.

As expected, the little guy saw the water and became as joyful as a fish, rolling up his pants and playing the game of catching fish with his hands.

Compared to Xiao Ran, Yun Di was much more composed.

He neatly took off his shoes while rolling up his sleeves and pants, quickly got himself ready, and indeed looked like someone who knows how to work. He then surrounded the downstream area with stones and sand, placed the fish basket he brought at the opening, and didn’t even need to look after it. He just sat on the grassy embankment and basked in the sun.

Seeing herself still foolishly holding a large wooden bucket, Jiang Mingyue thought: She’s really unnecessary!

“Where did you get that fish basket?”

“It was in Granny Shi’s yard; didn’t you see it?”

Jiang Mingyue was taken aback: “Cough cough, I’m so busy, how could I notice everything?”

Yun Di didn’t want to talk to her, thinking: Turns out you’re not omnipotent either!

Jiang Mingyue put down the bucket and looked up at the villagers working nearby: “Yun Di, I’m leaving Xiao Ran to you. I’m heading up the mountain.”

Yun Di frowned. He knew that the chicken, rabbit, and pork her family ate were all hunted from the mountain, but it wasn’t right for a girl to go up the mountain alone.

“No way.” He wanted to say he would go with her, but seeing little Xiao Ran happily fishing, he changed his mind: “I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

Jiang Mingyue had already walked away, waving her hand behind her: “No need, I see my second brother. Just help me look after Xiao Ran.”

About a kilometer away, Jiang Mingyue stood in front of her second brother.

“Cough cough…”

Still not awake!

Jiang Mingyue simply kicked the tree trunk, waking the person on the tree.

But evidently, still groggy with sleep: “Who, which rascal dared to disturb your granddaddy’s sleep?”

Jiang Mingyue rolled her eyes: “Second Brother.” The book said Second Brother was idle and lazy, but from spending time with him, Second Brother was definitely a perfect young man, if not for today’s fish-catching incident.

This shout of “Second Brother” not only woke Jiang Jianjun from his sleep completely but also scared him into falling straight from the tree.

“Ah!”

Seeing this, Jiang Mingyue quickly used her spiritual power to pull him, keeping his head from hitting a sharp stone, causing him only to stagger before he managed to steady himself.

With a big sigh of relief: “Phew, lucky! Were you trying to make Second Brother bedridden for life?”

Jiang Mingyue gave him a big eye-roll: “Was that necessary?” She had plenty of miracle medicines, “Next time, don’t sleep on the tree. Why not the field ridge? Also, everyone else is working hard, and yet you’re a big, strong man being lazy!”

Jiang Jianjun wouldn’t let the blame rest on him and couldn’t let his little sister have such a bad impression.

“Little Sis, what are you talking about? I’ve already finished my tasks, just waiting for the inspector. If you don’t believe me, ask Jiao Can; his tasks are right next to mine, and he’s still busy.” Jiang Jianjun pointed to a shadow in the distance.

“Oh?”

“Don’t believe it? Let me tell you, they’re really dumb! Pulling weeds from the paddy fields isn’t easy for them. Once a person’s foot steps into the fields, the water turns muddy, it’s all thick with stirred-up mud, and some weeds get submerged and can’t be seen anymore. When inspected later, it definitely won’t pass. I drained the water first, then pulled the weeds in the field, making it effortless and quick. Once done, I just redirect the water back from the river beside us.”

Jiang Mingyue: “… that’s impressive!” She was wrong! You need to use your brain for everything. “Since you finished first, why not help mom?”

On this topic, Jiang Jianjun poured out his woes: “You have no idea. That area with our mom is full of aunts and young wives. When I go over there, some aunts want to set me up with a wife. Especially that Wang Guihua, not even considering her daughter’s character… It’s quite annoying.”

Jiang Mingyue understood now; it was a makeshift matchmaking park.

“Alright, I wrongly blamed you, Second Brother. Do you have time? I want to head up the mountain.”

Mentioning the mountain made Jiang Jianjun’s eyes light up.

“Let’s go, there’s still time before the inspection.”

“Where’s your tool?”

“Just a sickle.”

“That might not be enough. Can you borrow a hoe?”

“Wait here.”

Sure enough, this Second Brother managed to borrow a hoe.

“Isn’t it supposed to be queued and fingerprint-signed from the team? How did they lend it to you?”

“Of course, I have a good sister! It’s Uncle Jiao’s; he’s weeding the mountain fields, almost finished. Pulling by hand will do. When he heard it was for you, he couldn’t wait to send it himself!”

Jiang Mingyue: “…”

“Brother, let’s hurry, I’m worried you won’t be back for the inspection.”

“No worries, Jiao Can knows what to do. But you’re right, follow me, I’ll take you through a shortcut.”

It turned out to be a real shortcut, really close! Just brimming with thorns; if not for Second Brother clearing the way with his sickle, pants would be ripped for sure.

“Alright, it’s deep in the mountains now. Hardly anyone comes here, but it’s also dangerous. Sis, stay close and don’t wander off.” Remembering the venomous snake encounter last time still gave him chills. Once bitten, twice shy.

“Let’s start then.”

“Huh?”

“Dig some traps.”

“Oh! Sure. There, Sis, why didn’t I think of that?”

Because when you’re starving, exhausted day and night, returning home to only eat half-cooked tasteless wild vegetables and corn porridge, where’s the energy to think about anything else? For the poor, when starving, potatoes and sweet potatoes are more practical than any gourmet mountain delicacy.

While Jiang Jianjun was digging the pit, Jiang Mingyue wasn’t idle either. She found some bamboo, chopped two pieces, and sharpened them to spikes. Jiang Jianjun dug a two-meter deep pit. With his height, he could raise his arms, tiptoe and climb up, but for someone intending to steal, getting down meant they wouldn’t get up easily.

“Okay.”

“Mm, Second Brother, plant these bamboo slats closely at the bottom.”

“Hey! Sis, you’re on the same page as me. Haha! This way, even those with wings can’t fly out once they’re in. But, Sis, what are you throwing?”

“To catch fish, you need bait. Likewise, prey seeks out the aroma.” Jiang Mingyue tossed some corn kernels in.

“Alright, it’s about time; let’s head down the mountain.”

Going down the mountain was quicker than going up.

But the situation at the foot of the mountain wasn’t quite pretty.

Not sure when, a group of people gathered, and before they approached, someone with sharp eyes shouted: “Wang Guihua, your prospective son-in-law is here. Why don’t you confront him face-to-face and see if he acknowledges?”

Evidently, the man speaking wasn’t intentionally trying to embarrass anyone; it was just villagers enjoying a good show!

Hearing the name Wang Guihua, Jiang Jianjun just wanted to escape, what bad luck!

If Second Brother wasn’t happy, Jiang Mingyue naturally felt the same; she even had a score to settle with Wang Guihua.

“What are you saying, Uncle? Who’s whose son-in-law here? Let me be clear; my second brother is a clear and proper young man, not engaged to anyone, so don’t be pairing him up randomly.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep