Chapter 12

That man seemed unprepared for Gu Yiren’s sudden appearance, and he took off running!

Gu Yiren, cradling Su Liuhe, couldn’t rush past to catch him, yet he feared drawing the tiger away from the mountain—what if someone else appeared behind and snatched Su Liuhe during the chase?

Su Liuhe squirmed in his arms, peering outside, and noticed that the fleeing man had dropped a controlled knife.

“Dangerous, don’t chase after him!” she clung tightly to Gu Yiren’s waist, her eyes, as beautiful as a spring pond, looking up softly at him as she whispered, “He’s armed.”

Only then did Gu Yiren feel the intense heat from holding the delicately dependent Su Liuhe and immediately released her. “You go inside first, I’ll pick up the knife.”

Su Liuhe waited by the door, her heart still pounding when she saw the half-meter-long blade.

“Is this a human trafficker or a robber?” she wondered.

Thinking of his own mysterious past and enemies lurking in the shadows, Gu Yiren said gravely, “No matter who they are, I will protect you.”

Perhaps it was meant to provoke him deliberately, or to drive away his only family member; he sensed their malice.

He recalled last life when he dragged Su Liuhe’s cold corpse up the mountain, burying her beside the imaginary ancestral tomb of his parents. How he wished the world could be kinder to both of them, so their lonely souls might suffer less.

This life, he would cherish and protect her in the palm of his hand, never letting anyone disturb their precious peace.

Su Liuhe patted his back hard, rallying her spirits. “Of course you’ll protect me! If not for you just now, I would have been taken away!”

Gu Yiren tucked the big knife beneath the kang bed and muttered, “I brought something back but forgot the key, had to climb over the wall.”

Su Liuhe was still uneasy. “Do you think it could be Li Hongxing or Su Huidi’s people?”

“They wouldn’t dare,” he said.

She muttered, “I suppose so.”

She pondered if the pickled vegetable jar had been exposed, thinking the man might have stolen it directly—much easier and less frightening.

That night, Gu Yiren stoked the kang fire to a warm blaze and even stir-fried cabbage with cured meat for Su Liuhe. He worried she wouldn’t sleep well after being frightened.

Unexpectedly, before the kerosene lamp was extinguished, a soft yawn came from the kang’s head, and soon, carefree Su Liuhe was fast asleep on her pillow.

Gu Yiren stayed sitting at the far end of the kang all night, watching the heavy snowflakes fall outside the window, unable to sleep.

At dawn, after the snow stopped, Gu Yiren practiced martial arts in the yard. When he finished, he noticed honey placed on the windowsill.

The kang was warm inside. As he entered the room, his peripheral vision caught sight of the quilt tossed aside; hastily, he looked away from the bed.

No doubt, she had gotten too warm again.

When they first lived together, he hadn’t paid much attention, but once accidentally glimpsed Su Liuhe kicking off the quilt, revealing her ivory-smooth, flawless thigh. From thigh to ankle, down to her porcelain-white, adorable toes—without a single blemish—exquisitely seductive and playfully unforgettable.

He stopped in his tracks, stepped outside, took a scoop of water, and poured cold water over his head...

He must not behave like a beast.

“Hey, young comrade, washing your hair in the freezing cold?”

Suddenly, five or six people appeared at the door. The leader looked like a city official, dressed head-to-toe in cadre uniform, his face adorned with a friendly smile.

Gu Yiren didn’t know Zhao Daqing but recognized three village committee members, including Teacher Chen from the literacy class.

Seeing Gu Yiren ignore this “God of Wealth,” Chen hurried to explain, “Quick, greet Director Zhao. He’s here bringing welfare for our village—two hundred jin of rice to distribute to the poor.”

Since Zhao Daqing’s visit, he couldn’t get Su Liuhe out of his mind.

He sent people to investigate her past in Xiaotang Village and learned her attitude that day was because of Su Huidi.

Li Hongxing didn’t tell him the truth, but he found out Li Hongxing had a brief romantic history with Su Liuhe. Li Hongxing, unappreciative of his beauty, had even entangled with Su Huidi.

He confronted Li Hongxing about his misconduct. Li’s evasive demeanor confirmed his guilt to Zhao Daqing.

Su Liuhe was stunning and spirited, understandable to have mood swings. Her firm refusal that day surely also involved Su Huidi and Li Hongxing.

After much thought, Zhao Daqing decided to visit Su Liuhe himself. Given his status, finding a rural bride would be easy.

Of course, he wouldn’t come empty-handed—under the guise of poverty alleviation, he brought two hundred jin of rice to Xiaotang Village and distributed most. He planned to give Su Liuhe twenty jin of new rice to show his influence.

“Director Zhao is talking to you, answer him,” Teacher Chen urged, eager to please.

Gu Yiren, hands gripping his shirt’s hem, arching his muscular back, shrugged off his vest and wiped his head casually. “None of your business.”

Zhao Daqing forced a laugh. “...Just like your aunt in character.” He looked at the tall youth with envy—he’d be unstoppable as an adult. No wonder Su Liuhe acted so fearless around outsiders; she had someone backing her.

But no blood relation could be this close...

He feigned goodwill. “Take the rice inside, it’s from the government. You’ll have rice for New Year’s!”

Gu Yiren stood guard at the door. “No.”

“Take it, it’s new rice!” Teacher Chen winked, but Gu Yiren was unmoved.

Finally, a city official beside Zhao Daqing said, “Young comrade, our director came all this way. Can we come inside for a drink?”

Inside, only the kang room and kitchen were suitable, but Su Liuhe was sound asleep, snoring softly. He couldn’t bear to look, much less let these old men in.

He said nothing, blocking the door.

One against many, neither side yielded.

Su Liuhe poked her head from under the quilt, lazily rising. “Xiao Yi, who’s there?”

By mid-morning she was up, and the village officials looked displeased. Who lets a woman sleep in so late?

But Zhao Daqing thought that was just right—that’s a delicate flower’s nature. Who would expect a pampered beauty to work early in the morning?

Gu Yiren didn’t see anything wrong either.

He was simpler-minded—if she wanted to sleep, let her, so she wouldn’t be cranky from lack of rest.

Hearing shuffling inside, Gu Yiren warned, “Don’t come out.”

Su Liuhe, hair tousled, stretched like a cat and stopped at the door.

Gu Yiren added, “There are people.”

She turned quickly toward the kang, pulling out the big knife hidden beneath the mat. “Huh?”

Gu Yiren quickly said, “No need for that.”

These city officials were incapable—he could take on ten of them himself.

They exchanged a few glances, then Zhao Daqing finally heard the voice he longed for and craned his neck to call out, “Comrade Su Liuhe, the government has come to visit you.”

Su Liuhe put on her cotton jacket and padded trousers, muttering, “What nerve, acting like the government themselves?”

Those outside grew impatient. Now that she was awake, why not let them in?

“Hey, you’re getting arrogant! Our leader’s standing at your door, and you won’t let us in? Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty?”

Zhao Daqing glared at the young man speaking—it was his cousin, who begrudged the job opportunity going to this rural woman and insisted on seeing her today.

Su Liuhe’s slender figure flashed by the window, her sweet voice tinged with annoyance, “Why are you blocking someone’s door so early? We know it’s government business, but others might think you’re criminals!”

Her words reminded Gu Yiren of yesterday’s incident. His face darkened. “You’re not welcome here. Take your things and leave immediately.”

The young man, shrinking into his military coat, impatiently pushed inside. “Call that girl out for me. If she doesn’t come, I’ll come in and fetch her myself—”

Gu Yiren intercepted, pushing him back.

The man didn’t expect Gu Yiren to act, stumbled, and fell flat on his back.

Now, despite the pain in his tailbone, he scrambled up, grabbed a firewood stick from the wall, and swung at Gu Yiren. “You’re asking for it! How dare you fight me!”

Zhao Daqing panicked. “What are you doing? Stop!”

Gu Yiren grabbed the stick, flipped the young man over his shoulder with a judo throw.

The man’s back and backside hurt too much to stand, pointing at his companions, “Aren’t you going to help me? Or I’ll have my cousin get you all fired!”

Teacher Chen dared not offend them or Gu Yiren, who fought like a maniac, and quickly moved outside the yard.

Zhao Daqing tried to mediate but somehow ended up fighting Gu Yiren himself.

The youth’s wild temperament reminded Zhao Daqing of a wild donkey. After Su Huidi’s report, he was wary of their relationship.

Now seeing the boy fiercely protect Su Liuhe, fury burned fiercely in Zhao Daqing’s chest.

Humiliation—too much humiliation!

In the county town, everyone showed him respect. If they wouldn’t, he’d teach the youth a harsh lesson himself!

That’s what he thought, but reality was harsh.

Gu Yiren faced the staggering intruders, telling Su Liuhe inside, “Don’t come out, they stink.”

Su Liuhe stretched one leg out then pulled it back quietly. “Are you hurt?”

Gu Yiren showed a scraped arm but waved it off. “I’m fine.”

Zhao Daqing lay on the ground as village officials helped him up, fuming, “Is this how you serve as village cadres? Can’t you break up a fight?”

They looked at each other helplessly—none dared intervene.

Gu Yiren’s brutal fights with the Liu family were notorious, full of blood everywhere.

Now, with him involved, they feared trouble and kept their distance.

The wolf cub was truly a wolf cub, fierce and untamed, feared to go berserk and drag innocent bystanders into chaos.

“Wait, I’ll call the police to arrest you!” someone whispered to Zhao Daqing, who turned his anger into a smile. “When that happens, your dear aunt will come apologize to me in person.”

Inside, Su Liuhe hid behind Gu Yiren, shouting, “I will never apologize! I’m going to sue you for trespassing! You’re all bandits!”

Zhao Daqing caught a faint glimpse of Su Liuhe and limped forward to speak, but Gu Yiren pointed a finger at his nose. “Get lost!”

Zhao Daqing and the others dared not step forward.

Before leaving, he sneered, “You’ve caused me big trouble. You have three days. Unless Su Liuhe personally apologizes in the county town, I’ll pursue this to the end!”

Su Liuhe understood he intended to use this as leverage over her.

After the “bandits” left, she borrowed some violet medicine from Xiangcai’s mother and applied it to Gu Yiren’s wounds.

After dressing the wounds, Gu Yiren made noodles from sweet potato flour, adding an egg and dried vegetable bits, and placed it on the kang table. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be fine.”

“Really? You beat them up like that...” Su Liuhe sat on the kang edge, too worried to eat breakfast. Seeing his confidence, she believed he had a plan.

Gu Yiren said, “Didn’t you say there’s a ‘Minor Protection Law’? They won’t do anything to me.”

Su Liuhe stared, “...Huh?”

He said firmly, “The law will protect me.”

Su Liuhe: No, really?

Can the law really be used that way?!