Chapter 13: The Spirited Girl of the Seventies (13)

"Comrade Li Xiangyang, what’s wrong with you?"

Liu Suihui hurried over, feeling a pang of concern at the sight of his battered body.

In the story, he would often go hunting in the mountains during his free time. He would hide the game he caught and later, under the cover of night, deliver it to the commune to sell on the black market.

But for now, she was unaware of this; she could only pretend to be oblivious.

"I'm fine," Li Xiangyang instinctively took a step back, putting some distance between them.

"How can you be fine? You’re hurt like this and you say you’re fine? Show me your hand; let me take a look."

The young lady was no idle plaything; on the contrary, she had some skills of her own.

Yet the cold and aloof youth before her stubbornly tucked his hand behind his back, refusing her request.

"No need, I’m perfectly fine."

But the hand hidden behind him trembled slightly, betraying a trace of anxiety.

"Show me your hand!" Liu Suihui’s tone sharpened.

If these wounds weren’t treated promptly, infection could set in, and here, medical care was far less advanced than in later times—at best, they could only administer antibiotics.

If it healed without issue, that would be fine, but what if there were lasting complications?

Li Xiangyang pressed his lips together and took another step back, as if to sever ties. "Liu Zhiqing, my affairs have nothing to do with you."

He steeled himself and said the words he never should have voiced.

Yet after speaking, why did it feel so hard to breathe? Suffocating, with a heavy ache in his chest.

Liu Suihui stared at him, stunned—never had she imagined such a day would come. He had always been the one chasing after her, even if only to help clean up her messes.

But now, having taken the initiative to approach him, how could he be so heartless?

"Li Xiangyang, you big fool!"

To save face and not appear too disheartened, she scolded him sharply, then turned and ran.

She feared staying any longer would only further wound her pride.

The young lady’s dignity forbade her from lingering.

Yet she did not notice the boy behind her watching her retreating figure with panic, pain, and helplessness in his eyes.

In earlier years, the Li family had been the pride of the village; but after the class upheaval, his world had crumbled. He had become the village’s outcast, the target of scorn and contempt.

He worked hard to improve himself, hoping to honor his parents’ wishes and live a proper life. That was why he had managed to get a tractor for their team—to command some respect and consideration.

But that identity was always a ticking time bomb.

Unable to settle himself, he could never provide a good life for others.

Being with him brought nothing but injury and hardship.

The last incident made Li Xiangyang realize that some people belonged in the sky while others were mired in the mud—they could never mix.

She was a pampered young lady, unfit to be dragged into his mire.

Still...

Speaking such words caused him real heartache.

"You idiot Li Xiangyang, stinky Li Xiangyang, I hate you, hate you, hate you!"

Liu Suihui ran to a deserted corner and vented her anger on the weeds with punches and kicks.

007 sighed helplessly, "You can’t take your anger out on the weeds."

"I'm not taking it out on them—I'm taking it out on you!"

"...I mean, your favorability hasn’t dropped, so why are you so upset?"

Favorability wasn’t the issue; the real problem was that he had embarrassed her.

Didn’t she know how precious face was to a young lady? More valuable than life itself?

"Liu Zhiqing, what are you doing here?"

A whistle came from behind. A man wearing patched clothes, dirty from head to toe, approached slowly, looking every bit the villain.

In truth, he was no good at all.

He was the village’s notorious scoundrel, often caught stealing and looting, despised by all. But since everyone had watched him grow up, outright rejection was rare.

The look on his face made Liu Suihui physically uncomfortable—it was vile and disgusting, filling her with revulsion.

She wanted to gouge those eyes out.

"Little sister Liu, are you upset? What happened? Tell your big brother—maybe I can help." The scoundrel inched closer.

Such a delicate young girl—what a thrill it would be to grope her.

He wore a look of intoxicated delight, as if savoring the scent of something sweet.

Liu Suihui felt sick as if she had swallowed a fly. There was no one around; she couldn’t rely on anyone.

"I advise you not to provoke me," she said coldly, showing no hint of kindness.

Though her voice was soft, the chill within it was unmistakable.

But being so small, her display had little deterrent effect.

The scoundrel chuckled lecherously. "Little sister Liu, what nice treat are you offering big brother? I..."

His words were cut short as he suddenly lost control and fell to the ground.

Liu Suihui grabbed him with one hand, slammed him down, and pressed her foot firmly on his back, pushing down hard.

The power imbalance between man and woman was clear; she took the initiative to intimidate him first.

"I told you not to mess with me. See, you didn’t listen."

Being born into a wealthy family didn’t produce incompetents. She was indeed a young lady of means, but her years of dominance in that circle couldn’t be explained by status alone.

The scoundrel’s face burned—not from the blow, but from shame.

How could he be taken down by a woman?

"You’d better let me go or else—"

"Or else what? Report me? Let me tell you, I fear nothing, not even death. I’d stake my very life to expose your lechery. You’d end up eating peanuts while I might lose a little reputation, but not a hair on my head."

Liu Suihui’s foot pressed down sharply, concentrating all her weight. Her tone was light, yet it sounded like a demon whispering in his ear.

The scoundrel felt a chill crawl through his body. He believed every word she said.

"I—I—I won’t dare anymore. I was just joking, really, just joking."

"I don’t like jokes like that. Next time you see me, you’d better go around!" She withdrew her foot.

"Got it, got it." The scoundrel scrambled up and fled without hesitation.

Sometimes, being assertive wasn’t a problem at all.

"007, where does Li Xiangyang live? I want to go see him."

"Navigating to your destination..."