Chapter 77: Do You Still Remember An Yan?

Xia Yan spoke with excitement.

Lin You could no longer contain himself after hearing her reaction, and burst out laughing. Only then did Xia Yan realize this man was teasing her. “Well, Lin You, so you dare to joke with me? Believe it or not, I’ll pack my things right now and return to my hometown.”

“Would you really?”

“How do you know I wouldn’t? I’m telling you, I’ll go and pack my things right now.”

As she spoke, Xia Yan pretended to hang up the phone.

Lin You feared she might actually be angry, and hurried to explain, “I… I was just joking. But what I said was exactly what they said.”

“You must have already handled it, right?” Xia Yan knew well that those words didn’t come from Lin You, but since he’d told her, he must have solved the matter.

Lin You laughed, “Nothing can be hidden from you. The two leaders said they want to meet you.”

“What? The commander wants to meet me?” Xia Yan was startled; this was a general, a high-ranking figure in the country. The most important person she’d ever met before was the mayor. My goodness, this was a leap of several ranks.

“Yes.”

Receiving Lin You’s definite answer, Xia Yan timidly asked, “Is it possible not to meet?”

Lin You pictured in his mind how the girl must look guilty at that moment, and countered, “Are you still planning to marry?”

“Of course!”

***

That evening, bonfires were lit at the state-run ranch. A group of young people sat together singing songs. A bespectacled young man stood up and recited a poem.

“My aged heart stirs with youthful fervor, left hand holding a yellow steed, right hand raising the sky, fine hat and sable coat, a thousand horsemen sweeping across the plain.
...
Draw the carved bow like a full moon, gaze northwest, and shoot at the wolf of heaven.”

In an instant, everyone broke into applause, echoing loudly, “Wonderful!”

Only Zhuang Lili sat there in a daze, her mind filled with thoughts of her encounter with Xia Yan earlier that day.

The young man finished the poem and sat down beside her. “Zhuang Lili, what’s wrong? Something on your mind?”

“Huang Qiang, do you remember that Xia Yan from our class?” Zhuang Lili turned to ask him.

Huang Qiang repeated the name in confusion, “Xia Yan?”

“No, it’s An Yan.” Zhuang Lili corrected herself, coming back to her senses.

“Oh—you mean that spoiled young miss? I remember her. What about her?” Huang Qiang nodded.

Surely every boy in the school remembered An Yan: so beautiful yet sharp, with a temperament as proud as it was delicate, and never lacking admirers. He himself had once been among them.

Zhuang Lili looked at him. “I met her today.”

Huang Qiang was momentarily stunned, then waved his hand, laughing, “Impossible. You must’ve mistaken someone else. Didn’t she get engaged to the eldest son of the Huo family? Why would she come to such a poor place?”

“Really, she didn’t marry Huo Ting. She said she came here as a military spouse, and changed her name to Xia Yan.”

Seeing how Zhuang Lili spoke with certainty, Huang Qiang was only half convinced, “She’s really here? As a military spouse? How would her family allow that?”

Huang Qiang’s doubts mirrored her own. Zhuang Lili shook her head, “I’m not sure. I chatted with her for a bit, but she seemed anxious and left quickly.”

“So, she married someone in the military. Who did she marry?”

Hearing this question, a trace of disappointment appeared on Zhuang Lili’s face. “The battalion commander Lin You—the one who spoke to us on stage when we first arrived.”

“Him? That’s impossible. I know a bit about Commander Lin; he’s already thirty, has three kids at home. How could An Yan marry him?” Huang Qiang leaned in, whispering beside Zhuang Lili’s ear.

Zhuang Lili jolted as if shocked and moved aside. “Why are you so close? Just say what you need to say.”

Zhuang Lili was the most strikingly beautiful among this batch of educated youth. When Huang Qiang first saw her upon arriving in the countryside, he had taken an immediate interest.

Seeing her reaction, Huang Qiang’s expression soured for a moment, but he quickly replaced it with a smile. “Sorry, I was just worried others would overhear.”

Yet his smile carried a different undertone.

Zhuang Lili knew well what was on Huang Qiang’s mind, but thought that having a man pursue her might be less boring in these mountains. Though she didn’t like Huang Qiang, she would still occasionally chat with him, dangling hints to keep him interested.

“Be more careful in the future, or people will think we’re an item.”

Huang Qiang nodded, smiling, saying he’d be more careful, but still moved closer. Zhuang Lili didn’t move away this time. “Do you think something happened to An Yan’s—no, Xia Yan’s—family?”

“That’s unlikely. Before we came here, I saw her on the road—dressed beautifully, laughing and chatting with those around her. She didn’t seem troubled at all.”

“Then why would she suddenly marry Lin You, that old man…”

Hearing Huang Qiang speak of his crush, Zhuang Lili’s face turned cold. “He’s not old, he’s charming. Don’t you understand? The more mature a man is, the more attractive he becomes.”

“Well, then wouldn’t a man of seventy or eighty be even more attractive?” Huang Qiang’s tone was full of protest. “He just joined the army early, never went to school, just a complete illiterate.”

“What’s wrong with being illiterate? College entrance exams are about to be reinstated—can’t an illiterate learn again?”

Zhuang Lili stood up and walked toward the dormitory without looking back.

Huang Qiang wanted to follow but was called by the ranch manager. “Huang Qiang, come here.”

“Director Wu, what is it?” Huang Qiang approached enthusiastically.

“Tomorrow, help me deliver some things to the stationed troops. Give them to Captain Jiang Weiguo.”

The moment he heard “stationed troops,” the image of Xia Yan flashed in Huang Qiang’s mind, and he agreed cheerfully, “Alright, I’ll deliver them first thing in the morning. I haven’t been to the stationed troops yet.”

“That’s what I like about you—you’re more diligent than others. You’ve got a bright future ahead.” Director Wu patted Huang Qiang’s shoulder in praise.

Huang Qiang lifted his head proudly, his gaze flickering toward the others gathered around the bonfire.

But as soon as he left, the crowd began to gossip.

“Bah! What a piece of work, always currying favor. Diligent? Everyone knows Huang Qiang is the laziest. Only when the boss is around does he pretend to work.”

“That’s called being clever.”

“Ha! Someone like him would’ve been a traitor in the old days. Did you see him whispering to Zhuang Lili? Leaning right into her ear, shameless.”

“Sounds to me like you’re jealous.”

“Zhu Youcai, what are you saying?! Always contradicting me!”

“I’m saying nothing. What, pointing at me? Want to fight? Come on.”

The scene grew chaotic in an instant, sleeves rolled up, nearly coming to blows.

Meanwhile, Huang Qiang had returned to his dormitory, not even bothering to undress before lying on his bed. “Zhuang Lili, you think I care about you? Hah!”