Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s Ⅱ

Part 211 Envelope and Stranger

As the New Year approached, the village became livelier. Migrant workers were returning home, and with the harvest done, families had little to occupy themselves with. Every day, people gathered at the village entrance to chat. Even a dog passing by would become the topic of conversation.

Many people in the village worked away from home, like Liu Dongdong. There had been talk that her mother had arranged for her older sister to marry an elderly man. However, the man didn't want her sister because she was a widow, and instead, Liu Dongdong was being pushed to marry him. But somehow, Liu Dongdong managed to get her money-hungry mother to call off the engagement.

Coincidentally, that elderly man happened to be from their village, and when the engagement was broken off, people found it strange.

Lin Family Village wasn't far from Xingfu Village, and those traveling back home had to pass through the entrance of Xingfu Village. When Liu Dongdong returned, looking glamorous and carrying bags of goods, the villagers were shocked.

"Isn't that the woman from Liu's family who was promised to Old Man Xu? Her name is Liu Dongdong, right?"

"Yeah, her mother even took the betrothal gifts, but somehow the marriage was canceled."

"Isn't the Liu family poor? Look at her—dressed up so fancy and carrying so many things. Did she strike it rich?"

Hearing the gossip, Liu Dongdong's face briefly darkened. She knew they were talking about the broken engagement.

Liu Dongdong hadn't expected her luck to turn out so poorly. She had originally planned to manipulate Si Nian into disrupting Lin Sisi and Fu Yang's wedding. But Si Nian had outmaneuvered her, and Lin Sisi ended up getting arrested. That incident nearly got Liu Dongdong kicked out.

Luckily, Lin Sisi was too foolish, obsessed with keeping an eye on Fu Yang for fear he'd find another woman. Lin Sisi, in her desperation, allowed Liu Dongdong to stay, taking the blame for everything. The Si family, worried that another woman might swoop in if Lin Sisi fell out of favor, agreed to keep Liu Dongdong around to keep an eye on things.

And that's how Liu Dongdong managed to stay.

Liu Dongdong was more sensible than Lin Sisi. Though her academic performance wasn't as good, she was diligent, obedient, and knew how to cook. The Si family had been running themselves ragged dealing with Lin Sisi's issues, and the couple looked like they had aged ten years overnight. If it hadn't been for Liu Dongdong, they might not have even had a hot meal to come home to.

After their daughter had only just returned home and immediately faced new troubles, the couple's hearts were heavy with sorrow. Liu Dongdong's presence provided them with some comfort, and they gradually came to regard her as half a daughter.

Because of this, Liu Dongdong felt that she had finally reached a turning point in her life. She no longer cared about the gossip of the villagers. Her life was now on a completely different trajectory, and these people weren't worth her time.

However, when it came to Si Nian, Liu Dongdong couldn't shake a deep sense of fear. Although Fu Yang claimed that neither he nor Si Nian had feelings for each other anymore, Liu Dongdong had her doubts after observing his behavior. There were little things that hinted otherwise—like how he would drink more of the soup she made if it was a recipe that Si Nian had once cooked for him, or how he would stare at her a little longer when she dressed like Si Nian.

These small details made Liu Dongdong realize that Si Nian still held a place in Fu Yang's heart, even if he didn't openly admit it.

Si Nian carried a lunchbox to the pig farm to deliver food to Zhou Yue Shen, but she sneezed twice as soon as she arrived. The weather was bitterly cold, with the wind harshly biting her face. Despite being bundled up in a down jacket and hat, she was still freezing.

With the approach of the New Year, the demand for pigs had skyrocketed. Families from surrounding villages were rushing to the pig farm, requesting help with slaughtering their pigs. The sound of pigs squealing echoed day and night, nonstop. Zhou Yue Shen had not returned home for several nights, staying at the pig farm instead. Usually, when they had time and were hungry, they would make something simple to eat at the farm, or someone from home would deliver food. But now, with time so scarce, Si Nian had taken up the task of delivering meals twice a day. Sometimes it was the eldest or second child who brought the food, but often, it was Si Nian herself.

Knowing how quickly food cooled in the cold weather, she had even bought a thermal container in advance. As soon as she stepped into the pig farm, she could hear the distant sounds of pigs squealing. She walked over and saw that the neighboring village was in the middle of slaughtering a pig, with many families gathered around to divide the meat. Glancing around, she didn't see Zhou Yue Shen and headed towards the office.

Sure enough, the door was open. She walked in, but no one was there. Si Nian was puzzled. The office wasn't big, and there was a small stove inside, making the room quite warm. On the desk, there were papers and a pen, as if someone had been in the middle of writing something but had been called away to deal with other matters.

Si Nian walked over and sat down, examining the man's handwriting. Though she hadn't heard if Zhou Yue Shen had ever been to school, his writing was sharp and forceful, perfectly reflecting his demeanor. The notes were filled with data and lists—tasks he had taken upon himself since few villagers were educated.

As he worked through the busy season, Zhou Yue Shen still had to write out these lists, and there were many left to complete. While others took time off for the New Year, he was busier than ever.

Si Nian picked up the notebook and, with a flick, a thin letter fell onto her lap. She paused and looked down to see it was a letter, its envelope marked with the name "Yu Jie."

Si Nian was taken aback.

Again, this person?

She had heard about this woman from Zhou Yue Shen but hadn't paid it much attention. However, given that Zhou Yue Shen had been away from the military for so many years, it was surprising that Yang Yu Jie was still sending him letters.

It seemed she was quite infatuated.

Si Nian was lost in thought about the name and Zhou Yue Shen's future, realizing that although she had read this book, it contained very little information about Zhou Yue Shen and the woman named Yang Yu Jie. The original character, who was a minor player, had passed away, and subsequent mentions of the children were brief.

Her deep contemplation made her unaware of someone entering the office.

When she heard a voice, she looked up and saw Zhou Yue Shen accompanied by several men who looked distinguished and were around his age. They were all scrutinizing her with a mix of surprise and curiosity, creating a tense atmosphere that suggested an important matter was at hand.

Si Nian quickly stood up, placed the letter back where she found it, and said, "I came to bring you lunch. If you're busy, I can leave now. Don't forget to eat."

Assuming these men were business associates of Zhou Yue Shen, she nodded to them in acknowledgment and turned to leave.

However, Zhou Yue Shen hurried after her, catching her arm and pulling her into an embrace. Si Nian was momentarily stunned, unable to react as Zhou Yue Shen held her close, his breathing rapid and his voice low and intense.

"Niannian, I can explain that letter."

Si Nian's mind went blank, her cheeks flushed as she tried to push him away. The public display of affection was unlike anything she had seen from him, and with others watching, she felt embarrassed and confused.