Jiang Ling walked up to Zhou Qianming with the IOU in hand, blocking his way.

Zhou Qianming frowned slightly and deliberately put on a distant tone.

“Jiang Ling, I’m now your cousin’s future husband. Even if you miss me, you can’t come looking for me. We need to avoid—”

He turned his head and met Jiang Ling’s clear, beautiful face. The words he was about to say suddenly got stuck in his throat.

It had only been three days since he last saw her—how had she changed so much?

Her originally sallow skin had become fair and luminous. Her heavy bangs were clipped to both sides with hairpins, revealing a smooth, white forehead.

Her long black hair was braided into two loose plaits that hung in front of her chest.

Her entire aura was completely different from before.

Zhou Qianming froze for a moment, even feeling that the current Jiang Ling was more beautiful than Jiang Yujiao.

Not far away, Shen Yan, who was about to finish work, noticed the commotion.

He narrowed his eyes and looked over, only to see Jiang Ling and Zhou Qianming standing together.

Shen Yan’s eldest brother immediately got angry.

“Jiang Ling is already going to marry our third brother, yet she’s still running to that pretty-faced educated youth? She clearly doesn’t respect our third brother at all!”

“Third brother, why don’t we just call off this engagement? Our Shen family can’t accept a woman who’s so flirtatious,” Shen’s second brother added.

Shen Yan pressed his thin lips together and said nothing, but his dark, sharp eyes were fixed tightly on Jiang Ling’s direction.

“Who’s missing you? Zhou Qianming, do you really think you’re some rare treasure?”

Jiang Ling shot him a cold glare and directly shoved the IOU in front of him.

“I’m here today to collect my debt.”

“We’ve known each other for two years. During that time, you borrowed from me 32 grain ration tickets, 10 cloth tickets, and 20 yuan 7 jiao 4 fen in cash. Please return everything immediately.”

The gossiping aunties nearby were shocked when they heard she was collecting a debt.

“So Ling girl spent so much on this pretty-boy educated youth—she must’ve really wanted to marry him. Who would’ve thought things would turn out like this? Zhou really isn’t a good man!”

“Exactly. Ling girl was too naive. With that money she could’ve spent it on herself instead!”

Zhou Qianming glanced at the crowd and said awkwardly,

“Jiang Ling, didn’t you say before that you were giving me those grain tickets and money? What is this now?”

Jiang Ling frowned.

“Giving? When did I ever say that? You borrowed them. There’s written proof. Don’t try to deny it—pay up!”

Zhou Qianming really wanted to go back in time and slap his past self for being so pretentious that he even wrote an IOU.

The old Jiang Ling used to be very obedient—she gave him food, tickets, and even worked in the fields for him. How had she suddenly become so calculating?

She must still be resentful about the marriage swap!

Zhou Qianming knew that Jiang Ling had once liked his handsome face and gentle peach-blossom eyes. Whenever he looked at her affectionately, she would agree to anything.

He decided to use his “good looks” as leverage.

He stepped closer and looked at her with fake tenderness.

“Ling’er, I know you’re angry at me, but I really only saved her that day. I didn’t have any other intentions toward Yujiao. The marriage swap was unavoidable…”

“For the sake of our long acquaintance, can you just forget about the money and tickets?”

Jiang Ling rolled her eyes.

“If your eyes are twitching, go get them treated. Pay up already and stop talking nonsense.”

Her taste in her past life must’ve been terrible. How did she ever like this greasy pretty boy?

He wasn’t even comparable to Shen Yan—at least Shen Yan was a soldier, strong and capable, probably could work harder than an ox.

Zhou Qianming: “……”

He had no money left at all. The remaining fifty yuan had already been given to Jiang Yujiao last night when she came to him acting sweet and asking for more bride price money.

In a moment of impulsiveness, he gave her everything. Now he was completely broke.

“If you’re still a man, then pay Ling girl back!”

“That’s right! She gave you so much and you repay her by messing around with other girls? Disgusting!”

The aunties’ words made Zhou Qianming so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole and bury himself.

Trying to save face, he said,

“Ling’er, there are too many people here. Can we go somewhere else to talk…”

Before he could finish, a tall figure stepped in front of him.

He looked up nervously and met a pair of dark, intimidating eyes.

“No.” Shen Yan rejected him flatly.

His voice was low and cold, carrying an undeniable pressure.

Zhou Qianming stiffened.

“Shen Laosan, you’re no longer in the army, and I’m not your subordinate! What right do you have to interfere in my conversation with Jiang Ling?”

Shen Yan’s throat moved slightly as he looked down at Jiang Ling.

“She’ll soon be my wife. It’s inappropriate for her to be alone with you. Whatever you want to say, say it here.”

When Jiang Ling heard him say “wife,” her eyes flickered slightly.

They weren’t even married yet, and he was already calling her that—was he teasing her?

Zhou Qianming was furious seeing how firmly Shen Yan was protecting her.

Just a few days ago, Jiang Ling was still his fiancée—now she was already being called someone else’s wife.

Fine. He would pay.

But he needed a few days.

Right now, he was completely broke and had to write home for money.

“If I’m going to pay, I’ll pay. But you’ll have to wait a few days.”

Jiang Ling took the IOU back and said,

“Don’t forget. Otherwise I’ll camp at the educated youth compound every day and make sure everyone knows.”

Zhou Qianming, humiliated, quickly left.

Shen Yan watched him go, then suddenly had a thought.

Maybe he should also borrow some money from Jiang Ling?

No—men shouldn’t borrow money from women. Besides, in the future his salary would all be handed over to his wife anyway.

“You came over just now—shouldn’t you be going home for lunch?”

Jiang Ling’s clear voice pulled him back.

“I came to see what was going on.”

He paused, then added,

“I accidentally called you ‘wife’ earlier. If you mind, I can apologize.”

Jiang Ling’s ears turned slightly red.

“It’s fine. We’re getting married anyway.”

She wasn’t a traditional girl. After everything in her past life, she had learned to let things go.

Shen Yan was tall and straight, nearly 190 cm, muscular from military service. If not for his injured leg and the rumors about his condition, many women would have liked him.

Shen Yan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.

Standing so close, he could smell the faint clean fragrance coming from her.

Suddenly, his throat felt a little dry.