At this moment, two rough hands suddenly landed on her waist.

The crowd around the river quickly dispersed after the incident. Even the village head and brigade accountant had gone to the Shen family to join the banquet.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yujiao followed Zhou Qianming with great anticipation toward their new home.

When they arrived at the educated youth (sent-down youth) compound, Jiang Yujiao still hadn’t noticed anything wrong.

“Brother Qianming, did you forget something at the educated youth compound?” she asked.

Zhou Qianming replied flatly, “No. I brought you home.”

Home?

Jiang Yujiao’s eyes widened.

This was the educated youth compound—how could this be called a home?

She could not accept the idea of living here after marriage. It wasn’t even as good as the Jiang family’s house.

Seeing her displeased expression, Zhou Qianming explained, “Don’t worry. I’ve already applied to the team leader for a separate room. We won’t be living with others.”

But Jiang Yujiao was still unhappy. The rooms here were cramped, and there wasn’t even a proper kitchen. Everything was inconvenient.

She suggested, “Brother Qianming, why don’t we build a small house in the village?”

Zhou Qianming’s face instantly darkened.

He still owed Jiang Ling money, and he had just paid a dowry to the Jiang family. He simply didn’t have any money left.

“Yujiao,” he said coldly, “if you don’t want to marry me, you can still back out now.”

They hadn’t even registered their marriage yet. If she regretted it, she could go back immediately.

Then the Jiang family could return the dowry. With his looks, he wouldn’t worry about finding another partner.

Jiang Yujiao panicked immediately.

“No! Brother Qianming, I only want to marry you! I’m fine with living here.”

Saying that, she quickly pulled him inside, afraid he would change his mind.

Although the place was poor, she believed Zhou Qianming would become rich in the future and eventually become a tycoon. She just had to endure it for now.

But when she saw that their room only had a rusty iron bed and a single cabinet, she still felt a surge of bitterness.

On the same day, other villagers were celebrating Jiang Ling and Shen Yan’s wedding, while their side was completely deserted.

Despite her frustration, she still had more important matters to attend to.

She locked the door, walked behind Zhou Qianming, and hugged his waist.

“Brother Qianming… let’s go to sleep…”

Zhou Qianming glanced outside. It was still daytime.

“What sleep?”

When he turned around, he noticed her collar had already been undone by two buttons.

She was deliberately seducing him—wanting to conceive a child quickly to secure her position as the future wealthy madam.

Dressed brightly and even wearing makeup (poorly done, almost ghost-like), she still looked like a woman.

Zhou Qianming lost control for a moment and was pulled onto the bed.

All the dissatisfaction and longing she had suppressed in her previous life now poured out.

……

Night deepened. The Shen family banquet was almost over, and guests had mostly left.

Before leaving, the village head Li Yong reminded Shen Yan, “Old Third Shen, Jiang Ling is a good girl. Treat her well.”

Jiang Ling had cut ties with her family, so if the Shen family ever mistreated her, the brigade would stand up for her.

Shen Yan nodded. “Don’t worry.”

Li Yong approved of him. Jiang Ling marrying Shen Yan was far better than marrying that weak educated youth.

In the past, she had obsessively pursued Zhou Qianming, and people thought she was foolish. What was so good about that frail man who couldn’t lift or carry anything?

A man like Shen Yan—strong and capable—was the right choice.

Jiang Ling glanced at Shen Yan.

Strong, yes. A bit of a pity though—rumor had it he had some issue “down there.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Commander Lu and Deputy Regiment Commander Gu were drunk and half-asleep. They would be staying at the village secretary’s house that night.

Shen Yan had also drunk a little; his face was flushed, and his usually sharp eyes were slightly unfocused.

But he remained clear-headed enough to arrange everything properly.

Jiang Ling had already been sent back to their new room.

The room was clean and tidy, clearly prepared in advance. New washbasin, towels, cabinet—even the bedding was bright red.

She looked around casually and noticed a desk with military books and a worn notebook. She didn’t touch it.

There was also a sewing machine—new, shiny, with a red paper decoration.

She sat on the bed, waiting.

Soon, there was a soft knock at the door.

It was Shen Pingping.

“Third Sister-in-law, Third Brother told me to tell you he’s sending his comrades to the village secretary’s house and will be back soon.”

Jiang Ling nodded. “Okay.”

After she left, Jiang Ling casually asked Shen Pingping about Shen Yan’s injured leg.

“I don’t know,” Shen Pingping said. “He never told us. Mom asked too, but he said it was military secrecy.”

She quickly added, “But Third Brother is very capable! He earns ten work points a day even with his injury!”

Jiang Ling smiled. “I know. I was just worried about him.”

Later, she used her spatial ability briefly—washing her face with spring water and watering her farmland—before returning to the room, exhausted.

At that moment, Shen Yan returned.

He saw her sitting quietly on the bed, waiting. Under the dim light, her eyes were bright and soft.

His throat tightened slightly.

He closed the door behind him.

“Drank a lot?” she asked.

“Not much. I just get red easily,” he replied, sitting beside her.

Then he suddenly pulled her into his arms.

“We’re married now,” he said in a low voice. “We should fulfill our marital duties.”

Before she could react, he kissed her.

Everything after that blurred into intensity and heat, leaving her too exhausted to move afterward.

Shen Yan carried her, cleaned her up, and held her as she slept.

The next morning, Jiang Ling was awakened by sharp voices outside.

“Why is she still asleep? Such a lazy new wife!”

“She didn’t even cook or do chores!”

The voices belonged to Shen’s eldest and second sisters-in-law.

Jiang Ling got up slowly, feeling sore all over.

Shen Yan entered with a basin of hot water.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“…I’m fine,” she replied.

After washing up, they went out. The family was already eating breakfast.

The second sister-in-law muttered again, but Shen Yan shot her a cold look, and she immediately shut up.

The Shen family quickly quieted down.

After breakfast, they went to the county to register their marriage.

There, they unexpectedly ran into Jiang Yujiao and Zhou Qianming.

Jiang Ling found it unlucky.

Zhou Qianming, however, stared at her for a moment—she looked unusually radiant, as if well cared for.

Shen Yan stepped forward and blocked her from view completely.

They completed their registration and left.

Later, they went to a photo studio and took wedding photos.

On the way back, they passed a river where a commotion was happening—another girl had staged a drowning incident to force marriage onto a military officer.

The situation was resolved quickly after it was exposed that her real goal was to leave the village.

Afterward, everyone dispersed.

As Jiang Ling sat on a tree branch, preparing to jump down—

Two rough hands suddenly landed on her waist.