He didn’t even need to turn around—Jiang Ling already knew it was Shen Yan. After what happened last night, she was far too familiar with those hands.

“No need to carry me, I can jump down myself… hey!!”

Before she even finished speaking, Shen Yan had already lifted her down.

An auntie nearby was still watching, but Shen Yan’s cold expression didn’t show the slightest hint of embarrassment.

“Let’s go back,” he said in a low voice.

Jiang Ling nodded. “Okay.”

On the way back, they could still hear villagers discussing Li Jinhua’s incident.

They said Li Jinhua’s act of jumping into the river was copied from the Jiang sisters and had ruined the village’s morals.

Jiang Ling felt speechless. It was clearly Jiang Yujiao who jumped into the river—she only went in to save someone. Why was she being dragged into it too?

But if she hadn’t jumped in, she probably wouldn’t have been reborn.

There was likely some kind of unavoidable connection between the two events.

Shen Yan looked down at her and saw her furrowed brows.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired,” she replied.

His gaze swept over the faint red marks still lingering on her neck and quickly moved away, as if burned.

When they returned to the Shen household, the eldest and second sister-in-law were still picking vegetables in the courtyard.

“I think she must’ve gone out to slack off. How long does it take to register a marriage? By the time we finish all the housework, she’ll probably just come back!”

The second sister-in-law, Li Zhaodi, was still gossiping about Jiang Ling.

The eldest sister-in-law, Zhao Xian, looked up and saw Jiang Ling and Shen Yan returning. She quickly tugged at Li Zhaodi’s sleeve.

“Stop talking. Eldest brother and sister-in-law are back.”

But Li Zhaodi didn’t care.

“Why should I be scared? Third brother’s leg is crippled now and he can’t return to the army—he’s basically useless.”

“As sisters-in-law, can’t we say a few words? If it were before, we wouldn’t even give them enough food if they didn’t work—maybe even beat them…”

Jiang Ling walked up to her.

“Second sister-in-law, have I ever offended you?”

Li Zhaodi snorted. “No. But you don’t do any work at home—that’s not acceptable! You’re cooking lunch today, don’t even think about being lazy.”

Jiang Ling blinked and agreed.

“I can cook, but I won’t wash the dishes.”

Li Zhaodi was about to argue when Zhao Xian quickly pulled her back.

“I’ll wash the dishes. Stop talking.”

Jiang Ling turned to leave but then paused, as if remembering something.

“My husband’s leg will definitely get better. Don’t talk about him like that anymore.”

The courtyard fell silent.

Even Shen Yan, who had just brought out farm tools, paused mid-motion.

His dark eyes landed on her.

She lifted her chin slightly, her tone firm.

Shen Yan felt something complicated stir in his chest.

Since his injury, he had heard plenty of bad words—but she was the first person to speak up for him.

When she turned around, she met his gaze.

He walked toward her.

“I’m going to work in the fields,” he said.

Then, as if remembering something, she stopped him, ran back into the house, filled his water bottle, and added a few drops of spring water from her space before handing it to him.

“It’s hot. Drink more water.”

Shen Yan took it, met her bright eyes, and left without a word.

The sisters-in-law watched this exchange with surprise.

Li Zhaodi couldn’t help but gossip, “Jiang Ling, do you still like that educated youth Zhou?”

Jiang Ling frowned.

“I’m married to Shen Yan now. Don’t mention irrelevant people again—or I’ll assume you like him.”

Li Zhaodi was instantly speechless.

In the kitchen, Jiang Ling found only a few potatoes.

She sliced them into shreds and stir-fried them in a generous spoonful of pork fat. The oil hit the hot wok and immediately sizzled and smoked.

The aroma quickly filled the kitchen.

The sisters-in-law returning from picking vegetables couldn’t help swallowing.

Li Zhaodi noticed half the jar of pork fat was already gone and sneered inwardly.

She’ll get beaten by mother-in-law later for wasting so much oil.

……

While Jiang Ling was cooking, two small boys suddenly ran into the kitchen.

They were Li Zhaodi’s sons—Shen Jizong, five years old, and Shen Yaozu, just over three.

“Third aunt, what are you cooking? It smells so good! I want some!”

They bounced around her, tugging at her clothes.

Jiang Ling looked down and saw they were holding white rabbit candies.

“Where did you get that candy?” she asked, frowning.

“We took it from your room,” they said proudly.

Jiang Ling’s expression turned cold.

She hated people entering her room without permission.

She snatched the candy away and slapped both of them on the butt twice.

“Don’t go into my room again. This is just a warning.”

The two children burst into loud crying.

“You’re mean! We hate you!”

Jiang Ling blinked.

“I hate you too.”

She didn’t like rude children.

They ran out crying to find their mother.

Jiang Ling calmly continued cooking.

Meanwhile, out in the fields, Shen Yan had been working under the blazing sun.

After a while, he picked up the water bottle she gave him and drank.

The water was different—cool, sweet, almost refreshing beyond ordinary water.

He frowned slightly, then drank another mouthful.