Chapter 27: A Jealous Man Is the Hardest to Appease

Shen Yi marched ahead, head down and moving with relentless momentum. Ji Ling tried to keep up at first, but after a long chase, he only picked up his pace. Finally, she stopped, hands on her hips, and let out a long, helpless sigh. This was too difficult; a man acting out of jealousy was truly impossible to soothe.

"I'm exhausted, slow down," she called out. Shen Yi visibly paused, but he remained stubborn, turning his head away to avoid looking at her.

Ji Ling caught up and leaned in, tilting her head to peer at him. "What is it? I just chatted with someone for a moment, and you’ve already puffed yourself up like a pufferfish?"

"I—I'm not illiterate either. I can speak several languages," Shen Yi blurted out, rattling off a string of words before turning his face away in a huff.

Ji Ling suppressed a laugh and nodded. "Well, I never said you were illiterate. My Shen Yi is the best, of course—you know English and Russian. I was actually planning to organize some English materials recently and had intended to ask for your help. But since you're unhappy, I suppose I'll have to find someone else."

As she spoke, she began to step backward.

"You—I—I'm not unhappy," Shen Yi said, his eyes darting toward her. "I can help you."

"Oh, really? Then who was it that kept walking faster the more I called out behind him? Ah, right, not angry, just jealous." It was rare to see Shen Yi like this, and Ji Ling couldn't resist teasing him.

"He looked at you as if his eyes were glowing. Is he a starving wolf?" Shen Yi kicked a pebble at his feet. He had never cared about the other men in the village; he only worried that his own background made him unworthy of her. But this Yun Shu made him feel threatened—he knew Ji Ling had a fondness for scholarly, educated men.

"I don't know if he's a wolf, but I do know that the person I love, the person I want to spend my life with, is standing right in front of me."

Ji Ling smiled softly, taking Shen Yi’s hand and swinging it gently. She was afraid, too—afraid that if he kept retreating, he might eventually leave her behind. In her past life, she had already missed her chance, and in this one, she was determined not to let such misunderstandings damage their bond.

"I know, I just..." Shen Yi muttered, his voice low.

"Then, Brother Yi, let's study together. How about you apply to the same school as me? That way, we can always be together," Ji Ling proposed.

Shen Yi’s ears turned red. He wanted to agree immediately, but he remembered he had recently promised that old man he would join the military. He hesitated, deciding to keep that to himself for now to avoid ruining the moment. "All right. You can teach me."

The two walked along, laughing and chatting about the future, as if the events at school and on the road had never happened.

The town’s supply and marketing cooperative was quite spacious, featuring various sections for production materials, daily necessities, and groceries. As soon as they stepped inside, their eyes were drawn to the wide array of fabrics lining the long counter.

"I'm telling you, don't buy this red fabric. You’re already dark-skinned; wearing red will just make you look darker, you big black girl," a saleswoman behind the counter said, rolling her eyes at a young woman standing in front of her.

"You’re the big black girl! Your whole family is! So what if I wear red? It’s not your money I’m spending," the girl retorted, refusing to back down.

Ji Ling stood to the side, feeling awkward. She had intended to buy fabric to make clothes for Cong'an and Shen Yi’s mother, but the two women were now locked in a fierce argument. After a moment of thought, she decided to step forward.