Chapter 16

Only then did Yang Bufan see clearly: the person’s cheekbones were bruised. Mouth swollen with blood. Like a gap‑mouthed toad.
He held bags of various sizes. No longer the previous arrogance. Expression respectful and submissive.
The person set down the bags, reached into his pants pocket, pulled out a folded paper, unfolded it. Piled all his sincerity on his face. Read aloud:
“Respected Ms. Yang Bufan, I apologize for my previous disrespect. I know I was wrong. I’m sorry. From now on, I will never dare offend you, or offend any woman. I will follow the law, respect women, honor women, stay away from women, respect the old and love the young, be a good citizen! Please give me a chance to reform. Don’t worry, I will never appear before you again. Will disappear immediately, roll far away…”
Yang Bufan was puzzled: “Who told you to come apologize?”
The person wiped sweat from his forehead. Said: “Jie, sorry, I really won’t dare again. Please be merciful, let me go. I will completely reform. Anything you need, just tell me!”
“Did someone hit you?”
“No no no! No one hit me. I accidentally drank and hit a tree. No one hit me.”
His eyes dodged. Like a dog beaten after falling in water.
Yang Bufan was very surprised. But seeing him like this, arrogance gone, tail between legs, didn’t plan to pursue it.
Not because she was kind. Afraid of cornering a dog, getting bitten again.
Yang Bufan said: “Take your stuff and get out. Don’t let me see you again. If I find out you use your position to harass women again, it won’t be this simple.”
Didn’t know who did it. But that didn’t stop her from using the chance to say something harsh, intimidate him.
“Since Jie forgave me, then this matter…” The person hesitated.
Yang Bufan glared.
The person thanked her repeatedly, picked up his stuff, slunk away.
—
Noon. Fierce sun overhead. Cicadas chirping.
Yang Siqiong came out of the house, a fluffy lamb bleating in her arms. Shook a bottle up and down. When the formula fully dissolved, brought it to the lamb’s mouth. The lamb eagerly sucked, gulping loudly.
This was a lamb born a week ago. Ewe didn’t have enough milk. Had to bottle‑feed.
Made the lamb especially affectionate. Yang Bufan reached out. A furry sheep head appeared under her hand.
She petted the sheep head. A surge of new joy. This was life’s warmth.
Mom also had a smile. Told her to get ready. Today was the barn’s first day in use. Not only had to make sure the sheep adapted quickly, but also had to worship the gods. Very busy.
After lunch, the family of three drove the sheep out of the temporary pen. Led the flock back and forth twice in the activity field. Familiarized them with the environment and smells. Then drove the flock into the new barn.
The new pen was clean and tidy. Enough food and water. Ventilated and cool. Lambs hopped in. Chewed a board, tasted a screw. Then, heads neatly extended into the feed trough, chewed loudly.
All entrances to the pen had “Six Livestock Prosper” blessings posted. Xu Jianguo also blew into the pen with a blowpipe. According to custom, the lambs would grow fast, no disease.
Xu Jianguo said proudly to his wife: “Big things need young people. Our daughter has such drive. Made this pen so spacious, so pretty. We didn’t have to do anything. Now there’s more space. Sheep are comfortable. Don’t have to worry about typhoons.”
Yang Siqiong rarely smiled and nodded.
Xu Jianguo added: “Guangyou Shu brags about sons and grandsons every day. Fine. Come back for holidays, ask them to pull a cart of peanut stalks, they say it’s dirty. Make soup, salty as medicine. Our daughter’s better!”
“Enough.” Yang Siqiong smiled.
“A day like this, should make a few good dishes. Celebrate.”
……
Yang Bufan scratched her face. Looked at the new, impressive big barn, the feed neatly stacked in the warehouse, the lambs eating happily. Felt very hopeful.
Next, could steadily expand the flock, fatten. Try to raise the family income sooner.
After cleaning up, Mom and Dad took silver ingots, went to worship the Commander God, fulfill their vow.
Just then, Yang Bufan got two messages.
From Xiao Liu.
【Jie, got the loan?】
【Last shoot was great. We want to make your family a financial agricultural aid model case. Shoot more material. There’ll be some state subsidies. Do you have time now?】
Twenty minutes later, a luxury car drove into Yang Bufan’s small yard again.
Lao Zhang drove along the clear river, soon reached the end of the village. Jiang Qishen stared outside. This time noticed the alley she lived on was called Yangyang Alley.
The car parked in Yang Bufan’s yard. Xiao Liu, equipment on shoulder, got out first. Chatted with Yang Bufan.
“Xiao Liu, really thanks for the emergency help. Without you this time, my barn balance would’ve had nowhere to go.”
“Jie, what are you saying. Mainly thanks to policy, thanks to Xinyun haha.”
……
Without prompting, Lao Zhang got out, moved a new coffee machine from the car, carried several large bags of coffee beans inside.
Seeing Yang Bufan’s gaze follow, Xiao Liu explained: “This is part of the subsidy.”
After that, Xiao Liu looked ahead, smiled, said loudly: “Mainly thanks to our boss.”
Jiang Qishen didn’t respond to Xiao Liu’s flattery. A few days apart, this place had some seasonal changes.
A festive lantern hung under the eaves. Two strings of dried mixed fish. Four‑season osmanthus branches more lush. Stone table under the tree. Tea fragrance wafted.
Only Yang Bufan, still wearing knee‑high dirty boots, cheap overalls loose on her body, mud and dust on the legs. She squinted in the sun, face wearing an eager fake smile that didn’t want to face her real inner needs.
Jiang Qishen watched Yang Bufan. Observed the flaw she was about to reveal.
“Really thanks, CEO Jiang, for providing such a good platform.” Yang Bufan asked: “Go inside and cool off first, or shoot first?”
“Shoot first.”
Jiang Qishen took long strides, walked ahead, familiar with the route.
As he passed, Yang Bufan caught a whiff of fresh manor holiday perfume.
The farm.
The barn had just started use. Everywhere clean and new. Posted blessings very festive. Perfect time to shoot.
Xiao Liu’s camera work was exaggerated. Had Yang Bufan hold a soft lamb, shot the lamb’s nostrils. She praised the footage highly.
After shooting, everyone sweaty, hid under the banyan to rest.
Suddenly, a strong ram jumped out of the pen, ran around the activity field. Looked anxious and aggressive. Muscles bulged in motion. Agile and beautiful.
Looking at its path, seemed like it wanted to escape through the fallen fence at the edge of the activity field.
Sheep in the pen heard, hurried over. Heads stacked on heads, propped on the fence. Watched the show.
Before the three could react, Yang Bufan had already shot out like wind. One hand holding an empty water bucket. In the blink of an eye, had cut behind the ram. *Bang.* Ram’s head knocked sideways.
The ram got up, froze on the spot. Stubborn eyes looked at Yang Bufan. Like she was another sheep.
That look, like a naughty elementary student got hit. Very resentful but couldn’t win.
Xiao Liu and Lao Zhang opened their mouths in unison.
Yang Bufan didn’t save the sheep’s face. Grabbed the ram’s horns, dragged and kicked it back into the pen. Locked the door.
When Yang Bufan came back panting, sweaty, Xiao Liu gave a sincere thumbs up. “Jie, you’re too fierce. Woman among women. Just shot a segment. Like it had its own BGM. Better than before.”
Yang Bufan clapped her hands, smiled shyly.
“That fence has a gap?”
“Yeah. My fence is wooden posts driven into the ground. This year lots of rain. Some rotted, fell over. Need to replace. It’s been thinking about it these days. I fixed it today, should be fine.”
Jiang Qishen saw her hand holding the bucket. Nails cut very short, white. Blood seeping from the nail edges. Probably scraped when hitting the sheep.
He looked away. Frowned.
Yang Bufan put down the bucket, washed her hands, arranged for them to go inside for tea and AC. After the three sat down, she went to the kitchen to wash and cut fruit.
When she left, she put her phone on the table. Screen still on. History search page.
Jiang Qishen glanced over. Saw a whole page of search history:
How to raise Chinese sheep prices;
How to minimize sheep farming costs;
How to beat anxiety;
How to tell fortunes;
How to beat anxiety from fortune telling;
Is raising sheep really worse than begging;
How much money gets you sentenced for robbery in China;
Where does begging have higher income;
Can beggars who farm make money;
If you only need to maintain vital signs, what’s cheapest to eat?
Can people really eat pig feed?
What happens if people eat pig feed long‑term?
……
Search time was probably before Xinyun approved the loan.
Jiang Qishen didn’t laugh, didn’t react. Xiao Liu suddenly stared at him, cried out in surprise: “CEO Jiang, your tea!?”
Jiang Qishen came to. Just glanced lightly at the tilted cup in his hand, the spilled tea. Pulled out tissues, wiped his hands.
The phone screen went dark. Yang Bufan came out with cut guava, wax apple, and other fruit. Dad’s braised licorice juice inside. Looked delicious.
Iced preserved fruit was very cooling. Lao Zhang and Xiao Liu ate heartily. The room echoed with crisp chewing.
Not many words. Xiao Liu, guava in mouth, phone in hand, frowned. Said: “Village head wants me back now. Two families want to consult about lion‑head goose loans.”
Yang Bufan said: “Just sat down. Sun’s huge outside. Can they wait?”
Xiao Liu glanced at the boss. Shook her head. “I’ll walk back.”
Yang Bufan looked at Jiang Qishen. Jiang Qishen looked at Lao Zhang. Lao Zhang said: “I’ll take you first.”
Xiao Liu didn’t hesitate. Yang Bufan gave them each a cup of iced fresh‑squeezed wampee. The two went out one after another.
Once they left, only two people remained in the room.
Silence.
Long silence.
Jiang Qishen drank tea, head down. Cup paused at his lips. Glanced from the rim, watched the person across.
She sat across from him. Calmly showed a state of having no worries, not caring about him. Like they hadn’t fought before breaking up. Like they hadn’t broken up. Or never dated.
In Jiang Qishen’s view, this feigned nonchalance was deliberate. More like saying one thing, meaning another.
Especially her calling him CEO Jiang in front of others, putting on an act of drawing boundaries—too obvious.
Given what he knew about her, no matter how calm she acted, inside she was probably bothered, sparks flying, eighty‑eight episodes.
For many years, saying she loved him to death wasn’t an exaggeration. Now she’d improved. Could play hard to get.
They sat like this for five minutes. Didn’t get her weakness or begging. Jiang Qishen took the initiative. Said: “Speak.”
A question mark popped on Yang Bufan’s head.
“You have nothing to say to me?”
“I do!”
Yang Bufan suddenly understood. After refilling his tea, raised her cup. “Thanks. Thanks, CEO Jiang, for the funding. Solved my urgent need.”
Jiang Qishen didn’t clink with her. “Still acting.”
“Not acting.”
Yang Bufan added: “That was from the heart. I really had a hard time lately. Sincerely thank you for not holding grudges, being generous.”
She couldn’t do that.
When they broke up, she swore to drive a luxury car, watch Jiang Qishen go bankrupt and pick trash. That was sincere. Now, Jiang Qishen hadn’t gone bankrupt. She was fucking about to pick trash.
Thinking back to thoughts like “I’d rather starve, go poor, beg, than pass your house”—a bit fake. Yang Bufan felt embarrassed.
But showing weakness now was so useful. Whether others bought it, at least she got past it in her own mind.
At a certain stage, dignity and bitterness meant nothing.
But her sincere thanks didn’t seem to move Jiang Qishen. Even made him look a bit unhappy.
Yang Bufan glanced at him a couple more times.
Jiang Qishen: “If you have something to say, say it.”
“Just suddenly thought of before.”
Yang Bufan sipped tea. Today’s tea was duck shit fragrance. Strong aroma. A few cups, a bit tea‑drunk.
Jiang Qishen finally gave her a look.
“If it were before… Sigh. Anyway, this money, for our whole family, really timely help. Very moving. Won’t say more. Say more and I’ll want to get back together.”
“Oh?”
“When we broke up, weren’t you very tough?” Jiang Qishen lowered his voice, raised his long eyebrows. “What, didn’t find anyone better?”
Better—she probably couldn’t find anyone better than him in this lifetime, even with a lantern.
Yang Bufan honestly shook her head. “Haven’t looked.”
“The company’s been developing steadily. Last two quarters’ revenue very impressive. Some small money, spent is spent.” Jiang Qishen sat up straighter, more upright. Looked at her. “Anyway, I have so much money I couldn’t spend it in the next lifetime. What did you just say?”
“So impressive.”
Yang Bufan clapped, praised.
“The sentence before.”
“Thanks for the timely help.”
“The one after.”
“I’m very moved.”
“No. Just now you said you wanted to what with me?”
“Get back together?”
“Right.” Jiang Qishen smiled warmly. “That’s the word, right?”
“Oh haha, that was a figure of speech. The superlative of moved.”