Chapter 10: Just Keep It at Home and It Will Turn White

"No, don't ask." With that, Xie Beishen lay down on the bed.

Lin Yu was sweltering. If only the room had electricity, he could at least get a fan. He complained, "The weather is too hot. Brother Shen, take me with you when you go for a soak this afternoon. I really want to experience that place you mentioned before. Washing in the river downstream is not only crowded, but the water is warm—it’s not refreshing at all."

Xie Beishen replied, "Fine. Tomorrow, you must find that black dog for me." He took out the portrait he had drawn last time and studied it again.

Lin Yu beamed. "All right, I'll have it done for you by tomorrow morning."

Xie Beishen had considered that finding the person would be simple; if he showed the portrait to Lin Yu, he would certainly know who it was. But he didn't want Lin Yu to see the person on the paper. If any normal man saw this drawing, he would surely be ensnared by such an enchantress.

After waking from her afternoon nap, Su Wanwan headed up the mountain with her second brother. The thought of eating fish for dinner made the long walk feel short, and ever since she started drinking the spiritual spring water, she felt her physical health improving significantly. Each time she drank it herself, she secretly added some to the water jar as well; over the past few days, she could clearly see that her parents' vitality had improved. She wasn't sure if her second brother had any reaction, as he hadn't shown any obvious changes.

This was Su Wanwan's first time going out since she transmigrated. As soon as she stepped out, she saw most of the villagers wearing drab, dusty clothes, many of them patched.

"Oh, I haven't seen Wanwan in days. How have you become even prettier? Why is your skin so fair?"

Su Wanwan looked over to see Aunt Liu from next door chatting with some other women. The other women’s eyes were fixed on Su Wanwan. One chimed in, "She's right, it's glowing white. She was pretty before, but now she looks even better than the girls in town."

Before Su Wanwan could answer, Su Heng spoke up first: "My sister hurt her foot at work and has been resting at home for half a month. How could her skin not be fair?"

Su Wanwan smiled. "That's right. I haven't been working; I’ve just been resting at home, and it turned fair."

One of the aunts said, "Tomorrow, I'll let our Daya rest at home for half a month, too. She’s been out working every day and is tanned pitch-black. A half-month rest should help her get a good marriage proposal."

Aunt Liu’s eyes darted around. It really was true. Her own daughter was tanned dark, too. If she rested for half a month and landed a good marriage, the dowry would be much higher—that was better than working in the fields. Her son, Xiaofeng, was already twenty-two and still didn't have a partner; it had been worrying her to death. The team leader's family must have had the same idea—they were always full of schemes. She decided she wouldn't let Xiaofeng work tomorrow; he could just do chores at home. The women began to chatter and debate.

Aunt Liu glanced at the siblings walking away and said, "No wonder I saw the team leader carrying gifts and riding his bicycle to town the other day. He must have been looking for a suitor for his daughter."

This news quickly spread throughout the village. Even the educated youths at the settlement knew the rumors.

The rumors were: "The team leader's daughter is being pampered at home just to secure a good marriage." "The team leader's daughter is glowing white with a perfect figure." "The team leader wants a son-in-law from the city, which is why he’s keeping his daughter pampered at home." "The team leader is fishing for a golden son-in-law."

Everyone wanted to see if the team leader's daughter was truly as described. As a result, for the next half month, every time a girl in the village reached marriageable age, her family found various excuses to keep her from working, just to pamper her at home and replicate the team leader's strategy for a good marriage. Su Wanwan never imagined that her casual remark about "resting at home to get fair" could trigger such a chain reaction.

When Su Wanwan and her brother reached the pool, they were covered in sweat. She looked around and exclaimed, "Wow, Second Brother, this place is beautiful!" When she had come here at night, she had been dizzy, and on the way back, she had been too afraid of the dark to see the surroundings clearly. It was truly stunning.

The entire pool was cradled by lush, verdant woods. Wild grass and flowers swayed in the breeze along the banks, the air was filled with the fragrance of plants, and birdsong echoed from all directions. The water was so clear she could see the fish swimming at the bottom. She was mesmerized by the vibrant scenery. She recalled the hallucinations she’d had while soaking here last time—when she had wrapped her arms around Xie Beishen’s neck and kissed him. Even now, the memory felt pleasant. But realizing that a crush that hadn't even begun was already over, a wave of disappointment washed over her.

Meanwhile, Xie Beishen was being urged by Lin Yu to hurry up the mountain. He had originally planned to wait, but with Lin Yu nagging him incessantly, he had no choice but to head out early.

Su Wanwan quickly adjusted her mood. Watching her brother set the fish trap, she asked, "Brother, don't we have a fishing net? If we just use a trap, we won't have anything to eat today." If they had a net, one cast would solve the problem!

Su Heng stopped what he was doing and said, "Sister, why have you been acting so silly lately? Don't you know that fishing nets are collective property? Individual fishing is forbidden, or they'll dock your work points. Have you forgotten?"

Su Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat. As a modern person, how would she know that? She feigned composure and changed the subject: "Brother, if you only brought one trap and don't catch anything, we won't have any fish to eat."

Su Heng replied, "Do you think I didn't want to bring more? I had to sneak around to weave this trap myself."

Su Wanwan finally realized that everything was collective property. She felt a sense of loss—they might not even have fish to eat today or tomorrow. She walked over to the rock she had leaned against last time and sat down to wait. Having soaked in the pool before, she knew how comfortable it was, so she took off her shoes and socks and dangled her feet in the water, swinging them back and forth. The cool water washing over her calves was truly soothing. If this weren't such a conservative era, she would have loved to swim. She dismissed the thought; she could swim in her own private space next time—it would certainly be better than here.

She looked at her brother, who was setting the trap. "Second Brother, aren't you craving meat? I know how to make a delicious fish dish that Mother has never made. Do you want to try it? I guarantee it'll be the best thing you've ever tasted." She flashed a sly smile.

Su Heng’s lips curled up. "You’re a clever one. Catching big fish is a matter of luck, but we'll have small fish to eat tonight."

Su Wanwan was happy that small fish were still meat. "Great, my small fish will be delicious, too!"

The next second, she saw her brother take off his shoes, roll his pant legs up to his thighs, and remove his shirt, revealing a lean, muscular torso with faint abdominal muscles visible. Watching him fold his dusty, patched clothes and place them neatly on a rock, she remembered how every year, her second brother would rather go without new clothes himself just to buy her a dress. A different emotion stirred in her heart. Tomorrow, when she went to town, she would use the money the original owner had saved to buy things for the family, so the original owner could rest in peace. She had to rewrite everyone's fate in this family.

She splashed her feet in the water, eyes fixed on her brother. He stood in the water, feeling around the water weeds and rock crevices near the bank. After a few minutes, he caught a small fish. He held the palm-sized fish in the air, showing off to her. "Sister, we have fish for tonight!" He grinned from ear to ear and tossed the fish into the basket.

Su Wanwan was stunned. *That's it?* She couldn't help but feel that her second brother wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.