"Help, someone, Shen Zhiqing has jumped into the river."

The captain’s wife, Li Cuixia, came to the river to rinse a basket used for chicken manure and happened to see this scene. Her face changed dramatically, and she shouted while running over, using a shoulder pole to try and reach Shen Zhiqing’s body.

The pole had no hook, and she couldn’t pull the person out; instead, she pushed her further away.

Li Cuixia panicked and shouted, "Come quick, Shen Zhiqing has jumped into the river, help..."

Villagers near the river heard her and quickly put down their farming tools, running over to help.

By the time the villagers arrived, there was no trace of her on the water’s surface.

Li Cuixia pointed to the spot where Shen Zhiqing went under and shouted, "Right there, I saw her jump into the river with my own eyes. Who can swim? Get down there and save her, or it’ll be too late."

After all, it’s a human life.

If she dies, it’ll be a pity.

Moreover, a suicide by a Zhiqing in the village would bring a bad name to the village. Her little daughter was just thinking about finding a family for marriage after the New Year.

"I... I can swim, I’ll go down to save her."

The honest Li Daniu spoke up, taking off his cotton jacket, pants, and shoes, ready to jump into the river, but a tall figure was one step faster.

"Hey, who was that young person who jumped into the water just now?"

"He doesn’t seem to be from our village."

"How is he not? Cuihua, isn’t that your brother-in-law?" In our village, only Li Cuixia’s brother-in-law wears a green army uniform. If it’s not him, then who? 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"No." Li Cuixia insisted, "My brother-in-law isn’t that tall and not that handsome."

Before the young man jumped in, she caught a glimpse, and he was quite handsome.

This old lady’s heart skipped a beat looking at him.

"Er Laizi’s wife, what are you doing?"

Li Cuixia just wanted to take a look at the army coat thrown on the riverbank, but saw Er Laizi’s wife sneakily walking away with a large green backpack while everyone was distracted.

Li Cuixia quickly went over, grabbed the backpack, "Er Laizi’s wife, Bin jumped into the river to save someone. You’re not helping, but instead, you’re stealing his things. You shameless woman, even if you don’t care, our village people do."

Li Cuixia angrily snatched the backpack back and returned it to its place.

The villagers quickly shifted their focus, looking at Er Laizi’s wife and reproaching:

"Er Laizi’s wife, normally you just pilfer, but even the soldier’s luggage you dare to steal? What do you want to do next?"

"Exactly, if word gets out that the soldier saved someone in our Red Flag Village, but his belongings got stolen by our villagers, wouldn’t our village become a laughing stock for miles around?

"If the village’s reputation is ruined, who would dare marry into our village?"

"And no one would dare marry our village girls."

"Well, they’re all afraid of getting robbed."

"No way, we need to tell the village head, let the head properly reprimand Er Laizi and his wife."

"Er Laizi’s wife, I lost two eggs a few days ago, was it you who stole them?"

"If it wasn’t her, then it was Er Laizi. Things get stolen in our village, and they’re the only ones it could be."

...

Yuan Chun came through only to find herself in water, with a suffocating discomfort in her chest.

Just as she wanted to swim, suddenly, a pair of big hands lifted her, and her head soon broke the surface.

She instinctively started breathing in large gulps.