Volume One, Chapter Seven: A Fortuitous Encounter with Lin Manru

“Sister-in-law, are you alright?”

After what had just happened, Lin Xiaoxu was even more convinced that Shen Yulian was truly a rare and remarkable woman.

Wu Deshun’s offer had been incredibly generous—beyond what any married woman in the village could resist.

Yet Shen Yulian remained unmoved.

“Sister-in-law is perfectly fine,” Shen Yulian said with a gentle smile, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

Lin Xiaoxu pointed at two bags of guava resting by the wooden door and said, “Sister-in-law, I picked some guavas up in the mountains. I’m heading to the county town now to sell these two bags.”

As for Wu Deshun, who had fled in panic just moments ago, he surely wouldn’t dare to come back and harass Shen Yulian again anytime soon.

“Sister-in-law, why don’t you come with me to the county town to sell the guavas? I’m still very young—a little baby, really—and you’d probably worry if I went alone so far away.”

Shen Yulian wasn’t the least bit surprised that Lin Xiaoxu had gathered guavas in the mountains; the hills were naturally abundant with wild fruits.

Her concern was that Lin Xiaoxu might get lost, and then she wouldn’t know where to find him.

Lin Xiaoxu was deeply touched by Shen Yulian’s words, feeling a warmth swell in his chest.

“Sister-in-law, you should rest at home. I can manage on my own.

Don’t worry—I promise I’ll earn lots and lots of money in the future, ten times better than what Wu Deshun ever promised you!”

He bent down, hoisted the two bags of guavas with ease, and dashed off like a bolt of lightning.

Shen Yulian stood frozen in place.

Those two fertilizer sacks filled with guavas must have weighed at least a hundred pounds each.

Had Xiaoxu somehow taken a strength potion?

How could he carry them as effortlessly as if holding air?

“Ah, Xiaoxu! You don’t have a single cent on you, and you…” Shen Yulian’s calls faded behind him, as he had already left the village entrance.

Peach Blossom Village was surrounded on three sides by mountains, its location extremely remote.

The only road leading out was a narrow, bumpy dirt track barely two or three meters wide.

Tall wild grass and dense shrubs towered over the path, teeming with snakes, insects, rats, ants, and mosquitoes—one careless step could spell trouble.

It took at least an hour to walk from Peach Blossom Village to the nearest bus station outside the county town.

For Lin Xiaoxu, empowered by the Nine Heavens Soaring Technique, his feet moved like wind and fire wheels. In just over ten minutes, he was nearly at the bus stop.

“Xiaoxu, is that you?” A pleasant female voice called from behind.

Lin Xiaoxu turned to see Lin Manru, a fellow villager.

They had been classmates from elementary through middle school.

Manru hadn’t gotten into a top high school and was sent by her family to a vocational school instead.

By the summer Lin Xiaoxu entered university, she had already graduated and started working.

Lin Manru was one of the few in the village who never discriminated against or bullied Lin Xiaoxu.

She pulled up on a somewhat worn women's motorcycle and stopped beside him.

Her small round face, delicate nose, and rosy lips framed clear, bright almond-shaped eyes. When she smiled, a small pointed fang peeked out.

She wore a pale pink long dress, revealing skin that was fair and radiant, emitting a subtle, unique fragrance.

She exuded the sweet charm of the girl next door.

“Manru.”

“Xiaoxu, where are you headed? Maybe I can give you a ride.”

“I—I’m going to the county’s farmers’ market to sell guavas.”

“Then hop on. I’m heading there too, just covering a half-day shift for a colleague.”

Manru gestured to the empty seat behind her.

Lin Xiaoxu didn’t refuse and climbed on.

He had just remembered he hadn’t brought any money with him.

Manru’s timely appearance had saved him from embarrassment.

They rode in silence for over forty minutes, finally arriving near the Jinchang County farmers’ market.

As Lin Xiaoxu got off, before he could even thank her, she asked curiously,

“You’re really strong! You carried those two bags of guavas the whole way and never even sounded tired.”

“They’re not that heavy,” Lin Xiaoxu replied with a shy smile.

“By the way, where do you work? After I finish selling the guavas, I’ll come find you and treat you to fried chicken and a burger to thank you for the ride.”

“Hehe…” Manru bent slightly, her smile blooming like a bright red flower. “I’m a team leader at the Sheraifu Grand Hotel.”

With that, she revved her motorcycle and sped away.

—

The farmers’ market truly was the largest fruit and vegetable wholesale hub in Jinchang County!

Though it was already past noon, stalls inside and outside were still crowded with vendors and customers.

Lin Xiaoxu knew there was an entry fee to the market, so he wisely set up across the street in a somewhat secluded spot.

There, he carefully laid out the guavas from the fertilizer bags.

Instantly, many passersby and vendors took notice.

Lin Xiaoxu’s guavas were bright green and glossy.

Each one round and plump—half the size of a Hami melon.

Under the sunlight, they shimmered with a fresh, dewy sheen.

Even from a distance, a rich, intoxicating fruity aroma wafted through the air.

By appearance alone, they were undoubtedly top quality.

“Hey, young man, these guavas usually don’t come to market for a while yet. Are yours...?”

A man in a white tank top asked, eyeing Lin Xiaoxu’s produce.

Lin Xiaoxu understood the question: Was his guava sprayed with pesticides or growth hormones?

“Sir, our red-heart guavas are grown deep in the mountains of Peach Blossom Village, far from pollution. They thrive on the natural essence of heaven and earth and the energy of sun and moon, which is why they grow so large. You can rest assured about their safety!”

The man noticed Lin Xiaoxu’s mud-splattered Liberation-brand camouflage rubber boots and his honest, simple features. Immediately, he relaxed.

Just as he bent down to select a few guavas to buy for his family,

“Bah! You country bumpkin’s lying to ghosts! Your guavas are obviously pumped full of excessive pesticides and fruit enlargers! Otherwise, no fruit could grow five or six times larger than normal!” sneered a hawk-nosed vendor nearby, who also sold guavas.

Lin Xiaoxu looked at the hawk-nosed man’s guavas, which were indeed larger than average and had fresh green skins.

A pity he was a ruthless, unscrupulous fruit grower.