087. Making Connections, The Fiancé!

The most beautiful future is waking up to find both the sunshine and you beside me.

Jing Qingxin opened her eyes and immediately fell into a pair of deep, captivating eyes. Their gazes met, gentle and full of affection. With a slight smile and a subtle lean forward, her vivid lips brushed softly, planting a kiss. “Good morning!”

Gao Shen’s eyes narrowed playfully, then he followed her lead, pressing a kiss to Jing Qingxin’s lips and smiling lightly, “Good morning!”

They smiled at each other. Even if the future was shrouded in uncertainty, for now, at least they were together. Cherish the present, and the future will arrange itself.

After breakfast, Jing Qingxin asked Gao Shen to gather some small stones to tidy up the vegetable patch and the flower beds, circling them with stones for easier maintenance and a more pleasing appearance.

Noticing the pile of laundry in the main room, neatly packed in a small bamboo basket, Jing Qingxin prepared to carry it to the riverside for washing. Previously, she had stored her clothes in the “Flowing Light Brocade” and returned to the modern world to wash them at home with a washing machine.

Now, two or three days had passed, and she had no idea when she would be able to return. All she could do was adapt to life here as best as possible.

The creek pool inside the “Flowing Light Brocade” could also be used for washing clothes, but that would be too conspicuous. From previous rumors and discussions, Jing Qingxin understood that she and Gao Shen were in a somewhat precarious situation. If they wanted to live peacefully in the village, they needed to manage their relationships well—not just with the team leader, but also with the villagers.

If they simply shut their doors and lived their own little lives, who knew what might happen next? No matter how strong one is, it’s impossible to be isolated from society. As long as you need to live, you must learn to blend in.

Enjoy solitude when it’s time to be alone, but when it’s time to be sociable, learn to fit in. That’s the best way to survive.

With her mind made up, Jing Qingxin picked up the basket and headed for the riverside.

When she arrived, she saw six women already washing clothes by the river. Two were young girls with braided hair, obviously unmarried, while the other four were married women.

Without the hairstyles, Jing Qingxin wouldn’t know how to distinguish between the unmarried and married women. In this era, women married so young that hair accessories were the easiest way to tell, and convenient for addressing people.

“Miss Jing, come to wash your clothes? Here, this spot is good!” A young woman greeted her warmly.

Hearing this, Jing Qingxin paused briefly, then approached with a gentle smile.

She knew that last night’s meat distribution had increased the villagers’ goodwill toward her. Sacrificing a single roe deer had yielded excellent results.

“Yes, good morning to you all!” Jing Qingxin responded with a smile.

After greeting them, she knelt by the river, dipped her clothes in water, and began scrubbing. She glanced at the two women beside her, who would rub their clothes a few times, soak them in the river, then beat them with wooden sticks. They used no detergent, simply wrung them dry, and were done.

Such an ancient method of washing clothes!

“Oh, Miss Jing, you’re using soap, aren’t you? Soap isn’t cheap—it costs several dimes per bar.” The young woman who had greeted her commented with a smile.

Hearing this, Jing Qingxin sighed inwardly. Even a bar of soap could evoke such amazement—how stifled this era was!

Still, she could tell the woman meant no harm, just genuine surprise. Country folk were used to thrift, saving wherever possible. For them, a few dimes could buy meat, so they were reluctant to spend it on laundry. Their clothes mostly got dirty with soil, so a few extra rinses sufficed.

“You can just call me Jing. How should I address you?” Jing Qingxin replied with a smile, sidestepping the topic. What could she say—she was rich and frivolous? Better to ignore it and change the subject. Saying too much might only provoke jealousy.

“My name is Wang Chunhua. My husband is Li Lin, the scorekeeper for our production team.” Wang Chunhua introduced herself.

She’d always had a favorable impression of Jing Qingxin, ever since their first gathering. Jing’s aura was refined, clearly from a well-educated family, quite different from those born to rural households.

Perhaps because she hadn’t had much education herself, Wang Chunhua admired scholarly women. Last night’s meat-sharing gesture had only improved her opinion further.

Her four-year-old daughter had received a small bowl of meat and vegetables, and every family member got two pieces of meat to satisfy their cravings. She felt grateful, so upon seeing Jing Qingxin, she naturally wanted to build a good relationship.

“Then I’ll call you Sister Chunhua!” Jing Qingxin said with a smile.

“All right, call me whatever you like!” Wang Chunhua replied cheerfully.

They chatted while washing, and Jing Qingxin picked up Gao Shen’s clothes. He didn’t have many—just a few pieces issued by the military, rotated for washing. The finer clothes she’d bought for him were carefully stored in the cupboard; according to him, such good material wasn’t suited for village wear.

Wang Chunhua glanced at her, immediately recognizing that Jing Qingxin was washing men’s clothes—she knew whose they were. The village had been rife with gossip for the past two days; she’d been curious but only listened.

But now, seeing an unmarried girl washing a man’s clothes in their village was somewhat improper. Wang Chunhua’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Jing, are these the soldier’s clothes?” she asked quietly.

Jing Qingxin nodded, “Yes, they’re Gao Shen’s.”

Seeing her straightforward admission and calm expression, Wang Chunhua was momentarily unsure what to say. Though it was a private matter and she had no right to pry, she still felt obliged to offer a reminder.

“Jing, are you and the soldier…?” Wang Chunhua asked tactfully.

Noticing her hesitation, Jing Qingxin understood immediately and spoke directly, “Sister Chunhua, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Such candor!

Wang Chunhua felt a bit awkward but pressed on, “Jing, I’m only thinking about your reputation. What exactly is your relationship with the soldier—no, with Gao Shen? You must understand, here in the countryside, an unmarried woman washing a man’s clothes means something. If people see it, they’ll gossip—it could affect your reputation.”

Jing Qingxin smiled, appreciating Chunhua’s good intentions, and replied calmly, “He’s my fiancé.”

—Extra Notes—

Thank you to everyone who voted and rewarded Qingqing in the Book City! Much gratitude!

Where are my friends from Xiaoxiang? So quiet! Don’t lurk—come out and say hello.

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