Night fell deeply.

Wen Ran guessed that everyone else was asleep.

She looked at Xiao Chenye lying next to her, sleeping like a dead pig.

She blinked, quietly got up, and had just put on her clothes, intending to slip into her shoes and make a run for it.

A ghostly voice came from behind, "In the middle of the night, where do you think you’re going?"

Wen Ran: "..."

Silence was the Cam River tonight.

She turned her head, incredulously, "Weren’t you supposed to be asleep just now?"

"Asleep, I can still wake up."

Xiao Chenye seemed a bit helpless, "Besides, I was asleep, not dead, okay?"

Wen Ran had nothing to say. You know, what he said actually made a lot of sense.

"Where are you going?"

Wen Ran only hesitated for three seconds before decisively saying it.

"I want to go to the cowshed and ask Shen Qingshu to be a teacher for Hongguo."

Xiao Chenye was stunned, seemingly not expecting Wen Ran to say this, "Aren’t you afraid?"

"I’m definitely afraid."

Many ants can bite a dead elephant.

No matter how capable she is, she doesn’t want to stand alone against everyone.

"But I feel it won’t always be like this."

"You feel that way too?"

Xiao Chenye smiled, "That’s what I think too."

Darkness will eventually embrace the dawn.

"So..."

He got up to put on his clothes, rustling, "I support you, and besides, the ones living in the cowshed are all capable and talented people."

Mentioning this, his gaze turned complex, "To put it bluntly, if there hadn’t been issues along the way, we might never have crossed paths in this lifetime."

Clouds and mud, is there any reason to intersect?

No.

Clouds are clouds, mud is mud.

These are two completely different things.

Even now that you’re next to me and I’m entwined with you, eventually, we will each return to our place.

"You have a pretty open mind."

"Yeah," Xiao Chenye laughed, "Having traveled all over, I’ve gained some insights despite my age."

Moreover, Xiao Chenye feels that the work with the county transport team might not last long.

However, he has never discussed such concerning topics with Ranran.

She just needs to be happy every day.

Even if the transport team can’t continue, he is confident he can provide a good, even comfortable, living environment for the family.

"I’m thinking, since Hu Dacheng & Hu Ercheng were willing to break ties just to learn something from Shen Qingshu.

This is enough to prove that Shen Qingshu has something valuable."

And...

To express some dark thoughts.

If we don’t take advantage of this chance meeting, it will really be as difficult as climbing to heaven to see them again in a year or two.

Wen Ran also doesn’t think her request is excessive.

To put it bluntly, if she hadn’t stepped in today and caught the cattle thieves, bringing back two cows to fill the gap in the cowshed,

one can only guess what would have happened to the people living in the cowshed.

The prerequisite for future enjoyment is that you have to survive first.

Wen Ran lowered her gaze, her eyes flickering softly.

Xiao Chenye didn’t notice Wen Ran’s expression, tidied himself up, "Let’s go, we can talk on the way."

"Okay."

Outside, they realized Hongguo was already crouching by the door waiting.

"Sis!"

She looked slightly guilty when she saw Xiao Chenye, "Brother-in-law."

"Hmm," Xiao Chenye nodded, amused by her unease, "Do I seem that scary now?"

"No," Hongguo said awkwardly, "Brother-in-law, if you think it’s not safe, I..."

"There’s nothing unsafe."

Xiao Chenye said frankly, "I have some connections with those people."

Wen Ran: "!"

She was shocked, "You have connections with the people in the cowshed?"

"Yeah," Xiao Chenye smiled and winked, "Otherwise, how do you think a country boy like me can go toe-to-toe with my brother?"

Wen Ran: "...I thought we were both just naturally gifted."

Xiao Chenye: "."

He had to admit, what she said was really a bit piercing.

"I’m not innately talented, just learned a bit of self-defense from some old guy in there. Let’s go, learning medicine or something, if I go, the odds should be better."

Under the moonlight, the three of them headed to the cowshed.

They were quiet, careful, but when they heard someone speaking inside the cowshed, and the voice sounded incredibly familiar, the three of them were stunned.

No way, why does that voice sound so much like the captain?

"Eat," the captain sighed, "I’ll give you an explanation for this."

"There’s nothing to explain or not," Shen Qingshu chuckled bitterly, "No matter what, it was our failure to take care of things. We see the care you’ve given us.

It’s just whether we will ever be able to repay your kindness in this lifetime remains unknown."

"Don’t talk about kindness; it’s too heavy."

The captain waved his hand, "I only seek to be true to my conscience in what I do.

You did nothing wrong, hold on, as long as you hold on, I believe the day of vindication will come."

"Vindication?"

These two words suddenly felt as weighty as a thousand pounds.

They weighed so heavily on one’s shoulders it was hard to breathe.

"Alright, old pals, it’s already a blessing in life that we’re all still intact here."

Seeing Shen Qingshu revitalized, the captain also smiled, "Yes, that’s the point.

A person, as long as they breathe and live, there’s hope."

He gestured to everyone, "Alright, stop talking and eat quickly.

I brought some beef for you; eat it today as if nothing happened at all.

By the way, Mr. Xu’s stomach isn’t too good. I got some flour from the team; maybe cooking some soup will help nourish your stomach."

Then, the captain pointed to a sack in the corner, "In here are sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, with some pumpkins underneath. They’re nothing special, but at least they fill the belly."

He wanted to take better care of everyone.

But his identity was as it was.

In these turbulent times, letting them curl up quietly to survive was already a significant pressure on him.

If everyone looked rosy, it would really be hard to justify.

Were they here for reform or living a retired life?

A little disparity is the best camouflage.

Outside.

Hongguo’s eyes were reddened.

Even Xiao Chenye and Wen Ran were silent.

They never expected that the usually carefree, always joking, often making Wen Ran furious captain had such a tender side. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Who’s there!"

The shabby window was pushed open, and the captain shouted sternly, "Who’s squatting there!"