Chapter Thirty-Seven: Everywhere

"Well done, Big Brother Daqiang, you’re really something. When’s the wedding?" Li Xiangyang teased.

"Go on with you," Li Daqiang waved his hand, looking embarrassed. "It’s way too early for that. There are plenty of people chasing her; I’m not even sure if I’ll be the one who wins her heart in the end."

Watching Li Daqiang’s hurried silhouette, Li Xiangyang shook his head and smiled. Judging by his behavior, it was nine out of ten likely to work out.

But what about himself?

Having been reborn, his body was young, yet his mind felt as old as someone in their seventies or eighties. And right now, finding a partner was truly difficult. When people in the village played matchmaker, they first asked how many acres of land the family owned, how many head of cattle they had, and how the parents’ health was. These were the hard metrics; as for character, it was barely considered.

Li Xiangyang always felt this was wrong. To put it in a rather unpleasant way: even when breeding cattle, one considers their pedigree, yet when people look for a partner, they ignore the "pedigree" of their character—it felt far too ironic.

Of course, every era has its own characteristics. To put it bluntly, how they come together doesn't matter; even in such an environment, many couples lived prosperous lives after marriage.

But Li Xiangyang didn’t think so. In his past life, he had offered his heart completely to Su Yan, and what did he get in return? Now, he didn’t even want to look at a beautiful girl like her. She was like arsenic hidden in honey—it was sweet, certainly, but it was lethal.

As for that girl Li Xiaoyun, while her tongue was sharp, her heart was genuine. If she hadn't been so close to Su Yan and influenced by her, she might have been a decent girl. As for Lin Qiaomei from the supply and marketing cooperative, honestly, she wasn't bad, but she was a snob who looked down on rural folk. It would be hard to walk a lifelong path with that kind of mindset.

It wasn't that Li Xiangyang was arrogant, thinking he could woo any girl he met. It was just that in this era, most marriages depended entirely on a matchmaker’s silver tongue. He had the skill to hunt; if he earned enough money and gave the matchmaker a fat red envelope, they would trample the threshold of the girl’s house to bring them together. However, if it happened that way—even if they succeeded and managed to muddle through life together—how agonizing would that be?

Li Xiangyang sighed. Why were his thoughts becoming less and less like those of a young man?

"Why am I overthinking this? It must be because I have too much time on my hands," Li Xiangyang shook his head. "One shouldn't be idle. The weather is nice today, I might as well head into the mountains to hunt."

Back home, he gathered his tools and headed toward the mountains. Just as he reached the halfway point, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. He looked back and saw Li Xiaoyun. The girl was wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket, her face flushed red from the cold, and she was following him, panting.

"Why are you here?" Li Xiangyang stopped.

"I... I have something to ask you," Li Xiaoyun said, breathless from running.

Li Xiangyang frowned. "In this freezing weather, couldn't you have asked at my house? What if you hadn't found me here?"

"Go to your house?" Li Xiaoyun glared at him. "The village is full of gossips. I... I was too embarrassed to ask there."

"Ask what?"

"What... what did you say to Su Yan?" Li Xiaoyun looked down, kicking the snow on the ground with her toe. "She’s been so well-behaved these past two days, she hasn't even dared to step out of the educated youth dormitory."

"I didn't say much, just told her to stop bothering me."

"Oh," Li Xiaoyun replied, then asked, "What do you plan to do from now on?"

"What do you mean, what do I plan to do?"

"I mean, since things are over between you and Su Yan..." Li Xiaoyun’s voice grew quieter. "What kind of partner are you planning to look for?"

Li Xiangyang finally understood. Looking at the girl with her head bowed, he suddenly realized something. Could this girl have come here specifically to find him?

"You don’t mean..." Li Xiangyang teased her deliberately, "that you like me?"

"Who... who likes you!" Li Xiaoyun’s face turned even redder. "I was just asking."

"Is that so?" Li Xiangyang laughed. "Then why did you run all the way up the mountain in this cold to find me?"

Li Xiaoyun bit her lip and stayed silent.

"If you had said so earlier, I might have considered it," Li Xiangyang continued to tease her. "But I don’t know if you can change that sharp tongue of yours?"

"I... I know I was wrong," Li Xiaoyun suddenly looked up, her cheeks rosy. "I only picked up bad habits from following Su Yan before. I won't speak ill of others anymore."

Seeing her like this, Li Xiangyang couldn't bear to tease her anymore. "Alright, let's head down. It’s too cold."

"Then... what do you mean?" Li Xiaoyun asked timidly.

"What do I mean? If you really like me, we can 'date' and see how it goes. And by 'date,' I mean like friends. I’m a bit of a complicated person; how should I put it? I don’t have that special feeling, and I’m not looking to rush into a serious relationship."

"Date?" Hearing this, Li Xiaoyun’s eyes lit up, completely ignoring the rest of his words. "That works! Let's date. I’ll go into the mountains with you."

Li Xiangyang frowned. "Look, I meant as friends. Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m a person who..."

"I know, I know," Li Xiaoyun interrupted. "You’re complicated and need some special feeling. But I’m asking you, didn't you say we could date? How can I date you if you won't let me follow you?"

"This... isn't that inappropriate?"

"What’s inappropriate about it?" Li Xiaoyun said with conviction. "I’m not one of those pretentious city girls. I’m not afraid of the mountain paths. You hunt, I’ll watch from the side and learn a thing or two. Isn't that great?"

Li Xiangyang wanted to say more, but Li Xiaoyun was already walking ahead. "Why are you dawdling? Don't worry, I won't go around telling everyone we're dating like Su Yan did, and I won't touch your game. I just want to spend time with you."

Oh, this... That wasn't what he was worried about.

Watching Li Xiaoyun walk ahead, Li Xiangyang couldn't help but laugh.

"Fine," Li Xiangyang hurried to catch up. "The path ahead is difficult; walk behind me."

Li Xiaoyun turned back and flashed a smile, revealing two shallow dimples that were quite cute. "That’s more like it. Don't worry, I’ll just watch and won't get in your way."

This girl was really different from what he had imagined. He used to think she was just like Su Yan, full of hidden agendas. But now, she seemed to have a straightforward nature.

"Tell me," Li Xiangyang asked as they walked, "what made you decide to come to me today?"

"You're so annoying. I told you before, if I’m going to stay in the countryside, I have to find someone decent," Li Xiaoyun answered honestly. "I figured you weren't bad. And honestly, I don't really want to be a teacher as much as I used to. I’d rather find a partner."

"So you just came?"

"Exactly," Li Xiaoyun said righteously. "I’ve already reined in my tongue, let me tell you. If this were before and you were being this difficult, you’d see how I’d lash out at you."

Li Xiangyang was amused by her bluntness. "You’re certainly genuine."

"That’s for sure," Li Xiaoyun said proudly. "I only have one flaw—my sharp tongue. Otherwise, I’m good at everything else."

Seeing her boastful attitude, Li Xiangyang couldn't help but laugh out loud.