Qin Chuan looked at the old man in front of him with a bit of surprise, seemingly not expecting him to be so perceptive and to have seen through everything.
But what did it matter? With the evidence now undeniable, Li Houping was surely going to jail. Regardless of the final sentence, his objective had been achieved.
"Get to work, old man!"
"I didn't invite you here to watch a show!"
Qin Chuan chuckled and cursed, then, along with Qin Yang and Qin Gang, continued to install the glass windows.
However, while things were peaceful on their end, the entire village was abuzz with the day's events.
In the small mountain village, not much excitement happened throughout the year, so even a couple's argument would be discussed for days. Let alone such a shocking event being exposed all at once.
Within less than an afternoon, the news had spread throughout the village and would undoubtedly soon reach the surrounding ten miles and eight villages.
As evening approached, Qin Chuan, his two brothers, and old man Huang Xiong headed home for dinner. Just as they descended a slope, they suddenly heard someone calling his name from a small knoll.
Looking up, he saw it was Teacher Yang Zimo, holding a bowl of rice and eating dinner on the knoll.
"Teacher Yang!"
Upon seeing Yang Zimo, Qin Chuan's eyes immediately lit up. He signaled his elder brothers to take Huang Xiong home first, saying he would return later.
Qin Yang said nothing, but Qin Gang looked at Qin Chuan, who was scrambling up the knoll, with a strange expression.
What was this younger brother of theirs trying to do?
He claimed he wanted to pursue Teacher Yang Zimo, yet he was involved with the beautiful factory director, staying out with her late at night. What was his intention?
In this era, the word "scumbag" hadn't yet become popular, otherwise, Qin Gang would have immediately pinned that label on Qin Chuan.
"Teacher Yang, you're having dinner!"
Qin Chuan climbed onto the knoll, happily looking at the beautiful teacher in front of him.
Today, Yang Zimo had shed her fashionable city-style down jacket for a very down-to-earth floral padded jacket and pants, with her hair in a braid.
Even more grounded was her choice to eat outside on the knoll like the villagers. As she ate, she was privy to everything that happened between the Zhang and Li families.
At first glance, she looked like a genuine village maiden, except for her naturally beautiful face.
After all, beautiful girls looked good in anything, like walking clothes racks.
"Mmm, I just made a simple meal, eating by myself!"
Yang Zimo replied casually, then stared intently at Qin Chuan. "I heard you had a conflict with some people in the village and got them thrown in jail?"
"Whoa, is the news spreading that fast? You already know?"
Qin Chuan couldn't help but laugh. Although there was no internet in the countryside at this time, the speed of information spread was no less than in later times.
The entertainment options for ordinary people were very limited throughout the day, so once something happened, it would spread rapidly.
"Don't beat around the bush, tell me the details of what happened!"
Yang Zimo glared with her beautiful eyes. Unfortunately, she was too beautiful, and her eyes were full of spirit, rendering them utterly harmless and instead appearing somewhat cute.
Qin Chuan sat down next to Yang Zimo and habitually reached for a cigarette. He touched his cigarette pack and then gave up, thinking it wasn't appropriate with the beautiful teacher eating nearby.
"It's nothing much, that scoundrel dared to kidnap and blackmail my second brother, so I couldn't stand it and called the police!"
"The police took that scoundrel away!"
Yang Zimo said nervously, "Are you alright?"
Qin Chuan turned his head in surprise, looking directly at Yang Zimo. "Teacher Yang, are you concerned about me?"
Yang Zimo blinked and then a blush spread across her fair cheeks. "Nonsense, I just asked casually, don't get any funny ideas!"
"Teacher Yang, you're swearing!"
Qin Chuan pressed on, a teasing smile on his face.
Yang Zimo glared. "Why can't I swear? Although I'm a teacher, I'm also an ordinary person. With two shoulders supporting one head, why can't I even swear?"
"Hahaha!!!"
Qin Chuan burst into hearty laughter.
"What are you laughing at? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
Yang Zimo frowned.
"It's not wrong, it's too right!"
Qin Chuan replied cheerfully. "Teacher Yang, I truly didn't expect you, at such a young age, to have already thought so clearly!"
"We are all just mortals in this vast sea of people, why should we restrict ourselves so much? Why not live as our true selves, instead of living according to others' expectations?"
When Qin Chuan finished speaking, a flicker of light appeared in Yang Zimo's calm eyes, and her voice, uncontrollably tinged with excitement, asked, "You think so too?"
"Of course, I've always thought so!"
Qin Chuan exuded a calm, confident, and unrestrained demeanor, his tone firm and powerful. "And I've always acted accordingly!"
Clang!!
A crisp shattering sound suddenly broke the perfect atmosphere. Qin Chuan quickly looked down and saw rice and dishes scattered all over the ground, along with the rice bowl that had broken into several pieces.
"Uh... I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! My hand slipped. Did I get your clothes dirty?"
Yang Zimo came back to her senses and quickly apologized, then stooped down to clean up the mess.
Qin Chuan also helped to clean up, and their hands accidentally touched.
Qin Chuan didn't think much of it, only feeling that her small hand's skin was particularly smooth. Yang Zimo, however, flinched as if she had been electrocuted, quickly withdrawing her hand, her earlobes turning red.
"Teacher Yang, do you usually eat meals like this? It's too lacking in nutrition! There's not even a piece of meat!"
Qin Chuan, oblivious to Yang Zimo's reaction, continued talking to himself.
"I... I'm alone, I just eat a little to fill myself up..."
Yang Zimo mumbled, her voice low.
"That won't do. If this continues, it will have a significant impact on your health!"
Qin Chuan adopted a serious tone and then suddenly changed the subject. "Teacher Yang, tomorrow is Sunday, right? You don't have classes?"
"Yes, why?"
Yang Zimo asked, looking puzzled.
"Then let's go hunting in the mountains tomorrow. The snow hasn't melted yet, so it's a good time for hunting!"
Qin Chuan suggested.
"Hunting?"
Yang Zimo's beautiful eyes widened, clearly surprised by the answer.
But soon, she waved her hands in a hurry. "No, no! Guns are strictly forbidden in our country, and hunting is illegal!"
"What are you thinking? Who said we'd use guns?"
Qin Chuan chuckled. "Let me tell you, there are many ways to hunt. Besides firearms, there are bows and arrows, pit traps, snares, and so on."
"Tomorrow, I'll call my eldest brother too. He's a great hunter and incredibly skilled with a bow and arrow, hitting the mark every time!"
"As for my second brother and me, we're good at digging pit traps and setting snares. Our three brothers will take you, and we'll definitely give you a thrilling experience unlike any other!"
"So, are you going or not?"
Qin Chuan's words were full of temptation, making Yang Zimo involuntarily yearn for it.
It seemed that since she came to this remote mountain village to teach, she had never been hunting in the mountains before.