"Beep beep beep!..."
Just before three o'clock, a three-wheeled motorcycle pulling heavy cargo drove into Nanyang Village.
By then, snow had already begun to drift down, a thin layer covering the ground. The sky was overcast, with every sign of an imminent heavy snowfall.
The village was deserted. Almost everyone was gathered around the warmth of stoves, chatting. Only two or three mischievous youngsters, unafraid of the cold, were still running around in the snow.
Their little faces were flushed red from the cold, snot trickled down their cheeks, glistening like jewels. Their sleeves were similarly wet and shiny, and there were beads of sweat on their foreheads.
The three-wheeled motorcycle stopped at the school entrance. Qin Chuan was the first to jump off, then he helped Yang Zimo down slowly.
"Thank you both!"
Yang Zimo expressed her gratitude. Qin Gang quickly waved his hand, saying it was no trouble at all.
"Second Brother, you park the three-wheeled motorcycle at the village chief's new house first. I'll come over later!"
Qin Chuan spoke up.
"What are you going to do?"
Qin Gang looked puzzled.
"Of course, I'm staying to help Teacher Yang!"
Qin Chuan replied as if it were obvious. "In this freezing weather, with heavy snow about to fall, the school is ice cold. We need to get a stove going immediately! Plus, the classrooms and rooms need cleaning. How can Teacher Yang manage all by herself?"
"No need! Really, no need! I can manage on my own!"
Hearing that Qin Chuan wanted to help with the cleaning, Yang Zimo quickly waved her hands, refusing.
But Qin Chuan spoke with righteous indignation, "Teacher Yang, you bear the responsibility for the future education of our entire village, for the future of dozens of children. How can we villagers stand idly by?"
"If word of my actions today gets out, my old Qin family will be shamed!"
"This..."
Yang Zimo hesitated when Qin Chuan spoke so gravely. Seizing this opportunity, Qin Chuan had already pushed his bicycle with the flat tire into the school, leaving Yang Zimo no chance to refuse further.
When pursuing a girl, the first rule is to have thick skin!
As a seasoned driver of many years, Qin Chuan knew this simple truth.
"Um... Big Brother Qin Gang, then I thank your younger brother!"
Looking at Qin Chuan's retreating back as he entered the school, Yang Zimo could only say to Qin Gang.
Qin Gang felt a twinge in his teeth and an itch in his fists, yet he couldn't show any emotion on his face.
"What's there to thank? These are small matters!"
"I'm leaving now!"
Qin Gang, fearing he would go completely mad if he stayed any longer, quickly rode away on his motorcycle.
After a considerable distance, he angrily swung his fists at the air.
"Bastard! Third Brother, you damn bastard!"
"You turncoat who abandons friends for a pretty face!"
"Not only am I doing all the heavy and tiring work, but you're off chasing girls!"
"Just you wait until I get home, you son of a bitch..."
At this moment, Qin Chuan, in the school, was, of course, unaware that someone was cursing him behind his back. But even if he had known, he would have merely sneered dismissively.
His second brother smelled terrible, unlike how fragrant Teacher Yang was?
She was the woman who would become his sister-in-law in the future. What was wrong with letting him do a little more work now?
Following Yang Zimo into the room, Qin Chuan finally saw Teacher Yang's private quarters.
The room wasn't large, perhaps thirty square meters, but it was tidy.
There was a slightly larger single bed, surrounded by simple cabinets, a desk, and a vanity mirror.
A stove was placed not too far from the bed, its long chimney running along the wall and extending out the window.
This was the simplest of rooms for a single female teacher. It was hard to imagine how a girl like Yang Zimo could be willing to come to this impoverished mountain village to teach.
"Qin Chuan, you can just put your things on the floor!"
Yang Zimo said.
"Okay!"
Qin Chuan set down his luggage bag, which he had unloaded from the bicycle. Then, before Yang Zimo could say anything else, he quickly went to the stove. The immediate task, of course, was to start a fire.
After cleaning out the residual ashes inside, Qin Chuan went to the courtyard outside to find some small dry branches and tinder. He then brought back some charcoal in a bucket.
Soon, wisps of smoke curled up from the stove, and within moments, the flames grew stronger. Once the heat was at a certain level, Qin Chuan added charcoal and closed the lid.
Crackling!
The roaring fire began to burn, and the temperature gradually rose.
"Ah, Qin Chuan, you're so fast at starting a fire!"
While Qin Chuan was busy, Yang Zimo's pleasant voice sounded from behind him. Qin Chuan instinctively turned his head, and at that moment, he was stunned!
He saw a fair and captivating face before him. It was impossible to describe how beautiful this face was. Even with his experience of two lifetimes, Qin Chuan lost his train of thought for a moment.
His mind was filled with descriptive words: "skin like jade, naturally beautiful, a feast for the eyes... and so on."
An oval face, a delicate, straight nose, lips red without needing makeup, skin that seemed to glow from within, curved eyebrows framing a pair of eyes like black gemstones, radiating a pure aura.
This was a beauty in her natural element. Compared to the big stars and socialites of later generations, Qin Chuan felt they couldn't even compare to Yang Zimo's heels.
She truly was the goddess he had secretly admired in his previous life. Her looks were unbeatable!
And her tall, captivating figure, a perfect 99 points, no more!
He held back that one point to prevent Yang Zimo from becoming too proud if she knew!
"Qin Chuan! Qin Chuan?"
Her charming voice finally pulled Qin Chuan back from his reverie. When he came to his senses, he saw Yang Zimo staring at him with eyes that held a hint of shy anger.
It was clear that his staring had displeased Yang Zimo.
"Ahem... Um... Teacher Yang, I think you've become even more beautiful than last year!"
Qin Chuan spoke frankly. As a seasoned driver of many years, he knew his gaze had betrayed him.
Instead of awkwardly changing the subject like others might, it was better to be honest. People like that were more likely to gain a woman's approval.
At the very least, he wasn't being hypocritical. Hypocrites were always unwelcome.
As expected, upon hearing Qin Chuan's direct compliment about her beauty, Yang Zimo's anger lessened, though her pretty face still held a blush.
"Qin Chuan, thank you for helping me start the stove. You can go do something else now. I'll handle the rest!"
However, before Qin Chuan could feel happy, Yang Zimo spoke. This was a clear dismissal, albeit a polite one.
As expected of a teacher, she knew how to send someone away so gracefully.
But who was Qin Chuan? How could he simply obey like that?
"Okay!"
He stood up and casually picked up the water bucket nearby.
"Hey, why are you taking the water bucket?"
Yang Zimo asked.
"To fetch water for you!"
Qin Chuan answered naturally. "Didn't you just tell me to go do something else? I'm going to fetch water for you now!"
"The water in this tank has been sitting for so long, it's no longer drinkable!"
Yang Zimo: "..."
Was that what she meant? I wanted you to leave, you know?
But looking at Qin Chuan's earnest and enthusiastic eyes, she found it difficult to refuse. In the end, Yang Zimo chose silence.
Qin Chuan lifted the water缸 and began his work efficiently, a subtle smile curving his lips once again.
Little one, trying to compete with me? You're still too green!