C18 The Ruffians Were Everywhere

Shen Yong brought the ox cart to a halt when he spotted Zhang Chuntao hurrying down the hillside.

"Ms. Chuntao! Take it easy! I'll wait for you!"

No sooner had he spoken than Zhang Chuntao's foot twisted, and with a cry of pain, she tumbled to the ground.

Luckily, she landed on a small mound of earth, rolling down without injury.

Still, she was covered in dirt, which, mixed with the morning dew, made her look a mess.

Brushing off the dirt, Zhang Chuntao chuckled awkwardly, "I'm okay! Really, I'm fine!"

Shen Yong quickly went to her aid, lifting her up. "Ms. Chuntao! What's the rush? I wasn't going to leave without you! Did you twist your ankle?"

"Yeah, I twisted it! It's quite painful! You know how to treat injuries, right? Could you take a look at it for me?"

Zhang Chuntao propped one foot against Shen Yong, her voice soft and pleading.

Shen Yong felt a bit trapped. He knew Zhang Chuntao was purposefully seeking his attention, yet he couldn't find a way to distance himself.

"Of course! No problem at all!"

He agreed without hesitation.

He lifted Zhang Chuntao onto the cart and massaged her swollen ankle gently. In no time, the swelling had subsided.

"Still in pain?" he inquired.

Zhang Chuntao shook her head, "Not at all! It doesn't hurt a bit now! You've got quite the healing touch! Let me have a closer look!"

She grasped his hand with her own delicate ones, examining the palm and the back, touching it with a sense of wonder as if admiring a fine piece of artwork.

Shen Yong gently withdrew his hand, "Ms. Chuntao! Make sure you're seated securely on the cart. We should get going."

In the village, it was common for those without ox carts to hitch a ride with others to the county town.

But when Shen Yong tried to lead the big yellow ox away once more, the stubborn animal wouldn't budge.

"What's the matter? Does the Yellow Ox think I'm too heavy that it won't even move?" Zhang Chuntao wondered aloud.

Bulls that are accustomed to pulling carts tend to be exceptionally clever. They can gauge the type of road they're on and how much weight they can haul with remarkable accuracy.

"I think I might've loaded too many peaches!" Shen Yong admitted sheepishly. "Why don't you walk for a bit? Once we're past the dirt mound and onto the gravel path, it'll be easier, and you can hop back on."

With no other option, Zhang Chuntao stepped down from the cart. This time, Shen Yong didn't need to guide the cart; the sturdy yellow bull took the lead, pulling the cart forward on its own.

Trailing behind, Zhang Chuntao admired Shen Yong's robust arms, her heart fluttering with a rush of affectionate thoughts.

"Shen Yong! Did you ever do weighted runs in the military?" she inquired.

"Sure did!" he replied.

"Could you run cross-country with a hundred pounds on your back?" she pressed on.

"Absolutely! A hundred pounds is nothing! I could run ten kilometers with two hundred pounds on my back, no problem!" Shen Yong boasted, recounting his initial fitness test results from when he first joined the army, hoping to impress her.

"Wow, that's impressive! I don't even weigh a hundred pounds. Why don't you carry me for a bit? Consider it practice for weighted running!"

Glancing up the slope and seeing no one around, Zhang Chuntao sprinted a few steps and leaped onto Shen Yong's back, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

Shen Yong, with his solid build, managed to catch her effortlessly. Anyone else might have been flattened by Zhang Chuntao's impromptu leap!

"Alright! No problem! But please, try not to squirm too much," Shen Yong cautioned.

"I won't! Maybe just a little wiggle, but nothing to worry about!" she assured him.

Resting her head on Shen Yong's shoulder, she whispered in his ear, "I had a rough night's sleep. I'm going to borrow your shoulder for a bit longer."

Zhang Chuntao felt completely at ease with him, and before long, she drifted off to sleep on Shen Yong's shoulder. Her breathing was steady, and the warmth of her breath on his neck sent a tingling sensation through him.

In truth, Zhang Chuntao hadn't slept a wink. Instead, she was busy plotting her next steps for when she and Shen Yong reached the county town.

Determined to secure her future happiness, Zhang Chuntao kept a vigilant eye on Shen Yong's every action.

Truth be told, she had no pressing matters in the city. Her real motive was to engineer some alone time with Shen Yong, so she feigned urgency about the trip.

Before long, they traversed the dirt summit of Peach Mountain and hit the gravel road.

This road was meant to lead to the Golden Peak Tunnel of Peach Mountain, but after the tunnel was half-dug, the contractor absconded with the funds, leaving the project in ruins.

Years prior, Lee Kun had rallied the villagers to extend the gravel road from Golden Peak to this very dirt peak.

Yet, when it came to further construction, the villagers flat-out refused. Mountain roadwork was a Herculean task, fraught with countless considerations, and far beyond the capabilities of their small community.

In the end, they had no choice but to abandon the effort.

"Ms. Chuntao! Time to wake up!"

With a gentle shrug, Shen Yong roused Zhang Chuntao from her feigned slumber.

Resting on Shen Yong's shoulder, Zhang Chuntao reveled in the unexpected comfort. She had braced for a jarring ride but found his back to be steadier than her own bed.

"Could you carry me just a bit longer? It's so comfortable on your back!" she cooed, clinging to his neck.

Shen Yong realized Zhang Chuntao was getting too comfortable for her own good. He couldn't let this behavior slide; he didn't want her turning into another Lee Xiaona.

"No, that won't do. I'm exhausted. Get down now," he said, his tone icy.

"Fine! If you won't carry me, then don't. No need to snap at me!" Zhang Chuntao retorted, her voice tinged with petulance.

As she dismounted from her lofty perch and settled onto the cart, Zhang Chuntao was mortified to discover her seat was soaked through. Catching Shen Yong's eye, she couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

She silently hoped Shen Yong hadn't picked up on her odd behavior; the embarrassment would be unbearable if he had.

"Ms. Chuntao! Your back is all wet. Are you feeling okay?" Shen Yong's sudden question startled Zhang Chuntao so much she nearly wet herself.

"No! What would a child know? Stop asking nonsense!" Zhang Chuntao snapped in embarrassment.

Shen Yong, looking puzzled, didn't take a seat on the cart but instead led the ox by the reins, quickly heading towards the county town. A journey of fifty to sixty miles was a mere trifle for him.

Before long, Shen Yong and Zhang Chuntao reached the Cloud River County farmers' market. Claiming she had personal errands to run, Zhang Chuntao left on her own, making Shen Yong promise to wait for her to finish before heading back to Mountain Peach Village together.

Shen Yong, having escorted Zhang Chuntao to town, wouldn't dream of leaving her behind to return alone. Besides, he had 500 jin of Juicy Sweet Peaches to sell!

Once Zhang Chuntao had departed, Shen Yong positioned the cart near the entrance of the farmers' market. Inside the main gate, vendors had to pay for their spots, but outside it was free—perfect for Shen Yong, who hadn't brought a penny with him.

Without a phone, and unable to use WeChat, Alipay, or any form of mobile banking, Shen Yong had no choice but to tie his big yellow ox to one of the wooden stakes provided for the villagers' animals.

After securing the ox, he unloaded a basket of Juicy Sweet Peaches from the cart. Out of nowhere, a bald, burly man, flanked by two others, charged towards Shen Yong.

"Hey! You, in the military coat, playing the fool! Who gave you permission to tie up your cow here? Scram!" The bald man hurled insults as soon as he arrived.

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