The horse cart clattered into Liujiaao.

"Cuizhi, here to pick up your sister-in-law, huh!"

As the cart stopped under the big willow tree at the village entrance, a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen approached.

A woman in her fifties or sixties inside the cart saw the young woman and greeted her warmly.

"Ah? Oh, yes!"

Liu Cuizhi was momentarily stunned, then replied somewhat nonchalantly.

The middle-aged woman who had been speaking with He Tiantian was Liu Cuizhi’s sister-in-law, Cao Xiufen.

On the cart, she had already thought about keeping her young sister-in-law away from "Heh Yuntian," that smooth-faced man.

Now seeing Liu Cuizhi and hearing her shyly mention coming to pick her up, her heart was instantly alert?

"Picking up sister-in-law"?

Ha, Cao Xiufen is certainly not a big figure.

And today, she just went to the commune to buy some household items, not to handle any urgent matters or buy too much stuff.

For no reason, the young sister-in-law came running to pick up?

Usually, when Cao Xiufen went out, she never saw her young sister-in-law come to pick her up.

But now, she came running!

Hum, the person she’s actually here to pick up might not be Cao Xiufen!

Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the poised and courteous "Heh Yuntian," which made Cao Xiufen even more vigilant.

"Cuizhi, you’re here. Oh dear, you’re too kind. I haven’t bought anything heavy, isn’t it unnecessary for you to come to pick me up?"

Cao Xiufen intentionally used her body to block Liu Cuizhi, grabbed her arm with a friendly smile, while exerting a lot of force.

She practically dragged her out of the "trouble circle" — keeping her away from Educated Youth Heh to ensure nothing untoward happens.

"Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law, what are you doing?"

Her wrist hurt from the grip, and more crucially, she didn’t even get a chance to speak with Educated Youth Heh before being dragged back home by her sister-in-law.

Liu Cuizhi, the youngest daughter in the family, was already pampered and spoiled by her parents and brothers.

The sisters-in-law at home also took good care of her, none of them dared to act superior.

Especially the eldest sister-in-law, when Cao Xiufen married into the family, Liu Cuizhi was barely a year old.

Mrs. Liu, having a daughter late in life, was undoubtedly a high-risk pregnancy, she couldn’t manage to care much for the child mentally or physically.

Liu Cuizhi was practically raised single-handedly by her sister-in-law, Cao Xiufen.

Though living as aunt and niece, their relationship was nearly that of mother and daughter.

Liu Cuizhi was treasured at home, and the other sisters-in-law somewhat tried to please her.

Only her eldest sister-in-law dared truly reprimand her.

And Liu Cuizhi didn’t dare get mad at her sister-in-law.

If it were any other sister-in-law pulling her like this, ruining her chance, she’d have caused a scene!

"For what? Hum, you cheeky girl, I should be asking you what you’re up to!"

Cao Xiufen, seeing no people around and Educated Youth Heh not near, finally loosened her grip.

She asked crossly, "Don’t pretend you’re here to pick me up, I raised you, I know exactly what your temper is like."

"Hum, seeing your little expression, I know what kind of trick you’re planning!"

Cao Xiufen grew more indignant as she spoke, while Liu Cuizhi stood defiant, as if saying, "So what?"

Unable to suppress her anger, she stretched out a finger and poked Liu Cuizhi’s forehead hard—

"I’m telling you! No way! You’re not allowed to pursue Educated Youth Heh!"

Hearing her sister-in-law directly expose her youthful crush, Liu Cuizhi felt both embarrassed and anxious.

Stamping her feet, she whined stubbornly: "Sister-in-law~~~~"

The sound dragged on, rising and falling like a teasing young miss.

"Calling won’t help! You’re seventeen now, it’s time to discuss marriage. I’ll make sure to talk with Mum and find you a suitable match!"

Cao Xiufen genuinely cared for the young sister-in-law she raised.

Besides, she believed those fair-skinned, smooth-talking male Educated Youth were not suitable partners.

Especially "Heh Yuntian," who has prior issues.

Moreover, everyone in Qingliu Team gossiped that he liked Educated Youth Zhuo.

For Educated Youth Zhuo, even Educated Youth Han from a well-to-do family, resolutely refused, preferring to return things and write an IOU than to surrender.

Which showed Educated Youth Heh’s genuine feelings for Educated Youth Zhuo.

Her own young sister-in-law, within Liujiaao, is indeed a good girl:

Her father is the vice captain and village head, grandpa is a veteran revolutionary, and several of her brothers either serve in the army or work at the commune enjoying the grain subsidy.