"Drive my car and take me around this county," Yang Zi Mo said, handing him her car keys as they walked out of the courtyard.
"Sure!" Qin Chuan took the keys without ceremony, started the car, and slowly drove away.
It was nearing sunset, with only a faint streak of sunlight remaining in the western sky. The heat of the day began to dissipate, and many residents came out to cool off, sitting in small groups along the streets, shelling sunflower seeds and chatting. Occasionally, children would reenact martial arts moves while playing, drawing bursts of laughter from their parents, as if watching a show. The small county town under the evening glow was tranquil and natural, exuding a comfort entirely different from that of big cities. Perhaps those who lived here long-term wouldn't achieve grand things, but one couldn't deny that the residents' happiness index was quite high. Many adult children, whether married or wed, stayed close to their parents, enjoying the joys of family.
Inside the car, Yang Zi Mo rolled down the window, gazing dreamily at the scene unfolding before her. A ray of evening sun illuminated her face, casting a golden hue, making her look beautiful and ethereal.
"Xiao Mo, what are you thinking about?" Qin Chuan asked quietly as he drove, subtly observing Yang Zi Mo's expression, for he had a guilty conscience.
Yang Zi Mo snapped back to attention, pursed her lips, and smiled. "Nothing much. I was just thinking that it wouldn't be an unhappy life to spend one's entire life in a place like this."
"A couple, with parents nearby, a child or two, and a job that isn't high-paying but stable. A simple, ordinary life like that."
Qin Chuan blurted out, "If you want to live this kind of life, I'm willing to give up everything outside and stay here with you forever."
Yang Zi Mo turned her head, her beautiful eyes locking onto Qin Chuan's. She found his gaze incredibly sincere, devoid of any pretense. A flicker of light flashed in her pupils, and she quickly averted her gaze, shaking her head. "I was just speaking my mind. If we really did that, neither you nor I could bear it for more than two or three years in this small county before getting bored."
"Besides... the people and things around us now don't allow us to do that."
Qin Chuan nodded. Indeed, even if they truly wanted to live ordinary lives now, it was almost impossible. To do so would likely earn them universal condemnation. Take Qin Chuan as an example. He wasn't alone anymore; he had many brothers who needed to eat, and the workers under his numerous industries. Those workers relied on their meager wages to support their families. If Qin Chuan, the big boss, quit, it would mean unemployment for these workers. Hundreds of families would instantly lose their source of income. Moreover, the relevant authorities wouldn't agree to such a move.
"I once read a line in a book: Someone asked, 'What is the martial world?' The answer was: 'To step outside is to enter the martial world!' 'A person in the martial world is not their own master.' In this world, any profession, once entered, brings with it various entanglements: grudges and disputes, entanglements of interests. It's not something you can simply leave at will."
Yang Zi Mo listened quietly. As they chatted back and forth in the car, they unknowingly covered more than half of the county.
"Xiao Chuan, I want to go see where I used to teach," Yang Zi Mo suddenly said.
"Now?!" Qin Chuan glanced up at the sky. Night had already fallen, and his parents at home would likely have dinner ready.
"Yes, right now!" Yang Zi Mo's attitude was firm.
Qin Chuan nodded and said, "Okay, I'll call my parents and tell them not to wait for us." He pulled out his phone, only to find it powered off, explaining the quiet afternoon. He took out another phone; it was the same. Qin Chuan gave an embarrassed smile. "Can I borrow your phone?"
Yang Zi Mo handed him her phone, and Qin Chuan called his mother. After the call, he turned the steering wheel and headed directly towards his home. The sky grew darker, to the point where it was pitch black. Only the headlights illuminated their way as they drove on the uneven mountain road.
"Stop for a moment!" Yang Zi Mo, sitting in the car, had been intently watching the window. Even in the dark, she was very familiar with every plant and tree along this road, having walked it many times before.
Qin Chuan stopped the car, confused. "What's wrong?"
Yang Zi Mo got out of the car without a word and walked to a small mound ahead, examining it carefully before walking further. Qin Chuan, following behind, looked puzzled.
"It's here, I remember this tree!" Yang Zi Mo suddenly exclaimed happily, jumping slightly. Qin Chuan came closer and saw that it was just an ordinary walnut tree. He wondered why Yang Zi Mo was so excited, as if she had found a precious treasure.
"Xiao Chuan, do you remember where we first crossed paths?" Yang Zi Mo turned and asked.
Qin Chuan recalled the time Yang Zi Mo came to Nanyang Village as a volunteer teacher. At that time, almost everyone in the village, old and young, was stunned by Teacher Yang's peerless beauty, marveling at how such a beautiful girl could exist in the world. Especially for many young men in the countryside, Teacher Yang was like a celestial maiden who had descended to earth. Her outstanding temperament and exquisite beauty could make one's heart race and flutter with just a glance. Many young men would blush if Teacher Yang so much as looked at them, let alone dared to speak to her. Qin Chuan was one of them, both in his previous life and before his rebirth in this one. This had led him to miss his goddess due to his timidity and inferiority complex in his previous life, a regret he often felt after achieving success. What was a goddess? A goddess was also human, with emotions and desires, needing to eat and excrete, and her waste was also smelly. Therefore, after his rebirth in this life, Qin Chuan had shed his former timidity and inferiority complex. The first time he met Teacher Yang, he displayed an extraordinary thick skin and pursued her relentlessly...
"I remember! The first time we interacted was when my second brother and I went to the city on business. On our way back, we happened to see you riding your bicycle with a flat tire..." Qin Chuan shouted.
Yang Zi Mo's face broke into a radiant smile. "Yes, that's right. I was very anxious then, and it was very windy, and it was about to snow..."
"I was afraid of being blown over, so I had to hold onto a tree next to me. It was this one!"
"It's been two years, and this walnut tree has grown bigger. I almost couldn't find it just now!"