Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Wen Yueyin and Shu Xiaobai looked at each other and saw the unease in each other's eyes.

"Just say what you want to say," Shi Jia said impatiently, annoyed by their cryptic remarks.

"Li, Li Xiaohua, could you lend us some money?" Wen Yueyin said through gritted teeth.

"You want to borrow money from me? Are you kidding me?" Shi Jia looked at the two of them in surprise.

Wen Yueyin shook her head. "I know you often go to town to sell medicinal herbs."

Shu Xiaobai nodded, "I went to the official medicinal herb purchasing office to inquire about the prices of medicinal herbs."

It was obvious that the two of them knew very well that Shi Jia was rich.

Shi Jia raised an eyebrow, realizing she really did have money, but, "Why? Why do you need to borrow money? Why should I lend you money?"

Wen Yueyin bit her lip, her eyes unconsciously reddening. She took a deep breath and said, "I want to leave Xinghua Village! I want to go back to the city."

Shi Jia looked away. "Are you going to abandon He Shun?"

Wen Yueyin trembled. "I... I can't stay here. My home isn't here."

"Li Xiaohua, please help Wen Yueyin. She didn't marry He Shun willingly. If it weren't for..." Shu Xiaobai said excitedly.

"What do you mean, 'not'?" Shi Jia asked. "I don't think He Shun and Auntie Xi forced you back then, did they?"

Wen Yueyin bit her lip, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

"Where is there no problem!" Shu Xiaobai couldn't help but argue when she saw her friend upset. "If He Shun hadn't been so persistent in pursuing Yinyin, would she have been forced to marry him?"

Shi Jia raised an eyebrow. Through Shu Xiaobai's account and Wen Yueyin's supplement, she learned more or less the truth. He Shun did not force her, but Wen Yueyin, as an outsider, was already in a weaker position in Xinghua Village.

In addition, He Shun is the village chief's son, so in people's minds, he always holds a higher status than ordinary villagers.

He Shun's constant harassment of Wen Yueyin inevitably led to gossip. Unable to bear the rumors or endure the hardships of labor, Wen Yueyin reluctantly agreed to marry He Shun.

But who knew that the situation would change again less than six months after the wedding?

"Please, please give us some money, just 100 yuan will do. I'll write you an IOU, and I'll also give you my home address. You can come find me later," Wen Yueyin pleaded.

Shi Jia shook his head. "I can indeed lend you money, but only if you reach an agreement with Brother He Shun."

“Whether He Shun forced you or not, he did provide you with protection.” Shi Jia looked at Wen Yueyin, who was dressed in new clothes, had fair skin, and looked to be in good health. “If you want to just leave, then there’s no point in talking about lending money.”

“I’ve already talked to him, but he doesn’t agree to divorce me,” Wen Yueyin shook her head in disappointment.

"Do you really have to get a divorce? If you want to go back to the city, why don't you let He Shun go with you?" Shi Jia said casually.

Despite having lived many lifetimes, she still didn't quite understand human nature. Yes, human nature, not romantic love.

Wen Yueyin clearly had no romantic feelings for He Shun. She married He Shun only because he could protect her, and only because of the rumors.

Without these things, Wen Yueyin wouldn't even glance at He Shun. Just like now that Wen Yueyin has the opportunity to return to the city, she's making a fuss about getting a divorce.

Marriage is a matter of personal freedom, but people have moral boundaries.

He Shun, Wen Yueyin...

Well, when you really think about it, they're pretty much evenly matched.

I decided not to get involved. By helping Wen Yueyin, I ended up causing the village chief's family to lose a daughter-in-law for no reason.

Auntie Xi has been quite good to her, and has helped her business many times. She can't repay kindness with enmity, can she?
Wen Yueyin's face turned deathly pale. "No, I can't take He Shun back. My parents don't know yet, they beat me to death..."

Shi Jia was speechless upon hearing this. Was this marriage really just her "safe haven"?
She couldn't help but ask, "Were you planning to find a temporary patron all along? And leave as soon as you got the chance?"

A flash of embarrassment and annoyance crossed Wen Yueyin's eyes. "Since you won't lend it, then forget it!" she said, pulling Shu Xiaobai away.

Shi Jia raised an eyebrow. Did he really guess right?

Watching Wen Yueyin and the others leave, Shi Jia sighed, "He Shun deserved it. Lust at first sight is the worst thing you can do!" Just as she was lamenting this and was about to close the door, Li Xiaomei suddenly walked over and looked at her in surprise.

"Li Xiaohua?"

Shi Jia blinked. "Li Xiaomei, is there something you need?"

"Really, she's still alive." Li Xiaomei's voice was very soft, and Shi Jia didn't hear it.

"What did you say?"

"It's nothing!" Li Xiaomei quickly waved her hand.

"Then I'll close the door." Shi Jia said, closing the door before Li Xiaomei could reply. She wasn't familiar with anyone in the village, except for Granny Wu next door.

She was very busy, recently trying to develop pills, and had no time to pay attention to these unimportant things. Therefore, she quickly put the matter out of her mind.

A month later, when she learned from Granny Wu that the village chief's newlywed daughter-in-law had run away, she was truly shocked.

"They ran away? When?"

"Just the day before yesterday, and after it was discovered yesterday, your uncle and the others helped search all day, but they couldn't find it." Grandma Wu sighed. "If you ask me, city girls are no good. Look, she found an opportunity to run away."

"Did you call the police?" Shi Jia asked.

"I don't know." Granny Wu shook her head. "If you ask me, once someone is gone, they're gone. Even if you find them, their hearts are no longer with you. What's the point of finding them? It's like bringing back an enemy."

Shi Jia nodded. As expected, old people are wise and experienced; Granny Wu saw things more clearly than she did.

"You're right." Isn't she an enemy? Hasn't the village chief's family made enough of a fool of themselves because of Wen Yueyin in the past six months?

Soon, news of Wen Yueyin's escape spread, and the police came to investigate, but in the end, nothing came of it.

I heard that Mu Xiniang has been busy arranging a new wife for He Shun lately.

However, He Shun disagreed, saying he wanted to focus on his studies and take the college entrance examination. The village chief, angered, beat him up.

Shi Jia was just about to go catch fish to improve his meals when he heard the whole story.

"Li Xiaomei, what are you doing here?" Shi Jia was about to go into the river when he saw Li Xiaomei squatting on the riverbank and was startled.

Li Xiaomei was clearly startled. She stood up hastily, "No, it's nothing, I was just looking at the scenery. Yes, I was looking at the scenery."

Shi Jia rolled her eyes. "Oh."

"Wait, what are you doing?" Li Xiaomei asked nervously when she saw Shi Jia preparing to go into the river.

"Catching fish? What else can we do!" It's not flood season yet, and the river is only waist-deep, so Shi Jia can still go into the river. When summer comes and the water rises, it will be difficult to go into the water.

"Wait!" Li Xiaomei's voice was somewhat shrill.

"What's wrong?" Shi Jia asked impatiently.

"Don't go down, it's very dangerous. What if you drown!" Li Xiaomei said nervously.

"Thank you, don't worry, I'm a very good swimmer." Shi Jia smiled.

Li Xiaomei rolled her eyes. Who's worried about you drowning? She frowned and tried hard to think of a way to persuade Li Xiaohua to leave.

Suddenly, a surprised voice rang out, "Huh, what's that?"

"What?" Li Xiaomei looked up abruptly.

Shi Jia pointed to the middle of the river, "Look, it's floating right there!"

"Splash!" Water splashed everywhere, and Shi Jia stared in disbelief.

"This—" (End of Chapter)