Chapter 73: The Secret Rendezvous

Qin Huiyin wandered around the outskirts of the mountain, making some gains but not much. After all, the outer areas were frequented by the villagers, and anything edible had already been picked clean. Those plants they didn’t recognize were either pulled out as weeds or trampled carelessly underfoot, thoroughly destroyed.

She stood hesitantly at the entrance to the deep mountain, recalling her previous experience following Song Ruizhe inside. The deeper parts were indeed far more dangerous than the outskirts. Not to mention the large wild animals, even the poisonous insects and snakes could terrify the faint of heart. She wasn’t afraid of the venomous creatures, but if she encountered a big beast, her frail body wouldn’t even be enough for a single mouthful.

A vision flashed through her mind of being suddenly swallowed by a black bear, and she quickly dismissed the thought. If Song Ruizhe were here, she might risk it. But with him gone and no one else daring to venture into the depths, it was indeed too much of a gamble for her to go alone.

Qin Huiyin didn’t hurry down the mountain but continued searching for resources. She climbed a tree and carefully took the eggs from a bird’s nest.

Just as she placed the eggs in her basket and was preparing to descend slowly, she spotted a man and a woman heading her way.

The man was a stranger she’d never seen before, but the woman was quite familiar. Every time they’d crossed paths before, the woman would tilt her head with a huff and stride past her.

“Xiu’er, did you miss me?” The man eagerly pulled her in for a kiss.

Qin Huiyin: …

She dared not come down from the tree.

Tang Mingxiu was the daughter of Wang from next door and Tang Jiang. After their recent altercation, Wang had not dared lay a hand on her again, but whenever she cursed, she would raise her voice and insinuate. Li Taohua would respond in kind, never losing a war of words.

Tang Mingxiu was only fifteen and not yet betrothed. Who was this man?

“Be gentle…” Tang Mingxiu shyly pushed him away, feigning resistance.

“These past two weeks, I’ve missed you to death. Let me get a good look at you,” he said as he started to undress her.

Qin Huiyin frowned, thinking they wouldn’t really do that here, would they? Though she was in her twenties in her past life, she’d never had a boyfriend. Besides, the man was at best delicate-looking, short and slender, hardly anything to look at.

Suddenly, Qin Huiyin heard a hissing sound behind her. She turned to see a small red snake slithering toward her along the branch.

She eyed the snake thoughtfully.

As it neared, she remained calm. When the snake reached her, she swiftly grabbed it behind the head and tossed it away with practiced ease.

“Aah, what is that?” Tang Mingxiu was pinned against the tree, her clothes torn open, revealing pale skin. Suddenly, something unknown dropped from above, sliding across her exposed flesh. She shrieked in terror.

The man, caught up in the moment, was jolted out of his excitement by her scream, worried she’d attract others. He quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Quiet! Do you want someone to see us like this?”

Tang Mingxiu, face ashen, pointed to his shoulder. “Snake… snake… there’s a snake on your shoulder…”

The man froze.

He could hear the hissing now, and, more alarming, the snake was slithering across his neck. The cold, slick touch made his skin crawl.

“Quick… get it off me…”

“I’m scared.”

“Hurry, get something and knock it away…”

Qin Huiyin sat perched in the tree, watching the spectacle unfold.

Tang Mingxiu wouldn’t dare touch it, and the man didn’t dare move. Mingxiu could only cry, while the man, growing impatient, started berating her as useless.

Just moments before, they had been wrapped in tender affection; now, they were blaming each other, their masks ripped off to reveal their ugliness.

Finally, even the snake seemed to find them intolerable and slithered off on its own.

The man collapsed onto the ground, wiping cold sweat from his brow.

“Brother Chunsheng…” Tang Mingxiu tugged at his sleeve, her voice timid. “Where’s the rouge you promised to buy me?”

He shook off her hand impatiently. “I didn’t bring it today.”

“But you promised me last time. How can you go back on your word? You’ve kissed me and looked your fill, and now you want to back out? I’ll tell my mother…”

“Go ahead! I’d like to see what you’ll say. Who saw us? Is there any proof? In the end, it’s only your reputation that will be ruined.”

“You… Brother Chunsheng, how can you treat me like this?”

“Enough with the tears. It’s just a bad day. Next time, let’s meet somewhere else. Don’t come to this wretched spot again—it’s a mood killer.”

The man ran off as if ghosts were chasing him, not sparing a second glance at Tang Mingxiu, still alone on the mountainside.

She cursed after him, complaining about his broken promises, and muttered that she wouldn’t let him kiss her next time if he didn’t bring her the rouge.

Qin Huiyin: …

Once Mingxiu finally left, Qin Huiyin climbed down from the tree. After witnessing such an eye-searing scene, she felt the need to go home and cleanse her eyes.

With her basket on her back, she headed down the mountain, only to bump into Tang Mingxiu hurrying back up.

When Tang Mingxiu saw Qin Huiyin, her face went pale, then she glared fiercely. “What are you doing here?”

Qin Huiyin knew exactly what Mingxiu was nervous about but didn’t expose her. She just looked at Mingxiu with a strange expression. “Is this mountain yours?”

“You…”

“The way you sound so righteous, I almost thought your family bought the whole mountain and banned everyone else.”

Qin Huiyin moved to leave, but Tang Mingxiu blocked her way. Her expression was stiff as she asked, “Where were you just now?”

“I was picking mushrooms,” Qin Huiyin said, shifting her basket. “Don’t tell me you’re going to claim the mushrooms are yours and not let me take them?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Mingxiu replied, visibly relieved.

She scrutinized Qin Huiyin, noting her calm demeanor and nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps Qin Huiyin truly had no idea about her encounter with the man.

The real reason Mingxiu had returned was that she realized her earring was missing. It was silver and precious.

She hurried back to the spot and, after some searching in the grass, finally found her lost earring.

“Thank goodness, it’s still here.”

As she fastened it back on, she noticed a set of footprints beneath a nearby tree. Her heart raced, her legs gave out, and she sat down hard on the ground.

“She lied to me,” Mingxiu gasped. “No, I can’t let her go down the mountain and spread rumors.”

Scrambling up, she dashed down the mountain as fast as she could.

She ran so quickly that she caught up to Qin Huiyin, who had not yet returned home and was crouched by the river, washing her face.

Tang Mingxiu stared at her. Qin Huiyin was still young, but her features, her skin, even her graceful bearing, set her apart from all the other girls in the village. Right now, as she knelt by the river, her movements were so elegant she looked like a lady from a painting.

A wild beast awakened in Mingxiu’s heart, whispering to her: No one is around. Push her in. No one will ever know it was you.

If you enjoy “Transmigrated as the Farmer’s Adopted Sister: The Powerful Brothers Are a Little Too Fond,” please bookmark it at (xiakezw) Transmigrated as the Farmer’s Adopted Sister: The Powerful Brothers Are a Little Too Fond.