The wife of a shrewd woman travels to the 80s, and the sick factory manager asks for mercy - Chapter 2

Du Ruhai squatted in front of her, holding a steamed bun like he was presenting a treasure. he unwrapped the oiled paper and brought one to her lips.
“It’s pork and cabbage filling—super tasty. Yunqing, try it.”

Smelling the aroma wafting from the bun, Shen Yunqing couldn’t help swallowing her saliva. She’d only had an egg white for breakfast—not nearly enough to fill her up.

It had been three days since she reincarnated into this body, and she hadn’t eaten a full meal since.

At the Shen family table, it was either corn cakes or wild vegetable soup. Shen Yunqing, who was used to delicacies in the modern world, had never lived such a hard life.

She knew well enough that *no one is overly attentive without a reason—either a thief or someone with other motives*.

Staring at him, wide-eyed, she asked, “You’re tempting me with buns—what’s your real motive?”

“Hehe…” Du Ruhai scratched his short buzz cut, revealing a big white grin on his tan face. He chuckled foolishly, shy and awkward. “What motive could I possibly have? Just eat up, no worries.”

As he spoke, he stuffed the bun into her mouth and placed the remaining one, still wrapped in oiled paper, on her lap.

With her mouth full of the bun, Shen Yunqing took a bite and slowly chewed the fragrant dough and filling.

Du Ruhai watched her eat so delightfully, his heart blooming with joy. He reached for the matches on the stove to rekindle the fire and continue cooking the pig slop.

After finishing both buns and swallowing the last bite a few minutes later, Shen Yunqing quietly let out a satisfied burp.

Feeling dry-mouthed after eating, she got up, went to the water bucket, scooped up some well water, and took a drink. Then she returned to the small stool in front of the stove.

Du Ruhai added a few more dry sticks into the fire, making it burn more fiercely. He rubbed his hands together and stared at her pretty face, lips moving as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Sensing he had something to say, Shen Yunqing frowned and urged him, “If you’ve got something to say, just spit it out.”

Du Ruhai, startled by her tone, quickly blurted, “Here’s the thing, Yunqing. I’m heading to town for work in a few days. Wanna come with me?”

Shen Yunqing: “Why would I go with you?”

Although he and the original host grew up together, for a girl like her to follow a man to town… wasn’t that a bit inappropriate?

Du Ruhai had been full of hope, already imagining a future with her. But hearing her flat-out rejection made his expression fall, and he replied bitterly:
“Your dad said he’s going to marry you off to me soon. Even though we’re not officially married yet, you’re practically half my wife already. Since I’m leaving for work, I thought I should at least talk it over with you.”

???

Shen Yunqing was completely dumbfounded. Frowning deeply, she asked quickly, “Why didn’t I know I was supposed to marry you?”

Seeing her confusion, Du Ruhai explained, “You forgot? On the 8th, my dad came to your house to talk about the betrothal gift with your dad.”

The 8th? That was three days ago—Shen Yunqing had transmigrated in the middle of the night. There’s no way she’d know what happened during the day.

The original host had fainted and hit her head that day, and her recent memory was a mess.

Shen Yunqing had no idea about this engagement.

No way. Absolutely not marrying!

She had no interest in becoming like the village girls—married young, popping out kids, spending her days either in the fields or gossiping with a baby in her arms.

Even if she were to marry, it wouldn’t be so carelessly. Village life didn’t suit her, and she knew what kind of person she was. She didn’t want to ruin a decent man’s future.

After thinking it through, Shen Yunqing looked up at him and gently said,
“Du Ruhai, you’re still young. You’ll definitely find a pretty girl to marry in the future. The two of us… we’re not a good match.”

“Yunqing, what do you mean?” Du Ruhai was stunned. “You didn’t say that when you were eating my meat buns! How can you turn your back on me like this?”

What the heck!

Shen Yunqing lost her patience. “You were the one who shoved it into my mouth! And I asked you beforehand—you told me to eat without worrying. How was I supposed to know you had something like this in mind?”

Du Ruhai was left speechless by her retort. All the confidence he had moments ago vanished. His tone weakened:
“I can’t argue with you, but I don’t care—this matter’s already settled.”

With that, she got up from the stool and stormed out of the kitchen.