Chapter 10: Don’t Use This to Test the Cadres

Braving the biting cold, he entered Lijiazhuang, passing by several thatched huts and earthen houses, and happened to encounter a few elders of the village, men of great respect and virtue.

Li Yi greeted them with deference, “Seventh Granduncle, Great-Grandfather, Elder Liu, I hope you have been well these days?”

“Good, good, our bodies are still strong,” the elders nodded kindly.

“Yi, you are the talk of the village today,” Elder Liu said with a broad smile, his voice filled with emotion. “You slew that troublesome wild boar spirit and shared the meat with the villagers. Such a noble deed—who in Shuangquan now hasn’t heard the name of Li Yi from Lijiazhuang?”

“We even received five pounds of pork ourselves, brought over by a young man from Gaojiazhuang,” Great-Grandfather added with a smile.

Li Yi affectionately supported the oldest of the elders, grinning warmly. “Other households may receive five pounds, but as people of Lijiazhuang, and you three being the most esteemed elders here, how could I treat you the same as the rest? I’ve brought more pork back, intending to give each of your families another five pounds.”

With that, he took out carefully wrapped portions of pork from his bamboo basket, pressing them into the hands of the three elders. Their eyes lit up, feeling content and at ease, and their gazes toward Li Yi grew even more affectionate.

In ancient clan societies, elders of high virtue often held special status. Li Yi understood that if he truly wished to stir change, he must first win their support.

He lingered, chatting amiably and lifting the spirits of the old men, before finally taking his leave. But he did not return home directly—instead, accompanied by Li Guo, he visited each household in the village.

In northern Shaanxi, the land was narrow and cut by ravines; even a whole village might boast only several dozen, perhaps a hundred households, most of them perched on the flat slopes of the hills.

Li Yi knocked and entered each home, addressing everyone as uncle or aunt, always humble and smiling. Explaining his purpose, he gifted every family two pounds of pork, causing joy to light up the villagers’ faces and drawing high praise for his thoughtful nature.

When he reached Aunt Li’s home, he saw her husband bedridden with illness. Li Yi sent Li Guo running home to fetch the medicine he hadn’t finished, which left Aunt Li deeply grateful.

Thus, Li Yi made a round of the village, winning hearts as he went. As dusk settled, he finally stepped into the courtyard of Li Zijing’s house.

No sooner had he entered than he encountered a woman with a blue square scarf on her head and wearing a shabby red jacket. Her features were plain, but there was a fierce edge to her eyes and brows.

Li Guo, upon seeing her, immediately turned away with a pout.

This woman was none other than Li Zijing’s wife, Wang Sanniang.

Li Yi stepped forward with a smile. “Sister-in-law, busy as always?”

Wang Sanniang sized him up and replied irritably, “People as poor as us can hardly expect an easy life—of course I’m busy! Feeding the chickens, hoping they lay more eggs to trade for grain. Better than raising them for others while our own bellies go hungry.”

Li Yi easily discerned her resentment over the grain he’d consumed while convalescing in their home.

Yet he was not annoyed. Instead, he pulled ten pounds of pork from his basket, smiling. “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’ve recovered now and can support the family again. Take these ten pounds of pork as compensation for the grain I borrowed.”

“Aiya, what are you saying, Yi?” Wang Sanniang’s eyes gleamed as she quickly took the meat. “It was just some grain—between brothers, what’s a little food?”

“Heh,” Li Guo sneered from the side.

Wang Sanniang gave an awkward laugh and tried to ingratiate herself. “I heard from the women that you’ve proved yourself today. I didn’t quite believe it, but now I see it’s true. Yi, if you come upon good fortune in the future, don’t forget your second brother’s family.”

Li Yi smiled coolly. “Of course.”

Wang Sanniang was delighted, wiped her hands, and said, “No need for you to cook tonight—let me make some dishes, and you and Yun come eat with us.”

Li Yi declined with a smile. “Thank you, but it’s inconvenient today—another time.”

Bidding farewell to Wang Sanniang and Li Guo, Li Yi returned to his own courtyard.

As soon as he entered, Yun came to greet him. Seeing the bloodstains on his jacket, her eyes shimmered with tears as she looked him over in concern.

Li Yi set down the basket and reassured her, “It’s only superficial wounds. Boil some water and help me clean up.”

Yun hurried to the kitchen and soon brought back a full basin of hot water, holding a towel in her hands, a bit nervous.

Li Yi calmly took off the blood-stained sheepskin jacket, then unfastened his shirt, revealing a muscular torso.

“Just wipe away the blood.”

Yun, flustered, wet the towel, her eyes fixed on his bare chest, her heart racing and her cheeks turning crimson.

Li Yi glanced back at her and teased, “Yun, why aren’t you breathing?”

Only then did Yun realize she was holding her breath in nervousness, which explained her fluttering heart. Her face reddened further as she lowered her head shyly.

The air in the room grew steadily more intimate. Li Yi, unconsciously sitting up straighter, let Yun finish wiping his back with the warm, damp towel. She then knelt before him to clean his chest.

Her small hand brushed gently over his chest, a delicate fragrance curling around his nose. Gazing at her gentle features and clear eyes, Li Yi felt his mouth go dry.

“Don’t test a cadre’s resolve like this,” he muttered.

At Yun’s startled cry, Li Yi wrapped an arm around her smooth calves, the other supporting her back, and drew the petite Yun into his embrace, suppressing the source of his impulsive desire. Instantly, he felt much more comfortable.

Yun did not resist; instead, she nestled against him, comforted by his warmth and closing her eyes in peace.

A moment later, a heated breath brushed her face, tinged faintly with the scent of wine. The softness pressed against her made her body tense, then slowly melt, as if she were cotton candy dissolving into the humid heat of passion.

But when a restless hand slipped under her skirt, Yun finally came to her senses, cupping Li Yi’s face and shaking her head gently, her eyes full of tenderness.

He looked at her, seeing in her clear eyes a trace of sorrow—worry for the future, but also hope and joy. It sobered him instantly.

“Yi, I just wish to wait until we’re married,” Yun explained shyly, burying her face in his chest.

“I understand,” Li Yi nodded.

Seeing he truly wasn’t upset, Yun offered a sweet smile and quietly left the room.

Though he felt a pang of regret, Li Yi was willing to respect Yun’s wishes. He could sense her slowly entrusting herself, body and soul, to him—and that was enough.

Suppressing his desire, Li Yi rubbed his face to clear his mind and examined his wounds.

Most scrapes and cuts had already scabbed over, and the deeper gash on his shoulder had stopped bleeding—it seemed it wouldn’t be long before he fully healed. Even his fractured rib was now only a dull ache.

An ordinary man would need ten days or more to reach such recovery from these injuries. Clearly, his strength was not just natural, but his constitution exceeded that of most men.

In that case, perhaps it was time to try his more daring plan.

Glancing down at his own sturdy frame, he thought, It seems my fighting strength is not lacking, either.

That evening, Yun prepared a sumptuous meal. There were white wheat buns, thin porridge, and even stewed meat—far finer fare than any local gentry might enjoy.

With ample nutrition, Li Yi was confident his recovery would be even swifter.