This meal was especially pleasant.
Looking at Lin Zhi and the other two, Yu Nian’an felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction rise in her heart.
Ever since coming here, she had eaten every meal alone. In a strange place, in a lonely environment, she hadn’t felt this happy in a long time.
It seemed that being with them wasn’t as bad as she had imagined.
After the meal, Lin Zhi wanted to stay and help wash the dishes before leaving, but Yu Nian’an firmly refused.
“There are only a few bowls no need for us to split the work,” she said, pointing up at the sky. “It’s getting dark. If you don’t leave now, you might not even be able to see the road later.”
They hadn’t expected to return so late when they came out, so they hadn’t brought flashlights. Given Yu Nian’an’s situation, she naturally didn’t have one either.
If they didn’t leave soon, they’d really have to walk back in the dark.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhi reluctantly said goodbye. The three of them left the courtyard one after another.
Gu Shen walked last. As he stepped out, he slowed his pace slightly, putting some distance between himself and the two ahead.
Yu Nian’an was already used to him drifting on the edges of the group. After seeing them off and just as she turned around, she heard Gu Shen’s voice from behind.
“Remember to lock the courtyard gate and the house door at night. Close the windows in your room too.”
Startled, Yu Nian’an turned back, only to see him already striding away.
Was he… reminding her just now?
Then why hadn’t he said it earlier?
What a strangely awkward person.
Still… was that concern?
Touching her chin, Yu Nian’an pondered as she walked back. After returning to the courtyard, she latched the gate, then went to the kitchen to clean up. By the time she went back inside, it was completely dark.
That night, she slept well.
The next day, Uncle Jianping arrived as promised, bringing his two nephews. The three of them seemed to have forgotten what happened the day before and got straight to work as soon as they entered the yard.
The sounds of hammering and knocking drifted into Yu Nian’an’s ears from time to time.
It was the last day of rest. Worried something like yesterday might happen again, she stayed home all day.
The well was finally completed in a rush.
When handing over the work, Uncle Jianping repeatedly reminded her not to use it yet wait for it to slowly fill with water and settle for a while.
Yu Nian’an thought the water she had previously stored was still enough, so she wasn’t in a hurry. She assured him several times that she would follow his advice, and while no one was paying attention, she slipped him a red envelope she had prepared.
“Annie, what are you doing?” he asked.
Uncle Jianping could tell by touch that it contained two extra days’ wages and immediately tried to return it.
Yu Nian’an quickly stopped him. “Uncle, these past few days you’ve been working, helping me clear the land and set up the chicken coop, thinking of everything for me without letting me worry. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please take it. And thank Auntie for me too for cooking for so long.”
After some back-and-forth, Uncle Jianping reluctantly accepted the envelope.
He’d probably get scolded by his wife when he got home again.
The small courtyard now looked completely renewed new walls, a new toilet and bathing shed, even the main house walls had been replastered.
The vegetable plot had been fertilized. Tomorrow she could go to Aunt Chunxing’s to get some seedlings to plant, and soon she’d have leafy greens to eat. As for the chicken coop, she could buy a couple of chickens next time she went to the market and have eggs too.
That evening, Yu Nian’an sat in the courtyard, enjoying the rare moment of peace.
The next day, it was back to work. Fortunately, she hadn’t been idle during the break. After getting up, she quickly adjusted back into routine. After breakfast, she locked the courtyard gate and prepared to head to the fields.
She had barely taken a few steps when someone called out from behind. She didn’t even need to guess it was Lin Zhi.
Yu Nian’an turned around and waited.
“Nian’an, what kind of work do you think they’ll assign us today?”
Lin Zhi naturally looped her arm through hers. Ever since they had dinner together that night, their relationship had grown much closer, and they had dropped the formal address of “comrade” for each other’s names.
Yu Nian’an couldn’t really answer. Searching through the original owner’s memories, she finally said uncertainly, “The work in the fields is done, so… I think we’ll have to go into the paddies.”
“The paddies?” Lin Zhi didn’t sound too excited. There were lots of bugs there, and the work would soak their clothes not as easy as working on dry land.
Yu Nian’an wasn’t sure either and could only comfort her they’d see when they got there; maybe it would be something else.
Lin Zhi nodded, muttering, “I just hope we’re assigned together.”
When the four of them arrived at the meeting point, quite a few people were already there. From a distance, Yu Nian’an noticed that the educated youth named Zhang Yulan was standing behind the crowd, occasionally glaring in their direction she couldn’t tell if it was at her or at Lin Zhi.
Once the team leader arrived, he began taking attendance.
By now, the educated youths had gradually gotten the hang of things, so they no longer needed one-on-one guidance. Everyone was reorganized into eight teams.
By coincidence, Yu Nian’an and her group were assigned together, along with Aunt Chunxing.
Then came the task assignments. As Yu Nian’an had guessed it was work in the paddies.
The rice had already formed ears, and now the drainage ditches on both sides needed to be dug out again. Several teams were assigned to cover the entire rice-growing area of Yu Family Village.
At the edge of the field, Aunt Chunxing came over and quietly scolded her about the red envelope from last night. “You silly girl, even if you have money, you shouldn’t hand it out like that!”
“Auntie, one thing is one thing. Uncle Jianping helped me so much, and you took care of meals for several days. It’s only right,” Yu Nian’an replied with the same explanation.
Though it made sense, Aunt Chunxing still felt the girl was too straightforward and didn’t want to accept the money.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhi had already taken off her shoes and socks and stepped into the water, calling for her. Seeing this, Yu Nian’an patted Aunt Chunxing’s hand and reassured her:
“Auntie, just accept it. Otherwise, I’ll feel too embarrassed to ask you for help in the future.”
With things said to that point, Aunt Chunxing could only nod.
Relieved, Yu Nian’an walked over to Lin Zhi, rolled up her pant legs to her knees, and stepped barefoot into the water, using a tool to scoop mud along the edges of the field ridges.
Working in the paddies was indeed exhausting. The rice leaves scraped against her legs, causing a painful itch not severe, but persistently irritating.
Even the usually lively Ye Xiao couldn’t help but complain. By the time they finished work at noon and walked back, none of them had the energy to chat.
When they neared home, Yu Nian’an said goodbye and returned to her courtyard, soaking her legs in cool water to ease the itching.
After such intense labor, she fell asleep immediately after lunch.
When she woke up again, the discomfort in her legs had lessened, though the marks left by the rice leaves were still red.
Thinking about having to endure this for the next few days, Yu Nian’an suddenly missed home again.
At least going to work there was easier than dealing with these rice paddies.
And she wouldn’t have to deal with her useless cousin constantly scheming against her or her unreasonable, troublesome grandmother.
When it was time to head out for the afternoon shift, Yu Nian’an looked listless.
As the four of them walked together, Lin Zhi noticed her low spirits and grew concerned, thinking she was worried about working in the paddies. She put an arm around her shoulders and said, “Nian’an, how about you work along the ridge later?”
Most of the effort in clearing drainage ditches was needed in the middle of the field, while the edges along the ridges were easier. You could even stay on the ridge without stepping into the water, though it was harder on the waist.
Hearing this, Yu Nian’an felt a warmth in her heart.
Meeting Lin Zhi’s gaze, she shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s the rice leaves they scratched me pretty badly. I didn’t even sleep well at noon.”
As she spoke, the itching flared up again. Just as she was about to scratch, Gu Shen’s voice came from behind.
“Don’t scratch. If you break the skin, it could get infected when you go into the paddies.”
Yu Nian’an was a little surprised he knew about that?
Pointing at her legs, Gu Shen asked, “When you went back at noon, did you rinse them with cold water?”
She nodded honestly.
Lin Zhi suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no! That’s my fault I forgot to tell you. You’re supposed to soak them in hot water. Cold water might relieve the itch at first, but it makes it worse later.”
So that was it. No wonder it felt worse after she woke up.
She decided she’d boil some hot water when she got back later. For now, she could only endure it.
At the edge of the field, people were already working. Yu Nian’an sat down to take off her shoes and socks. The moment her feet stepped into the water, she clearly felt the small wounds on her legs sting.
Her pace slowed noticeably that afternoon.
By the time work finally ended, she felt like she had come back to life. Stretching stiffly, she picked up her shoes and headed home.
As they parted ways, Lin Zhi reminded her again to use hot water if it still itched.
Back home, Yu Nian’an latched the courtyard gate, then went to the kitchen to light a fire and boil water, reheating dinner at the same time.
When the water was ready, she carried it outside and tested the temperature. Just as she was about to put her feet in, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” she called out without moving.
Then she heard Gu Shen’s voice. She got up and opened the door.
She had thought Lin Zhi and the others might be with him, but it was just Gu Shen alone.
Looking at him in confusion, she asked, “What is it?”
Gu Shen took out a small green ceramic bottle from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Apply this to your legs. It’ll help.”
Yu Nian’an took it. The bottle was still warm from his hand. She couldn’t tell what it was, but the pattern on it was quite delicate.
Seeing that she had accepted it, Gu Shen said nothing more and turned to leave. Yu Nian’an quickly called out, “Wait why don’t you stay a bit? I’ve already boiled hot water. You can take it back after using it.”
He paused, waved his hand, and said, “No need. Keep it for now.”
Then he left without waiting for her reply.
Leaning against the doorframe, Yu Nian’an watched his back, lost in thought.
When she sat back down in the courtyard, the water she had mixed earlier had already cooled. With a sigh, she went back to the kitchen and added more firewood.
While waiting, she kept fiddling with the small ceramic bottle.
The pattern was refined somehow very much like Gu Shen himself.
When she pulled out the wooden stopper, a refreshing minty scent wafted out.
Homemade balm?
She dabbed a bit onto her hand and confirmed her guess.
Did he make it himself?
Just who exactly was Gu Shen?
Her curiosity about him deepened.
When the water was ready again, no one interrupted this time. After soaking her feet, she went back inside, slipped on her sandals, and applied the ointment to her legs.
After a brief tingling sensation, the itch subsided.
It really worked.
Freed from the irritation, Yu Nian’an felt her mood lift. She went to the kitchen to eat dinner, checked the courtyard, and then returned to her room.
Thanks to Gu Shen, she slept much better that night than she had at noon.
The next day, she looked noticeably more energetic at work. After meeting up with Lin Zhi and the others, she even gave Gu Shen a big smile.
Caught off guard by her sudden enthusiasm and those smiling eyes, Gu Shen’s heart skipped a beat, and he turned his head away.
But her good mood didn’t last long.
As soon as they reached the fields, two women came over and called out loudly, “Annie! Hurry back your grandmother brought people from the commune to your house!”
Everyone was puzzled. That old lady again? What was she here for this time?
But since she had brought people from the commune, Yu Nian’an had no choice but to go.
After giving Lin Zhi and the others a reassuring look, she hurried home.
When Aunt Chunxing arrived and didn’t see her, she was confused. After asking Lin Zhi, she spat angrily, “Bah! That old thing’s up to no good again!”
Everyone in the field shared the same concern.
Meanwhile, Yu Nian’an rushed home. Before even reaching the gate, she saw the same domineering old woman from yesterday now standing not far away, smiling warmly.
“Oh, An girl, you’re finally back,” Grandma Wang called out affectionately as she walked toward her, eyes full of “kindness.”
If they hadn’t met yesterday, Yu Nian’an might have been fooled by this act.
Glancing at the two women who came with her, Yu Nian’an frowned slightly. “What do you want?”
As if nothing unpleasant had happened yesterday, the old woman nodded. “Well, child, now that your parents are gone, your grandmother is worried about you. I’ve talked to the commune we’ll transfer your household registration back. From now on, I’ll raise you.”
“Oh? Grandmother?” Yu Nian’an narrowed her eyes slightly, then changed tone and pointed at her. “If I remember correctly, you already cut ties with my mother back then, didn’t you? And you even announced it in front of everyone. Or are you just getting old and forgetting things?”
Seeing her refuse to give face, the old woman’s expression faltered. “You child, why hold grudges against your grandmother? Don’t talk nonsense in front of the Women’s Federation.”
Though her tone sounded reproachful, there was a hint of warning beneath it.
Only then did Yu Nian’an understand her scheme.
The original host was still underage and now an orphan. As a blood relative, the grandmother could request verification from the Women’s Federation and take her in legally.
That way, she could control her openly and legitimately.
Unfortunately for her.
Her plan had run into Yu Nian’an.