Lan Xingyu sat on the bed smoking.
After some thought, she decided she couldn’t quit smoking yet.
She already looked too delicate—if she stopped smoking too, people might notice something.
Besides, her heart was stifled.
She needed tobacco to vent.
Still, she tried to limit herself to eight cigarettes a day.
She tilted her head back, exhaling smoke rings with a slightly indulgent air.
Sultry.
Cold.
Unbelievably handsome.
Huo Nanting’s gaze darkened as he watched.
That young master’s exquisitely beautiful face was almost too alluring—enough to make a person want to pin him to the bed and bully him.
The thought made his heart jolt.
What kind of strange idea was that?
He must have gone too long without release—now he was even fantasizing about men.
Huo Nanting let out a soft chuckle and went back to his bed for a nap.
Lan Xingyu also lay back down, letting the fan blow over her.
By the time Zhang Weiping finished washing clothes and returned, everyone was already asleep.
They wouldn’t head back to work until four in the afternoon. There were several hours of rest at noon.
“Educated Youth Lan, time to get up for work.”
Lan Xingyu was still groggy when Zhang Weiping woke her.
“Okay.”
She quickly got up and reapplied sunscreen.
Then she took out a pair of gloves and a straw hat.
The vintage items she bought from that trendy retro shop were finally useful.
She guessed Village Chief Liu would send her to weed this afternoon.
And indeed—she was assigned to weeding.
But not weeds in dry soil.
Weeds in the rice paddies.
Standing on the ridge, Village Chief Liu said, “There’s a benefit to weeding—you might even catch rice field fish or eels for dinner.”
So everyone was willing to go into the paddies.
There were quite a lot of fish in those fields.
Lan Xingyu scrunched up her face.
“I want to pull weeds in the dry soil. I don’t want to eat fish.”
“The dry fields are mostly done.”
“Weeds never disappear completely.”
“No—everyone else is weeding in the paddies. You can’t be the only one working dry land!”
Village Chief Liu felt utterly exhausted.
“I saw bugs in the paddies this morning. I don’t want to get bitten.”
“There are bugs in dry soil too.”
“If there are bugs, I can run.”
Village Chief Liu pressed a hand to his forehead, his expression indescribable.
Aside from pulling a bit of grass, this young master probably couldn’t do anything else.
“Go try it. You really can catch fish.”
Lan Xingyu pressed her lips together and shook her head.
Village Chief Liu sighed helplessly, glanced around, then pointed to a sweet potato field uphill.
“My heavens—go turn the sweet potato vines.”
Lan Xingyu said darkly, “I’m a man. Not your mother.”
Village Chief Liu: “…”
“You’re obviously not my mother! Hurry up, hurry up—I’ll teach you how to flip the vines!”
Village Chief Liu surrendered.
Lan Xingyu followed him up to the sweet potato field.
He shot her an annoyed glare, then bent down and demonstrated flipping the vines.
Originally, he had planned to finish the paddy weeding first before coming here.
Now this young master was getting priority.
“Just flip all the vines in this direction. Very simple.”
Lan Xingyu understood.
It was simple.
Just… a lot of bending over.
Her waist might break.
But this was still better than carrying manure or entering the paddies.
“Got it?”
“Got it.”
Village Chief Liu straightened—
—and froze when he saw the three ten-yuan notes in Lan Xingyu’s hand.
“Huh?”
“Village Chief Liu, please turn a blind eye. I’m not good at farm work, and I don’t rely on work points to survive.”
After speaking, Lan Xingyu stuffed the money into his hand and went to flip the sweet potato vines.
Her movements weren’t fast—but they were steady.
Village Chief Liu quickly glanced around and stuffed the money into his pocket.
Lowering his voice, he said, “Thank you. I’ll try to arrange lighter work for you so you won’t suffer too much.”
“Mm.”
Lan Xingyu stood up and fanned herself with her hand. Summer was brutally hot—just sitting around without air conditioning was already miserable, and the moment she worked, sweat streamed down her forehead.
Village Chief Liu opened his mouth as if to say something, but having just taken her money, what could he possibly say?
“Keep working. I’m leaving.”
No point wasting time on her—better go supervise the others.
“Take care.”
Village Chief Liu walked along the field ridge. Seeing her still standing there, he let out a helpless sigh and left.
Once Lan Xingyu confirmed no one was around, she pulled out a small stool and sat down, slowly flipping the sweet potato vines at a turtle’s pace.
When scorekeeper Wu Li came by and saw her speed, her whole face scrunched up. At this rate, she could only be given one work point.
If her father-in-law (Village Chief Liu) hadn’t already given instructions, she would’ve cursed on the spot. What kind of work was this?
“Lan Xingyu—one work point.”
Lan Xingyu glanced sideways at her and muttered, lowering her head, “One work point is pretty good.”
She had finally earned work points with her own hands. In twenty years of life, this was the first time she had personally earned food.
After Wu Li left, she stopped moving again. It was too hot and too tiring. She drank a carton of milk and pulled out a cigarette.
After work, I need to freeze some drinks and bottled water in my space.
Zhang Weiping was worried about her and came by during a break. Seeing her sitting on the little stool fanning herself, the corner of his mouth twitched.
“I came to check on you. Good to see you’re fine.”
“I’m fine.”
Lan Xingyu handed him a White Rabbit milk candy. She was never stingy toward people who treated her well.
“Thanks.”
Zhang Weiping felt more and more that this young master was actually pretty decent—at least she was generous.
“I’m heading off.”
He left with the candy in hand, reluctant to eat it. He planned to save it for Zhao Jiani.
Near quitting time, Village Chief Liu came by for another look. She had only flipped a tiny patch of sweet potato vines—really tiny. Barely worth one work point. And she was still sitting there without moving.
Sigh… forget it.
“Work’s over.”
“Okay.”
A rare smile appeared on Lan Xingyu’s face. Village Chief Liu blinked—this young fellow looked really handsome when he smiled.
Lan Xingyu carried her little stool home. By now, she was famous throughout Dawan Village—the landlord family’s pampered young master who couldn’t do farm work.
But she was definitely rich. Some of the village girls even ran over just to sneak a look. When they saw her handsome face, their cheeks flushed red.
Among them, one girl’s eyes flickered with calculation.
She’s so rich… can I get some money out of her?
Lan Xingyu walked past them expressionlessly, her demeanor ice-cold. The more aloof she acted, the more untouchable she seemed.
Zhang Weiping was waiting outside the educated youth courtyard. The moment he saw her, he hurried over like a loyal lackey.
“Educated Youth Lan, do you want a hot bath or cold bath? I’ll fetch water to the toilet for you.”
“Cold water. Ten cents.”
After speaking, Lan Xingyu went inside. She had no intention of bathing outside—having him carry water was just for appearances.
Only now did Tang Zhirou finally notice her. So cold and distant. With so many educated youths around, she acted like she didn’t even see them, not even offering a greeting.
What kind of background does she have? Acting like such an important figure… Is she more impressive than Nanting? Nanting is from the Huo family of Hong Kong—he’ll inherit a huge fortune in the future.
Speak of the devil—Tang Zhirou looked at the approaching Huo Nanting, her gaze so gentle it practically dripped with water.
Beside Huo Nanting, Xiao Heng’s face was dark as storm clouds.
Tang Zhirou could only belong to him, Xiao Heng. She could forget about escaping!
Tang Zhirou, of course, knew what he was thinking. It seemed she had to act quickly—she couldn’t let him ruin her plans with Nanting.
Everyone was scheming.
Her cousin Jiang Wanwan was scheming too. Only by getting rid of that bitch could she live a good life.
Today, Zhao Jiani had already been bought off by Tang Zhirou—fifty yuan to become her little follower and help deal with Jiang Wanwan.
Now that Zhao Jiani had money, her chin was practically in the air. Even the White Rabbit candy Zhang Weiping gave her was almost beneath her… though she still ate it.
Lan Xingyu noticed all of them as well and guessed the plot had already begun. She would just avoid getting involved with the male lead as much as possible.
After entering her space to shower and coming back out, she sat at the bedside and lit a cigarette, feeling human again.