“Wow, Educated Youth Huo, your buddy is as thick as a sweet potato! So envious!”
Zhang Weiping awoke lazily, noticing Lan Xingyu staring and then glanced himself—he couldn’t help but praise.
Lan Xingyu gave him a side-eye. That comparison… really like the “big sea.” She turned and left, heading into the forest and activating her space.
Huo Nanting couldn’t stay hidden, opening his eyes and quickly adjusting his underwear. Being men, there was no shame. “You really know how to compare!”
Zhang Weiping chuckled, then lowered his voice. “Educated Youth Huo, how often per month?”
“One or two times.”
Huo Nanting knew what he meant—he wasn’t talking about periods.
“Five or six times.”
He had just dreamed about kissing Zhao Jiani, so he needed to wash his underwear.
“Your turn to cook today.”
Huo Nanting changed, washed, then went for a morning jog. He dreamed of military school, but without university, he’d only join the army after finishing as an educated youth.
“Get up and cook immediately.”
Zhang Weiping quickly changed and washed his underwear before cooking.
Lan Xingyu entered the space to wash, then enjoyed breakfast—milk and beef rice noodles.
After eating, she tossed her bowl into the dishwasher—automatic cleaning and shutdown.
The space had endless water, electricity, and gas.
She took fluids to give Zhou Daju her IV. Zhou Daju, seeing Lan Xingyu enter, clutched her pants, babbling apologies, promising never to provoke the young master again, begging to be let go.
“Let go!”
Lan Xingyu didn’t believe her words. Someone who repeatedly blackmailed the original owner clearly had no credibility—she wouldn’t leave herself open to future trouble.
Zhou Daju let go, not daring to press further.
Lan Xingyu quickly set up the IV for her. The needle barely hurt, and she administered the nutrients directly, so Zhou Daju didn’t need to eat.
Knowing she’d need to give Zhou Daju another infusion later, she asked Village Chief Liu for leave to go to town to buy supplies. He agreed.
Lan Xingyu headed toward town, pulling out some vouchers she’d bought from the nostalgic store, intending to try spending them at the supply cooperative.
Seeing no one around, she released her bicycle—walking would be too exhausting.
Forty minutes of cycling later, she arrived in town, asked for the supply cooperative, parked her bike, and walked inside.
The store was full of products with a strong retro feel. What should she buy? She lacked nothing.
After browsing, she chose a pair of leather shoes and a pair of cloth shoes, handing over the vouchers and money.
The clerk checked the vouchers—they were nationally valid, with slightly better printing than usual. Lan Xingyu didn’t think much of it; no one dared forge currency in this era. The clerk gave her change.
Lan Xingyu exhaled in relief, a little delighted. She had bought many vouchers at the nostalgic store—possibly worth hundreds of thousands.
She could splurge again—but there wasn’t much she wanted. This era had few entertainment options; money didn’t flow out easily.
Still, the money needed to go into a bank. As technology progressed, it might be harder to use later. She went to the rural credit union and opened an account with 500 yuan.
She deposited a small amount at a time and would open accounts at different banks—though she’d need to go to the city; the town had only the credit union.
Whether due to the era’s backwardness or the store’s realistic vouchers, Lan Xingyu successfully deposited her money.
To prevent inflation, she planned to sell some grain and cloth on the black market, which wasn’t taking advantage—it would help alleviate food shortages.
But that would require going to the city; the town’s small black market couldn’t handle her stock.
She cycled to the grain-and-oil store, buying 30 jin of rice, 20 jin of flour, 10 jin of noodles, 5 jin of cooking oil, 5 jin of salt, 3 jin of soy sauce, 10 yuan worth of tofu, and 3 jin of pork ribs, storing everything in a urea sack for the trip home.
Why not use the food from her space? That food didn’t taste as good as real-era food—people could tell immediately.
Her plan: sell the space food later and stockpile authentic period food.
After leaving town, she entered her space again to change Zhou Daju’s IV fluid, then cycled home.
The supply cooperative didn’t sell bicycles. When asked, she simply said someone needed cash and sold one—then she bought it, leaving a bike outside for town trips.
Back at the youth dorm, she wheeled the bike into her room, tucked it in a corner, entered her space to shower and change, and tossed the clothes into the washing machine. She’d hang them to dry later—she couldn’t keep using the dryer without arousing suspicion.
After changing Zhou Daju’s IV, she returned to bed to continue reading medical texts.
Zhang Weiping, finishing work, went to pick vegetables, hurrying back to cook for the young master. Lan Xingyu hadn’t had breakfast—she must be hungry.
Unknowingly, she had grown more important in his mind. Partly because of her work ethic, partly because of her genuine kindness, he had a sense that following Lan Xingyu would lead to a bright future.
After placing the chili eggplants in the kitchen, he went back to check on Lan Xingyu. Entering, he saw the bicycle and a sack on it. “Lan Zhiqing, you bought a bicycle?”
“Yes. The stuff on it is food for everyone. There’s meat and tofu, ready to cook.”
“Good, but how should we account for it?”
“It’s for you to eat. No need to count.”
“That doesn’t feel right…”
“I don’t like fuss.”
“Alright, then. I’ll cook it now.”
Zhang Weiping couldn’t hide his delight—the young master was too generous.
“Cook sweet potato porridge, and make some cakes on the side. Summer’s hot, porridge feels best.”
“Alright, alright.”
Zhang Weiping grabbed the tofu and meat, adding them to the sweet potatoes—hee hee, their rations were growing.
He carried the ingredients to the kitchen. Next-door, Liu Hongbin envied them. “Zhiqing, you eat too well! Did Lan Zhiqing buy this?”
“Yes. He’s very kind, bought it for me and Educated Youth Huo,” Zhang Weiping said happily.
“I envy you. I want to share a room with Lan Zhiqing too!”
“No one’s swapping with you. You can’t envy it.”
Zhang Weiping smirked, placed the tofu and meat down, and went to scoop rice.
Huo Nanting returned from the river, encountering Tang Zhirou’s dreamy gaze, feeling uncomfortable.
“Nanting, did you bathe in the river?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to reserve a rabbit.”
“Okay. I’ll give it to you tonight.”
Huo Nanting left expressionless. Tang Zhirou stared at his broad back, still scheming for later.
He noticed the bicycle and urea sack too. Plenty of good things—but he didn’t want to eat, saving money to send home. He didn’t speak to Lan Xingyu, leaning against the bed to smoke.
At mealtime, seeing the meat and porridge, he said, “I can’t eat this. I’ll just take the sweet potatoes, no rice.”
“Oh, Huo Zhīqīng, no need to pay. Lan Zhiqing invited us to eat—let’s be a little nicer to her to repay her kindness,” Zhang Weiping quickly said.
Huo Nanting hesitated—he didn’t like taking advantage of others.
Lan Xingyu said lightly, “Eat. I’m wealthy. No need to feel guilty.”
Cooking separately was inconvenient and required money they didn’t have, so they ate together, occasionally improving their meals.
Huo Nanting thought, “I’ll occasionally give everyone a rabbit to eat.”
Lan Xingyu: “Fine.”
Zhang Weiping looked around, deciding to just grab more meat.
The three ate. Zhang Weiping devoured quickly, Huo Nanting had a good appetite. Pork really was delicious in this era! Lan Xingyu thought about stocking more chicken, duck, fish, and rabbit for later.
After eating, everyone took a nap. The room’s residents got along well. Other rooms were full of petty quarrels.
Su Mengyao had already planned how to handle Tang Zhirou—this evening—but would instruct Jiang Wanwan to execute. She’d just strategize, keeping herself clean.
Zhao Jiani, who had just tripped Jiang Wanwan for two yuan, was overjoyed.