Village Chief Liu returned to the dorm to ask who would deliver meals to the four. Xiao Heng volunteered for Tang Zhirou, Zhang Weiping for Zhao Jiani. Jiang Wanwan and Su Mengyao had no one.
“Delivering meals adds three work points,” he explained.
“I’ll do it,” Liu Hongbing said. A chance to earn extra work points—why not?
Village Chief Liu gave instructions on handling the food, then left. Peace finally returned to the dormitory.
Lan Xingyu cleaned her ears, thinking, What a noisy day.
Zhang Weiping went to deliver Zhao Jiani’s meal. She didn’t mind, as long as he caused no trouble.
Huo Nanting didn’t care either—whatever.
Lights off, time to sleep.
The next day, it was Lan Xingyu’s turn to cook. She only provided money; Zhang Weiping got up early to cook, delivering meals to Zhao Jiani first.
Lan Xingyu left early to enter her space, wash up, eat breakfast, and then administer the infusion for Zhou Daju.
Just outside the dorm, she was stopped by a man—Zhou Daju’s brother, Zhou Chunlai, frowning. “Lan Zhiqing, someone saw my sister, Zhou Daju, go to your plot the afternoon before last and then disappear. Did you do something to her?”
Lan Xingyu replied calmly, “Who’s Zhou Daju? I don’t know her. That afternoon, someone passed by the sweet potato field and went to the forest behind. I was busy flipping vines and didn’t notice.”
“She went to the forest?”
“Yes.”
Zhou Chunlai fell silent. The young man in front of him didn’t seem like a bad person, but his sister could get into trouble. She might have met a trafficker.
They had no choice but to search, and if that failed, report it.
Zhou Daju had been missing for three days. Her family started to worry; even visiting relatives, she hadn’t returned. They had checked her disabled husband’s place, also to no avail. Then they asked the team members, who said she went to see Lan Zhiqing.
Lan Xingyu stomped away. Who would suspect that in this world, she had a space—a stadium-sized one, no less?
But she wouldn’t reveal such a treasure. Who would believe it?
Lan Xingyu became even more cautious, slipping into her space through the cornfield.
After washing up, she went to the cafeteria for breakfast. Plenty of cooked food was laid out. She took a bowl of beef noodles, ate, then administered Zhou Daju’s infusion. Once today’s infusion was complete, Zhou Daju only needed some medicine afterward.
Zhou Daju cooperated but looked utterly dejected. He could never speak again—how frustrating that must be.
After finishing the infusion, Lan Xingyu left her space and went to ask Village Chief Liu for leave, citing illness and requesting half a day off. Village Chief Liu agreed, barely noticing her single work point.
She leisurely returned to the dorm; everyone else had already gone to work.
She lay on her bed reading, planning to return to the space soon to change the infusion. She couldn’t take leave otherwise—it would expose her, especially with Wang Na working nearby.
Today, five fewer youths were working. Village Chief Liu felt some relief. Managing a dozen or so youths was no easy task—they schemed, complained, and plotted.
Still, their presence brought life to the village, and more importantly, helped the state manage manpower.
When work ended, everyone dashed off like rabbits—some to bathe in the river, others to cook at home, forming small groups.
Huo Nanting and Zhang Weiping washed in the river. Zhang Weiping returned to cook, while Huo Nanting killed eels. They had saved four pounds from yesterday; lunchtime would be a feast.
Seeing Huo Nanting’s bucket full of eels, others envied them. They had caught some too, but very few.
Zhang Weiping cooked sweet potato soup and helped clean the eels. Then Huo Nanting took over, stir-frying them.
Considering Lan Xingyu might not eat them, he also cooked some cucumber for her.
Zhang Weiping delivered Zhao Jiani’s meal. At the table were Huo Nanting and Lan Xingyu.
Seeing Lan Xingyu only eating cucumber, Huo Nanting said softly, “Try it—it’s really tasty. Once you eat it, you’ll want more.”
“Like a snake.”
“Not a snake. Here, take a piece.”
Lan Xingyu looked up sharply, eyes locking on him. “Are you insane? I’m a man—what do you mean by ‘take a piece’?”
Huo Nanting awkwardly twisted his mouth; it was just a casual remark.
Lan Xingyu squinted. “You want to harm me?”
Huo Nanting was confused. “I just wanted you to try some eel. How is that harming you?”
“You’re being too nice to me!”
“Can’t I be nice?”
“No. Stay away from me!”
A cold gleam shot from Lan Xingyu’s eyes. Huo Nanting frowned. They exchanged a glance. Lan Xingyu lowered her head to eat, leaving him stunned.
After a while, he picked up his chopsticks. He didn’t want to say more—if she refused gratitude, fine.
When Zhang Weiping returned, Lan Xingyu had already dropped her chopsticks and gone to smoke.
Zhang Weiping sat to eat. “Wow, these eels are amazing. Lan Zhiqing, you eating?”
“Don’t like them.”
“Oh, what a shame. The eel meat is really good.”
Lan Xingyu remained silent.
Huo Nanting felt a bit down. The young master clearly resisted him, almost as if she knew he had feelings for her.
He couldn’t let anyone know, but his desire grew stronger. He wanted to take her behind the big rocks, kiss her, and release tension together.
Sigh.
Pervert.
Truly perverse.
He despised himself for it.
Yet the more he despised, the stronger the desire. Just thinking of the scene made his blood boil; he even wanted to kneel and kiss her…
Damn it.
Can’t think!
He covered himself with a blanket.
“It’s so hot, and you’re still under the blanket?”
Zhang Weiping, still eating, remarked casually.
Huo Nanting rolled his eyes and continued smoking.
Zhang Weiping was confused. Why the glare?
Forget it. Couldn’t mess with these big shots—just eat.
Lan Xingyu had no idea that Huo Nanting’s mind had already gone off track. Right now, she was like a hedgehog, not wanting anyone near her.
As for Huo Nanting’s behavior, she simply thought it was the plot driving it. There was no way they could like each other—she was a man now, a man without breasts!
Huo Nanting puffed on his cigarette, glancing occasionally at her across the room. Was the little master angry? His mood was restless.
Maybe they were both doomed to remain bachelors for life. She was delicate, after all—so maybe he was too. Two bachelors together wouldn’t be so bad, right?
He exhaled heavily, tossed the cigarette aside, and lay down to sleep. But his body was restless, uncomfortable; he had to forcefully suppress his wicked thoughts.
Zhang Weiping washed the dishes and shut the door behind him. Everyone else was taking their afternoon nap.
In the afternoon, Lan Xingyu went to work, planning to administer Zhou Daju’s infusion again in the evening. Sitting in the peanut field, her mind wandered—would her plan for Zhou Daju work?
She didn’t want to leave yet; she wanted to stay in Da Wan Village for a while.
Wang Na watched from a short distance, thinking this person was cold and dangerous—better to keep away.
Lan Xingyu weakly pulled weeds, looking half-dead, which made others anxious.
Village Chief Liu came to check on them but left frustrated. Although he didn’t want to interfere, seeing them work so delicately upset him. How could such fragile people survive in the village? Surely, they’d never get married!
Indeed, many thought Lan Xingyu would never find a wife.
Even Wu Li complained while recording work points, saying the field workers weren’t humans, just two shy turtles.
Lan Xingyu: “…”
Wang Na: “…”
When work ended, Lan Xingyu came alive again, picking up her small stool and walking off, long legs striding purposefully.