Zhao Yi was completely unaware of what had happened over there.
"Don't bother with them when they come over in the future. Whether they've eaten or not isn't our concern. They're nothing but ungrateful wretches who'll never be satisfied," Zhao Yi said to Zhang Jing.
"But dear, that doesn't seem right," Zhang Jing felt somewhat uneasy about it.
"There's nothing wrong with it. Just listen to me. If you want to live comfortably, keep your distance from them," Zhao Yi stated seriously.
"Understood," Zhang Jing quickly nodded upon seeing Zhao Yi's stern expression.
After dinner, Zhao Yi took the liquor he had bought at the black market that day and hurried to Li Dequan's house.
The Li family had already finished their meal and were enjoying the cool evening in the yard.
"What's the deal with this Educated Youth Su? She can't handle any physical work, only teaching jobs. We've accepted so many gifts from her family. Why not assign her as a substitute teacher at the primary school? That way she'd earn full Work Points every month, plus a few yuan in subsidies," Wu Lan, Li Dequan's wife, said to him.
"Do you think I haven't thought of that? I already asked her about it. She said her family would send food coupons and such, and she's worried she might not teach well either. She thinks running the Literacy Class is just fine," Li Dequan shook his head. Su Hong couldn't handle any jobs that offered more Work Points, and he was starting to feel guilty about accepting so many nice gifts from her.
Just then, Zhao Yi entered the yard, and the couple quickly dropped the subject.
"Xiao Yi's here! Having any difficulties?" Li Dequan smiled at Zhao Yi, then pointed to a stool beside him, gesturing for Zhao Yi to sit down.
"No difficulties. I just came to thank you, Uncle Li, for helping mediate the family division. My family doesn't have much money, so I couldn't bring anything fancy," Zhao Yi said with a smile as he handed the homemade liquor to Li Dequan.
"Oh, you silly child, you didn't need to bring anything just to visit. Have you eaten? If not, Auntie can whip something up for you right now," Wu Lan cheerfully accepted the gift and promptly offered.
Wu Lan didn't have much impression of Zhao Yi. Though they lived in the same village, they had barely exchanged more than a few words. She never expected he'd become so socially adept after getting married.
"We just ate, Auntie. Please don't trouble yourself," Zhao Yi quickly waved his hands.
"Don't be shy at your auntie's house! It's no trouble at all—just a bit of firewood," Wu Lan said, already heading toward the kitchen.
"Auntie, I really have eaten. Please don't bother," Zhao Yi called out urgently.
"You silly boy, being shy will only leave you hungry," Wu Lan nodded after Zhao Yi repeatedly declined, but she still prepared a bowl of honeysuckle wild tea for him.
After chatting briefly with Li Dequan and his wife, Zhao Yi headed back home.
Watching Zhao Yi's retreating figure, the couple exchanged several glances, neither finding the answers they sought in the other's eyes.
"What does the boy mean by this?" Wu Lan asked Li Dequan, implying that since Zhao Yi had brought a gift without making any requests, and given that they weren't related to the Zhao family, accepting a gift for no reason felt somewhat unsettling.
If they knew what he wanted, they could either help or return the gift. But after all that talking, they hadn't detected any requests from Zhao Yi, leaving the couple utterly perplexed.
"Let's wait and see. Maybe he'll bring it up himself in a few days," Li Dequan said after a moment's thought.
Zhao Yi had just returned home when he saw Zhang Jing sitting on the bed, counting the money in her hand by the dim light of a kerosene lamp. Today, Zhao Yi had given her another two yuan—she had bought liquor, some chicks, and a few daily necessities, leaving only a small amount left.
"Husband, this really does earn more than working at the Forest Farm, but it makes me a little worried."
Zhang Jing looked at Zhao Yi with concern. Doing business wasn't allowed now, and she feared he might be caught by the Red Armband.
"Don’t worry about it. I know what I’m doing. Just relax and enjoy life with me."
Zhao Yi smiled, then finished washing up and blew out the kerosene lamp.
Thus began his late-night work.
Early morning.
As soon as the sky brightened, everyone was already preparing for work.
Zhao Yi had just opened the door when he saw his father-in-law approaching with a basket on his back. He hurried forward to take the basket from Zhang Fusheng.
"Dad, what’s this?"
"I heard from Xiao Jing that you two just set up your own household and don’t have much grain, eating potatoes every day. That won’t do. I’ve brought some of our family’s rations. Don’t feel embarrassed—you can pay us back once you’ve stored up some grain."
Zhang Fusheng spoke cheerfully.
He had worried that Zhao Yi’s pride might leave his daughter hungry, but when Zhang Jing visited recently, he noticed she hadn’t lost weight—in fact, she had even gained a little. With fish soup every night, it was clear Zhao Yi was a capable man.
Hearing this, Zhao Yi couldn’t refuse. He quickly invited his father-in-law inside.
"Xiao Jing, Dad’s here to see us."
Zhao Yi called into the room.
Hearing this, Zhang Jing hurried out and, seeing Zhang Fusheng, beamed with joy. She rushed to his side and greeted him warmly.
"Dad must have gotten up very early and probably hasn’t eaten yet. Go ahead and make him some breakfast."
Zhao Yi went back into the room and took out the pastries he had bought for Zhang Jing as snacks. He planned to have his father-in-law take them back for his mother-in-law and the others to try.
"You’ve just started your own household—you shouldn’t buy such things. One jin of these could buy a lot of grain. Young people really don’t know how to manage a home."
Zhang Fusheng frowned sternly as Zhao Yi handed him the pastries.
"Dad, it’s just a small gesture from us. We’re careful with money—we even bought three chicks, see?"
As he spoke, Zhao Yi let the chicks out from the storage room and began repairing the broken fence.
Watching Zhao Yi busily working, showing filial respect and treating his daughter well, Zhang Fusheng nodded in satisfaction.
He took two pieces of pastry and put the rest back in the main room.
After breakfast, as Zhang Fusheng prepared to leave, Zhao Yi and Zhang Jing saw him out of the village before heading to the Team Headquarters.
Zhao Yi’s assigned task was to carry manure to fertilize the rice seedlings.
Halfway up the hillside.
Below lay the Cowshed of Wangou Village.
While carrying manure there, Zhao Yi happened to run into the unlucky Su Hong, who was approaching with several items in hand.
Su Hong was surprised to see someone near the cowshed.
However, she didn’t recognize Zhao Yi.
Just as he had guessed, this girl wasn’t incapable of work—she was doing it on purpose. Her assignment to Wangou Village was surely because of someone in the cowshed.
But these matters had nothing to do with Zhao Yi. Without greeting her, he went straight to the cowshed and started shoveling manure.
Su Hong distributed the items in her hands to each person inside the cowshed. This action surprised Zhao Yi, who had initially thought she was only looking after one individual, never expecting that she knew everyone here.
"You're far too bold, girl, coming here in broad daylight like this. Don't do it again, or I won't acknowledge you anymore," scolded an elderly man with graying hair.
"Understood, I'll be more careful next time," Su Hong nodded in response.