Bai Shanshan regretted it.
She must have lost her mind during the day to agree to Wen Yan.
Her brain told her legs to leave, to not endure this humiliation, but her heart stubbornly argued: if she went back like this, Wen Yan would definitely laugh at her, mock her for being useless at everything.
She couldn’t bear to lose face like that.
“Comrade Bai, who are you applying for a job for?”
Li asked again, looking at Bai Shanshan with her strange expression in confusion.
After imagining the scenario, Bai Shanshan gritted her teeth, straightened her back, and in one breath, declared loudly: “Reporting, I am applying for jobs for Comrade Wen Yan and myself. This is the detailed blueprint of the plow drawn by Comrade Wen Yan.”
Li took the notebook handed over by Bai Shanshan, giving it a strange look. What on earth was going on here?
Undercover? Spy? Counterintelligence? Infiltrating the enemy’s lair?
Li couldn’t understand Bai Shanshan’s train of thought anymore, only thinking that he must discuss it with his wife when he got home. He suspected Bai Shanshan’s brain had frozen.
But for now, he carefully examined the notebook, then verified the information with Commander Zhu from logistics, confirming that the plow was indeed made by Wen Yan.
“She really knows carpentry.”
Li muttered softly. Commander Zhu didn’t catch it and leaned in to ask, “Commander, what did you say?”
“Nothing. Since Comrade Wen is capable of making plows, let her continue handling this matter. Spring plowing is important; try to produce as many as possible.”
Last year, they relied entirely on their hands and tree branches, which was highly inefficient.
Commander Zhu knew Li would agree—production was the top priority.
“Alright, but you’ll need to approve the paperwork.”
As soon as Commander Zhu finished speaking, Bai Shanshan chimed in, “Comrade Wen’s job must also be secured. She must be paid; we can’t let her work for free.”
“Fine, the paperwork can be processed. As for the salary… we’ll see. You young comrades of the new era should have a spirit of dedication.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to pay; they were just too poor.
Hearing this, Bai Shanshan was unwilling.
Wen Yan had specifically asked for a salary. If she couldn’t negotiate it, she’d look incompetent.
“Comrade Wen provided the design and personally taught her skills. She’ll even teach mortise and tenon techniques later. Isn’t it unreasonable not to pay her? How can we take someone’s work for free?”
Li’s face flushed red. Of course, he wasn’t the type to take advantage.
“I didn’t say we wouldn’t pay at all. It’s just a bit tight right now. Wait a little, just wait a little.”
Bai Shanshan, determined not to lose face, pursed her lips, and tears streamed down instantly: “Uncle—”
An hour later, Li, his hair practically standing on end, declared:
“Alright, alright. Wen Yan gets eighteen yuan and sixty fen, and you, Bai Shanshan, get eight yuan and thirty fen.”
Bai Shanshan was about to speak again, but Li glared and said, “If you keep nagging, there’ll be nothing.”
Bai Shanshan immediately shut her mouth. She couldn’t afford to lose any more.
She’d already lost face; she couldn’t lose the money too.
At the same time, Wen Yan received a notification from the System.
[Job Securing Task Completed. Reward: Frostbite Medicine Formula. PS: Due to potency reasons, one bottle of diluted medicine is provided. Add three drops per 100 liters.]
In short, the System had given the frostbite ointment a cheat.
Wen Yan’s eyes lit up. Bai Shanshan was really impressive.
“Try the water temperature, is it okay?”
Jiang Baizhou brought over a white enamel basin with peonies painted inside.
After the two finished applying the medicine, Jiang Baizhou read the love letter Wen Yan had written, which resembled a letter of introduction.
The entire letter lacked any trace of emotion, yet he still managed to praise Wen Yan for several minutes.
One dared to praise, and the other dared to believe it.
Wen Yan even boasted confidently, “Then I’ll write more for you!”
Jiang Baizhou’s gaze was indulgent and gentle. “Alright, but wait for me to reply to your letter first. It’s better to take turns.”
Wen Yan had no particular feelings about receiving love letters; she only thought writing them could “please” Jiang Baizhou.
“Okay!”
After their bizarre yet ultimately unified agreement, Jiang Baizhou went to wash the dishes, and Wen Yan didn’t stop him. She had cooked the porridge, so it was only fair for Jiang Baizhou to wash the dishes.
The meal wasn’t greasy—coarse grain buns with stewed potatoes and fish—and the two ate everything clean. Jiang Baizhou grabbed some wood ash and a handful of snow to scrub the dishes clean.
However, considering Wen Yan’s preference for cleanliness, he still rinsed them with boiling water, and sure enough, he saw the corners of Wen Yan’s eyes lift in satisfaction.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth, Wen Yan prepared to wash her feet, and Jiang Baizhou proactively went to fetch hot water.
At this moment, Wen Yan sat on the edge of the kang, her pant legs rolled up, her fair and petite feet stepping into the white enamel basin. She let out a comfortable sigh, her voice carrying a hint of laziness. “Not too hot, just right.”
Jiang Baizhou sat beside her and replied, “That’s good.”
His gaze fell on Wen Yan’s feet, where her neatly trimmed, pinkish toes were fidgeting restlessly, causing ripples in the water. He smiled and looked away.
Wen Yan was completely unaware of Jiang Baizhou’s subtle glances. As she washed her feet, she read a book in the System.
Two things at once, without delay.
When she felt the water had cooled a bit, she lifted her feet.
“Here.”
Jiang Baizhou naturally handed over a foot towel made from old clothes. As Wen Yan took it, he had already picked up the foot-washing basin and gone outside to pour out the water.
Wen Yan smiled, dried her feet, and climbed onto the kang.
She glanced at her watch and muttered in surprise, “It’s only 7:30?”
Although she wanted to take care of her health by sleeping and waking up early, this was still too early, wasn’t it?
No wonder older generations had so many children.
Creak.
Jiang Baizhou returned, closing the door and saying, “If you need to use the bathroom at night, call me. I’ll go with you—it’s too dark outside.”
“I’ll leave the flashlight by your side.”
Jiang Baizhou put away the basin and placed the flashlight next to Wen Yan’s pillow. Wen Yan hummed in agreement.
The room suddenly fell silent, the crackling of the firewood magnified again and again.
Wen Yan thought: Besides procreation, what else could they do?
A faint sense of awkwardness lingered, but fortunately, Jiang Baizhou didn’t let the atmosphere remain awkward for long. He spoke up, “Can you teach me how to read?”
Wen Yan let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief and looked up. “Of course.”
But as soon as she finished speaking, she frowned and asked, “If you can’t read, how did you read the telegram and the love letter?”
Jiang Baizhou had already thought about this question. He naturally took off his shoes and climbed onto the kang, saying, “I didn’t go to school much before. I taught myself to read in the army, and there are still many characters I don’t know.”
“Oh… I see. Then I can also teach you basic math, chemistry, physics, and things like that.”
Jiang Baizhou’s back stiffened for half a second. He had only wanted to find an opportunity to slowly get closer to Wen Yan, not actually learn anything.
But seeing that Wen Yan genuinely wanted to teach, he went along with it. “That’s great. I’ve always wanted to learn, but no one could teach me before. It’s wonderful to have you.”
Listening to his praise, a small, squinty smile crept onto the corners of Wen Yan’s lips. She confidently declared, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely teach you well.”
Jiang Baizhou was tickled by Wen Yan’s smug little expression. He subtly moved a bit closer, his right hand just about to lift when the person before him vanished.
He saw Wen Yan step into her shoes and return with a notebook, saying, “I’ll give you a set of questions to see where your level is.”
Jiang Baizhou’s right hand fell empty. He clenched his fist, both amused and exasperated, and said, “Right now?”