The rest of the people in the educated youth compound were out at this time.
Mu Qinqin used the compound’s pot—stir-frying, steaming, cooking—until, in just over an hour, she produced two dishes: the classic transmigrator staple braised pork and a plate of shredded potatoes.
After that, she rummaged through her belongings and found a few lunch containers. She packed all the food neatly into them.
Then she took out a strange “odor-absorbing fruit” from her space and used it to suck away most of the meat aroma—like a modern exhaust fan.
Indeed, the odd little things she had collected sometimes proved surprisingly useful.
It was still early.
Going over now would mean running straight into the villagers returning from work.
So Mu Qinqin took the time to sort through the original owner’s belongings.
A few ration coupons.
And one hundred yuan.
The original owner’s situation was just as miserable as Si Chengchen’s—an unloved daughter, neglected by her parents, forced down to the countryside. This hundred yuan was all she had painstakingly saved.
Fortunately, although the original body looked delicate, she actually had a decent constitution, which allowed her to survive in the countryside.
There was a mirror in the room, and Mu Qinqin finally remembered to take a look at her face.
She had been thrown into this world by the Heavenly Dao—who knew if anything strange had been done to her? Especially since all her spiritual power was gone.
Thinking of this, she hurried to the mirror.
In it appeared a small, pretty face. Almond-shaped eyes, clear and bright like two pools of pure spring water. Thick curled lashes cast faint shadows when lowered. Her features were delicate, clean, and untouched—an innocent, almost unworldly beauty.
A small straight nose, slightly rounded tip—soft and cute, the kind of pure beauty that had not yet been carved by life.
But then the reflection changed.
The girl in the mirror suddenly curved her rose-colored lips. Her bright eyes sparkled with mischief, the innocence vanishing instantly, replaced by a sly, radiant charm. There was nothing “pure” about her at all.
“At least that old man still had some conscience,” she muttered, satisfied as she touched her smooth face that had been nourished by immortal spring water. “He didn’t change my face.”
She blinked at the mirror.
In an instant, she returned to her innocent, harmless appearance again.
This kind of face had fooled countless cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage back in the cultivation world—people who thought she was easy to bully because she looked young and naive.
And of course… they all ended up being thoroughly “educated” by her.
As night fell, the workers gradually returned, and the educated youth compound became lively again.
Meals in the compound were cooked collectively. Everyone contributed grain and took turns cooking, though very few were actually good at it—so the food was barely edible at best.
“Mu Qinqin, where’s your rice?” a girl with braided hair poked her head in and asked.
This girl was named Qi Yue, someone Mu Qinqin had met on the train when they first came down.
They got along well, and Qi Yue was a chatterbox who loved gossip. She was always the first to know whatever happened in the village, apart from the local aunties.
At first, Mu Qinqin even thought they came from the same place.
But in reality, Qi Yue had once been a true rich young lady from a capitalist family and had been sent down to the countryside as well.
“Oh right—did you go to that soldier’s place this afternoon? Since when did you learn roof repair? I didn’t even know!” Qi Yue said, impressed. “That’s amazing.”
“I used to fix things a lot at home,” Mu Qinqin replied casually, then asked, “Was work in the fields busy today?”
“Busy! You have no idea!” Qi Yue complained loudly, showing her hands. “Look, they’ve got blisters already. I need to get my uncle to send me more snow cream when I write to him next time.”
“By the way,” she continued, lowering her voice, “I heard that Si family’s mother hired a woman to take care of that soldier guy, and she only pays a few yuan a month.”
“She’s clearly just pretending—doesn’t want to spend money or effort, but still wants someone to look after him.”
Hearing this, Mu Qinqin suddenly changed expression and grabbed Qi Yue’s hand warmly.
“You’re a good person!”
Qi Yue: “?”
What did she even do to deserve a ‘good person card’?
But Mu Qinqin was genuinely pleased.
“I saw some herbs by the roadside today. Later I’ll go pick some and make a healing ointment for your hands.”
“This girl is curious but kind-hearted—I don’t mind helping her a bit. And I’ll also need an excuse to go out tonight.”
“Great, great! I’ll go with you after dinner!” Qi Yue said excitedly.
But—
she was firmly rejected.
Joke. She still had a man to secretly meet at night.
As for food, she didn’t hand over her portion of coarse grain, saying she wasn’t hungry.
Night fell.
The village was dotted with faint lights.
Inside a small thatched hut, Si Chengchen sat at a wooden table under a flickering kerosene lamp, surrounded by the sound of insects.
In the dancing light, he once again thought of the young educated girl from the day.
They were not acquainted, yet she kept protecting him.
He lowered his gaze, as if still faintly smelling the sweet fruit scent on her body.
In a daze, he even seemed to hear her clear voice: “Hey? Who are you thinking about?”
Si Chengchen looked up.
And met a smiling, blurry face right in front of him.
So close—almost nose to nose.
“You…”
He was about to ask how she got in, when Mu Qinqin’s eyes curved happily.
“So you were thinking about me?” she said brightly.
Si Chengchen intended to deny it—but then realized he really had been thinking about her, and fell silent.
“How did you get in?” he finally asked. The door was clearly locked.
“Oh, like this.”
Mu Qinqin pointed at the open window.
Seeing his strange expression, she quickly raised her hand. “I knocked! You didn’t hear me. I thought something was wrong, so I came in to check.”
Si Chengchen’s expression turned slightly unnatural.
He had indeed been distracted thinking about her and hadn’t heard anything.
“Late at night, Mu Qingzhi… it’s not appropriate for you to come here,” he said, his voice no longer as calm as usual.
“No one saw me,” she replied immediately. Then she lowered her eyes, looking a little pitiful. “I don’t want to eat in the compound anymore. People always take my food. I never get enough to eat.”
This wasn’t entirely a lie.
In the educated youth compound, five or six people shared one room.
She got along best with Qi Yue.
There was also another girl named Tang Erya, who always clung to Qi Yue. But Qi Yue disliked her. After failing to gain anything from Qi Yue, Tang Erya started pretending to be pitiful and constantly cried to Mu Qinqin, saying she didn’t get enough food at home, was weak, and couldn’t earn many work points in the fields.
And then the original owner, foolishly and innocently…