Hearing Xie Jin’an’s voice, Jiang You came back to her senses and met his gaze head-on.
The deep concern in his eyes was unmistakable. The urgency and worry in his expression made her freeze for a moment.
As if she had been burned, she quickly looked away and pulled her arm back, shaking her head.
Before she could say anything, Jiang Heng and the others came running over.
Little Jin Ning also tugged at the hem of her clothes.
“Youyou, are you okay?!”
“Youyou-jiejie, are you okay?”
They asked in unison.
Jiang Heng had been standing quite far away and had been busy splashing around in the water catching fish, so he hadn’t known what was happening.
He had only heard someone say that a girl had almost fallen into the pond, so he hurried over to check.
Remembering how he had accidentally caused his little sister to fall into this pond when they were children, he felt both frightened and guilty.
For some reason, he secretly glanced at Xie Jin’an.
Jiang You repeatedly shook her head.
“I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry.”
Sweat broke out on her forehead.
Why were these people surrounding her and acting even more nervous than they would have been if someone had actually fallen into the pond?
Jiang Heng: “Then you—”
“What happened? Why are you all gathered here?”
Jiang You’s parents arrived a little later. They didn’t know what had happened, so they were puzzled when they saw everyone gathered together.
When Jiang Heng saw his parents coming over, the words he had been about to say—telling Jiang You to go home first—stuck in his throat.
He scratched his head and didn’t dare say anything.
For a moment, he even forgot that his hands were covered in muddy water and ended up getting dirt all over his hair.
When Jiang You saw her parents arrive, she quickly waved her hands to show that everything was fine, then brought up another topic to divert their attention from what had happened.
“Everyone, stand farther away. There’s nothing to see here. Those who are fine, don’t gather around the pond anymore. Come to the open space at the village entrance this afternoon to collect the fish. Every household will get a share.”
Xie Jin’an and Jiang Heng returned to the pond.
The brigade leader also came over and told everyone not to gather around the pond anymore, in case anyone else encountered danger.
“Why don’t we go to town and have a look? Since today is a rare day off, and your brother is still at home, we can have him collect the fish this afternoon.”
After hearing what the brigade leader said, Jiang You’s mother suggested it.
The household was running low on things like cooking oil, salt, and vinegar.
They had been busy for so long, and it was rare to get a day off, so she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to buy everything they needed.
“Okay.”
Jiang You thought about it and agreed.
There was nothing they could help with by staying here anyway, and they had already watched enough of the excitement.
“Xiaoning, do you want to go? If you do, I’ll tell your brother.”
After Jiang You agreed, her mother lowered her head and asked little Jin Ning.
“I want to go.”
Little Jin Ning only glanced at his brother before nodding repeatedly, anticipation in his eyes as he grabbed Jiang You’s mother by the wrist.
“Then you take Youyou and the others. Two of the stools at home are broken, so I’ll stay home and fix them.”
Seeing this, Jiang You’s father also spoke up.
“Okay.”
Jiang You’s mother agreed. She then glanced toward Xie Jin’an and the others who were busy working in the pond and called out several times.
But the fish kept thrashing around in the water, and the young men were all so busy that they didn’t hear her.
Seeing this, Jiang You’s mother looked at her husband.
“Help me tell Jin’an later. He’s busy right now.”
“Okay.”
The mother and daughter had just turned around and left with little Jin Ning when Xie Jin’an seemed to sense something.
He looked in their direction and watched from afar as that petite figure disappeared from his sight.
“Jin’an, your Aunt Jiang is taking Xiaoning to town for a little while. They’ll be back later.”
Jiang You’s father walked over and told Xie Jin’an.
“Okay.”
In the past, whenever there was an opportunity, little Jin Ning often went to town with Jiang You’s mother, so Xie Jin’an simply responded and didn’t say anything else.
After arriving in town, Jiang You used the money she had saved to buy everyone a popsicle.
In this scorching weather, having something cold and refreshing to eat was incredibly satisfying.
“Xiaoning, stay close to your sister. Don’t let go of my hand, okay?”
“Mm!”
Little Jin Ning held his popsicle in one hand and obediently responded through his mouthful.
Holding Jin Ning’s hand and following behind her mother, Jiang You walked along while trying to call out to the system.
Crackle.
After trying several times, she finally heard a sound in her mind.
Unfortunately, it was only the sound of a short circuit.
Seeing this, disappointment appeared on Jiang You’s face.
Meanwhile, the little system on the other side had finally made its way back to the edge of the small world.
It had heard Jiang You’s voice, but because of external interference, it temporarily couldn’t respond.
But it didn’t matter.
It would soon be able to meet its host again.
Host, wait for me a little longer!
They had come at just the right time.
Today wasn’t a market day, so there weren’t many people at the supply and marketing cooperative. After waiting in line for a short while, they quickly bought everything they needed.
It was much better than before, when they always happened to come on crowded days and had to squeeze through the crowds for ages.
After Jiang You’s mother finished buying everything the household needed, a smile appeared on her face.
She lifted the bottle of vinegar she had just purchased and waved it at Jiang You.
“How about we make sweet-and-sour fish tonight?”
The faint disappointment that had been lingering in Jiang You’s heart instantly vanished.
Her eyes lit up.
“Absolutely! Mom, you’re the best!”
She had thought the fish they received today would have to be made into dried fish like before.
“You sure know how to eat.”
Seeing the disappointment disappear from her daughter’s eyes, Jiang You’s mother smiled sincerely, though she still teased her.
Because the journey back to the village was quite long, they wouldn’t be able to make it back in time for lunch.
So they found somewhere in town and ate something simple.
Jiang You glanced at the nearly deserted shops along the street and silently calculated the time.
In another two or three years, it should be about time.
Once the policies opened up, she would take her family into the food business.
She absolutely had to seize the opportunity and become one of the first people to take advantage of the new possibilities.
Imagining herself becoming a little wealthy woman in the future, she couldn’t help feeling quite pleased.
When they returned to the village, fish were being distributed at the village entrance, and a large crowd had gathered beneath the old tree.
“You’ve eaten my family’s food and lived in my family’s house all these years. Naturally, this belongs to my family too! What belongs to my family is mine to decide!”
“What? Are you planning to become ungrateful today just for this little vixen who came from the city?”
There was a particularly dense crowd gathered in one area, with heated arguing coming from within.
“What’s going on?”
Seeing this, Jiang You’s mother stopped someone and asked.
“Ah, it’s just something going on with the Ling family.”
“That boy Ling Xun got a share of the fish today. One of the new girls from the educated youth station wanted to trade something with him for some fish, but that old woman from the Ling family wouldn’t agree, so they started arguing.”
“That woman’s mouth is filthy, too. You should go see for yourselves. I haven’t even collected my fish yet!”
After saying this, the villager hurried over to collect their share of the fish.
Ding! Host, as a kind and good neighbor, please help the male protagonist!
At precisely that moment, the long-awaited voice of the system finally rang out in Jiang You’s mind.
“Mom, let’s go over and take a look.”