When Su Wan saw a section of red string faintly exposed beneath Liu Rongrong’s loosened collar, she knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
So she turned to Mother Su and said, “Mom, go eat first. I’ll stay here and watch over her.”
Mother Su saw that Liu Rongrong’s face was no longer red, so she nodded and said, “Alright. I’ll bring the food and some mung bean soup over later so she can drink some. Such a pitiful young girl.”
Seeing that Liu Rongrong was about the same age as Su Wan and had come to the countryside all alone, Mother Su naturally felt sympathy for her.
Hearing this, Su Wan sighed inwardly: Liu Rongrong isn’t pitiful at all. The pitiful one is your daughter, me!
After Mother Su left, Su Wan pretended to adjust Liu Rongrong’s collar. Carefully, she pulled out the exposed red string and slowly revealed the black jade attached to it.
As Su Wan looked at the fully exposed black jade, it looked exactly as described in the novel. It resembled a koi fish, except it was a black koi. It looked dull and grayish without any shine at all. If Su Wan hadn’t known about its extraordinary abilities, she would probably have mistaken it for an ordinary stone with a somewhat clever shape.
After carefully studying the black jade, Su Wan cautiously tucked it back in and fastened Liu Rongrong’s collar again.
At that moment, Zhao Guoqiang arrived with several female educated youths. When Zhou Fangfang saw Liu Rongrong lying there, she hurried over anxiously. Among everyone in the educated youth courtyard, she had the best relationship with Liu Rongrong since they had come to the countryside together.
Seeing them arrive, Su Wan stood up and said, “Educated Youth Liu suffered from heatstroke. She looks much better now, but she still hasn’t woken up. You can take her to the clinic for another checkup.”
Zhao Guoqiang thanked Su Wan. “Thank you for taking care of Educated Youth Liu, Comrade Su Wan.”
“You’re welcome, Comrade Zhao,” Su Wan replied. “Then I’ll head back first.”
She was eager to go home and draw the shape she had just seen.
Looking at Liu Rongrong lying on the ground, Zhao Guoqiang frowned. Wasn’t it just heatstroke? Why hadn’t she woken up yet?
Just as he was about to say something, Liu Rongrong’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Beside her, Zhou Fangfang said happily, “Liu Rongrong, you’re finally awake!”
Liu Rongrong blinked her dazed eyes. Her gaze landed on the people surrounding her. She rubbed her eyes and finally became fully conscious.
The first thing she thought after waking up was frustration.
She had originally intended to fake heatstroke. How had she actually ended up fainting from it for real?
Seeing that Liu Rongrong had awakened, Zhao Guoqiang relaxed and said, “Comrade Liu Rongrong, the brigade leader said you don’t need to work in the fields for the next few days. You’ll guard the wheat at the threshing ground instead. Rest well and don’t faint again.”
Hearing this, the frustration in Liu Rongrong’s heart eased somewhat. No matter what, at least she no longer had to work in the fields.
Standing nearby, Zhou Fangfang felt dissatisfied. Why did Liu Rongrong get excused from fieldwork just because of heatstroke? Wouldn’t resting for a while have been enough?
Although Zhou Fangfang thought this in her heart, she didn’t dare say it aloud, so nothing showed on her face.
As for Zhao Qiuyue and Shen Aihong, Zhao Qiuyue already disliked Liu Rongrong and couldn’t be bothered with her at all. Shen Aihong, meanwhile, was honest and simple-minded. Her family was poor, and after coming to the countryside, she could only rely on her own labor to earn food. Even if she had been offered such an opportunity, Shen Aihong would never have accepted it.
So no one openly objected to Liu Rongrong being excused from fieldwork.
Su Wan went back to Mother Su to collect the thermos and lunch boxes before returning home.
The first thing she did after arriving home was rush back into her room, take out paper, pens, and a notebook, and begin drawing the shape she had just seen from memory.
Fortunately, Su Wan had learned drawing in her previous life. Although it had already been over ten years, the black jade’s shape was relatively simple and lacked complicated details, so she could still draw something quite close to it.
Holding the notebook, Su Wan examined the sketch on the paper and wondered who she should ask to make it.
Her brother?
No, that wouldn’t work. He had been busy driving trucks lately and barely had any free time.
Ask someone else?
That wouldn’t work either. She definitely couldn’t ask anyone from the village. What if Liu Rongrong saw it?
Suddenly, Su Wan’s eyes lit up. She knew exactly who to ask.
Her third cousin from her second uncle’s family.
Her grandfather had originally been a carpenter, and her third cousin had inherited his craftsmanship and was even more skilled than the old man. He would definitely be able to do it.
The only problem was that everyone was currently busy with the autumn harvest, so her cousin probably wouldn’t have time. She would have to wait until the harvest ended.
After making up her mind, Su Wan put the notebook into a drawer and locked it. She absolutely couldn’t lose it.
Only then did she realize how hungry she was.
Looking at the time, she saw it was already quite late. No wonder she felt starving. She quickly went to eat.
When Su Wan arrived at the threshing ground that afternoon, she discovered Liu Rongrong was there too.
She looked questioningly at Su Yan nearby. Why was Liu Rongrong here?
Su Yan answered her confusion. “Uncle said she doesn’t need to work in the fields anymore. She’ll guard the wheat here instead.”
Now Su Wan understood. That heatstroke at noon hadn’t happened without reason. It had been for the purpose of allowing Liu Rongrong to stop fieldwork openly and legitimately.
No wonder Liu Rongrong had stayed unconscious for so long despite it only being mild heatstroke.
At that moment, Liu Rongrong also noticed Su Wan.
She walked over, smiled sincerely, and said, “Comrade Su Wan, thank you so much for helping me at noon. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve really suffered.”
Glancing at Liu Rongrong, Su Wan also smiled brightly and said cheerfully, “It’s nothing. It’s what I should do. Are you feeling alright now, Educated Youth Liu?”
Liu Rongrong carefully observed Su Wan’s expression, trying to find even the slightest flaw. But Su Wan’s face was full of sincerity, mixed with a trace of concern for her health. Everything looked completely natural, without anything suspicious.
Could it really just be the butterfly effect caused by herself? Liu Rongrong pondered inwardly.
“Educated Youth Liu? Educated Youth Liu? Are you alright?”
Liu Rongrong suddenly snapped back to reality and saw Su Wan waving a hand in front of her with a worried expression.
“Educated Youth Liu, are you okay? I called you several times just now and you didn’t respond. Are you still feeling unwell?”
Liu Rongrong smiled and replied, “I’m fine. I was just lost in thought. I’ll go guard over there.”
“Alright,” Su Wan agreed readily, watching Liu Rongrong walk toward the other side of the threshing ground.
“Sis, are you really close with Educated Youth Liu? Why are you so concerned about her?” After Liu Rongrong left, Su Yan leaned over curiously and asked.
Su Wan adjusted her hat and curled her lips slightly. “Am I? I’m not very familiar with her. I was just being polite.”
“Oh, I see.” Su Yan nodded in understanding.
“Alright, let’s go watch the wheat carefully. Don’t let the sparrows peck at it.” Su Wan picked up the wooden pole and went to chase sparrows.
However, the entire afternoon passed, and the wooden pole in Su Wan’s hand was barely used at all.
Standing there, Su Yan wondered aloud, “Sis, why haven’t we seen many sparrows this afternoon?”
Su Wan glanced at Liu Rongrong, who was leaning against a tree, and immediately understood what was happening. The heroine’s lucky koi attribute was taking effect again.
But out loud, she only said, “Isn’t it a good thing if there are no sparrows? This afternoon has been so easy.”
Su Yan laughed too and slapped her forehead.
“That’s true! No sparrows are great!”