Everyone watched with complicated expressions as Li Qingge carried the grain into the kitchen with ease. She kept twenty jin for herself and stored the rest in the house.
Everyone ate together, and each person was required to contribute a certain amount of grain. Cooking was also divided equally. It was probably too late tonight—no one had brought up the matter yet.
Li Qingge entered the house, washed up quickly, and burrowed into her blanket.
The brigade leader said they were lucky—the spring wheat had been harvested last month, and tomorrow they would start harvesting rice.
Most of the rice in the Northeast grew in paddy fields. The black soil there was extremely fertile, producing plump, full grains of rice with a rich aroma.
The brigade leader gave the new educated youths the day off tomorrow to go shopping, with work starting the day after.
Seeing Li Qingge fall asleep in seconds, Bai Wei felt a surge of frustration—a feeling of having anger with nowhere to vent.
She tossed and turned restlessly until four in the morning before finally falling into a deep sleep.
She felt like she’d barely closed her eyes when she was woken by the sound of Li Qingge washing up.
Bai Wei rolled over and said discontentedly, “Qingge, be a bit quieter next time. You woke me up.”
Li Qingge ignored her, combed her hair, and left the room.
In the courtyard, everyone was busy with their own tasks—some cooking, some chatting.
When they saw Li Qingge appear, the old educated youths were once again struck by her beauty. Last night in the dark, they hadn’t seen her clearly, but today, she was even more breathtakingly beautiful.
Dang Aiguo’s eyes held a hint of eagerness: “Comrade Li, you’re awake.”
Li Qingge nodded.
He Qiuju shot her a vicious glare, as if just by speaking one sentence to Dang Aiguo, Li Qingge might steal him away.
[What’s wrong with her? I wouldn’t touch a scumbag like that even if he were given to me for free—he’d dirty my hands. Only He Qiuju treats him like a treasure.]
Gongsun Shinian leaned lazily against the side, watching the commotion with a roguish air, like a completely different person from the dangerous man on the train.
Wen Shaoqing: This Li Qingge is too beautiful. No wonder He Qiuju feels threatened.
Bai Wei walked out wearing a skirt.
Li Qingge raised an eyebrow in surprise. The female lead isn’t sleeping in?
Bai Wei walked toward Gongsun Shinian: “Good morning, Brother Shinian.”
Li Qingge understood: So she’s fanning her peacock feathers to flirt with the male lead.
Gongsun Shinian looked annoyed, dropping his earlier carefree demeanor. This woman didn’t seem to understand human language—she was really getting on his nerves.
He turned his head away, face taut, saying nothing.
Bai Wei was left standing there, extremely embarrassed.
Fortunately, someone came to her rescue in time.
Mu Chuan called out, “Weiwei, time to eat.”
When she saw the breakfast on the table—corn porridge and leftover pickled vegetables from last night—Bai Wei immediately pouted.
He Qiuju couldn’t stand these pampered young ladies the most.
She sneered, “If you don’t want to eat, then don’t. The commune members only get two meals a day. You get three and still act picky. Spoiled brat.”
Bai Wei’s eyes were already welling with tears.
[Tsk tsk, so many tears. I bet Lickspittle Number One is about to make his appearance.]
Sure enough, Mu Chuan spoke up: “He Qiuju, if you can’t say anything nice, shut your mouth. Weiwei eats her own grain, not yours. Mind your own business.”
He Qiuju’s face darkened. She couldn’t help but cast her gaze toward Dang Aiguo, hoping he would stand on her side and say something. But she was destined to be disappointed.
Dang Aiguo’s attention wasn’t on her at all.
The two were standing close together, and she viciously pinched his waist.
“Ow!”
Dang Aiguo jumped up from his small stool in pain.
He looked at the culprit with confusion and anger.
He Qiuju glared back at him just as furiously.
Dang Aiguo tried to smooth things over: “Everyone, hurry up and eat. Finish up so we can head to the commune early to buy supplies.”
He sat back down to continue eating. He Qiuju couldn’t let it go—after finishing her meal, she dragged Dang Aiguo behind the house.
“Aiguo, why didn’t you help me just now? Look at that bitch Bai Wei—she even has people defending her. Are you even my boyfriend or not?”
In that moment, Dang Aiguo’s mind was racing with many thoughts.
The moment he laid eyes on Li Qingge, he decided he had to have this woman. He used to think He Qiuju was somewhat pretty, but compared to Li Qingge, she was nothing but cheap makeup and vulgar looks.
He wondered how his standards had been so low—he must have been blinded by lard to have fallen for the woman in front of him.
Better to slowly distance himself from her, let her get fed up and initiate the breakup herself. Then he wouldn’t have to take any responsibility.
As for Shen Sisi, the village party secretary’s daughter, he couldn’t afford to offend her. He’d just keep sweet-talking her for now, and kick her to the curb once he could return to the city.
That woman was stupid, but she had a great body—he could do whatever he wanted with her. Come to think of it, it had been a few days since he’d taken her to the woods. A certain part of his body was starting to swell. He’d arrange to meet her in a few days.
Neither of these women was his best choice—Li Qingge was. Just thinking about her slender waist, it would surely feel so soft to the touch.
And those proud peaks—based on his rich experience, she was the best-built woman he’d ever seen. And that face, those rosy lips—surely they’d taste sweet?
“Aiguo.”
“Dang Aiguo.”
He Qiuju called him several times before getting a response.
Dang Aiguo looked at her with considerable coldness: “Qiuju, why can’t you understand me? I’m the head of the educated youth point, I can’t act on emotion. Otherwise, how would the other educated youth be convinced? If you don’t understand me, that’s one thing, but coming to question me like this—I’m truly disappointed.”
He Qiuju, after hearing him out, suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Could it be that she was the one in the wrong?
Her earlier righteous indignation shifted into a fawning expression.
“Aiguo, I know I was wrong. Don’t be angry anymore.”
Dang Aiguo shook off her hand: “Enough. I need to go to work.”
“Aiguo, Aiguo, wait for me!”
Li Qingge, hiding around the corner, got a free front-row seat to the drama.
【Impressive, isn’t he? This Dang Aiguo is a master of manipulation. Look how thoroughly he’s got He Qiuju wrapped around his finger. Trash men really do have their talents.】
Wen Shaoqing, hiding on the other side, casually nudged Gongsun Shinian: “What did I tell you? Follow Li Qingge, and you’re guaranteed a good show.”
Li Qingge went back inside to change clothes, planning to head to the commune.
She wore a plaid top and black pants, with two braids hanging over her chest. Even this casual getup couldn’t hide her stunning beauty.
Wen Shaoqing looked at her, utterly dazzled. He turned to his childhood friend, but Gongsun Shinian’s gaze lingered on Li Qingge only briefly before looking away.
He shook his head. This childhood friend of his—he could never figure out what was going on in his head.
The five of them had gotten up late and missed the village’s ox cart, so they had no choice but to walk to the commune.
They naturally split into three groups, walking at varying distances along the country path.
Li Qingge walked alone at the back, Mu Chuan and Bai Wei took the lead, and Gongsun Shinian and Wen Shaoqing were in the middle.
【There’s another good show waiting for me at the commune today. In a bit, I’ll get to see Bai Wei’s cousin—simp number three—perform live as he eats dog shit. How entertaining is that?】
Wen Shaoqing heard her words and his eyes went wide. What? There was a good show to watch? How could he possibly miss that?