The village branch secretary worked with practiced skill, finishing the field work in no time.
His eyes wandered restlessly, constantly watching in Li Qingge’s direction. He thought that since it was the new educated youth’s first day on the job, she was bound to be unfamiliar with the work—he could go over and offer some guidance, and maybe find an opportunity to take advantage of her while he was at it.
He tossed his hoe to the ground and strode toward Li Qingge.
The commune members in the fields were busy cutting rice, but they’d also developed the knack of keeping their eyes and ears open in all directions. Not the slightest movement nearby could escape their notice.
Some cast furtive glances at the village branch secretary.
Wang Lan’s face had turned as red as a monkey’s backside.
Ah… ah… the village branch secretary was walking toward her! What should she do? He wasn’t exactly ugly, but he had a wife. What if his wife got jealous and gave her a beating?
In that instant, Wang Lan’s mind raced with all sorts of thoughts.
Village branch secretary Shen Ping’an looked down, puzzled, at the woman blocking his path. Wang Lan kept blinking at him repeatedly.
It gave Shen Ping’an a start: “Educated youth Wang, what’s wrong with your eyes? Are they cramping up?”
Wang Lan thought: Cramp your sister! Can’t you see I’m batting my eyelashes at you?
Shen Ping’an thought: That’s batting eyelashes? Well, I’ve learned something new today. She’s just rolling her eyes like she’s about to drop dead at any moment.
He took a frightened step backward. Wasn’t Wang Lan trying to set him up for a scam?
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. His gaze toward Wang Lan turned wary. This educated youth Wang wasn’t just ugly—she had a thoroughly rotten heart too. Pah.
No way. He couldn’t give her a chance to pull that trick on him.
With that thought, he circled around to the right.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a bald head tilting sideways, leaning toward him.
This time Shen Ping’an was genuinely startled. He was now absolutely certain that this damned woman Wang Lan was trying to frame him.
Ha. She should go ask around the neighboring villages—Shen Ping’an was no pushover.
Wang Lan’s inner world was remarkably rich. Shen Ping’an’s face was red from the sun, but she thought he was blushing because of her.
She thought to herself: Gongsun Shinian was her ideal type, sure, but she wanted a handsome older man like Shen Ping’an too—she wanted them all.
Then she saw Shen Ping’an change direction, and panic rose in her heart. She wobbled and began to fall.
Shen Ping’an was no gentleman who cherished the fairer sex. Having served as branch secretary in Zhuzui Ridge for decades, he was a man of schemes and cunning.
He simply raised his hand and shoved. Wang Lan tumbled to the ground, having an intimate encounter with the earth.
The moment she hit the ground, watching the branch secretary’s retreating figure, she quickly rationalized it: Shen Ping’an must have been afraid that standing too close to her would invite gossip. That was definitely it.
“Educated youth Li, if any of you newcomers have questions about anything, feel free to ask me.”
Without even lifting her head, Li Qingge replied, “No need, thank you, Secretary. I’m almost done with my work.”
She could sense his sticky, lingering gaze. It was disgusting—she wanted to kick him flying.
From Xiao Gua, Li Qingge had already learned that the village branch secretary was no good. She didn’t even want to exchange a single extra word with him.
Seeing this, Shen Ping’an didn’t press further. There would be other days. He shook his head and walked off, playing the part of a kindly old man.
The women in the fields chatted while they worked, gossiping about this family and that, or trivial little matters.
Bai Wei’s body swayed unsteadily. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down her forehead, one by one, landing heavily on the black soil.
She hadn’t done manual labor in decades. In her previous life, she’d lived a life of luxury and ease. Now, going through it again, she’d thought she could handle it—but after actually trying, she realized she’d overestimated herself.
The young men in the village watched her with worried eyes. Her pitiful, delicate appearance was truly heart-wrenching.
Mu Chuan was drenched in sweat in another field, unable to be in two places at once.
Zhang Wei, the second simp, sidled over.
“Educated youth Bai, how are you holding up? First day on the job—if it’s too tiring, don’t push yourself. Why don’t you go rest over there, and I’ll do your share?”
Bai Wei bit her lip with a look of embarrassment: “Educated youth Zhang, thank you, but I can manage on my own.”
Zhang Wei was an older educated youth who’d been sent down for two years already. The field work was second nature to him.
He grew even more enthusiastic: “It’s fine, go sit over there. We educated youths need to stick together in solidarity and help each other out.”
Bai Wei pretended to reluctantly sit down at the edge of the field, watching Zhang Wei cut rice with practiced, rhythmic strokes.
Zhang Wei’s heart tingled with delight. He thought about how educated youth Bai was still watching him from behind, and he cut the rice with even more vigor, his sickle moving so fast it left afterimages.
The aunties in the neighboring field exchanged meaningful glances with one another.
Just as they’d said—this educated youth Bai was no good. She’d only been here a few days and was already seducing men. They were older, and they could read people accurately.
When noon came and it was time to eat, every household brought out the dry rations they’d carried along.
Some had corn cakes, others had steamed buns stuffed with pickled vegetables. The educated youths were all starving, their stomachs practically touching their spines.
They grabbed their tools and hurried back to the educated youth compound.
After the new educated youths arrived, the cooking groups were reassigned. Dang Aiguo had his own selfish motives, suggesting that each team should consist of one man and one woman, hoping to be paired with Li Qingge.
His plan was well thought out, but before he could even open his mouth, He Qiuju jumped in.
“I support that. Aiguo and I will be in one team. The rest of you can sort yourselves out.”
Hearing her speak, Dang Aiguo’s expression darkened. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he couldn’t very well refuse, as it would clash with his good-guy persona.
He had no choice but to reluctantly nod in agreement.
Zhang Wei, the second sycophant, knew how to cook. It wasn’t particularly delicious, but at least he could make it edible. He planned to invite Bai Wei to team up with him.
But before he could even get the words out, Mu Chuan beat him to it.
“I’m more familiar with Weiwei, so the two of us will be a team.”
Wang Lan asked in confusion, “Comrade Dang, there are 13 people at our educated youth point. If we pair up in twos, there’ll be one person left over. What should that person do? Form a group by themselves?”
Dang Aiguo replied, “Don’t worry about that. The leftover person can simply choose any team to join.”
Everyone formed their own teams, and in the end, Li Qingge, Gongsun Shinian, and Wang Lan were left. Naturally, the three of them became one group.
Wang Lan, that lovesick fool, had originally planned to join Gongsun Shinian’s team anyway. Now that her wish had come true, she was overjoyed.
Each team would take turns cooking for seven days, which meant she’d have a whole week of one-on-one time with him. It was the perfect opportunity to nurture their relationship.
Li Qingge: What about me? Am I not a person?
Wang Lan had indeed overlooked Li Qingge’s existence, her heart and eyes entirely fixed on Gongsun Shinian.
Today, the cooking duty fell to Li Qingge’s three-person team.
Entering the courtyard, Gongsun Shinian took the initiative to sit in front of the stove and start the fire.
He clumsily picked up a fire starter and fumbled for a long time before finally getting the kindling lit, then stuffed dry wood under the large iron wok.
Having been born into a prestigious family, Gongsun Shinian had never done such rough work in his life. It took him quite a while to figure out how to heat the wok.
During that time, Wang Lan repeatedly tried to find opportunities to teach him how to start a fire, but each time, Gongsun Shinian coldly refused.