……
The next day,
Before the sky had even brightened, the bell at the Educated Youth Station had already rung.
“New comrades, get up early. Pack your belongings first. After breakfast, follow me to the Production Brigade. The Production Team Leader will assign your work.”
Although Su Qiu was not very used to the clay kang bed, she had slept fairly well through the night. She got up while yawning.
On the other hand, Geng Jiao and Wang Xuefei were not as adaptable as she was.
Both of them had dark circles under their eyes, their complexions dull and exhausted. It was obvious they had not slept well all night. Geng Jiao’s eyes were slightly swollen, likely from secretly crying during the night.
Everyone in the room was folding quilts and getting dressed.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Qiu used going to the toilet as an excuse to slip outside. In reality, she found an empty spot to quickly eat something to fill her stomach.
A box of milk, a tuna sandwich, and a small plate of fruit.
To be safe in case this body did not adapt well, she also swallowed two digestive tablets.
In less than ten minutes, Su Qiu returned, patting her full stomach.
“Where did you run off to? Why did going to the toilet take so long? I called you so many times, didn’t you hear?”
Wang Li’s tone was displeased. Because Su Qiu had not given her face last night and had caused her to be scolded by Zhao Na, she disliked her.
Su Qiu glanced at her lightly and smiled. “Educated Youth Wang, what is your business? You manage everything under the sky, but I have never seen you manage how people relieve themselves.”
As soon as those words came out, Zhao Na, who was walking out from the doorway, coughed awkwardly.
She looked at the small and thin Su Qiu in surprise, not expecting her to say something like that at all.
Wang Li was also stunned, then her face turned red as she shouted: “Pah! Who cares about you relieving yourself! I’m telling you not to drag us down! You didn’t even fold your quilt after getting up and you still think you’re right?”
Su Qiu stretched lazily. “I think you’re just deliberately picking a fight. Who says quilts must be folded immediately after getting up? Can’t I fold it after coming back from the toilet?”
Then Su Qiu innocently looked at Zhao Na. “Sister Zhao, please judge fairly. Am I wrong?”
Zhao Na choked slightly and said like a mediator: “It’s not really wrong. Alright, alright, no need to argue over such small matters. Su Qiu, hurry and pack up. Wang Li, go eat breakfast.”
Su Qiu smoothly stepped down the situation and even added a compliment. “Sister Zhao is truly wise and fair. You really are our caring big sister.”
This made Zhao Na feel a bit embarrassed. She said helplessly: “Su Qiu looks the youngest, like a little sister. Everyone should be more tolerant of her.”
Wang Li’s face immediately darkened. Furious, she turned and left.
Su Qiu happily returned to the room to pack her things.
Geng Jiao and Wang Xuefei had already heard the argument outside. Seeing Su Qiu return so relaxed, even humming while folding her quilt, Geng Jiao could not help but feel displeased.
She bit her lip and said unkindly: “Su Qiu, since we’re all sent down together, I’ll remind you. If you keep acting clever and standing out like this and offend people, you won’t have an easy time in the future.”
Wang Xuefei lowered her eyes slightly when she heard this, but did not speak.
Su Qiu rolled her eyes and stopped what she was doing. “I’ll only say this once. If people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them. If someone insists on being shameless and pushing forward, why should I give them a good face?”
Then she looked at Geng Jiao and said word by word: “And you—if you don’t like me, then stop pretending. Understand?”
This girl had been judging her from head to toe since yesterday. If she did not like her, she should not keep approaching her. They were not familiar at all—why act like she had the right to lecture her?
Geng Jiao’s face immediately turned red. She opened her mouth and muttered in defense: “Kind intentions are not rewarded.”
Wang Xuefei felt awkward and pulled her friend’s hand, whispering: “Jiao Jiao, let’s go eat first. We’re not familiar yet anyway. We don’t need to care about others.”
After the two left, Su Qiu slipped into her dimension space to wash up.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she took out some skincare essence and applied it heavily on her face. Finally, she finished with an expensive face cream, not forgetting her neck and arms as well.
Since skincare products were consumables, she had stocked up on top-tier luxury brands—around a hundred sets in total.
Her skin, which had been dry and rough, became noticeably more moisturized and radiant.
Afraid of being discovered, she did not linger and quickly came back out.
She braided her dry yellow hair into a fishtail braid before going out to eat.
By the time she arrived, everyone had already finished most of their meal.
Seeing Su Qiu, the male comrades at the Educated Youth Station were all startled. The girl looked far too young.
Wang Li suddenly covered her mouth and laughed. “No wonder she didn’t come out for so long. Turns out she was busy dressing herself up. What’s the point of fixing an ugly face? She’s still ugly anyway.”
In truth, Wang Li felt a bit guilty saying this. With the fishtail braid and slightly more moisturized complexion, Su Qiu already looked better than yesterday’s dull appearance.
Geng Jiao glanced at Su Qiu with a mocking expression, clearly enjoying the scene.
The male comrades, however, were still observing her.
Su Qiu’s facial features were not ugly. It was just that she was too thin, making her features look slightly sharp and tired. With the fishtail braid and loose bangs partially covering her face, she gave off a faint, delicate beauty. She was not nearly as “ugly” as Wang Li had claimed.
Suddenly, Su Qiu said in a tearful tone: “Wang Li, are you naturally malicious? Why have you been targeting me since last night?”
Wang Jiancheng frowned upon seeing the situation. “Wang Li, as an experienced Educated Youth, why are you targeting a new comrade? Apologize quickly.”
Wang Li was furious and pointed at Su Qiu. “She’s pretending! Why should I apologize? I didn’t say anything wrong! She was just secretly dressing up. We’re here to go to the countryside, not a beauty pageant. Her thinking is problematic and needs education!”
Before Wang Jiancheng could speak, Su Qiu calmly retorted: “I’m just properly maintaining my appearance. What’s wrong with that? Mocking someone’s looks is what shows problematic thinking.”
“You—”
Wang Jiancheng said sternly: “Enough, Wang Li. You started this. Apologize to Su Qiu immediately and let it end here. No more mentioning it.”
Wang Li clenched her teeth. She did not want to apologize, but everyone was watching her.
Finally, she squeezed out: “Sorry! Alright?”
Su Qiu completely ignored her. She was not interested in such forced apologies.
Zhao Na had more or less figured out Su Qiu’s personality by now and stood up to smooth things over. “Alright, enough. It’s getting late. I’ll bring the new Educated Youth to the Production Brigade to assign work. Everyone else, go to the fields.”
Wang Li snorted and left first.
The others followed one by one.
The five new Educated Youth then followed Zhao Na to Production Team Leader Liu Yong’s home.
Along the way, the four of them chatted and laughed. The two female comrades ignored Su Qiu, and the male comrades naturally did not speak to her either.
Su Qiu walked at the back and felt completely at ease. She had always preferred being alone. Moreover, she did not care to associate with people who judged others purely by appearance.
Zhao Na noticed this and felt a little sympathy, so she called out to Su Qiu and asked her to walk at the front with her.