After Yu Huan explained everything, demonstrated how to use the talismans, and even drew one on the spot, her parents finally believed that their daughter was still their daughter. She had simply taken a reclusive master as her teacher and learned the art of drawing talismans.
It was just that these talismans were so miraculous that they completely shattered everything her parents thought they knew about the world.
Yu Huan’s parents even wanted to pay a visit to the master she had mentioned.
Yu Huan simply told them that her master was devoted to cultivating in seclusion and disliked being disturbed. Besides, she hadn’t seen him in quite some time herself.
By the time she finished explaining everything, the food was almost cold. Yu Huan quickly urged her parents to eat.
Only then did her parents realize how hungry they were.
After the meal, her mother went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Her father turned to Yu Huan and reminded her, “Don’t let anyone outside the family know about these talismans.”
“In this era, what you’re doing would be considered feudal superstition. If people found out, the consequences could be much worse than you going to the black market.”
“Besides your mother and me, do your brothers know about this?”
“Third Brother knows. I haven’t had the chance to tell Eldest Brother and Second Brother yet,” Yu Huan answered honestly.
“Then your third brother’s job had something to do with you?” Her father was quite perceptive. He immediately thought of Yu Jian’an’s employment. His job had come through remarkably quickly, almost as if good luck had suddenly fallen into his lap.
“The talismans can only provide a little assistance. What really matters is the person himself.”
Yu Huan indirectly admitted it.
“Your eldest brother is in the military, so there’s no need to tell him. Don’t tell your second brother for now either. The fewer people who know about this, the safer it will be.”
“Your third brother’s job is rather dangerous. If you can help him, that’s a good thing.”
“Since you’ve already taken a master, make sure you study hard. Your mother and I won’t stop you. But no matter what you do from now on, you must always protect yourself.”
Her father repeated his instructions several times.
Yu Huan felt a wave of warmth in her heart and repeatedly promised that she would be careful.
While her parents tossed and turned in bed that night, unable to sleep as they processed everything, Yu Huan finally put a major worry behind her and slept soundly until morning.
During breakfast, her father brought up the matter of building a new house.
“The farming off-season will begin in a few days. We’ll start building our house then.”
“I’ll go find some workers later. We also need to buy bricks from the brick factory. There are still plenty of things to arrange.”
Yu Huan took another five hundred yuan out of her pocket and handed it to her mother.
“Take this for the construction. If it’s not enough, I still have more.”
Her mother knew her daughter had acquired extraordinary abilities, but she couldn’t help wondering how earning money had become so easy. In such a short time, Yu Huan had already given her a thousand yuan. That was almost as much as their family’s entire savings!
Her mother moved her lips several times but couldn’t find the words to say.
Her father, on the other hand, remained quite calm. With his daughter’s abilities, money really wasn’t much of a problem.
Everything that needed to be said had been said. Their children were all grown up now, and as parents, there wasn’t much more they could control. Thinking about it even made him feel a little sad.
“Just take it. From now on, we’ll enjoy the benefits of having such a capable daughter.”
Once her father spoke, her mother said nothing more.
The weather was particularly scorching that day. By late morning, Yu Huan had finished turning in her bundle of pigweed and hurried home.
Thinking about how hot it was, she figured her human tool—her hardworking helper—must be having a tough time.
That afternoon, Yu Huan carried a large, chilled watermelon to the place where Ling Yuan was working.
It was still the same patch of wasteland, but several more people had joined the group. They were all educated youths.
Before she had even reached the place, Zhao Liye suddenly came running toward her from a distance.
“Comrade Yu, let me carry that for you.”
Before Yu Huan could react, Zhao Liye had already taken the watermelon from her hands.
Seeing that he had already taken it, Yu Huan couldn’t very well snatch it back.
“Thank you,” she said rather stiffly.
Zhao Liye pretended not to notice her reluctance and smiled warmly.
“Such a big watermelon! It must be exhausting for a young girl like you to carry it all this way.”
“I’m strong. It’s not tiring at all,” Yu Huan replied indifferently.
“Even if a girl is strong, she still can’t compare to a man’s strength. You should learn to take better care of yourself.”
Zhao Liye looked at her with an affectionate, almost pitying expression, but his words seemed to carry another meaning.
Yu Huan didn’t respond. Her expression remained calm.
A little while later, they arrived beneath a shady tree.
Zhao Liye placed the watermelon on the grass.
“Would you like me to go call Ling Yuan for you?”
“No need. I’ll go over myself in a moment.”
As she spoke, Yu Huan took out the small knife she had brought along and cut open the watermelon.
“You can take the rest and share it with the other educated youths.”
After saying that, she picked up the reddest piece from the center and headed toward Ling Yuan.
Watching Yu Huan walk away, Zhao Liye wore an unreadable expression.
“She’s certainly something to be jealous of.”
On the other side of the field, all the educated youths had witnessed Zhao Liye’s actions.
Chen Meiling was furious.
“It’s bad enough that Yu Huan keeps trying to seduce Educated Youth Ling. Now she won’t even leave Educated Youth Zhao alone!”
“She’s absolutely shameless!”
Su Qing, who was standing nearby, was speechless.
It was Zhao Liye who took the initiative to go there, so why was she blaming him? To put it bluntly, it was just jealousy.
Since Lin Zhiyu wasn’t there today, Su Qing didn’t bother responding.
Chen Meiling was about to say something else when she heard Zhao Liye calling everyone over to eat watermelon. She immediately rushed over faster than anyone else.
Su Qing was once again utterly speechless.
What a piece of work!
Meanwhile, Song Yujie was whispering to his older brother.
“Brother, look! Why does Zhao Liye seem so familiar with Comrade Yu?”
Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he continued indignantly, “No wonder she hasn’t come looking for you these past few days. She’s already set her sights on someone else—”
“Shut up.”
Before he could finish, his brother cut him off coldly.
Song Yujie felt wronged. He was only standing up for his brother, yet his brother didn’t appreciate it at all.
When Yu Huan approached, she saw Ling Yuan with a cold expression on his face, while Song Yujie was glaring at her with obvious displeasure.
What was going on?
Last time, Song Yujie had been perfectly friendly toward her. Why was he giving her such a nasty look now?
“If you keep glaring at me, you won’t get any watermelon.”
Song Yujie was just about to retort that he didn’t want any and didn’t care about her watermelon anyway.
But then Yu Huan continued, “I specially brought this watermelon for your brother. It’s been chilled, too.”
She had deliberately said that loud enough for Ling Yuan to hear.
“If you don’t hurry over, Educated Youth Zhao might give it all away to the others. Then there won’t be any left for you.”
Upon hearing that the watermelon had been brought for his brother, Song Yujie immediately changed his mind.
Of course he had to eat some! He wasn’t about to let the others have it all.
Seeing several educated youths already gathering around Zhao Liye beneath the tree, he hurried over as well.
After getting Song Yujie out of the way, Yu Huan walked up beside Ling Yuan.
She held out the piece of watermelon she had been carrying all along, bringing it right to his lips without saying a word.
Ling Yuan stopped working and straightened up. He looked at Yu Huan with deep eyes, his expression impossible to read.
“What are you trying to do this time?” Ling Yuan asked indifferently.
“Didn’t Educated Youth Ling hear what I just said? I specially brought this for you to help you beat the heat. Give it a try.”
As she spoke, Yu Huan moved the watermelon closer to his lips again.
The gesture was undeniably intimate.
Ling Yuan looked at her for a long moment before finally raising his hand to take it. He took a bite.
“Isn’t it delicious?” Yu Huan asked, smiling brightly at him.
“Mm.”
It seemed that her radiant smile had momentarily dazzled him. He lowered his eyes, his voice becoming slightly softer.
Ling Yuan genuinely thought it tasted wonderful. It was better than any watermelon he had ever eaten before.
“Then I’ll bring you another one tomorrow,” Yu Huan said in a sweet, gentle voice.
“No need. This watermelon is excellent quality and must have cost quite a bit. You should save it for your family instead,” Ling Yuan declined calmly.
Yu Huan was about to say something more when Zhao Liye walked over.
“Comrade Yu, am I interrupting you two?”
Yu Huan looked at him speechlessly, her expression practically saying, What do you think?
Zhao Liye put on an innocent expression.
“Well, it’s like this. Everyone specifically asked me to come over and thank you. They also wanted to ask where you bought this watermelon and whether you could help us get a few more.”
“Sure. I still have some at home. I can spare a few for you.”
“Then how about I come to your house after work?”
Yu Huan didn’t answer Zhao Liye’s question. Instead, she turned toward Ling Yuan, who had already resumed working.
“Educated Youth Ling, are you coming too?”