On the third morning, Su Qinghe was woken by the sound of voices outside the window.
She opened her eyes groggily as sunlight filtered through the curtains. Reaching for her phone, she checked the time. It was seven thirty.
More than an hour later than yesterday.
A faint soreness came from her ankle. She looked down and saw that the swelling had mostly gone down. The ointment Lu Zhiheng used last night had worked quite well.
Thinking of what happened the night before, her ears warmed slightly.
Forget it. No point thinking about it.
She got up, washed, changed clothes, and went downstairs.
In the courtyard, Zhou Yichen was talking to the Village Chief, holding a small notebook and jotting things down. Liu Yinuo and Shen Ci were sitting beneath the locust tree, drinking tea, while Zhao Muyan was busy in the kitchen.
Su Qinghe glanced around.
She did not see Lu Zhiheng. Nor did she see Jiang Nian.
She walked over and sat beside Liu Yinuo.
Liu Yinuo glanced at her. “How’s your foot?”
“Much better.”
Liu Yinuo smiled meaningfully. “That ointment worked pretty well, huh?”
Pretending not to understand, Su Qinghe picked up her teacup and took a sip.
At that moment, footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate.
She looked up. Lu Zhiheng had returned from his morning run.
He wore a white T-shirt and black athletic pants, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead as he stepped into the courtyard under the morning light.
Jiang Nian was already standing by the gate, holding a white towel in her hand.
She smiled and walked up to him, handing it over. “Teacher Lu, wipe your sweat. I saw you running back just now and went to get this for you.”
Lu Zhiheng paused, then took it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Jiang Nian replied with a gentle smile.
Su Qinghe held her teacup and watched the scene in silence.
So Jiang Nian had been out early just to wait for Lu Zhiheng’s morning run?
She withdrew her gaze and continued drinking tea.
Beside her, Liu Yinuo said quietly, “Jiang Nian’s up early today.”
Su Qinghe responded with a soft “Mm” and said nothing more.
Breakfast was millet porridge made by Zhao Muyan, along with fried eggs and homemade pickled vegetables brought by the Village Chief.
Everyone sat around the table under the locust tree.
Today, Su Qinghe deliberately chose a seat far from Lu Zhiheng, sitting diagonally across from him with Zhou Yichen and Liu Yinuo in between.
When Lu Zhiheng came in, he glanced at her.
She lowered her head and drank her porridge, pretending not to notice.
Jiang Nian sat beside Lu Zhiheng, smiling as she served him some porridge. “President Lu, try these pickles. The Village Chief made them himself, they’re really delicious.”
Lu Zhiheng accepted them. “Thank you.”
Jiang Nian’s smile grew brighter.
Zhou Yichen chimed in from the side, “Sister Jiang Nian, you’re in a great mood today.”
She smiled at him. “Am I?”
He nodded. “Yeah, you’ve been smiling the whole time.”
Jiang Nian said nothing, only casting another glance at Lu Zhiheng.
Su Qinghe kept her head down, eating quietly as if she were deaf, her expression completely composed.
After breakfast, the staff arrived with the task card.
“Everyone, today is the third day. Your task is… a farming experience.”
Zhou Yichen raised his hand. “Planting crops?”
The staff nodded. “That’s right. Master Chen from the village will teach everyone how to transplant rice seedlings. The paddy field next to your courtyard needs to be planted today.”
Zhou Yichen’s face fell. “Transplanting rice? Won’t we end up covered in mud?”
Shen Ci laughed. “You joined a rural variety show and don’t want to farm? What did you expect?”
“I thought it would just be cooking, chatting, and enjoying the scenery…”
Everyone laughed.
The staff continued, “The rules are simple. You’ll work in pairs. Each group is responsible for one section, the fastest team wins a reward, and the slowest gets a punishment.”
“What kind of punishment?” Zhou Yichen asked.
“That’s a surprise,” the staff replied.
[Grouping • Drawing Lots]
They would draw lots again.
Zhou Yichen groaned, “Again? I want to team up with the Village Chief!”
The Village Chief was not here today, having only been a guest yesterday.
The staff smiled and brought out the draw container. “This time, the men will draw. Each man draws a woman, but one slip will be left over.”
Su Qinghe silently prayed: Not Lu Zhiheng, not Lu Zhiheng, not Lu Zhiheng…
Shen Ci drew first.
He opened his slip and read aloud, “Su Qinghe.”
She froze. Shen Ci?
She glanced at him, then at Liu Yinuo.
Liu Yinuo’s expression did not change, but Su Qinghe caught the faintest twitch at the corner of her lips.
Lu Zhiheng drew second.
He opened his slip, paused for a moment, and said, “Jiang Nian.”
Jiang Nian’s eyes lit up as she smiled at him. “President Lu, looks like we’re a team.”
He gave a simple “Mm” without further comment.
Zhao Muyan drew third.
He looked at his slip and froze. “…I’m the one left over?”
The staff nodded. “That’s right. Today, Teacher Zhao will be on his own, handling logistics, bringing water and food to everyone.”
Zhao Muyan glanced toward Jiang Nian, then at Lu Zhiheng, his expression somewhat complicated.
But he nodded. “Alright.”
Finally, Zhou Yichen drew the last slip.
He got Liu Yinuo. “I’m teamed up with Sister Liu!” he cheered.
Liu Yinuo raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so happy?”
“Because you can cook! I’ll get good food with you!”
She laughed. “Dream on. Today we’re planting rice, not cooking.”
[Final Groups]
Group One: Shen Ci and Su Qinghe
Group Two: Lu Zhiheng and Jiang Nian
Group Three: Zhou Yichen and Liu Yinuo
Logistics: Zhao Muyan
Su Qinghe let out a breath of relief.
Not Lu Zhiheng.
Thank goodness!
What she did not notice was that Lu Zhiheng glanced at her before withdrawing his gaze.
The paddy field was right beside the courtyard, not large, but enough to keep seven people busy for half a day.
Master Chen was already there, wearing rubber boots with his pant legs rolled up, holding a bundle of rice seedlings.
“Come, come, I’ll show you,” he said, demonstrating. “The seedlings should be planted straight, not too deep and not too shallow. Too deep and they suffocate, too shallow and they float. Keep the spacing about this wide…”
He planted a row swiftly and skillfully.
Everyone changed into field gear—rubber boots, gloves, and straw hats.
Su Qinghe had just finished changing when she ran into Shen Ci.
He smiled slightly. “Looking forward to working together.”
She smiled back. “I’ll be counting on you, Brother Shen Ci.”
They walked toward the field.
Shen Ci stepped in first and reached out to help her.
“Careful, it’s slippery.”
Using his support, she steadied herself. “Thank you.”
They began planting.
Shen Ci did not talk much, but his movements were efficient. Su Qinghe followed beside him, imitating his actions.
Occasionally, he offered guidance. “A bit deeper… yes, that’s right.”
She nodded and learned attentively.
They worked together quite smoothly.
Su Qinghe realized that although Shen Ci seemed aloof, he was actually very considerate.
When she could not reach a spot, he would step in and plant it for her.
When she worked slowly, he never rushed her, simply waiting quietly.
She thought to herself, Shen Ci is actually quite nice. Sister Liu really has good taste.
In another section of the field—
Jiang Nian smiled at Lu Zhiheng. “President Lu, please take care of me.”
“Mm.” He stepped into the field first, then glanced back at her.
Jiang Nian carefully followed, but the moment her foot touched the mud, she slipped backward.
“Ah—”
Lu Zhiheng reached out and caught her.
She leaned against his arm, still shaken. “Thank you…”
He released her. “Be careful.”
She nodded and lowered her head to start planting.
But the corner of her lips curved slightly.