Ji Peilan from a distance saw Song Yunqiao standing with her hands on her hips, her beautiful brows tightly furrowed as she looked at the ground.
“Comrade Song, let me help you,” she said.
Song Yunqiao followed the voice and saw Ji Peilan walking toward her.
“Auntie.”
Ji Peilan came closer and said, “You just came down to the countryside, you’re not used to this kind of farm work. I’ll help you.”
Song Yunqiao felt a little embarrassed. “Won’t that be too much trouble for you?”
Ji Peilan waved her hand. “Not at all, not at all.”
After all, she had received so many things from her yesterday—helping her a bit today was nothing.
Song Yunqiao gratefully said, “Thank you so much, Auntie.”
The girl was already very pretty, and when she smiled, it was even more dazzling.
Ji Peilan thought to herself that such a beautiful girl—she didn’t know which lucky boy would end up with her.
The two didn’t just stand around talking; they chatted while working.
When Jiang Jiyuan arrived, he saw this harmonious scene.
He was slightly surprised, then quietly took over the hoe from Ji Peilan and started working.
Song Yunqiao was a little startled to see him.
The heavy hoe, which was difficult for her, was effortless in his hands as he easily dug into the ground.
With Jiang Jiyuan helping, the small patch of land was finished quickly.
Song Yunqiao took out her water bottle. “Auntie, I have water, please have some.”
Ji Peilan shook her head. “I’m not thirsty.”
Then Song Yunqiao walked to Jiang Jiyuan. “Comrade Jiang, would you like some water?”
Jiang Jiyuan glanced at the fair hand holding the military-green water bottle and refused without thinking.
Ji Peilan looked at the two young people standing together and inexplicably felt they looked quite compatible—but then she remembered the girl was from the city, and the thought faded.
After finishing the work, Ji Peilan and Jiang Jiyuan left. Song Yunqiao felt they were very good people and silently decided she must help change Jiang Jiyuan’s fate.
Seeing that it was still early, Song Yunqiao found a shady place to sit and rest.
She had already finished her work for the day and could now relax.
However, she didn’t expect that from then on, Jiang Jiyuan would come every day to help her with her work.
At first, she thought it was a coincidence. But after the second day and the third day, if she still thought it was coincidence, she would be foolish.
Having help was good—but she felt uneasy about it, and that she was owing him more and more.
As for Jiang Jiyuan, he came because he remembered that day he saw her fair, delicate hands. For some unknown reason, he didn’t want those hands to become rough.
“Comrade Jiang, what do you think of Comrade Gu and Comrade An?” Song Yunqiao suddenly asked.
She felt she should give him a reminder.
“I haven’t interacted with them. I don’t know them,” he replied honestly.
Song Yunqiao warned, “That’s good. You must not have any contact with them.”
Jiang Jiyuan nodded.
“Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to help me anymore. Thank you for these past few days—without you I would’ve really been in trouble.”
Jiang Jiyuan didn’t understand why she suddenly refused his help. He wondered if he had done something today that displeased her.
Then he heard her say, “Hold out your hand.”
Not knowing what she intended, he obediently extended his hand.
His fingers were long and good-looking, though slightly rough with calluses from farm work.
Song Yunqiao pulled a handful of milk candies from her pocket and placed them in his palm.
Seeing this, Jiang Jiyuan said, “You keep them.”
She shook her head. “I still have more. These are for you. If you don’t want them, give them to Auntie or your younger brothers.”
He originally didn’t want to accept them, but under her gaze, he finally put the candies into his pocket.
Just like the previous days, after finishing the work, Jiang Jiyuan left without staying long.
During this time, Song Yunqiao was always assigned to more remote fields; if it were in a crowded area, Jiang Jiyuan would not have been able to help her like this.
After returning from work, Song Yunqiao heard someone calling her.
“Comrade Song, go to the brigade office. You have a package from the town. Someone from the village brought it back for you today.”
“Got it, thank you,” she replied.
For some reason, her simple “thank you” sounded unusually pleasant to the man, who realized no educated youth had ever thanked him like that before.
Song Yunqiao guessed it was probably sent by her uncle.
She had never been to the brigade office before, so He Suxia accompanied her there.
Thanks to her help, the large package was easier to carry.
The news that she received a big package quickly spread through the village.
Back in the dormitory, she opened it—and indeed it was full of good things: biscuits, cured meat, malted milk, and more.
There were also clothes, shoes, soap, and other daily necessities.
Ma Xiaoping’s eyes turned red with jealousy.
He Suxia was also stunned. She had never seen anyone in the countryside receive such a large package before.
Song Yunqiao opened a box of biscuits and gave He Suxia two pieces.
Ma Xiaoping expected one for herself too—but Song Yunqiao put the biscuits away without giving her any. Furious, she threw down her things and stormed out.
Song Yunqiao and He Suxia exchanged a glance and ignored her.
Inside the package was also a letter. After reading it, Song Yunqiao’s expression changed.
Although the letter did not explicitly say it, combined with the contents of the package, she guessed her uncle must have gotten into trouble. Otherwise, he would not have sent so many things all at once—it was too conspicuous.
He also wrote in the letter not to send letters home for now, and to wait for them to contact her.
After reading it, Song Yunqiao felt uneasy. She had originally thought she could rely on her uncle to return to the city, but now it seemed that plan had to be put on hold.
Ma Xiaoping, who had stormed out in anger, stood in the courtyard getting more and more frustrated.
In the past, she only needed to say a few words and Song Yunqiao would obey her—but now she no longer listened.
No, she had to find a way!
“Xiaoping, what are you doing?”
Sun Xiuzhen suddenly appeared behind her, startling her.
“You scared me! Why do you walk without making a sound?”
“I called you from the kitchen—you just didn’t hear me,” Sun Xiuzhen said, confused by her reaction.
“What is it?” Ma Xiaoping asked impatiently.
“Go light the fire, I’m going to cook.”
“Got it.”
As she turned to leave, Ma Xiaoping looked around and noticed An Yanyan was not there.
“Where is An Yanyan?” she asked.
“She went out earlier, said she had something to do,” Sun Xiuzhen replied.
Ma Xiaoping cursed inwardly, her face darkening.
Just moments ago she had been calling An Yanyan lazy—but now, in her heart, she cursed her as shameless.