Yun Ting’s waist ached unbearably, but she was too embarrassed to slack off, so she had no choice but to stand up, stretch her legs, and loosen her back.
Two hours passed before the team leader shouted loudly.
Everyone immediately stopped their work and headed home.
After breakfast, they’d have to come back and continue working.
The two egg cakes she had eaten that morning had long been digested. By the time they returned, there’d be no chance to make food, but she still had meat buns stored in her space.
On the walk back, everyone looked listless. The older educated youths had long adapted and were fine, but for the newcomers from yesterday, of course, it was tougher—though the three guys, Lu Jiayan, Zhou Yang, and Gu Weiguo, were holding up well. But this was just after two hours; once they finished a full day’s work, who knew how it would be?
“Yun, you look full of energy! Make sure to eat well later, or you’ll be exhausted after a full day in the fields,” Li Hongxia kindly advised her.
“Okay, thank you, Hongxia,” Yun Ting replied politely.
Li Hongxia liked Yun Ting and was willing to talk more with her. When she first went to the countryside, she had been equally unaccustomed to everything. Years of experience had long erased her delicate habits, and she knew well how miserable hunger could feel.
Back in her room, Yun Ting shut the door and slipped into her space. She first drank a large cup of spiritual spring water, and all the fatigue seemed to vanish. Then she ate two big meat buns.
Her stored food wasn’t much—she’d have to find a way to stock more next time she went to town.
After eating, she pulled out a silk scarf to wrap around her face. Her hat wasn’t sufficient, so she planned to ask Aunt Meihua if anyone had a larger straw hat to borrow. She had no sunscreen either, so she covered everything she could. Yang Qingqing, however, had sunscreen, but in this era, there was no such thing—Yun Ting wouldn’t dare ask, or she’d stand out.
Indeed, at that moment, Yang Qingqing was slathering sunscreen all over her face and neck.
Yun Ting also took out a military water bottle her second brother had brought back from the army. She filled it with spiritual spring water—on such a hot day, she needed plenty of water to stay hydrated.
When Yun Ting left, she ran into Yang Qingqing. Both were fully covered, only their eyes visible. They exchanged a glance and smiled.
“Ha… I thought I was the only one doing this!”
“I refuse to get tanned,” Yang Qingqing said proudly.
Wang Xue looked at them using such good scarves to work in the field, and a flicker of jealousy passed through her eyes.
“This is going to work, isn’t this over the top?”
“You’ll see whether it’s over the top or not,” Yun Ting replied calmly.
Wang Xue pouted and said no more.
Back in her room, Yin Jiao had started causing trouble again, with Li Zhaodi trying to pacify her. Yun Ting admired Li Zhaodi’s patience. By now, they were used to ignoring the young lady’s tantrums—just don’t provoke her in front of others.
Yun Ting and Yang Qingqing’s outfits drew a lot of curious glances on the way, but they ignored everyone and walked confidently.
At the field, Aunt Meihua laughed when she saw Yun Ting. “Little Yun, you’re clever. This way you won’t get tanned!”
“Not bad, just too hot,” Yun Ting replied.
“Nothing can fix the heat,” Aunt Meihua said with a shrug.
Yun Ting put down her water bottle and squatted down to start working.
Aunt Meihua liked Yun Ting’s temperament—she wasn’t delicate, had a good personality, and spoke sweetly.
Working and chatting at the same time made it more bearable. The aunts shared some village gossip. Yun Ting didn’t know the people, but she still loved listening to stories!
“Little Yun, does someone in your family serve in the army? This water bottle looks military-grade.”
“Yes, my second brother is a soldier, in Hei Province,” Yun Ting replied.
“Oh, my eldest is also in the army, in Guang Province. Far from home! He hasn’t been back for two years,” Aunt Meihua said wistfully.
“Aunt, it’s good that he’s safe. He can’t come home because of his duty, but he must be thinking of you and your husband!”
This was the first time Yun Ting learned that the team leader’s eldest son was a soldier.
“You speak well, girl,” Aunt Meihua said.
“I’m just being honest. If you don’t believe me, ask Aunt Xiuzhi!”
“Yes… yes, Little Yun is right,” she agreed.
The sun rose higher, and everyone stopped chatting, bending their heads to pull weeds. Yun Ting slowed down—too hot—and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
The three aunts were already several meters ahead of her.
“Aunt, I’m going to rest and drink some water,” Yun Ting called.
“All right, go ahead!”
She stood, stretched her stiff legs and back, and found a shaded spot. Twisting open the water bottle, she took several long sips of the spring water before feeling a bit better.
“Someone’s fainted…”
Suddenly, a shout came from nearby.
Curious, Yun Ting looked toward the sound but couldn’t see who it was.
The team leader rushed over and grabbed a man who was about to intervene. “Er Laizi, what are you doing? Behave yourself and get back to work!”
“I just wanted to help!” Er Laizi said cheekily.
“Have you finished your work? Go back immediately.”
Don’t think he didn’t know what Er Laizi wanted.
Pouting, Er Laizi turned away unwillingly. He was so close—maybe if he’d pushed a little, he could have married an educated youth. He’d never seen a woman like her before!
It turned out that Yin Jiao had fainted. The team leader groaned in frustration.
Li Zhaodi hurried over. “Team leader, Yin Jiao fainted. Can I help her back to rest?”
“Don’t worry, just move her to some shade and she’ll wake up. No need to go back.”
The team leader wasn’t heartless; he just worried that if she went inside, some troublemaker might bother her again.
Yun Ting finished her water and returned to work. Everyone else was still working; she couldn’t just rest alone.
By the end of a full day’s work, everyone looked like wilted eggplants—exhausted and speechless.
Luckily, Yun Ting had her spring water. That evening, she cooked outside—she couldn’t skip cooking entirely, or people would become suspicious.
She didn’t have many ingredients, so she made a simple braised cured meat rice.
“Yun, what’s this? Smells amazing!” Zhou Yang was drawn by the aroma.
“Braised cured meat rice. Luckily, my mom prepared some cured meat and rice before I came, or I wouldn’t know where to get ingredients now!”
“Your cooking’s pretty good!”
“Not bad—who wouldn’t make this taste good? Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet. Lu Ge is cooking right now. I’ll go back first,” Zhou Yang said, not lingering. After all, it was almost dinner—he couldn’t just loiter.