“I’m not playing anymore, not playing,” Gu Qiu pushed the cards away and slumped in her seat, her gaze towards Shen Zhao filled with resentment.
“What exactly are you? How can you win every single hand? Playing cards with you is like rubbing your head against your feet.”
Except for the beginning when Shen Zhao didn't know how to play and she taught her a couple of rounds, after she learned, she was practically unstoppable, beating the three of them by herself.
Shen Zhao smiled, finding her description quite amusing.
“Winning doesn’t seem difficult, you just need to count the cards.”
Gu Qiu: ......
“Damn it, you’re showing off.”
Shen Zhao found her accusatory expression a little funny, but she genuinely didn't find it difficult.
After the first few rounds, it became increasingly less interesting.
It was less fun than arguing with the ministers; their insults were well-cited, never repetitive, and even had new words every day.
Wen Yixun gave Gu Qiu a look of understanding.
“What you’re saying is nothing. I’ve been ‘rubbed’ by Ji Bai since I was a child. He was always the ‘other people’s child’ in the compound. I’m the one who’s truly miserable.”
“That’s true,” Gu Qiu was clearly comforted and sat up straighter.
“People like us, ordinary people, can’t compare to their highly intelligent individuals. I’m never playing cards again from today onwards.”
Ji Bai was collecting the poker cards and looked up with a smile upon hearing this, “Actually, it’s not as exaggerated as you say.”
His gaze towards Shen Zhao was full of inquiry. Since childhood, everyone had praised him for being smart and having a photographic memory.
Shen Zhao was the only person he had ever met who could surpass him in this regard, even though she was as thin as a skeleton ghost…
“Comrade Shen, where are you from? You look…”
“Too thin, right?” Shen Zhao hadn’t failed to notice his scrutinizing gaze.
Most people here were thin; at least she hadn’t seen a fat person so far. But being as thin as she was, it was considered rare, so his curiosity was normal.
“I was always hungry when I was at home, so I became this thin.”
Gu Qiu immediately showed a sympathetic expression and quickly handed Shen Zhao a piece of sachima.
“It’s okay, I’ll feed you from now on and make sure you gain weight.”
Shen Zhao: ........
This girl was not only naive but also unusually kind.
She, who had always been wary of everyone, was unaccustomed to such enthusiasm.
Shen Zhao gave her a piece of her own pastry as a return gift.
The four of them chatted aimlessly, passing the time.
The next morning, at seven o’clock.
The train arrived at Feng'an City.
It was a very, very small city, one that hardly anyone had heard of.
Shen Zhao carried her luggage out of the station and found the staff member who was there to receive the educated youth.
At this moment, over fifty people were already standing beside him, all educated youth who were going to the countryside and awaiting allocation.
The group of four stood together and waited for half an hour before hearing their names called.
“Shen Zhao, Gu Qiu, Wen Yixun, Ji Bai, Wang Nan, Leiguping Production Brigade.”
Immediately after, an uncle wearing a straw hat called out, “I am He Jianping, the Team Leader of Leiguping Production Brigade. Those assigned to Leiguping, follow me.”
Gu Qiu excitedly hugged Shen Zhao’s arm, “That’s great! Shen Zhao, we’ve been assigned to the same production brigade!”
“Mm.”
Compared to her excitement, Shen Zhao felt no stir in her heart. She just wanted to get to the destination quickly and rest. Not eating well and not sleeping well for the past two days had put her in a very bad mood.
Her mind was on the verge of an outburst.
Fortunately, He Jianping didn’t waste words. After taking a headcount, he signaled everyone to set off.
In this group, besides the four who knew each other, there was another female educated youth who looked very delicate and spoke in a roundabout way.
Especially when she saw Ji Bai, her cheeks flushed as she coyly said, “Comrade~ Can you help me with my luggage? I can’t carry it~”
Hiss*
She couldn’t stand this kind of white lotus behavior; seeing it made her want to give her a kick.
Shen Zhao rubbed the goosebumps all over her body, controlled her restless foot, and moved away from them.
Who knew Ji Bai was even more agitated than her? He jumped two meters away, waving his hands in fright, “I can barely carry my own stuff, why did you bring so much if you can’t carry it?”
Indeed, each of them had at most two bags, but Wang Nan had three or four pieces of luggage piled at her feet. She didn’t know how she managed to squeeze onto the train with all this.
Wang Nan’s complexion turned pale, as if she had been bullied. She looked pitifully at the Team Leader. Seeing that he didn’t even look back and was walking ahead, she was afraid of being abandoned and quickly picked up her luggage to catch up.
As she walked, she panted heavily and pleaded with Wen Yixun for help, “Comrade, I really can’t carry it anymore…”
“What does that have to do with me?” Wen Yixun picked his nose and flicked his index finger and thumb, then wiped his hands on his clothes.
This move was foolproof for dealing with clingy female comrades.
Wang Nan looked at the object that had been flicked away, her face stiffened. She dared not put her luggage in his hands.
She then cast a pleading gaze towards the swift-moving Shen Zhao.
Shen Zhao noticed but pretended not to see, darting behind the Team Leader in a few steps.
Wang Nan walked at the end, carrying three bags, struggling to move, her face flushed red.
Her family had helped her get these bags onto the train. After getting off, she found an uncle on the same train to help her carry them down. She had thought she could find someone to help her carry them upon arrival.
Who knew… she’d run into a group of heartless people.
Not a single person was willing to help.
She followed behind, watching them walk further and further away, almost crying from anxiety.
Gu Qiu looked back and happened to see her resentful gaze.
Her desire to help instantly vanished.
She was kind, not stupid. Helping someone who clearly harbored hostility towards her was out of the question. She quickened her pace to catch up with the Team Leader.
“Team Leader, how much longer do we have to walk?”
He Jianping didn’t stop walking but patiently explained.
“We’re taking the mountain road, going around from behind. It will only take two hours. If we were going through the city, we’d have to go to town first, then walk to the village, which would take four to five hours.”
“We’re taking the mountain road now to save time.”
“Two more hours?” Wen Yixun wailed, almost collapsing to the ground.
Shen Zhao looked up, the sunlight reflecting off the layer upon layer of mountain ranges and the winding path, and almost fainted.
The children from Beijing City like Gu Qiu had never seen mountains and didn’t know the difference between mountain roads and plains. She, however, knew that during a war in her past life, she and the army were trapped in the mountains and walked for half a month before getting out.
In those half a month, half of her soldiers died.
God, kill me!
It would be better to be reincarnated than to come to this wretched place to suffer.
The six of them walked and rested, finally entering the village before noon.
It was just after work, and smoke rose from the chimneys of every household. Houses with black tiles and yellow walls were scattered in the mountain hollows, and in the distance, layer upon layer of terraced fields stretched out green.
Surrounded by mountains, with clouds and mist swirling halfway up the slopes, it was like a fairyland.
Everyone rested by a large rock at the village entrance, waiting for Wang Nan, who was lagging behind.
Except for the Team Leader and Shen Zhao, everyone else was as exhausted as a dead dog. They didn’t care if the ground was dirty and collapsed onto it, panting for breath.
Gu Qiu panted heavily and looked at the standing Shen Zhao, “Why aren’t you tired?”
Shen Zhao paused, her gaze sweeping disdainfully towards the ground.
Gu Qiu followed her gaze and suddenly waved her hand, “No need to say it, I understand. You think the ground is dirty.”
Having traveled together, she felt she understood this girl a little. She was equally disdainful of everything.
✦✦✦