The two met each other's eyes... a faint awkwardness permeated the air.
Shen Zhao: "Are you also getting custom furniture made?"
Gu Qiu nodded vigorously, "Yes, while I have some free time these couple of days, I want to get everything arranged."
Shen Zhao pointed inside, "Then hurry and go in, he's still here."
After speaking, she walked past him, intending to go back, but was called to a halt, "Oh right, Shen Zhao, I'm going to the town tomorrow, want to come along?"
"Or do you need to bring anything?"
She turned back and nodded, "Let's go together, see you at the village entrance tomorrow."
"Alright then, I'll wait for you."
The two parted ways.
Shen Zhao gave He Xiaoshan another candy, sent him away, and then went home.
She carried a small stool and sat in front of the door, taking out a meat bun from her space to eat.
She only had three buns left from Beijing City; if she had the chance, she'd need to buy more.
Food and clothing were scarce here, and there were no servants. Not knowing how to cook herself was a major weakness.
Shen Zhao looked at the distant mountains and sighed, thinking of her imperial palace and those male consorts...
They were all gone... and she didn't know which collateral branch would inherit the throne.
The sky gradually darkened.
Not far away, a tall young woman appeared at the end of the path.
Her two short braids were dark and shiny, she wore a blue cotton-padded jacket, and green rubber shoes on her feet.
She was also carrying a dripping basket in her hand.
Only when she got closer could Shen Zhao clearly see her appearance: she had healthy, tanned skin and a very cheerful smile.
"You must be the educated youth coming to stay at my house. My name is He Xiaolan. My dad sent me back first to tidy up. It'll be ready for you in a moment."
She casually placed the basket by the door and bustled into the house.
Shen Zhao didn't even have time to say anything before she disappeared.
This... was she in that much of a hurry?
However, she understood that He Xiaolan was the Team Leader's daughter.
The room she was supposed to stay in was hers.
She glanced at the basket and saw it was filled with a pile of cleaned, white, segmented grass roots, plump and white, looking quite pleasing.
She didn't recognize them, guessing they were some kind of wild vegetable.
Farmers wouldn't be idle enough to bring inedible things home.
Little did she know, He Xiaolan wasn't unwilling to talk to her, but simply didn't have the courage to meet her gaze.
Even though Shen Zhao was as thin as a skeleton ghost.
She was, after all, a young woman from the city, and her clothing, appearance, and demeanor were completely different from theirs, the rural kids.
Especially, she possessed the composure and majesty of an Empress who had experienced countless hardships.
It made people... not even dare to look directly at her, only to look up to her.
After a while.
Those who had finished work also returned one after another.
The Team Leader's parents, his wife, their eldest son He Dashan, and their youngest son He Xiaoshan.
He Xiaolan lit a fire in the main hall, "Educated Youth Shen, please sit by the fire to warm yourself."
"Thank you," Shen Zhao politely expressed her gratitude.
Carrying her small chair, which she had sat on all afternoon, she sat down by the fire pit.
The air here was damp, and it often rained in winter, which could easily lead to joint pain.
Warming by the fire could dispel some of the dampness.
..
He Xiaolan, her mother, and her grandmother were busy preparing dinner together.
He Jianping and his sons were repairing farm tools, the family's bamboo baskets, or tables and chairs.
In short, no one was idle.
This was how it was for rural families, never idle throughout the year.
The only two idle people were He Xiaoshan and Shen Zhao.
She took out a few candies to amuse the child, and the child, only having eyes for the candy, quickly understood the family's situation.
The Team Leader was the eldest son, supporting his elderly parents.
His parents were also quite capable now, earning five to six Work Points daily. He himself was the Team Leader, so the pressure wasn't great.
The eldest daughter, He Xiaolan, was 18 years old, had only graduated from primary school, and was currently in an arranged meeting for marriage. She could also earn five to six Work Points daily.
The eldest son, He Dashan, was 15 years old this year and in the second year of junior high school; he was a diligent worker.
He Xiaoshan was 8 years old this year and had just started first grade.
This family could be considered one of the best-off families in the village.
In the adjacent kitchen, Tan Xiuping was chopping white radishes with a rhythmic thud, complaining to He Xiaolan, "Your father is really something, bringing back an educated youth like that. She's so lazy, she doesn't even help with the work."
He Xiaolan pursed her lips, not daring to make a sound.
She felt her mother was wrong but didn't dare to contradict her.
Grandmother Shen lowered her voice and advised her, "They've already paid the money, don't speak carelessly."
Old Mrs. Shen had a meek personality and never made things difficult for her daughter-in-law.
This had also fostered Tan Xiuping's fiery and assertive personality, and she suddenly raised her voice.
"So what if they paid money? These educated youths only know how to act capitalist, acting all seductive like a vixen, shameless!"
Even though Shen Zhao was thin now and not particularly attractive.
She was a young woman with education, and the only adult man in the household was He Jianping, who was also the Team Leader.
How could she not have ideas?
This kind of thing had happened before.
Her husband was the Team Leader, and not too old. If she didn't keep a close eye on him, trouble would eventually arise.
The house wasn't soundproof, so Shen Zhao, just a wall away, could naturally hear everything.
She felt utterly disgusted.
As for He Jianping, she'd find him too ugly to be a eunuch.
It was too insulting to her aesthetic standards.
Even in her current fallen state, she wouldn't be so desperate as to eat anything.
She was very picky, you know.
She took out a handkerchief and wiped her fingers, which had touched candy.
Then she slowly stood up, went inside to get a woolen scarf, and walked to the eaves, saying to He Jianping, who was repairing a hoe:
"Team Leader, could you please help me hang this up?"
He Jianping didn't understand why, but he complied.
"Okay, wait a moment."
He put down the hoe, knowing these educated youths were particular, and even went to wash his hands before daring to touch her scarf.
Standing on a stool, he threaded the scarf through the beam. Shen Zhao stood by watching.
The two were very close.
Tan Xiuping saw this through the window and was instantly furious, dropping the kitchen knife.
"Mom, look! If she's not a vixen, then what is she? Our family is about to become the laughingstock of the entire village!"
She stormed out, determined to drive away the vixen and expose her true colors!
Who knew, as soon as she stepped over the threshold.
She saw Shen Zhao standing on the stool, stretching her neck into the knotted scarf, and kicking the stool away.
The stool fell, and a figure floated before her eyes.
Tan Xiuping: !?
She was utterly stunned, frozen in place from fright.
He Jianping was also momentarily bewildered.
He thought Shen Zhao asked him to thread the scarf through the beam because she suddenly wanted to play on a swing.
That's how the children in their village played, hanging up a rope to swing.
Who knew she would actually, right in front of him, put her neck into it!
Who uses their neck to swing?
No, this is hanging!
He Jianping slapped his head and shouted to his wife, "What are you standing there for? Hurry and get her down!"
Tan Xiuping snapped back to reality.
If this person hanged herself at their doorstep on her first day, they would probably have nightmares for the rest of their lives.
Their entire family would be ruined.
He wouldn't even be able to keep his position as Team Leader.
"Xiaolan! Xiaolan, hurry and help!"
As a grown man, he couldn't easily handle it, so he could only call his wife and daughter.
He Xiaolan heard the shouts and quickly ran out, wiping her hands on her apron.
Seeing the scene, her heart leaped with fright.
She hugged Shen Zhao's leg, while Tan Xiuping stepped on the stool to pull Shen Zhao out of the scarf.
After a chaotic scene, they finally managed to get her down.
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