Chapter 146: Chapter 146: What a good pile of shit, she spoiled it
Ironically, right in that spot was a fresh pile of cow dung. Along with Bai Suli’s cry of "AIYA!", her face made intimate contact with the dung.
It left everyone watching dumbfounded.
Li Rongjuan, walking not far from her, couldn’t bear it any longer. Holding back her disgust and the urge to laugh, she pulled Bai Suli up.
But that was all she did before retreating several steps. She just couldn’t bear to look, fearing it would ruin her appetite.
Bai Suli herself was stunned, then let out a shrill scream. Her expression was so horrific that nearby people couldn’t help but shudder.
Her face smeared with fresh cow feces, Bai Suli seemed to go mad. She ran towards the Zhiqing Point, attracting much attention and laughter along the way.
Yunyi was very satisfied with her handiwork. She had always lived by the principle of not offending anyone unless they offended her first. As for whether it was excessive, Bai Suli had brought it all upon herself.
A woman nearby, watching Bai Suli run into the distance, remarked, "Such a fine pile of dung, wasted by her."
This comment provoked a burst of hearty laughter, so loud that even Bai Suli, who had run far off, heard it clearly, deepening her shame and fury.
Yunyi glanced casually at the fleeing Bai Suli and then looked away. If one provoked her, they had to pay the price.
She turned and walked forward with the laughing crowd.
Today, the production team had arranged for members to turn over sweet potato vines, and Yunyi was grouped with others from the Zhiqing Point.
She went with the flow and directly claimed a task worth six work-points. With some veteran educated youths instructing her right there in the field, she quickly got the hang of it, becoming proficient in just half an hour.
Li Rongjuan couldn’t help but exclaim, "Chu Zhiqing seems to catch on to everything so quickly! Even we veteran educated youths can’t match her efficiency."
Two hours later, Yunyi had already finished half her task. The more energetically she worked at the front, the harder the veteran educated youths behind her had to struggle to keep up.
No matter how hard they tried, it was to no avail—they simply couldn’t catch her.
Cui Aiju straightened up, annoyed. "She really knows how to show off, working so fast. Isn’t she afraid of breaking her back?"
When Geng Erhong heard this, she rolled her eyes at Cui Aiju. "What’s wrong with being capable? Your jealousy is pointless."
Cui Aiju knew it was her own fault. Worried Geng Erhong, that fool, might say something even more shocking, she glared at her and fell silent.
While turning sweet potato vines, they also had to clear weeds. Despite her preoccupied mind, Yunyi’s hands moved quickly. Never mind the other educated youths; even the village women accustomed to farm work couldn’t match her pace.
In the meantime, Yunyi also casually plucked some sweet potato vines and stored them in her space, planning to plant more elsewhere. Having extra would be great for roasting during winter.
By lunchtime, she had completed two-thirds of the work. This was only because she had realized she was being too conspicuous and deliberately slowed down.
After work, she brought a block of tofu home on her way. She steamed some rice and stewed the tofu with soybean paste she had exchanged with villagers. As she ate, she wondered, I wonder how Huo Jingrui is managing with his affairs?
She tidied the kitchen somewhat absentmindedly. Just as she was about to return to her room and bathe in her space, she heard a voice from outside the courtyard ask, "Is Chu Zhiqing home?"
Yunyi walked to the front gate. Seeing the visitors, she remembered Doctor Gong was supposed to be discharged and return to the village today. "You’re back! How is Doctor Gong feeling?"
Gong Weimin’s face filled with gratitude. "Chu Zhiqing, thank you so much for your help that day. My father is recovering well, though the doctor said he still needs careful nursing for some time."
Considering the severity of his injuries, it was natural he needed time to recuperate. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for her that day, Doctor Gong might have truly been in peril; he had already lost so much blood coming down from the mountain.
Yunyi nodded. "That’s good. Make sure to prepare some blood-replenishing foods for him, and he’ll recover quickly."
Gong Weimin’s wife, Ma Huihui, added, "Chu Zhiqing, we were so busy at the hospital that we didn’t find time to thank you properly."
Seeing the items they carried, Yunyi said, "You’re far too kind. Anyone with medical knowledge wouldn’t have stood idly by. I can’t accept these. Please take them back for Doctor Gong’s recovery."
Ma Huihui pushed her way into the courtyard without taking no for an answer. "That won’t do. How can we take back what we’ve brought? This is a token of our family’s sincere gratitude."
No matter what Yunyi said, Ma Huihui wouldn’t listen. Gong Weimin followed her in, also carrying items. "Chu Zhiqing, you must accept this. Otherwise, we won’t be able to face our family when we return."
Left with no choice, Yunyi said, "Please listen. Doctor Gong’s injuries are serious this time, and these nutritional supplements are perfect for him. I’ve received your gratitude, and that’s enough."
Seeing they were about to protest again, Yunyi quickly added, "If I encounter any difficulties in the village in the future, your help then would be far more valuable to me than these gifts."
When Doctor Gong was injured gathering herbs in the mountains, the village had only symbolically compensated him with one hundred yuan for medical expenses. The production team leader’s justification was that Doctor Gong hadn’t heeded warnings and had ventured into the deep mountains alone; therefore, the village couldn’t bear all the medical costs.
Families in the village on good terms with the production team leader agreed with this reasoning, and so the matter was settled.
The Gong Family had initially wanted to contest this with the village, but Doctor Gong stopped them. He knew the village was poor; making a scene would only strain relationships and likely yield no other benefits.
He accepted his fate. From now on, I’ll gather as many herbs as I can, but I won’t risk my life for the villagers anymore, he resolved.
After much back-and-forth, Yunyi accepted the mountain-gathered produce they brought but insisted they take back all the nutritional supplements.
Once they left, she organized the wild produce and stored it in her spatial warehouse.
Thinking about the disaster in Tang City, set to happen in a few days, made her anxious and irritated. She couldn’t devise a better plan and could only hope Huo Jingrui would be resourceful.
What she hadn’t expected was that, just then, the Branch Secretary’s eldest grandson, Yang Lidong, came running over. "Chu Zhiqing, someone’s here to see you!"
She looked up, saw Gu Xibei following him, and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Gu Xibei gave her a slight nod. "I’m here on business and decided to drop by. Are you settling in okay?"
Yunyi wasn’t familiar with the Gu Family. However, the deaths of Old Master Chu and her predecessor were, to some extent, indirectly linked to them. It might seem far-fetched, but if Old Master Chu hadn’t tried to save a member of the Gu Family, he wouldn’t have had the accident. Consequently, her predecessor wouldn’t have fallen into such despair as to pass away prematurely.
Gu Xibei walked straight into the yard and placed the items he was carrying on a stone.
Yunyi ignored him for a moment, instead taking a few fruit candies from her pocket and handing them to the Branch Secretary’s grandson. "Dongzi, thanks for bringing him. Have some candy."
Yang Lidong stepped back. "It was no trouble just showing him the way. I’m too old for candy now. I can’t take it."
Before Yunyi could say more, he turned and ran off.