Chapter 39: Invited to Work

Lin He: “Song Yue.”

Huang Xiuying responded repeatedly, “Alright, alright, thank you, Comrade.”

She glanced at the four of them. “The four of you must be with Comrade Song, right?”

Zhao Zirui nodded. “Mm, we arrived here together yesterday.”

Huang Xiuying invited them, “Since you know Comrade Song, why don’t you all stay? You’re all good comrades. You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?”

“Come, tell me what you want to eat, my treat.”

Liu Wei was thrilled—she could have meat without spending a dime!

“Sis, there’s no need, really.” Lin He refused. “The one who saved your child was Comrade Song; it has nothing to do with us. If you want to show gratitude, thank Comrade Song.”

“Anyway, you know we’re in Guaziwo Brigade. If you bring something over, Comrade Song won’t refuse, right?”

Huang Xiuying thought that made sense. “Yes, yes, of course.”

“Alright then, my husband and I will go together when the time comes.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

Lin He smiled. “No need to thank me.”

Liu Wei was dumbfounded—was the free meal slipping away just like that?

…

After leaving the cafeteria, Song Yue headed straight to the post office.

There, she took out a pen and wrote a letter on the spot.

Ten minutes later, she finished writing, sealed it in an envelope, filled in the detailed address and postal code, and affixed a stamp.

She approached a postal worker and, while sending the letter, casually inquired about the status of a package.

The postal worker simply asked when it had been sent and told her to come back in three days to pick it up.

After mailing the letter, Song Yue quickly left, planning to buy some eggs from the supply and marketing cooperative for breakfast.

Boiled eggs were easy to store and wouldn’t easily attract attention.

As for other supplies, she couldn’t think of anything urgent to buy for now.

Upon leaving the post office, Song Yue hurried toward the supply and marketing cooperative, hoping to avoid running into Lin He and the others.

They would likely go to the post office after breakfast to check on their package.

If it hadn’t arrived, they would then head to the supply and marketing cooperative for supplies—after all, Li Xinyue and Zhao Zirui hadn’t brought anything with them.

On the way there, Song Yue noticed she was being followed—an old man and a young man.

She had seen them at the state-run cafeteria earlier; they must have followed her all the way from there.

Looks like… someone had taken notice of her method.

The two kept their distance—not too far, not too close.

It wasn’t convenient for Song Yue to confront them directly. Being young but possessing medical skills and sharp observational abilities, she would be highly valued and trained in modern times.

But here, combined with the rare and sensitive method she used to save people, she might just end up being labeled as some sort of special agent.

Better to be cautious.

She decided to play dumb and see what they were up to—whether they would reveal themselves.

With that in mind, Song Yue arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative.

She bought a jin of eggs and a bag of biscuits.

While browsing, she noticed they were selling straw mats.

Since it would be getting hot in a few days, she considered buying one. But then she thought—what if she managed to move out soon and got herself a proper kang bed?

Then she’d have to buy another mat. Better save where she could.

Living alone was fine, but in the educated youth courtyard, there were too many eyes watching. Dealing with troublemakers every day was exhausting.

Deciding not to buy anything else, Song Yue turned to leave the store, not wanting to linger too long and earn the shopkeeper’s scorn.

The moment she stepped out, the two figures rushed in front of her.

The old man and the young man—it was them.

Song Yue frowned and took two steps back. “Gentlemen, is there something you need?”

“Hello, Comrade Song.” The young man smiled. “My name is Xu—”

The old man cut him off directly. “Girl, I want to ask—what method did you use to save that child earlier? I’ve never seen it before.”

So it really was about that.

Song Yue replied, “It was just a method to save lives.”

The old man: “…”

He stiffened. “Girl, as a comrade, you should be honest.”

Song Yue gave a helpless smile. “Elder, it was a life-saving method. Didn’t I bring the child back to life?”

“If you’re asking what the method is called, I don’t know. It’s just something that saves lives.”

“…” The old man changed his question. “Alright, then where did you learn it?”

Song Yue answered without hesitation, “From books.”

Seeing that he was about to ask more, she added, “A very old book. It’s lost now.”

That effectively blocked any further questioning.

The old man and the young man stared at Song Yue intently.

Song Yue openly let them look.

After all, it was broad daylight, and they were at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.

What could they possibly do?

Then, the old man suddenly extended an invitation. “Girl, I run a pharmacy in the city. Are you interested in working there?”

A pharmacy job?

Song Yue declined. “Elder, thank you for the offer, but I’m a sent-down educated youth. I can’t leave.”

The old man smiled. “If you want to go, I can—”

Lin He’s voice interrupted, “Comrade Song!”

Song Yue: “…”

So much for avoiding them.

This commune was too small.

Lin He approached. “Comrade Song, you sure run fast.”

Seeing outsiders arrive, the old man didn’t press further.

“Girl, if you can’t work at the pharmacy, you could become a barefoot doctor.”

“This is my address in the city. If you’re ever interested, come find me.”

Before Song Yue could refuse, he stuffed a written address into her satchel.

“I have things to do, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Come on, kid.”

With that, the old man and the young man left.

Song Yue: “…”

Lin He and the others approached, glancing at the departing figures.

Curious, Lin He asked, “Comrade Song, who were those two?”

Song Yue: “Just people asking for directions.”

The old man: “…”

This girl really could lie with a straight face.

The young man: “…”

“Asking for directions?” Lin He looked puzzled. “You just got here—how would you know the way?”

Song Yue brazenly replied, “Exactly. I told them I didn’t know, and they left.”

The old man: “…”

The young man: “…”

As they walked away, the old man glanced sideways at the young man. “Kid, what do you think of that girl?”

The young man answered without hesitation, “Smart, vigilant, and deeply guarded.”

“Tsk.” The old man clicked his tongue. “Rare to hear you give a compliment.”

The young man remained silent.

The old man frowned. “By the way, how long until those two you’re meeting arrive?”

The young man reminded him, “We agreed to meet at the cafeteria. Where do you think we are now?”

The old man: “…”

The two turned back toward the cafeteria.

The old man asked, “Do you think that girl will come looking for me?”

“No.” The young man didn’t even have to think. “She’s too busy working every day. Why would she waste time looking for you? Besides, she doesn’t care about you at all.”

“One week.” The old man gestured. “If she doesn’t come by then, I’ll go to their brigade and ask for her.”

“She can heal people—what a waste to make her do farm work.”

The young man: “…”

“You—” He was about to say something when he spotted two figures inside the cafeteria. He changed the topic, “They’re here.”

“Where—” The old man perked up and scanned the cafeteria, spotting two people in a corner. “The ones in white shirts?”

“Mm.”

They walked over.

The old man studied them. “Your two friends—are they…”

The young man nodded. “Mm. Yes.”

He approached the two and greeted them. “Comrade Lu, Comrade Zhou, long time no see.”

Lu Huaishen: “…”

Zhou Ye: “…”

They looked up, somewhat speechless at Xu Jinshan.

Having grown up together in open-crotch pants, was there really a need for such formalities?