Chapter 9

Lu Lanlan watched for a while and, having learned enough, went back to her work.

Her hand hadn’t fully healed yet, but wrapping it in cloth reduced the pain. However, since she was still unfamiliar with the task, she worked very slowly.

By noon, her hand was already red and sore, but fortunately, no blisters had formed.

“Mom, work’s over,” a man standing by the roadside called out. He was similar in build to Fu Chunian.

Lu Lanlan glanced at Auntie Xu and then at the man, guessing that he was Auntie Xu’s son—the one who could drive a tractor.

Seeing Lu Lanlan looking at him, Xu Xiangdong smiled and said, “Comrade Lu, Comrade Fu asked me to let you know that he got a blister on his hand and went to the clinic, so you should head back to the educated youth dormitory on your own.”

“Alright, thank you,” Lu Lanlan replied politely.

“No problem,” Xu Xiangdong said with a smile.

Auntie Xu, seeing her son grinning like a fool, snapped, “Are you leaving or not?”

“Leaving,” Xu Xiangdong replied before turning back to Lu Lanlan. “Comrade Lu, we’ll head off first.”

“Alright. Goodbye, Auntie Xu, Comrade Xu.”

Lu Lanlan also started packing up to leave.

Back at the educated youth dormitory, she began cooking.

When Fu Chunian returned and saw her busy in the kitchen, he walked over and said, “I’ll do it. You should go rest.”

“You can’t get your hand wet. You should go rest instead,” Lu Lanlan replied.

One of the other educated youths, watching them interact, teased, “Oh, starting to care for each other now?”

Lu Lanlan shot them a look. What kind of assumption was that? They were just helping each other.

Fu Chunian smiled at the person but then turned back to Lu Lanlan and said, “I won’t touch water, I’ll just stay here and watch. You should go rest. After eating, you still have to wash the dishes and clean the pots.”

“It’s fine. You go out, this will be done soon,” Lu Lanlan said, gently pushing his arm.

The physical contact made Fu Chunian freeze for a moment, his ears turning red.

Afraid others might notice, he quickly left the kitchen and returned to his room.

He touched the spot where Lu Lanlan had just made contact, recalling the cool, soft sensation. His breathing quickened slightly.

Glancing back at the kitchen where she was busy, Fu Chunian withdrew his hand, took a deep breath, and, when he opened his eyes again, his expression was calm once more.

When Lu Lanlan finished cooking, she brought the food to Fu Chunian’s room.

Since he had arrived late, all the male educated youth had already divided the rooms among themselves, and there were no extra spaces left, so Fu Chunian had taken a room for himself.

As soon as she entered, she didn’t smell the usual stench of sweat or feet but rather a faint, clean fragrance. Her impression of Fu Chunian immediately improved.

“You should eat here too. I live alone in this room, and if we eat separately, others might get suspicious,” Fu Chunian said.

“Okay,” Lu Lanlan agreed. She didn’t want to go back and face Gu Yu’s sour expression anyway.

After eating and cleaning up, Lu Lanlan went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some sunflower seeds and candies.

That afternoon, when she was heading back to work, she expected Fu Chunian to rest but was surprised to find him coming along.

“You’re not going to rest?” she asked as they walked together.

“No need. In the afternoon, Xu Xiangdong and I will split the workload, so I won’t have to use my hands,” Fu Chunian explained. Then he noticed the bag in her hand. “What did you buy?”

“Sunflower seeds and candy. Do you want some?” Lu Lanlan held the bag out to him.

“Who are you giving them to?” Fu Chunian asked.

“Auntie Xu. She taught me a lot,” Lu Lanlan said.

Fu Chunian looked at her and asked, “Was she hard on you today?”

“No,” Lu Lanlan shook her head. “She just wasn’t as warm as yesterday. Giving her a small gift is just a gesture of goodwill.”

“Mhm.” Fu Chunian nodded. “But if she ever really makes things difficult for you or gives you a hard time, you don’t have to put up with it.”

“I know,” Lu Lanlan nodded.

When they arrived at the fields, they took their respective tools and got to work.

Seeing Auntie Xu, Lu Lanlan smiled and approached her. “Auntie, thank you for your help these past two days. I bought some sunflower seeds and candy—take them home for the kids.”

Auntie Xu’s expression stiffened.

She had been cold to Lu Lanlan that morning not because she wanted gifts but because the daughter-in-law she had set her eyes on had run away.

“Comrade Lu, you misunderstand. Teaching you was my duty. You should take these back. If someone sees and starts gossiping, I’ll be in trouble.”

Lu Lanlan smiled. “Auntie, don’t worry. I wrapped them in cloth, so no one knows what’s inside. This is just my way of expressing gratitude.

The village head only asked you to teach me farming, but you even taught me how to grow vegetables. That wasn’t part of his instructions. And when I buy seeds tomorrow, I’ll need to ask you for more advice.

This is just a simple gesture between neighbors—nothing more.”

“That’s not necessary. If you need anything, just ask me directly. Take these back,” Auntie Xu refused and went back to work.

Lu Lanlan didn’t insist. Instead, after work, she and Fu Chunian visited Auntie Xu’s home.

Xu Xiangdong welcomed them warmly and, seeing the items Lu Lanlan had brought, made sure Auntie Xu accepted them.

After they left, Auntie Xu looked at her son in confusion.

“Why did you tell me to accept their gifts? If they go around spreading rumors, won’t it affect you?”

Xu Xiangdong had returned from military service and was a candidate for the next village head.

The current village head, Xu Jianguo’s father, originally intended for his son to inherit the position. However, with Xu Xiangdong’s return, he had been waiting for a chance to bring him down.

“Mom, don’t worry. They won’t say anything. Trust me,” Xu Xiangdong reassured her.

Lu Lanlan and Fu Chunian might stay silent, but those looking to ruin Xu Xiangdong wouldn’t let any opportunity slip by.

Xu Jianguo’s younger brother, who spent his days either at school or spying on Xu Xiangdong’s house, saw Lu Lanlan enter with a package but leave empty-handed.

He immediately reported this to their father.

Xu Jianguo’s mother was ecstatic. “Even the heavens are helping us!”

Xu Jianguo’s father had expected to hold the village head position until he was 60 or 70, then pass it to his son.

But Xu Xiangdong’s sudden return meant that after the current five-year term ended, the position would go to him instead.

As village head, their family could do the easiest work while earning the most points, claim priority for university or factory job quotas, and enjoy the respect of the entire village.

If they lost this position, they would have to live like ordinary people.

“Father, does this mean I don’t have to study at home anymore?” Xu Jianguo asked.

For now, his father had kept him home from farm work so he could study, hoping to use his remaining influence to send him to university this year.