Chapter 27: I Like You 

The committee people looked at the accountant and his group, smiling and said, “If I had to say, your production team is not good to outsiders, how could a foreigner from the know-your-own-point go to the commune and report on your entire team?”

The committee people’s words made Li Lan feel full of hatred. Although they didn’t mention who the person was, the word “outsider” was enough to imply that it was someone from the know-your-own-point.

And at that moment, all the people from the know-your-own-point were standing outside the gate.

So, as soon as anyone glanced at them, they knew that Li Lan was the one who went to the commune to report on them.

This was a clear case of eating bitterness and stirring up trouble. They were making a profit from the production team’s labor and then reporting on them. It was even worse than a white-eyed wolf.

But no matter how angry they were, they had to focus on getting the committee people to leave first.

“This matter is none of your concern,” the accountant said calmly. “As for reporting on our team members who are speculating and hoarding, it’s not possible.”

The committee people saw that the group was still standing in their way and became threatening.

Li Lin watched the two groups facing off and felt uneasy.

She was a foreigner who had come from another time and had a space of sixteen layers of commercial buildings, but she had been defeated every time. It was a sad fate.

But through this incident, she understood a principle: either you have power or you have ability.

If you don’t have either, you’ll be taken advantage of by anyone in this chaotic era and won’t even have any bones left.

She thought about this and became determined to develop her own strength in secret.

This way, even if she encountered something in the future, she wouldn’t be treated like this again.

Just as Li Lin was thinking this, the production team was discussing among themselves, and the two groups were facing off.

A tractor came rumbling in from a distance and arrived at the know-your-own-point.

The committee people saw that their leader had arrived and were happy at first, but when they heard “release” they became gloomy.

“Still dare to look at me like that?”

The leader of the committee people saw that his subordinates were above him and cursed and hit one of them before speaking in a low voice, “This time you’ve gotten yourself into trouble with someone you shouldn’t have. Get out!”

He then turned to the group of committee people and scolded them as he led them away on the tractor.

After they left, he took a deep breath.

“That group of know-your-own-point people isn’t too bad,” one of the committee people said as he looked at the leader.

“Don’t talk about things you shouldn’t,” the leader said sternly and closed his mouth.

The committee people knew better than to ask any more questions.

On the other side of the production team, Zhang Jun said, “Those who need to exchange things can exchange them, and those who don’t can go back home and rest. Don’t stir up any more trouble here.”

He then drove his cow cart away with the accountant riding on it.

Li Lin noticed that Hu Yingying and Fang Mingyi got off the tractor and understood what they had done.

She smiled and thanked them sincerely.

“Hu Yingying, you’ve helped me so many times since I came down to the countryside. I don’t even know how to repay you for all your kindness,” Hu Yingying said with a nonchalant tone.

Fang Mingyi nodded in agreement. “Yes, Li Know-Your-Own-Point, we can’t just sit back and watch you get into trouble. We have to help you.” 

Zhou Chunshan, Han Xue, and the others nearby gave strange looks to Fang Mingyi. When they needed his help in the past, he always brushed them off with a “busy” excuse, but now, he was eager to help. Tsk, tsk…

Meanwhile, Lin Meina was so jealous her eyes were red. It was obvious that Fang Mingyi liked Li Lin—so what about her?

She had liked Fang Mingyi for such a long time, and now, a new arrival had snatched him away from her. She was really unwilling to accept this.

However, after the incident with Zhao Li and Zheng Guoqiang, she dared not make any rash moves.

But to let it go just like that? That was even less possible.

It seemed like if she wanted to be with Fang Mingyi, she would need to use some… unconventional methods.

Fang Mingyi, oblivious to the fact that he was being targeted, only felt a slight chill on his back, but it quickly passed, so he didn’t think much of it.

Chen Dong, watching how Fang Mingyi looked at Xiao Lin differently, knew at once that Fang Mingyi liked Xiao Lin.

After spending the day together, Chen Dong felt that Fang Mingyi was a good kid—he came from a good family, was educated, and now, seeing Xiao Lin in trouble, he was eager to help.

He seemed like a decent young man.

It seemed that when there was no one around at night, he would have to mention this to Xiao Lin.

As for what Xiao Lin thought, that was not for him to control.

With that in mind, Chen Dong helped the villagers exchange damaged cloth until the sky turned dark, so dark that you couldn’t see your hand in front of you, and only then did he finally stop.

Li Lin had already returned to her room and prepared the meal, now waiting for Chen Dong to come back so they could eat.

After washing his hands, Chen Dong sat down across from Li Lin and said, “Xiao Lin, tomorrow I’ll go to the commune to buy some meat. You make a few extra dishes and invite Fang Mingyi, Hu Yingying, and Zhu Yingying over to eat. You should properly thank them.”

“I’ll give you the money tickets for the meat. I can’t go to the commune, so I’ll trouble you to make the trip,” Li Lin said.

She knew she needed to thank them properly. Originally, she had planned to finish her work early and go to the commune herself in the afternoon, but now, since Uncle Chen was going, there was no need for her to make the trip.

“Alright, give it to me in the morning. I’ll go early and should be able to buy a lot of good stuff,” Chen Dong said, accepting the money without hesitation. 

After all, even siblings keep accounts straight.

This time, twice was fine, but if it happened too often, he’d be a bit uncomfortable.

So, he accepted Li Lin’s money without any reluctance.

After eating a couple of bites, Chen Dong hesitated and then asked, “Xiao Lin, what do you think of Fang Mingyi?”

“Huh?” 

Li Lin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, “I think he’s pretty good. He’s good-looking, comes from a good family, and is quite caring.”

“And what do you think about how he treats you?” Chen Dong asked, watching her face for any signs of change, his brow furrowing slightly.

“I think he treats me well,” Li Lin said. As she spoke, she thought back to the many times Fang Mingyi had helped her since she came to the countryside.

Suddenly, it occurred to her: Could it be that Fang Mingyi actually… liked her?

Otherwise, why would he be so kind to her among all the other female intellectuals?

“Do you have feelings for him?” Chen Dong cleared his throat and continued, “Ahem, Uncle Chen thinks you’re old enough now, and it’s time to find someone responsible to treat you well. That way, you won’t have to worry about being bullied in the countryside.”

“Uncle Chen, let’s not talk about this. Fang Mingyi may not necessarily like me.” Li Lin said, trying to brush it off.

“I like you.”