Chapter 33: Don’t Force Me to Slap You

“You guys get a total of twenty.”

A discount, for real!

Lin He took out some candy and stuffed it into Aunt Chen’s pocket. “Thank you, Auntie. Have some candy on me.”

Aunt Chen grinned so widely that her eyes nearly disappeared. “Good, good, good! Such a fine young comrade.”

Song Yue and Lin He handed over the money.

Ten yuan each.

Aunt Chen accepted the payment. “The cabinet has to be custom-made. I’ll have it delivered the evening after tomorrow.”

Song Yue nodded. “Alright.”

Lin He smiled. “Thank you for the trouble, Auntie.”

Aunt Chen waved a hand. “What’s with the politeness? No need for that.”

With everything settled, Song Yue and Lin He were ready to leave.

Just as they were about to speak—

A child’s voice rang out again.

“Grandma!”

“Grandma!”

“Grandma!”

…

Whoa.

Five kids burst into the room all at once.

Three boys, two girls.

The oldest looked around ten?

The youngest, maybe three.

The five kids stared curiously at Song Yue and Lin He as soon as they entered.

Lin He asked, “Auntie, are these all your grandkids?”

Aunt Chen glanced at the children. “I have four sons. Except for my youngest, the other three are all married.

The eldest has two kids, the second also has two, and the third—including the one in the belly—has two as well.”

“Quite the big family, Auntie.” Lin He grinned and pulled out more candy, handing it out. “Come, come, big brother’s got some candy for you.”

Song Yue: “…”

The five kids looked longingly at the candy but didn’t dare take it. Instead, they looked at Aunt Chen.

Aunt Chen was a straightforward woman.

Since the candy was already offered, it wouldn’t be right to refuse.

At worst, she’d just tell her husband to make the cabinet extra sturdy and use better materials.

She spoke up, “Go ahead and take it. What do you say when someone gives you candy?”

With her permission, the kids took the candy. “Thank you, big brother.”

Lin He handed out candy while asking, “Are you from the eldest son’s family or the second son’s?”

“My dad’s the eldest.”

…

Just like that, after a few questions, Lin He figured out who was whose child.

Once the kids had their candy, Song Yue and Lin He left.

Song Yue was still debating whether to mention Aunt Chen’s third daughter-in-law’s pulse readings.

The system hadn’t triggered a mission.

Lin He had tried speaking up several times, glancing at Song Yue, but she seemed deep in thought.

He jogged ahead and blocked her path. “Comrade Song, something on your mind?”

Song Yue looked up. “…”

Lin He frowned. “Did you find something wrong when checking the pulse?”

Busted.

Song Yue didn’t hide it. “Sort of.”

“I’m not entirely sure.”

Lin He recalled something. “So that’s why you asked if she had gone to the hospital?”

“Mm.” Song Yue sighed. “It’s hard to say. Different perspectives, plus it’s our first meeting. If I just blurt out something bad, it won’t sit well.”

Lin He understood her hesitation. “What’s the issue?”

“The baby might not be in the right position,” Song Yue explained. “Which means she might not be able to give birth naturally.”

“I’ll tell them.”

Lin He turned and ran back without hesitation.

Song Yue quickly tried to stop him. “Hey—”

Lin He ran even faster. “Comrade Song, just wait for me there. Don’t worry, I won’t get scolded!”

In a flash, he was gone.

Song Yue: “…”

Forget it. Better follow him.

If he really got beaten, she could at least help out.

Song Yue took off running.

Just as she reached the end of the road—

She saw Lin He running back.

Fortunately—

No one was chasing him with a stick.

Song Yue stopped and eyed him. “Didn’t get hit?”

Lin He, panting, grinned. “With this face? Aunt Chen wouldn’t have the heart to hit me. She even ate my candy.”

Song Yue: “…”

She spoke up, “Let’s go. We should head back—those working should be returning now.”

“If we’re out too long, people will start talking.”

“Mm.”

Lin He nodded. “Actually, I didn’t talk to Aunt Chen. I…”

The two walked side by side, keeping a two-person distance.

Back in the village, Lu Huaishen and Zhou Ye saw them from a distance.

Lu Huaishen’s face darkened, nearly stormy.

Zhou Ye blinked. “Boss, don’t tell me that guy is interested in Comrade Song too?”

“Boss, should we go warn him?”

Lu Huaishen really wanted to storm over.

But then he thought about his current situation.

Damn it.

Why did he have to take on this stupid mission?

No—

Not a stupid mission. After all, it involved that girl.

Lu Huaishen’s gaze lingered on Lin He before he picked up his buckets and headed back to the cowshed.

Zhou Ye waited for a reply but got nothing. When he turned around, Lu Huaishen was already far away.

“Hey—” He hurriedly chased after him. “Boss, wait for me!”

…

As Lin He talked, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back. He turned around—

Nothing there.

He shook his head. He should put on an extra layer later. Wouldn’t want to catch a cold right after arriving.

Meanwhile, Song Yue mulled over what Lin He had said.

Turns out, Lin He hadn’t spoken to Aunt Chen directly.

Instead, he had found Yang Chunhua’s child and had the kid pass the message.

The child was eight—plenty old enough to relay the message properly.

They’d just have to wait and see.

The two returned to the educated youth compound.

As soon as they entered the yard, smoke curled into the air.

A group of people sat together, chatting and laughing. Liu Wei, Li Xinyue, and Zhao Zirui were among them.

All eyes turned to Song Yue and Lin He.

Chen Xue spoke first. “Comrade Song, Comrade Lin, you’re back?”

“Perfect timing, dinner’s almost ready. Come sit for a bit before we eat.”

Lin He smiled. “Alright.”

Song Yue nodded.

They kept their distance as they walked over.

A girl with two braids and a round, slightly tanned face scooted over to make room for them. She gave them a shy smile.

Song Yue and Lin He thanked her and were about to sit—

When Liu Wei’s voice rang out.

“Song Yue, what were you and Comrade Lin doing out for so long?”

Something was off in her tone.

The other educated youths looked at them differently now.

Song Yue smiled at Liu Wei. “Do I need to report to you?”

“…I…” Liu Wei shrank under her smile and averted her eyes. “I was just asking out of concern, no need to get mad…”

Song Yue’s smile deepened. “If I were really mad, I’d have slapped you twice already.”

The older educated youths: “…”

This Song Yue looked thin and frail… but damn, she was not to be messed with.

“Concern?” Lin He rolled his eyes. “That’s how you ask out of concern? We went to commission a cabinet from Uncle Chen, but you made it sound so suspicious.”

“A cabinet?” Li Xinyue cut in. “What for?”

Lin He glanced at her. “For storing clothes and other things.”

Seeing Lin He stand up for Song Yue, jealousy flared in Liu Wei’s heart.

She clenched her fists and lowered her voice. “Comrade Lin, Comrade Song, did we do something to offend you?

Couldn’t you at least tell us you were getting a cabinet? Aren’t we supposed to help each other?”

Song Yue’s smile widened.

“Liu Wei, don’t push me. If you do, I’ll slap you right here in front of everyone.”