Chapter 3: Bustling Youth Courtyard

The next day, Lotus Village’s farmland was even livelier than expected. Several aunties from the village found excuses to pass by the fields where the educated youths were working, going back and forth three or four times.

After circling around and gathering gossip, Auntie Yang finally returned to join Wang Fang and the others.

Her hands worked quickly, but her mouth didn’t stop moving:
“The new educated youths are pretty good, better than last year’s batch. Even the girls don’t complain about the hard work.”

“They’re all from Beijing. The tallest young man looks the best, and he’s smart too—after being shown once, he already knew what to do,” another chimed in.

“He seems to have a good temper, but from what I can tell, that boy is not easy to approach. He’s a cold one,” Auntie Yang said, gesturing dramatically as she spoke.

Auntie Zhou laughed. “What’s that boy’s name? The two new girls are also pretty, but I still think Yiran is the most beautiful.”

“The boy’s name is Xiao Ziyi. The taller girl is Zhuang Wenting—she knows him. The shorter one is Jiang Lanru. But when it comes to looks, Yiran is still the best.”

“Our Auntie Zhou just adores Yiran. You almost wish she were your daughter. Fang, you’d better watch out, or she might snatch your girl away,” Auntie Liu teased. She was close to Wang Fang, so everyone laughed without offense.

“All the girls are lovely, but Yiran is my precious daughter. If Auntie Zhou wants one, she’d better pray your third daughter-in-law gives birth to a girl this time.”

“My husband and I have been hoping for that. The third daughter-in-law wants a girl too, so we’ve all been wishing together.”

The new educated youths had risen early to work, only to become the village’s latest spectacle. Having never done farm work before, they were clumsy and unskilled.

But watching Xiao Ziyi master things so quickly, both Liu Qinggang and Wang Zhengming couldn’t help but admire him. Even the veteran educated youths were impressed. Everyone had thought that someone of his background would be the first to give up, but instead, he was the first to adapt.

After a short while, Zhuang Wenting’s hands started hurting. She glanced at Xiao Ziyi, who was still working steadily, and gritted her teeth. She wouldn’t give up—she would keep following him until he finally noticed her.

Jiang Lanru, on the other hand, had grown up doing chores and had suffered much in her past life. She quickly adapted to the farm work and made efforts to strike up a conversation.

“Comrade Xiao, you’re amazing! You picked up the technique so quickly,” she said with an admiring tone.

Xiao Ziyi only gave a cold nod and stepped forward without a word.

Jiang Lanru’s smile stiffened. She considered herself attractive—certainly not inferior to Zhuang Wenting. Yet no matter what she said these past few days, Xiao Ziyi never responded.

Still, she wasn’t discouraged. She wouldn’t give up. If Zhuang Wenting could succeed, then so could she. And this time, armed with her foreknowledge, she was determined not to repeat the bitter fate of her past life.

Zhuang Wenting, noticing Jiang Lanru trying to get close, quickly put down her hoe, grabbed her water flask, and rushed over to Xiao Ziyi.

“Ziyi, have some water.”

Ever since her confession had been rejected, Xiao Ziyi had grown increasingly cold toward her, forbidding her from calling him “Brother Ziyi.” But to emphasize their closeness, she stubbornly kept using it.

Xiao Ziyi rubbed his temples, a headache forming. They had grown up together, so he still had some feelings of familiarity. “If you go back now, it’s not too late.”

“No, I won’t. I want to stay here with you.” Zhuang Wenting was equally stubborn, returning to work with determination. She would prove herself to him.

At noon, Lin Yiran brought food to the fields for her family. She laid out the lunchboxes and called for her mother, sisters-in-law, and others to come eat.

Her father and brother were working farther away, so she carried food over to them, passing by the educated youths’ plot of land.

Since their arrival yesterday afternoon, Liu Qinggang had already noticed Lin Yiran. He was stunned that the village had such a beautiful girl. His companion Chen Tai, seeing his expression, nudged him.

“Don’t even think about it. That’s the village head’s daughter, the famous beauty of Lotus Village. Plenty of men like her, but none dare provoke her.”

Liu Qinggang scratched his head and chuckled. “Brother, I wouldn’t dare. I’m just admiring.”

Nearby, Xiao Ziyi was drinking water. Tilting his head back, he gulped deeply. As Lin Yiran passed by, a breeze carried the warmth of his presence. She caught a glimpse of his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed.

She quickly hurried past, though from the corner of her eye she couldn’t help but notice his tall, well-built frame. Still, she dared not linger—after all, two other girls were already watching him like hawks.

When the breeze faded and Lin Yiran had gone, Xiao Ziyi set down his cup. Yet on the tip of his nose, he still seemed to catch a faint trace of her fresh scent lingering in the air.

After lunch, everyone returned to work. Lin Yiran packed up the lunchboxes and went home.

Once she’d cleaned up the kitchen, her family came back for a nap. By five in the afternoon, when the heat had lessened, they all returned to the fields for more work.

Lin Yiran was the village’s scorekeeper. Yesterday she had been ill, so the old accountant had helped out. Today, after waking from her nap, she joined her family in the fields.

The scorekeeper’s job was relatively easy but required skill. Only someone educated and good with numbers could handle it.

Lin Yiran was the only person in the village to have finished high school. Her math was both fast and accurate, so everyone agreed she was the best fit for the role.

When she reached the village warehouse where the farm tools were stored, Grandpa Lin was dozing off. As Lin Yiran walked over, he woke up.
“Yiran, you’re here. You weren’t feeling well yesterday—are you better today?”

“I’m much better now, thank you for asking, Grandpa Lin.”

Grandpa Lin and Grandma Guixiang were elderly villagers of her grandparents’ generation. The couple lived beside the warehouse, watching over it.

At that moment, Grandma Guixiang was stitching shoe soles. Hearing Yiran’s voice, she came out.
“Yiran, you’re here. Are you feeling better? You didn’t show up yesterday, and when I asked around, they told me you were sick.”

She touched Yiran’s forehead gently and muttered a small blessing: “Illness, be gone, illness, be gone.”

Yiran smiled sweetly, accepting her kindness. Both Grandpa Lin and Grandma Guixiang had been close friends of her late grandparents.

Her grandparents had passed away early, leaving only her father, Lin Jianguo, behind. In many ways, the villagers had helped raise him. Fortunately, he had turned out to be hardworking and capable, and the family’s life grew better year by year.

After finishing her blessing, Grandma Guixiang pulled Yiran to sit down.
“I heard new educated youths arrived in the village?”

“Yes, Grandma Guixiang. You’ll see them later when they pass by.”

For the villagers, the arrival of new educated youths was always an exciting event, one to gossip and comment on for quite some time.

“No one saw them yesterday, but today I must take a look. Your Auntie Yang must already know everything—when she gets here, I’ll have her tell me all about it.”

Yiran laughed. Auntie Yang truly was an expert when it came to collecting gossip.

“Grandma Guixiang, is Uncle Lin coming back soon?”

As they chatted, Grandma Guixiang continued stitching insoles—these were for her son and grandson. Uncle Lin and his boy both worked with the transport team, hauling cargo over long distances. It wore shoes out quickly.

“Yes, he’ll be back in a few days. I heard your Uncle Lin wanted your eldest brother, Weijun, to go along on the long-haul trips. Did he agree?”

“Yes. The family supports him, and my brother also wants to take the chance while he’s still young.”

“That’s good.” Grandma Guixiang smiled. “Long-distance work is tiring, but the pay is better.” She had watched Weijun grow up and knew he was a good boy.

Yiran nodded. The transport team really was a good job. Otherwise, Auntie Zeng’s troublemaking son wouldn’t have broken her brother’s leg just to steal the position from him.

Yiran still remembered that incident. This time, she intended to act first. Recently, the town had been cracking down hard on drinking and gambling, and that rascal was guilty of both.

After chatting a little more, Grandma Guixiang went off to her housework, while Yiran opened her book from yesterday and continued reading.

By the time she finished, she glanced up at the clock on the wall—it was already half past six. The others would be finishing work soon.

Before long, the warehouse grew lively as villagers lined up to register their work points before returning their tools.

The villagers went first, followed by the educated youths. Auntie Yang, after registering her work points and putting away her tools, went off to chat with Grandma Guixiang.

When the villagers were done, the educated youths came in line. Though Yiran knew them, she wasn’t very close with most of them.

She greeted them warmly as she recorded their work points. The eldest among them, Jiang Yuanxiang, was more familiar with her.
“Yiran, are you feeling better?”

Jiang Yuanxiang had been among the first batch of educated youths sent to the village. Though called “Elder Sister,” she was only twenty-one. Earlier this year, she had become engaged to Lin Guang, making her practically family.

“Thank you, Sister Yuanxiang. I’m fine now.”

“You’ve got new arrivals at the Youth Courtyard. Once I finish recording your work points, I’ll prepare the rations for them.”

Yiran quickly noted everything down. By accident, her eyes met Xiao Ziyi’s, and she hurriedly looked away.

“Thank you,” Jiang Yuanxiang said quickly when she heard Yiran bring up the matter.

“Thanks,” came Xiao Ziyi’s deep, magnetic voice. Yiran’s ears tingled at the sound—no wonder he was the male lead, even his voice was so attractive.

Yiran smiled lightly in response, then got up and informed Grandpa Lin. He entered the grain storeroom and fetched the ration supplements for the newcomers.

Once the group had left, Yiran packed her things and went home.

After dinner, the family sat outside in the courtyard, enjoying the cool air. Suddenly, Auntie Yang bustled in, eager to gossip with Wang Fang.
“The two new girl educated youths at the Youth Courtyard had a fight. I heard clothes even got burned!”

Yiran couldn’t help but admire Auntie Yang’s skills—she lived at the entrance of the village, while the Youth Courtyard was at the far end. And yet, she already knew everything.