Chapter 63

Father Li was called by the village chief to help plan the distribution and submission of public grain after the autumn harvest.

He left early and returned late every day, completely unaware that Li Chen was digging a well.  

When he finally found out, the first thing he did was ask Mother Li: “Did you contribute any money for the well?”  

Mother Li looked utterly confused.  

This time, it was Father Li who felt a pang in his chest. “They’ve already dug the well. Isn’t fetching water from their place more convenient than going all the way to the village well?”  

Only then did Mother Li realize the issue and stood there, dumbfounded. “Is it too late if I bring money over now? Wait, the eldest went to help, and the second family’s household even paid wages. Even if we wanted to contribute money, she might not accept it.”  

“Forget it.” Father Li waved his hand. “Just keep fetching water from the village well. Let the eldest’s family and the third’s take turns doing it.”  

Mother Li could only nod in agreement. However, she hesitated before saying: “Even if we didn’t contribute money, in special situations like when the roads are icy in winter or muddy on rainy days, couldn’t we talk to the second household? If she agrees, we could also fetch water from there, right?”  

Father Li snorted. “The eldest’s wife might be willing to ask, but the third’s family didn’t even want to help dig the well. If they want to fetch water from there, let’s see if they have the nerve to do it.”  

Mother Li: “…” Everything was just a headache.  

The next day, the whole village bustled with excitement because it was grain distribution day.  

Early in the morning, some people couldn’t wait and had already taken their burlap sacks to the drying field, waiting in anticipation.  

Shen Yiyi’s family, however, was in no rush. They took their time finishing breakfast. Only after Chen Qiang’s family had received their share did they borrow their wooden cart and head over.  

On the way, the Three Baos sat on the wooden cart while Li Chen pushed it. Shen Yiyi walked beside him, watching the villagers, one by one, receive their grain with smiles spreading across their faces.

Shen Yiyi asked Li Chen: “When we receive our grain, should we set some aside for Father and Mother?”  

Their household had already separated, but they were still responsible for providing grain to Father Li and Mother Li for their retirement.  

“Yes.” Li Chen replied. “Twice a year.”  

Shen Yiyi nodded. There was no room for debate when it came to honoring one’s parents. However, the conversation made her think of her own parents.  

Over the past ten days, she had made two trips to the city, but she had not received any letters from her parents. This left her feeling uneasy. She wondered if they were angry that she had married and had children in the countryside without their knowledge, keeping it a secret from them for so many years.  

In her past life, according to the original timeline, she and Lin Jiadong were childhood sweethearts. Since she had been reborn in her mother’s womb, in a sense, Father Shen and Mother Shen were truly her biological parents.  

As the only daughter in the family, she had been the most cherished. The moment she graduated from high school, her parents had pulled every string they could to secure her a job at the supply and marketing cooperative.  

But she had defied them, choosing instead to move to the countryside, which had infuriated her parents.  

Even so, they still wrote to her, reminding her repeatedly not to marry Lin Jiadong in the countryside and certainly not to settle down there. They had promised to find a way to bring her back to the city.  

Later, her father fell ill and retired, while her mother focused on caring for him, leaving them with no time to worry about her. It was during that period that she had married Li Chen.  

In her past life, she had kept her marriage a secret from her parents. It was only after she abandoned Li Chen and the Three Baos to return to the city that they found out she had been married and had children.  

Although they were upset, they never blamed her. They had never wanted their daughter to be trapped in the countryside forever and had hoped to keep her by their side.  

But their guilt weighed on them. Every year, they would secretly travel to Qingshui Village to visit Li Chen and the Three Baos.

But she still had not given her parents any peace of mind and, in the end, had left them to suffer the grief of losing their child.  

In her past life, aside from Li Chen and the Three Baos, the ones she felt most guilty toward were her parents.  

Thinking of this, Shen Yiyi said: “Brother Chen, I want to send some grain back to my parents.”  

“Alright.” Li Chen agreed without hesitation. “If we don’t have enough, we’ll buy more.”  

Hearing this, Shen Yiyi glanced at him. Although she had known he would support her, hearing it with her own ears still moved her deeply.  

Li Chen lowered his voice and said: “You treat me well, so I have to treat you well too.”  

Shen Yiyi’s lips curled up as she gave him a playful yet affectionate look, then sighed. “It’s a pity we can’t send too much.”  

Right now, the only way to send things was through the postal service, and the shipping costs were ridiculously high. If they sent too much, it would be more practical to just send money and let her parents buy grain at the supply and marketing cooperative.  

But sending money wasn’t a realistic option. Even if her mother didn’t question where the money came from, she would surely save it for her father’s medical expenses rather than spend it on grain.  

Li Chen understood her concerns and said: “It’s fine. You can send as much as you want. I know someone in the transport team who can help deliver it to Beijing.”  

“Really?” Shen Yiyi’s eyes lit up.  

“Really!” Li Chen confirmed.  

His previous work had often involved dealing with the transport team, so he had built some connections.  

Shen Yiyi was both delighted and touched, her gaze soft and brimming with emotion.  

The love and joy reflected in her eyes greatly satisfied Li Chen’s sense of pride, and a faint smile curved his lips.  

At that moment, they were walking past a bend in the road. There was no one nearby, and up ahead, the Three Baos were chattering excitedly as they played with the burlap sacks, too preoccupied to pay attention to them.  

Shen Yiyi hesitated for a moment, then leaned close to his ear, her face flushing red, and whispered shyly: “My… thing ended a few days ago.”

Li Chen: “……”  

He looked up at the sun overhead—he would have to wait until nighttime.  

Cough.  

First, they had to take care of business.  

By now, it was nearly noon, and the drying field was still packed with people. Even from a distance, the lively chatter could be heard.  

Most of the villagers had already collected their grain, leaving the majority of those still in line as Educated Youth, along with some villagers who had finished collecting theirs and stayed to watch the commotion.  

When Shen Yiyi’s family of five arrived, many eyes followed their movements. The moment people noticed they had brought a wooden cart, their gazes instinctively shifted to the tree under which Chen Jiayi was crouching, her face filled with resentment.

The gossiping spirit of the crowd burned even brighter.  

Old Li’s family had already received their grain and gone home. However, Mother Li knew that today, Chen Jiayi would have to use her labor points to settle her debt with Shen Yiyi.

Fearing that Chen Jiayi might cause trouble and that Shen Yiyi wouldn’t be able to handle it alone, she had specially brought He Zhaodi and Jiang Ailing along for support.  

Jiang Ailing, though reluctant, couldn’t resist the chance to witness the drama unfold, so she naturally came as well.  

As a result, Shen Yiyi’s family of five became the center of attention.  

In Qingshui Village, grain distribution always prioritized the villagers first, followed by the Educated Youth.  

Although Shen Yiyi was also an Educated Youth, her marriage to Li Chen made her a part of Qingshui Village, allowing her to receive grain before Chen Jiayi. That was why Chen Jiayi had been squatting there since early morning.  

Was she truly that proactive? Not at all!  

In fact, she had initially planned to show up at the last possible moment last night, but then Lin Jiadong had reminded her—  

Right now, in Qingshui Village, she was no match for Shen Yiyi. If she didn’t come early, there was a chance Shen Yiyi might take all of her grain.  

That had frightened Chen Jiayi. It was already a done deal that her labor points would be used to pay off her debt to Shen Yiyi, and Shen Yiyi was certainly going to take some of her grain. But she still needed to be left with her basic food ration—otherwise, what was she supposed to eat?