Chapter 11 – Wanting to Devote Herself

Jiang Manman changed into a set of fresh, dry clothes and headed into town with Tang Xiaomin and the others.

On the way, Tang Xiaomin sighed.

“You’ve only just arrived and you already offended that educated youth Li. Aren’t you afraid she’ll make things difficult for you later?”

Jiang Manman looked indifferent.

“Even if I didn’t offend her, she wouldn’t be offering me any kindness either.

I’m not gold—there’s no way everyone’s going to like me.

Didn’t you see how she looked at me from the start? She had it out for me already. Since she’s going to dislike me no matter what, I might as well have some fun myself.

Whatever comes, I’ll deal with it as it comes!”

Zhou Ye glanced at her and silently took a step away.

This girl sure carried a heavy grudge.

Jiang Manman figured she was probably on the verge of either a mental breakdown or menopause.

Yep—hormonal imbalance due to weight gain leading to mood swings. No explanation needed, totally normal!

Tang Xiaomin found Jiang Manman’s reasoning oddly convincing.

Then she glanced at Zhou Ye, who was walking behind them, and at Jiang Manman beside her—why did she suddenly feel like laughing?

When they arrived in town, Zhou Ye went to greet the uncle with the ox cart.

Then he came back and said, “You two go buy your stuff. Once you’re done, just load it onto Grandpa Wu’s ox cart. He’s heading back this afternoon, and we’ll ride with him.”

Jiang Manman and Tang Xiaomin looked at the ox cart’s location and nodded before splitting up.

Zhou Ye went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy rice.

Jiang Manman had said she’d go there with him to buy supplies and they’d tally up the money afterward.

She sent Tang Xiaomin to the state-run restaurant to buy buns.

After watching Tang Xiaomin walk off, Jiang Manman glanced toward the cooperative where Zhou Ye was headed and rolled her eyes.

Then she turned and walked off in another direction.

Zhou Ye, who was walking ahead, turned around when he noticed her leaving. Watching her walk away, he frowned.

What was this girl going off to do?

Shouldn’t she be going to the cooperative with him? Didn’t she need to buy pots and pans and that kind of stuff?

He was planning to help her carry them—where was she going?

Zhou Ye hesitated, wondering whether he should follow.

Jiang Manman found a secluded spot and realized the only place with no one around was the public toilet.

What—was it that in this era people didn’t let good stuff go to outsiders?

So she went into the public toilet, and not long after, came out carrying a large bundle.

Obviously, it wasn’t poop inside.

It was a stash she had long prepared in her space: pots, bowls, bedding mats, all packed into one big bundle that she now took out.

Not far from there, she ran into Zhou Ye.

Zhou Ye was quite surprised to see her carrying such a large bundle.

“Done shopping already?”

Jiang Manman shot him a look.

She’d already said she didn’t like these flirt-magnets.

Hearing his question, she simply replied, “Yeah, I’m done.”

“You finished that fast?” Zhou Ye looked at her skeptically and stepped closer. They stood face-to-face, Jiang Manman still holding her big bundle.

As he got closer and closer, his sharply defined, handsome face came into focus right in front of her.

Jiang Manman froze. This guy was seriously good-looking—almost as good as her darling Zhan Zhan.

Her heart suddenly raced, and her mouth went dry. No, she had to remind herself to stay calm.

“What are you doing getting so close? You trying to be a creep?”

Zhou Ye chuckled.

“You’re overthinking it. I just want to ask—did you buy this stuff on the black market?

Let me tell you, it’s best not to go to places like that again. If something happens, no one will be able to save you.”

Jiang Manman paused—so that’s what he was worried about. He thought she got her stuff from the black market.

She almost thought he was going to do something sketchy.

“Got it. I won’t go again,” she said obediently.

Seeing how compliant she was, Zhou Ye sized her up.

“You just got here, right?

Then how do you know where the black market is?”

That question made Jiang Manman freeze for a moment before replying, “I didn’t know—but I could ask around, couldn’t I?”

“And you dared to go asking people?

Girl, you’ve got guts. Aren’t you afraid someone might report you?”

“Well, no one did, right?

Alright, alright, let’s go.”

Zhou Ye shook his head, watching her haul that big bundle like it was nothing.

He almost offered to help but stopped himself. He watched her drop the bundle off on the ox cart, then turned and asked, “Did you already go to the supply and marketing cooperative?”

Zhou Ye shook his head and looked at her. “Not yet. Are you still going?”

Jiang Manman thought for a moment.

“Yeah. Weren’t you going to buy rice for me? Let’s go!”

Zhou Ye suddenly laughed.

“You don’t actually believe you saved me, do you?”

Jiang Manman: ……

She didn’t even want to engage.

“What, didn’t I?”

She gave him a once-over.

“What, don’t want to repay your debt with rice? Want to devote yourself instead?”

Zhou Ye: “Forget it, I’ll just give you the rice.”

Jiang Manman laughed. “Hey, have you heard that saying?”

Zhou Ye: “What saying?”

Jiang Manman: “Only kids make choices.”

With that, she smiled and headed toward the cooperative, leaving Zhou Ye frowning behind, not understanding what she meant.

He quickly caught up to her. The two went to the cooperative, and Zhou Ye bought twenty jin of rice.

The auntie at the shop recognized Zhou Ye and happily watched him pay, then handed the rice over to Jiang Manman.

Her eyes lit up—buying this much rice for a girl? She chuckled and said:

“Oh my, Comrade Zhou, are you getting married?

This young lady must be your wife, right?”

Zhou Ye: ……

Jiang Manman: ……

“Auntie, you sure know how to joke. Please don’t say that next time. I’m just an educated youth who just arrived—I’m not his wife.”

Hearing Jiang Manman’s explanation, the auntie sighed, realizing she was wrong, and quickly apologized.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. I just saw Comrade Zhou hand you the rice and thought you were family!”

“Impossible! Auntie, I’d like a pair of those industrial gloves. I’ll take two pairs.”

As she spoke, she pulled out some industrial coupons. The auntie immediately agreed.

“Anything else you need, just let me know.”

Jiang Manman also bought some White Rabbit candy. She’d transmigrated here through a book, so she knew what to expect. Lots of female leads in books liked to gather pigweed.

It was an easy job, and she planned to take it. She could get the village kids to help collect pigweed—just give them some candy.

She could also get them to catch fish and shrimp—candy would work there too.

In short, the village kids hadn’t even met her yet, but she’d already planned their schedules.

The auntie grabbed two handfuls of candy and weighed them.

“Alright! Perfect handfuls, auntie’s got the magic touch.”

“Auntie, you’re amazing.”

The auntie laughed heartily at the praise.

After they finished shopping and came outside, Zhou Ye held out his hand.

“Let me carry that for you.”

Jiang Manman didn’t stand on ceremony and handed him the rice.

Twenty jin—what a relief.

“Thanks.”

“Brother Zhou, who’s that woman?”