Chapter 23: A Change

Early August, and the weather was still scorching. Under the blazing sun, crops flourished, and people toiled, drenched in sweat. The sweet potato fields had already been weeded, and now it was time to tend to the corn. As long as the crops grew well, the hard work and sweat were all worth it.

Ye Xin was working alongside some familiar village women, chatting while learning about farming. Since she hadn’t been part of the rural labor force for long, she had little experience. Asking for advice was far better than fumbling through it on her own.

It was also a way to build relationships with these women—they loved to talk, and it was better to steer the conversation than let them gossip about her. For example, when she asked about rice cultivation, the women eagerly shared their knowledge, explaining how to prepare the seedlings, plant the rice, tend the fields, and when to harvest.

When she asked what to do with an excess of vegetables, the women excitedly gave her all sorts of methods for drying and pickling them. Even those she didn’t know joined in enthusiastically, and before she knew it, she had learned how to make dried mustard greens and pickled vegetables.

The lively conversation on Ye Xin’s side was in stark contrast to the quiet group of female educated youth nearby.

“My gosh, she’s really fitting in with the village women now!” Liu Hongxia whispered.

Wang Xiaowei, who rarely spoke, glanced over and quietly remarked, “Ye Xin looks much healthier.”

The others froze for a moment before they all started scrutinizing Ye Xin. Even though they weren’t particularly close to her, they worked together every day, so they hadn’t noticed the gradual changes. But now that Wang Xiaowei had pointed it out, they realized Ye Xin had indeed transformed quite a bit.

She used to be thin and dark, with a sallow complexion that screamed malnutrition. She barely stood out. But now, her cheeks were fuller, her skin had lightened, and despite the heat, a healthy pink flush adorned her face. Her once dull eyes now sparkled with life, and there was an undeniable brightness about her. Her previously unhappy expression had softened into a cheerful smile, making her much more pleasant to look at. No wonder the village women enjoyed chatting with her.

Although she was mingling with the older women, Ye Xin still stood out. Young, vibrant, and poised, she lacked the roughness of a typical village girl.

Zheng Wenwen furrowed her brow, puzzled. “It’s strange… How come everyone else is getting darker from the sun, but she’s getting fairer?”

Liu Hongxia stared at Ye Xin, squinting, “I noticed she didn’t used to wear a hat, but maybe now she’s wearing one to avoid getting tanned?”

“That raggedy hat can’t block much,” Zheng Wenwen scoffed. “And besides, she’s not as scrawny as she used to be. It looks like she’s gained weight.”

Liu Hongxia speculated, “Could it be she’s eating well at Shen Zhuo’s house?” But she quickly shook her head. “No way, Shen Zhuo’s family probably struggles just to get enough food. How could she be eating that well? It’s really strange… How did she change so much?”

Jiang Jingyu, meanwhile, noticed something different. “Ye Xin’s asking the women how to make dried mustard greens and pickles. Could she be growing more vegetables than she can eat?”

Zheng Wenwen frowned. “That can’t be right. She didn’t even know how to grow vegetables when she lived in the dorm.”

Wang Xiaowei spoke again, “Maybe it’s Shen Zhuo who’s growing them.”

“Yeah…” They all suddenly realized.

Could it be that Shen Zhuo, the poor boy they once looked down on, was actually a master at growing vegetables? Lately, he and Ye Xin had been inseparable, always close to each other. Could it be that he was the one helping Ye Xin thrive? Not only could he identify medicinal herbs, but he was also about to begin medical training.

Plus, he had the only bicycle in the village—quite the rare commodity.

And, on top of it all, he was good-looking.

When they added it all up, they began to see him in a new light… Maybe Shen Zhuo wasn’t so bad after all.

“Impressive… He’s only seventeen. Give him a few more years, and maybe he won’t be so poor anymore,” Liu Hongxia muttered, her eyes fixed on Ye Xin, now filled with genuine envy. “Looks like she’s not as clueless as we thought.”

Zheng Wenwen, although surprised by Ye Xin’s transformation, held on to her original belief. “No matter what, it’s more sensible to wait for news about returning to the city. Ye Xin is getting more and more entangled with Shen Zhuo, and it’s going to be harder for them to part ways later.”

The male educated youth weren’t weeding the cornfields today, and neither was Shen Zhuo. It was time to fertilize the rice paddies, so they were all busy in the fields. Shen Zhuo, once known as a frail, skinny boy, was often spared from the more laborious tasks. However, today, the squad leader, Li Jianbang, noticed something different. Shen Zhuo had bulked up a little. He clapped the boy on the shoulder—though still thin, he no longer looked like skin and bones.

Li Jianbang nodded with approval, thinking that Shen Zhuo had finally started recovering from his father’s death. It had been heartbreaking to see him so gaunt before. Though they weren’t related, they had grown up in the same village, and Li Jianbang had always hoped for the boy to turn a corner. So, he assigned Shen Zhuo the task of fertilizing the rice paddies—a tough and dirty job but one that earned extra work points.

Shen Zhuo didn’t show much on his face, but inside, he felt a sense of pride. He was finally able to work like a real man.

All that good food hadn’t gone to waste… Ye Xin was right!

The male educated youth standing nearby noticed Shen Zhuo too. It was their first time working with him. Although they knew his name because of Ye Xin, they had never interacted with him much. So, they had little to say.

Li Guangrong, a strong young man, was also part of the fertilizing team. He glanced at Shen Zhuo but said nothing, still feeling awkward after their past run-ins. However, Li Guanghui, who was about Shen Zhuo’s age and had grown up playing with him, walked over to say hello.

“Shen Zhuo, how’ve you been lately?” Li Guanghui asked, his dark skin and honest demeanor making him seem even more robust next to the slender Shen Zhuo. Though they hadn’t spoken in a while due to Shen Zhuo’s recent silence and the distance between their homes, Li Guanghui had been concerned.

Shen Zhuo nodded, acknowledging his friend’s concern. “I’m doing well.”

Li Guanghui exhaled in relief. “That’s good to hear. You look much better now. I was really worried about you for a while.” He thought back to how Shen Zhuo had lost both his mother at a young age and now his father—such a tragic life for someone without any other family.

As they worked, the two chatted sporadically, though it was mostly Li Guanghui doing the talking while Shen Zhuo listened quietly.

At one point, Li Guanghui couldn’t resist some gossip. “So, Ye Xin… she’s still living at your place?”

“Yeah,” Shen Zhuo replied.

Li Guanghui shot him a curious look. “Are you two still planning to go through with the engagement?”

“Yeah,” Shen Zhuo said again.

Li Guanghui was taken aback. “Really? How can you stand it? She was so… well, you know…” His words trailed off, but the meaning was clear. He couldn’t imagine putting up with someone like that.

Shen Zhuo paused before responding, “She’s changed a lot. She’s great now.”

Li Guanghui looked at him, realizing he was serious. With a sigh of disbelief, he shrugged. “Well, as long as you’re happy.”

Ding-a-ling!

In the afternoon, the crisp sound of a bicycle bell rang out, signaling the arrival of the postman. His booming voice announced the letters, and Ye Xin heard that she had one waiting for her. A few other educated youth had mail as well, and they all went to collect it.

Ye Xin glanced at the return address on her envelope. It was from home. She tucked it away for later.

After washing up that night, she entered her special space, finally opening the letter.

As expected, it was from her eldest sister, Ye Huan.

The letter began with Ye Xin’s eldest sister expressing her joy and relief at finally receiving a reply. She shared how the whole family relaxed, knowing that Ye Xin was doing well. Her sister also expressed sympathy, saying she hadn’t realized how tough conditions were at Fengshui Brigade, but encouraged Ye Xin to stay strong and build good relationships with the team. She advised her not to hesitate to ask for help when needed, rather than pushing herself too hard.

Next, her sister addressed the thirty yuan she had sent in the last letter, assuring Ye Xin that it was a gift, not a loan, and she shouldn’t worry about paying it back. However, her sister explained that the family wasn’t well-off either, so they couldn’t afford to send any more money or supplies this time, hoping Ye Xin would understand.

She also reminded Ye Xin to write back soon and keep in touch, adding that she would be waiting eagerly for her reply. Toward the end of the letter, her sister was pleased to note that Ye Xin’s handwriting had improved, asking if she was still studying. She encouraged Ye Xin to continue, saying it was a wise decision—one day, policies might change, and educated youths could return to the city through job or education programs. Keeping her knowledge sharp would be the right move.

When Ye Xin read that last part, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. She had suspected that the change in her handwriting might raise some eyebrows, but she hadn’t expected her sister to interpret it so positively. While she hadn’t trained in calligraphy, her handwriting was naturally more polished than the original Ye Xin’s, so it made sense.

As long as no one suspected she was a completely different person, she was in the clear.

Ye Xin wasn’t disappointed that her sister hadn’t sent any more money or supplies. After all, she wasn’t the original owner of this body, so she couldn’t just take advantage of the family’s generosity without feeling a bit of guilt. She had spent the thirty yuan carefully, and it wasn’t something she would take for granted. She made a mental note to repay them in some way.

In fact, she had an idea. She could send some dried vegetables back to her family—a small token of appreciation. The Ye family wasn’t particularly wealthy, and even in the city, food was rationed, so getting extra was always tough. Dried vegetables weren’t a luxury, but they could still add something to the family’s meals. Plus, she had more than enough from the crops she was drying out, so it wouldn’t be a problem to send some back.

However, this reminded Ye Xin of her dwindling funds. She only had about eighteen yuan left, which, given her usual spending habits, would only last for two more shopping trips. This realization sparked a sense of urgency.

She needed to start earning money—fast. Otherwise, she’d run out of food, especially meat!

Fortunately, the vegetables in the garden behind her house were ripening. There was more than she could eat, and this gave her an idea: she could sell some of the produce, disguising it as a natural overflow from her garden.

The next morning, during breakfast, Ye Xin brought up the idea of heading to town with Shen Zhuo. She used the excuse of needing to send a letter, making the plan seem perfectly reasonable.

Shen Zhuo agreed, and getting permission from the production team to take time off wasn’t an issue.

However, they couldn’t go to town immediately—they still needed to spend two more afternoons collecting herbs and drying them out. By the time everything was ready, nearly a month had passed since their last trip to the market. Their stash of good food had long run out, and Ye Xin was eager to stock up again.

As they prepared to leave, some of the other educated youths caught wind of their plans. Zheng Wenwen rushed over, asking, “Ye Xin, could you help me mail a letter?”

Ye Xin was a bit surprised but nodded. “Sure, no problem.”

With Zheng Wenwen leading the way, other educated youths who needed to send letters also approached her, asking for favors. After all, the town was far away, and it was a hassle to make the trip. Having someone else handle it was a blessing.

It was just a small task, so Ye Xin agreed to help everyone.

This unexpected turn of events left some of the other educated youths, who still harbored resentment toward her, feeling a bit ashamed. They couldn’t deny that Ye Xin had changed—a lot. It wasn’t just her appearance; her personality had shifted too. She was kinder, more approachable, and genuinely helpful.