Chapter 5: Going to the Market

Ye Xin glanced at the letter before picking up the book on her desk, trying to continue reading.

However, her energy had been completely drained by the day’s exhausting farm work. After barely making it through half a page, her eyelids grew heavy, and she had to give up.

Before heading to bed, she felt a bit thirsty. She went to the spring at the front of the door and scooped up some fresh water to drink.

She also took a moment to check on the few seedlings she had secretly planted by the water earlier in the afternoon. To her surprise, the once droopy plants had perked up, standing tall with vibrant, green leaves. She marveled at the change for a moment before stepping out of the space and falling asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

The next morning, she woke up early again. Hearing Shen Zhuo stirring, she got up immediately.

But as she moved to get out of bed, she felt a dull soreness throughout her body and let out an “ouch.”

The last time she felt like this was after running 800 meters in college. Thinking back on yesterday’s labor-intensive day, it wasn’t surprising.

With a wry expression, Ye Xin slowly stretched her body, realizing it wasn’t that bad. At least, it wasn’t as bad as after a sudden 800-meter run. Perhaps the body’s occasional physical labor had built up some resilience.

She sighed in relief, quickly dressed, and went outside to wash up.

As usual, Shen Zhuo was already up and starting the fire for breakfast. He washed the rice, threw in two chopped sweet potatoes, and began cooking. Seeing this, Ye Xin’s throat tightened—sweet potatoes again…

Shen Zhuo, likely still groggy from just waking up, quietly added more firewood to the stove before glancing at her. Seeing her standing at the door with a basin, he assumed she was waiting for him to fetch water for her. Without saying a word, he went outside to the well, filled a bucket, and set it by the well’s edge. “Use it,” he said.

Ye Xin: “…”

She wanted to explain that she hadn’t meant for him to fetch water, but since he already had, there was no need to say more. She might as well use it.

Shen Zhuo went back inside to grab his own toiletries, and the two of them brushed their teeth and washed their faces, just as they had the day before.

After washing up, Ye Xin hurried to tend the fire.

Even though the food wasn’t great, they still had to eat, and if she was going to eat, she couldn’t just leave all the work to him.

Sitting on the small stool by the stove, she still felt that lingering soreness and sighed to herself.

Shen Zhuo, now refreshed after washing his face, glanced into the kitchen and saw her tending the fire. Without saying anything, he turned and headed toward the back of the house.

Ye Xin knew he was going to pick vegetables and couldn’t help but feel a little spark of curiosity. Seeing that the fire in the stove was blazing and wouldn’t go out anytime soon, she got up and followed him.

The thick morning fog shrouded everything, and as she reached the small vegetable patch, she saw that half of it was planted with sweet potatoes, growing lush and wild. The other half had some romaine lettuce, water spinach, and a few cucumber, pumpkin, and tomato seedlings, but they were sparse and struggling—clearly, Shen Zhuo wasn’t very good at gardening. However, he had done a decent job of weeding.

Shen Zhuo was squatting by the sweet potato patch, picking the tender leaves. This, it seemed, would be their vegetable dish for the morning.

Sweet potato leaves, stir-fried with oil and a bit of garlic, would be delicious—if only they had oil and garlic.

Sweet potatoes had certainly made a big contribution to their meals—both the rice and the vegetables came from them.

When Shen Zhuo turned and saw her coming, he looked a bit puzzled. She usually couldn’t be bothered with the vegetable garden, so what was she doing here today?

But then he remembered how strange she had been acting for the past day and a half, so maybe it wasn’t that strange after all.

He said nothing and continued picking sweet potato leaves.

Ye Xin wandered around the other side of the garden, examining the plants more closely. They really weren’t doing well. For example, there were only two tomato seedlings—if she “borrowed” one, it would definitely be noticed, so she abandoned that idea.

She turned back to Shen Zhuo and said, “I received a letter from home yesterday. I’d like to go to town sometime to send a reply.”

Shen Zhuo, remembering that she had indeed received a letter and a package yesterday, wasn’t surprised. But he didn’t understand why she was telling him this, especially since she was just standing there watching him. He finally responded, “Then go.”

Ye Xin added, “I’d also like to buy some things while I’m there.”

Shen Zhuo frowned, not understanding what she was getting at.

Ye Xin had no choice but to ask directly, “Are you coming with me?”

Shen Zhuo replied flatly, “No.”

Ye Xin was taken aback by his bluntness and quickly said, “There’s a lot we need at home. For example… we’re out of oil. Shouldn’t we go buy some?”

Shen Zhuo replied, “No money.”

Ye Xin: “…”

As he picked enough leaves and headed inside, Ye Xin quickly followed, saying, “I have money! My family sent me some. I’ll pay for everything. Will you come with me?”

Shen Zhuo didn’t stop walking as he headed to the well to wash the vegetables. “Why can’t you just go by yourself?” he asked, puzzled.

Ye Xin frowned.

If she could, she would have gone on her own.

But based on what she remembered, the walk to town was a two-hour trek, enough to wear her feet raw. Since arriving, the original Ye Xin had only made the journey once, relying on others to do her shopping after that.

Liangshuitang was a poor village, and the entire Fengshui Brigade wasn’t much better off. Few families owned bicycles, but Shen Zhuo’s family had one.

In these times, buying a bicycle required not only a large sum of money but also ration tickets. Shen Zhuo’s father, with some knowledge of medicinal herbs, occasionally went into the mountains to gather and sell them, bringing in extra income. He had managed to get hold of the required tickets and bought the bike. Unfortunately, his father had broken his leg while foraging, and the hospital bills had drained the family’s savings. Shen Zhuo had considered selling the bike, but his father refused, knowing he didn’t have long to live and insisting they keep the valuable asset.

The bicycle was a sturdy 28-inch frame, far too large for Ye Xin, who stood under five foot three, to ride herself. She couldn’t even reach the pedals.

So, she had to convince Shen Zhuo to take her.

Seeing him wash the vegetables, Ye Xin wanted to follow him, but the pot on the stove was already boiling, rattling the lid. She had to rush back to the kitchen.

Lifting the lid, she stirred the pot with a spatula. The rice hadn’t fully cooked yet, so she covered it again and turned down the heat.

Soon after, Shen Zhuo came back with the washed vegetables, peeked into the pot, and sat down to wait.

Looking at his calm yet distant face, Ye Xin continued, “Come with me to town, please. I’ll need help carrying everything back.”

Shen Zhuo frowned. “What are you planning to buy?”

Ye Xin quickly listed items on her fingers: “A cup, a kerosene lamp, soap…” She glanced at the sparse spices on the stove. “Maybe some sesame oil, too. The food’s been too bland lately. And if we can get some meat, that would be even better. The farm work is so hard, and we’re still growing—we need to eat well to stay strong.”

She then remembered the garden. “And some seeds, too. The vegetable patch still has room, and we’re getting tired of sweet potato leaves every day.”

Shen Zhuo listened to her long list and hesitated.

If she’d been her usual bossy self, he would’ve ignored her, but she was asking so nicely that it felt hard to refuse without seeming stingy.

Sensing his hesitation, Ye Xin pressed on, “I’m not familiar with your area. I’ve only been to town once, and it took forever to find what I needed. If you come with me, we’ll save a lot of time. Besides, the things I’m buying are for both of us—like the cooking oil, and the vegetables we’ll grow together. So, please come with me!”

Shen Zhuo felt a bit awkward. She had never spoken to him like this before, as if they were sharing a life together.

In a way, they were—living in the same courtyard, eating at the same table.

But he knew she only saw this place as temporary, and the marriage agreement meant nothing to her anymore.

Still, with her asking so earnestly, he couldn’t refuse. “Fine, I’ll go,” he said, his tone indifferent.

Ye Xin was overjoyed. “Thank you, Shen Zhuo!”

Shen Zhuo turned to check the pot, saw that the rice was done, and started ladling it out. He didn’t say another word.

Ye Xin grabbed a bowl and chopsticks, filled it with sweet potato rice, and handed it to him. Shen Zhuo took it and sat down, eating his breakfast in silence.

Ye Xin tossed the other items onto the bed and hurried back to the kitchen, clutching a jar of preserved meat sauce.

“Look! My family sent me this delicious preserved meat sauce. It looks so good!” She beamed, placing the jar on the table with excitement. “Now, we have something more than just veggies to go with our rice!”

Shen Zhuo glanced at her bright, cheerful face and froze for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. He turned his gaze away and muttered, “It’s rare stuff. You should keep it for yourself.”

Ye Xin was surprised by his response. She knew resources were scarce in this era, but it was just a jar of sauce—not something extraordinary. “We’re living and eating together. How could I eat this alone? Let’s share it!” she insisted and reached for the jar to open it.

However, the lid was tightly sealed, designed to endure long trips, and no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t budge. Her hands were starting to hurt.

Who would’ve thought she’d become one of those “helpless girls who can’t open a jar,” as people joked online…

Frustrated, Ye Xin’s face turned red. She looked at Shen Zhuo, pleading, “I can’t open it. Can you help?”

Shen Zhuo had already noticed her struggling. After a brief pause, he reached over and took the jar. His long, slender fingers easily twisted the lid open, releasing a rich, savory aroma of preserved meat that filled the air, making their mouths water.

It had been a long time since he had tasted meat, and the smell was tempting. Still, he handed the jar back to her and said, “Go ahead and eat. We need to get to work soon.”

Ye Xin took the jar, scooped out a generous amount with her chopsticks, and added it to the vegetable dish. “We’re eating this together!” she declared, dipping a piece of sweet potato leaf into the sauce and popping it into her mouth. Her eyes lit up instantly.

The salty, flavorful meat sauce was just as good as she had hoped. The rich taste and oiliness, combined with the actual bits of meat, brought her taste buds to life after so long. It was delicious!

Ye Xin never imagined she’d be so moved by a jar of preserved meat sauce.

Feeling like she had come back to life, she noticed Shen Zhuo hadn’t touched his food. “Come on, try it! It’s really good!” she urged.

Seeing her genuine invitation, Shen Zhuo hesitated no longer. He dipped a bit into the sauce and took a bite. The plain sweet potato porridge suddenly tasted amazing.

It was a familiar taste he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Ye Xin, still cheerful, urged, “Eat more! We should finish what’s on the plate quickly, or it’ll spoil in this heat by lunchtime.”

Shen Zhuo nodded and followed her lead, using the sweet potato leaves to scoop up more of the sauce. The once heavy atmosphere lightened, and his mood felt unexpectedly brighter.

He thought to himself, If she keeps being this easy-going, maybe living together won’t be so bad after all.

After breakfast, Shen Zhuo took on the task of washing the dishes, while Ye Xin carefully sealed the jar of preserved meat sauce and placed it back on the table. Such a big jar would last them a while!

Then, with water bottles and hats in hand, they headed off to the fields.

Along the way, they passed a few other educated youths, and Ye Xin instinctively kept her distance. Fortunately, with the busy farming season, everyone was too exhausted to stir up any trouble.

Today’s task was planting rice. Ye Xin quietly vowed to improve her pace. Yesterday, she’d only managed four centimeters—too embarrassing. Today, she was determined to do better!

But her mental pep talk quickly wilted under the blazing sun. By the end of the day, she was completely sunburned and exhausted.

Still, there was real progress. She’d managed five centimeters today—one more than yesterday!

Yet it was still nowhere near enough to earn a full meal, and Ye Xin felt tears prick at her eyes.

Recalling her plan, Ye Xin spotted the team leader, Li Jianbang, heading back. Ignoring her sore back and aching legs, she hurried to catch up with him.

Li Jianbang was walking with a group of strong young men. When they saw her, they quickly scattered. One of them was Li Guangrong, the same guy who had been caught up in rumors with her before. Now, every time he saw her, he acted as if she were contagious, glaring at her in disgust.

But Ye Xin, utterly exhausted, had no energy to notice. She approached Li Jianbang directly and said, “Captain, I need to go to town to send a letter and buy some things. Can I take a day off tomorrow? And Shen Zhuo will come with me.”

At first, Li Jianbang braced himself, thinking she was up to some nonsense again, but when he heard her request, he relaxed. “You can, but we’ll be done with planting after one more day. It’s best if we all push through and finish it together. Besides, tomorrow isn’t market day; the next one’s the day after tomorrow. You should go then.”

In Fengshui Village, market days were on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th of the month. Only then would there be more people on the street; otherwise, it would be deserted.

Ye Xin wasn’t familiar with the schedule, but she figured she could endure one more day, so she nodded. “Okay, captain. We’ll go to the market the day after tomorrow and take the day off then. I’m just telling you now in case I forget tomorrow.”

Li Jianbang, surprised by how reasonable she was being, agreed. “Alright.”

Ye Xin, delighted, thanked him and hurried over to Shen Zhuo.

Li Guangrong and the others, having overheard the conversation, returned to Li Jianbang. “Uncle, she’s acting normal today?”

Li Jianbang glared at him. “Watch your mouth!”

Li Guangrong muttered, “Well, it’s just that she embarrassed us all before…”

“Embarrassed? You might’ve given her the wrong signals. Otherwise, why would she bother with you?” Li Jianbang retorted, drawing laughter from the group. Li Guangrong’s face turned red, and he protested, “Uncle, I’m innocent! I never even talked to her! And besides, she’s so scrawny, not even womanly—”

“Shut up!” Li Jianbang cut him off with a stern look. “If nothing’s going on, then stop making a fuss. Keep your mouth shut and your head down! I think she’s realized her mistakes and is trying to change. Don’t keep dragging up the past.”

Li Guangrong, properly scolded, nodded and fell silent.

With another grumble, Li Jianbang walked off. He didn’t truly believe Ye Xin had changed, but as long as she worked hard and stayed in line, that’s all he cared about as a team leader.

Finally, another exhausting day in the fields ended, and the rice was planted.

The team breathed a collective sigh of relief. Though there were still smaller tasks to be done, the hardest part was over. They could work in the cooler hours of the early morning and evening now, no longer having to labor under the scorching sun.

Though her body felt like it had been beaten to exhaustion, Ye Xin’s spirits were high. Over dinner, she reminded Shen Zhuo, “Don’t forget, we’re going to the market tomorrow morning!”

“I know,” Shen Zhuo replied.

After a pause, she added, “Make sure to check the bike, see if it needs air in the tires!”

Shen Zhuo looked a bit annoyed but still said, “I’ll check after we eat.”

Finally satisfied, Ye Xin nodded.

That night, she went to bed early, excited for the next day.

She woke early the next morning, eager to head to the market. After all, if they didn’t go early, the good stuff would be gone, and the heat would be unbearable later.

After a quick breakfast with the meat sauce, Ye Xin rushed back to her room to get the money.

She opened the only cabinet in the room. There wasn’t much inside: a winter blanket, a summer blanket, and a few old clothes from the original owner of her body. At 1.56 meters tall, the original owner had found the cabinet too tall, so most of the items were stacked in the middle shelf, with plenty of space left.

Ye Xin stood on tiptoes and rummaged through the folded winter blanket until she found what she was looking for—a small, tightly wrapped cloth bundle.

Opening it revealed some old-fashioned money and coupons. She carefully counted her money—11 yuan and 65 cents.

That’s all the original owner had left.

How poor.

Luckily, she could withdraw 30 yuan today.

She placed the money order and the cash together, neatly folding the wrinkled coupons before tucking everything into her pocket and heading outside.

Shen Zhuo was already waiting at the gate with his bike—a sturdy “28-inch Flying Pigeon.” He was tall and lanky, and riding the bike looked effortless for him.

With a basket slung over her shoulder, Ye Xin locked the gate behind her and hopped onto the back of the bike. For the first time since arriving here, she felt carefree and lighthearted. She couldn’t help but exclaim happily, “Let’s go to the market!”

Shen Zhuo, finding her childlike excitement a bit odd, glanced back at her and reminded, “Hold on tight.”