Chapter 23.3

Ye Huan was telling the truth, but to Yang Chengren’s ears, it sounded like blatant provocation. He had just said the rhododendron was completely dead, and the next moment Ye Huan claimed she could make it bloom.

Was she implying that he—someone who had worked in horticulture for decades, someone whom everyone at the farm respectfully called “Teacher Yang”—wasn’t even as good as a teenage girl?

Yang Chengren glared sideways at Ye Huan. “You think you’re telling fairy tales? Just say ‘bloom’ and it magically blooms?”

Hu Chunsheng happened to walk by and overheard Yang Chengren’s last remark. A flower enthusiast, he perked up at the mention of “bloom” and asked Yang Chengren, “What flower is blooming?”

Seeing Hu Chunsheng arrive, Yang Chengren’s spirits immediately lifted.

That alpine rhododendron? Hu Chunsheng had seen it too and agreed it was beyond saving—that’s why he had thrown it out. So, Ye Huan saying otherwise was basically a slap in his face too.

Yang Chengren repeated what Ye Huan had said to Hu Chunsheng, expecting him to join in mocking her. But to his surprise, Hu Chunsheng seemed intrigued. “You’re saying that rhododendron can still be saved?”

Ye Huan recognized Hu Chunsheng. He had been in Team One yesterday, and Ye Yongzhen had pointed him out to her.

She said, “The roots aren’t completely dead. It can still live.”

Yang Chengren scoffed, “You’re just making stuff up. Even Teacher Hu said it couldn’t be saved. You think you’re better than him?”

Ye Huan could tell Yang Chengren was petty and sharp-tongued, so she ignored him and addressed Hu Chunsheng directly. “Teacher Hu, it really can survive. I’ll bring it over to show you once it sprouts.”

Hu Chunsheng smiled. “Alright, alright.”

Ye Huan took the opportunity to say, “Teacher Hu, I love growing flowers. Could I learn from you?”

She didn’t want to keep doing grunt work in Team One. Sun Guoqing had a prejudice against educated youth and believed they couldn’t do anything well. He would never assign them meticulous tasks like flower cultivation.

If she stayed in Team One, she’d be stuck weeding, digging, and fertilizing fields—just menial labor.

She wanted to transfer to Team Three, where the work was a bit easier. Given the choice, of course she’d prefer lighter work.

Since Hu Chunsheng was the head of Team Three, if he agreed, she could transfer.

Bai Yin had been watching from the sidelines and was about to leave when she heard Ye Huan’s request. She stopped in her tracks.

So this was it. Ye Huan was using the flower to get Hu Chunsheng’s attention and transfer to Team Three.

But Ye Huan miscalculated. Hu Chunsheng wasn’t so easy to fool.

It was just about time to start work, and quite a few people were gathered around watching the commotion. Someone suddenly called out, “What if the flower doesn’t survive?”

Xu Aixiang, who was nearby, quickly chimed in, “Then she can go scoop manure.”

Ye Huan glanced in her direction. Xu Aixiang instantly felt her wrist throb again and ducked behind an older woman, afraid Ye Huan might grab her wrist again.

Scooping manure wasn’t just about animal waste—it included human waste too. Dirty and smelly, no one wanted to do it.

Zhao Pingtao, worried Ye Huan might agree without understanding, was about to stop her when she declared loudly, “Alright, it’s a deal.”

Zhao Pingtao: “…” Do you even know what you just agreed to? And why so cheerfully?!

It was manure duty! The stench alone made him want to puke.

Just looking at it was enough to bring up last night’s dinner.

Bai Yin whispered to Ye Huan, “You can’t do that kind of work. Tell Teacher Hu you were just joking.”

Hu Chunsheng was a stubborn man, but unlike Yang Chengren, he wasn’t the type to make things difficult. If Ye Huan took her words back, he wouldn’t hold it against her.

Ye Huan: “…” Does everyone just assume I’ll fail?

“It’s fine. The flower will survive. I won’t be scooping anything.”

Since Ye Huan wouldn’t listen, Bai Yin dropped the matter.

After all, with Ye Yongzhen around, even if the flower died, Ye Huan wouldn’t actually be made to scoop manure.

She was just worrying too much.

Bai Yin left, finding the whole thing boring.

Hu Chunsheng chuckled, “Alright. If you really manage to revive that rhododendron, I’ll transfer you to Team Three.”

And if it didn’t survive, he certainly wouldn’t make a young girl scoop manure either.

That’s why he’d worded it carefully—he only said that if it bloomed, she could transfer. He never said she must scoop manure if it didn’t.

He felt rather pleased with himself. Don’t be fooled by his age—his mind was still sharp, and he knew how to speak with nuance.

As for transferring someone to Team Three, it wasn’t a whim. He had long wanted to take on a student. If Ye Huan could really bring that rhododendron back to life, it would at least prove she had the interest and patience to care for flowers. That’s why he’d made the offer.

Yang Chengren wasn’t happy. This is ridiculous! If just anyone could get into Team Three, what’s the difference from Teams One and Two?

“Old Hu…” he started.

But before he could say more, someone interrupted.

Xu Guochao came over looking for Hu Chunsheng. From a distance, he saw the crowd and thought something had happened. He jogged over, “What’s going on here?”

Hu Chunsheng grinned, “Nothing much. Just chatting with Comrade Ye.”

Chatting could attract such a crowd?

Xu Guochao didn’t press for details—he’d hear about it eventually. He waved his hand, “Alright, break it up! Time to work! Anyone still standing around will lose work points!”

The crowd laughed and scattered.

Xu Aixiang, afraid Ye Huan might come after her, snuck away.

Zhao Pingtao shouted, “Xu Aixiang! You stop right there!”

But she pretended not to hear and ran like a rabbit.

Fuming, Zhao Pingtao said, “If it weren’t for her running her mouth, you wouldn’t have to scoop manure! We’re all in the same courtyard—how could she betray you like that?”

Ye Huan reassured him, “The flower will survive. If I said I won’t scoop manure, I won’t.”

Zhao Pingtao wasn’t convinced. People in Team Three treat their flowers better than children. They protect them from sun and frost. But you? You dunked it in water, stuck it in dirt, and threw it in a corner. If it survives, it’d be a miracle.

And now that “smashing the Four Olds” was in full swing, miracles didn’t exist. That flower was dead, which meant Ye Huan would be scooping manure.

He worried on her behalf. After work, he squatted down to look at the rhododendron—no matter how he looked at it, it was just a pile of dead twigs.

Xu Aixiang took one look and walked away, muttering once she got inside, “Such a show-off. Just wait and see her scooping manure.”

Gao Qinggui snapped, “What are you so bitter about? Maybe it really will survive, and she’ll get into Team Three.”

She didn’t believe the flower would survive either—she just couldn’t stand Xu Aixiang. They were all from the same educated youth camp. How could she backstab Ye Huan like that?

Xu Aixiang actually began to worry. Late at night, she got up to use the toilet and couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at the flower.

She hadn’t dared look closely during the day, but now Gao Qinggui’s words made her itch with curiosity. After making sure no one was around, she squatted beside the pot.

The moon was especially bright tonight, lighting up the whole courtyard. Xu Aixiang examined the plant for a while. It still looked dead.

“It’s clearly dead. She’s just fooling people. And she still wants to go to Team Three? Hah, get ready to scoop manure.”

She lost interest and was about to stand up when a voice sounded behind her. “What are you doing squatting there?”

In the dead of night, with no warning, someone suddenly spoke right behind her. Startled out of her wits, Xu Aixiang screamed like she’d seen a ghost and fell flat on her butt.

Her shriek startled the whole courtyard. People rushed out in their pajamas.

They found Xu Aixiang sitting on the ground clutching her head, with Ye Huan standing nearby, looking puzzled.

Lian Yanmei came out and asked Ye Huan, “What happened to her?”

“I was going to the bathroom and saw her squatting here. I asked her a question and she just freaked out.”

Truthfully, she wasn’t going to the bathroom. She was a flower spirit and could sense the plant’s energy. She came out to check on it and saw Xu Aixiang mumbling beside the pot.

She’d scared her on purpose. If not, Xu Aixiang might really pull the flower out someday.

Given her personality, she was totally capable of it.

By now, Xu Aixiang had recovered and shouted angrily, “What are you, a ghost? You walk without making a sound!”

Yao Yujuan scolded seriously, “Comrade Xu Aixiang, that’s inappropriate. Ghosts don’t exist.”

Xu Aixiang snapped, “Shut up! Why are you always butting in?!”

Lian Yanmei, worried the two would start arguing, ushered Yao Yujuan back inside, then turned to Xu Aixiang. “Why aren’t you sleeping at this hour? What were you doing squatting there?”

Xu Aixiang didn’t dare tell the truth and mumbled for a while before saying, “I suddenly had a stomachache.”

Gao Qinggui chimed in, “You cure stomachaches by squatting next to the wall? Since when?”

Zhao Pingtao, still angry about earlier, added, “She was up to no good. Ye Huan, check if she pulled up the flower.”

Everyone turned to stare at Xu Aixiang.

Word had spread about Ye Huan’s deal with Hu Chunsheng. If Xu Aixiang was jealous and tried to sabotage the flower, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Xu Aixiang felt completely wronged—worse than Dou E.

She’d only been curious and wanted a look. She never intended to pull anything up.

But now, no one would believe her.

She deeply regretted not just going back to sleep. Why did she have to be so nosy?

Even Lian Yanmei found her behavior suspicious, but as the team leader, she chose unity over drama. “If your stomach hurts, drink some hot water. Squatting by the wall won’t cure anything. Just behave.”

She was giving Xu Aixiang a way out—and a warning.

Then she turned to the others. “Alright, back to bed. We have work tomorrow.”

But Zhao Pingtao wasn’t done. He told Ye Huan, “If that flower dies, go straight to her. She definitely did something. We’ll all testify.”

Ye Huan replied loudly, “Alright.”

Xu Aixiang cried, “It was already dying! You can’t blame me for that!”

No one answered. They all yawned and went back inside.

At the doorway, Ye Huan even turned back and added, “If it dies, I’m coming for you.”

Xu Aixiang nearly burst into tears. Back in the room, she said to Bai Yin and Gao Qinggui, “That flower is clearly dead. Ye Huan just wants someone to take the fall. Why was I the unlucky one who got caught?”

Bai Yin thought, You knew she wanted a scapegoat, but you still handed yourself to her on a silver platter. Why sneak out in the middle of the night to take a look?

Still, Ye Huan did have some crazy good luck—she even managed to catch Xu Aixiang red-handed just by going to the bathroom.

Xu Aixiang might not know if she was stupid, but one thing she now understood: she and Ye Huan were incompatible. From now on, no matter what it involved, she’d never meddle in Ye Huan’s business again!

As for that flower, she’d avoid it like the plague—just to be safe.

……

That evening, Ye Huan had just returned from work when she heard Gao Qinggui calling from outside, “Ye Huan, Commander Gu is looking for you.”

Commander Gu? Gu Cheng?

Ye Huan came out of the house and sure enough, Gu Cheng was standing upright at the courtyard gate, probably thinking it would be inconvenient to come inside.

The last time she’d seen Gu Cheng was when they ate together at Ye Yongzhen’s house. She hadn’t seen him for days.

Why was he suddenly here?

She walked over. “Commander Gu, you were looking for me?”