Chapter 11

Time flies, and a day’s plan starts with the morning.

After leaving Wang Changping’s house, Liu Yu rushed straight to the production team. However, despite her hurried pace, by the time she arrived, everyone was already working.

Liu Yu hurriedly went to find her father, Liu Jianjia.

The team leader of the production team was usually hands-off, delegating tasks to the deputy team leader, Liu Jianjia, her father. From a certain perspective, Liu Jianjia was the head of the team, as he had influence over the commune’s farms and forests.

“Dad, what task will you assign to me today?” Liu Yu rushed up to her father, hands behind her back.

Liu Jianjia had been pampering his daughter for years. He was reluctant to let her do hard labor, especially in the hot sun. “It’s really hot today, Yu, why don’t you go back home and rest?”

Liu Yu frowned. “But we agreed! I want to work and earn labor points for the family!”

Liu Jianjia didn’t want to argue with his daughter. “Alright, fine. Li Qinghua and Bai Xueling are working in the fields, so to avoid trouble, you can work with your brother, just like him. Come help me dig the irrigation canal. If we get the canal done, we won’t have to worry about water for the fields.”

With his daughter helping, there was no risk of her being overworked, and he could make up for the tasks himself.

Digging the irrigation canal was a tough job. The location was at the eastern edge of the village, where a long ditch had already been dug. Now, Liu Yu’s family needed to extend the canal to bring water to the fields.

When they arrived, Liu Yu took out a headscarf she had prepared, covering her head and face, leaving only her ears exposed. She snatched her brother’s rough cloth jacket, which he used to shield himself from the dust, and put it on. After wrapping herself tightly, like a bandit with only her eyes and hands visible, Liu Yu was ready to begin.

Determined to lose weight, Liu Yu grabbed a large hoe, jumped into the ditch, and started working energetically, not showing any signs of weakness.

Liu Ye stood beside her, loading the soil dug up into baskets, while Liu Jianjia carried the full baskets to the field with a shoulder pole.

Liu Yu worked relentlessly, digging one scoop after another without taking a break. Liu Ye could hardly keep up with the pace of filling the baskets.

“Sis, slow down! I can’t keep up!”

Liu Ye wiped his sweat, watching as his sister swung the hoe more forcefully with each swing. Her eyes glinted with intensity—it wasn’t like she was working; it was more like she was chopping someone. Liu Ye had never seen his sister like this before. Terrified, he quickly sped up his work.

Liu Yu paused for a breath. “If you’re tired, you can rest for a bit!”

Liu Ye, seeing his sister dressed like a bandit, couldn’t help but ask, “It’s so hot, aren’t you hot wearing all that?”

Hot!

She was sweating like crazy, but she couldn’t take it off!

The original person had very dark skin, but there were only two ways to lighten it: skincare products, which were obviously unavailable in this era, or staying out of the sun! Even if such products existed, Liu Yu couldn’t afford them, being poor.

The only option left was to avoid the sun, but since everyone had to work, that was impossible. So, she had to cover up completely! Though it was suffocating, over time, her skin would lighten, even if it meant enduring prickly heat!

“It’s hot, of course it is! But if you stay calm, you’ll feel cooler. Stop talking, just work!” Liu Yu gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with determination. She slammed the hoe into the earth with all her might!