Chapter 29

Li Qinghua, merely a city-educated youth sent to Baohe Village, had no choice but to bow his head in submission before the team leader. He kept silent, shoulders slumped, as he endured the scolding, not daring to utter a word.

With the team leader’s decision, the matter was settled: Bai Xueling would indeed be tasked with fertilizing the fields.

Bai Xueling had tried to use Li Qinghua as her weapon, but surely she wouldn’t hesitate to borrow someone else’s influence too?

Liu Yu maintained her usual friendly demeanor and said with a beaming smile, “Look at our team leader’s high level of ideological understanding! He’s absolutely right—work is work, and there’s no high or low, noble or humble about it!”

Flattery never fails, and Liu Yu’s words hit the team leader’s sweet spot. His face lit up with pride as he glanced at Li Qinghua. “You, get back to work. If Comrade Bai Xueling has any more complaints, tell her to come and find me.”

Who would dare confront the team leader after he had made such a declaration? Liu Yu chuckled inwardly. Bai Xueling would have no choice but to participate in this honorable labor herself.

“Yes, sir.”

Li Qinghua lowered his head, thoroughly frustrated. He was deeply vexed, as his beloved “Snow White” was now destined to spend her time with manure.

The matter resolved, the team leader moved on to inspect the team’s progress, hands clasped behind his back as he strolled off with an air of authority.

Li Qinghua, fuming with anger, cast a resentful look at Liu Yu. Since when had this fat woman become so sharp and shrewd?

But Liu Yu just smiled sweetly and said, “Comrade Li, you’d better get back to work. No need to keep staring at me—it’s inappropriate for a man to be gazing at a woman in the middle of a melon patch. I’ll have you know, I still plan to marry someday!”

“You—!”

Li Qinghua was so infuriated that his vision darkened, and he stomped off. He prided himself on being one of the most handsome young men among the city youth, and this fat woman should have felt honored to be noticed by him. Yet she dared to be ungrateful!

When Li Qinghua returned to the youth housing, Bai Xueling rushed to meet him. Anxiously, she asked, “How did it go, Brother Li? Was it resolved?”

Li Qinghua said nothing, his expression grim.

A sense of foreboding crept over Bai Xueling. She had no desire to work in the cornfield, especially not to haul manure herself. She, as delicate as a snow-white flower, couldn’t possibly endure such filth!

Tears welled up in her eyes and began streaming down her face. With a pitiful look, she said, “Brother Li, please say something. You’re worrying me so much.”

Li Qinghua finally sighed heavily and confessed, “I went to see Liu Yu, but who would’ve thought that fat woman would bring the team leader into it? Right in front of him, she pinned all the fault on me. I’m sorry, Xueling. I couldn’t sort it out…”

Bai Xueling’s lips trembled as despair washed over her. Was she truly destined to spend her days alongside stinking manure? She, so beautiful and delicate, simply couldn’t do it!

As tears streamed down her cheeks, she spoke in a trembling voice, “It’s okay, Brother Li. If it’s the team leader’s arrangement, what could you do? I’ll just go do it now.”

She grabbed a carrying pole and made as if to head out.

Li Qinghua panicked and quickly stopped her. “You can’t do this kind of work! Xueling, stay here and rest. I’ll go in your place!”

This was exactly the reaction Bai Xueling had wanted. In the past, whenever she cried, the other male and female educated youths would rush to help her, happy to be used as pawns.

Li Qinghua, however, was different. He seemed to have some family background and, more importantly, was a city man. Bai Xueling had to keep him firmly in her grasp—perhaps one day, she could rely on him to return to city life.

Feigning reluctance, Bai Xueling argued, “This is my task. How can I let you do it for me?”

But Li Qinghua remained resolute. “I can’t let you do it!”

With her tearful eyes glistening, Bai Xueling finally suggested, “How about this—we’ll go together. That way, you can look after me, and we won’t have to worry about Liu Yu trying to make trouble for me again.”