Chapter 49

Liu Yu and Wang Changping were completely isolated, but being isolated was better than not being isolated. After all, no one had taken the initiative to approach them before.

Wang Changping had long known that this small group of educated youths wasn’t easy to get along with, so he had always kept a distance from them.

When they set up camp by the forest, the group pushed the two of them aside!

Everyone was bustling around, setting up tents, collecting firewood, and no one paid attention to Liu Yu. She and Wang Changping were like two big thorns, standing at the edge.

Liu Yu tugged at Wang Changping’s sleeve, unwilling to put up with this treatment: “Let’s go, since they don’t welcome us, we’ll set up camp somewhere else! While there’s still plenty of daylight, we’ll make do ourselves!”

The two of them found another open space.

Wang Changping pulled out a sharp dagger and cut a few small trees to make a small shelter frame, then covered it with branches as a roof, securing it tightly. This way, even if it rained at night, they wouldn’t have to worry.

Wang Changping was capable, and in no time, the shelter was ready. Liu Yu, on the other hand, felt rather clumsy by comparison, only good at collecting firewood and starting the fire.

Liu Yu made a large fire and, while Wang Changping was busy with the shelter, she took out many things from her space—dry food like the corn buns her mother, Nie Xiaocui, had sent her, as well as Jiangmi strips and peach crisps she had bought in town. Her family spoiled her too much and insisted she bring everything with her, even though she’d already eaten some of it.

Liu Yu laid out the food like a stall and cheerfully told Wang Changping, “Even if we’re stuck here in the deep mountains for ten days, we’ll have enough to eat!”

Wang Changping glanced at her stash. “Don’t worry about food, I can hunt.”

Liu Yu’s eyes widened in surprise. “You can hunt?”

Wang Changping waved his hand and motioned for Liu Yu to follow him into the woods. They found a tall old tree. Standing in front of the trunk, Liu Yu looked up and said, “This tree is really tall.”

The old tree must have been hundreds of years old, with its crown towering into the clouds.

She wanted to say something but turned her head and saw Wang Changping pick up a birch branch slightly thinner than his wrist. He sharpened one end with his dagger and looked up. “There are squirrels and bird nests in the tree. You wait here.”

He held the sharpened branch in one hand and hugged the tree trunk with the other. In a flash, he climbed up high. Through the sparse leaves, Liu Yu saw him stop on a branch, motionless.

Liu Yu opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to disturb Wang Changping. If she shouted and startled him, causing him to fall from the tree, it would be a huge problem.

Suddenly, with a soft “plop,” something fell at her feet.

Looking down, Liu Yu saw a large squirrel that had been impaled on the branch. It was twitching on the grass, and Liu Yu felt a bit sorry for it. But before she could feel too sorry, another prey fell from the tree.

This time it was a large black-haired flying squirrel, as big as a rabbit, fat and round with several pounds of meat on it. Leaves fluttered down, and Liu Yu looked up to see Wang Changping coming down the tree, holding the bloody birch branch.

After landing, Wang Changping turned to Liu Yu and extended his hand, showing her five colorful bird eggs, of various sizes. He explained, “The birds don’t count. Take one egg from each nest, and they won’t notice.”

Liu Yu took the eggs with a smile. “We can make egg drop soup tonight.”

As night fell, Liu Yu and Wang Changping sat around the campfire to have dinner. Their daily necessities were scarce, and aside from a water kettle, they only had two large meal boxes—pots, bowls, and utensils were with the small team.

Liu Yu warmed some water for Wang Changping to wash his hands and face, then placed the meal boxes on the fire. She made egg drop soup with the five bird eggs, and they each had some. For the main course, they ate three roasted corn buns.

The squirrel meat was ready, and Wang Changping handed a piece to Liu Yu.

Liu Yu had never eaten squirrel before and hesitated a little. But in the end, meat was meat, and it smelled delicious. After one bite, she couldn’t stop.

From a distance, she heard singing coming from the small team, and realized they were having a good time. Liu Yu had once hoped to improve her image among the educated youth and change their perception of the original owner, but now she had completely given up on that idea.

These people were like grass by the wall, swaying whichever way the wind blew. Only Wang Changping could still speak fairly when it mattered. She hadn’t made the wrong choice in associating with him.

“Thanks for today,” Liu Yu said, taking a bite of the squirrel meat and thanking Wang Changping.

The firelight cast shifting shadows on Wang Changping’s face as he replied, “No need to thank me. It wasn’t your fault. They didn’t realize Bai Xueling was lying. Bai Xueling…” He paused for a moment, then added, “Her character isn’t good, she’s not a good person.”

Liu Yu smiled. “Are you talking bad about Snow White? She’s beautiful enough; who cares about her character! Oh, by the way, do you think Bai Xueling is pretty?”

The firelight illuminated Wang Changping’s face, and Liu Yu had to admit, he was indeed handsome.

“I think you’re pretty good,” Wang Changping said seriously, his dark eyes locking onto Liu Yu’s. He then took out a large handkerchief and handed it to her. “Wipe the oil off your mouth. Don’t keep using your sleeves.”

Liu Yu’s face reddened. She had a habit of carrying tissues, but after crossing over, she hadn’t had the conditions to do so. She also didn’t like to carry a big handkerchief in her pocket, so sometimes she had to use her sleeves.

After wiping her mouth, Liu Yu touched her face and suddenly asked, “Do you think I’m ugly?”

Wang Changping was taken aback, not expecting her to ask that.

Is Liu Yu ugly? She was a bit chubby, but sometimes she was quite cute. Didn’t they say that fat people had good luck?

Besides, compared to Bai Xueling, Liu Yu was much more pleasant to the eyes!

Wang Changping didn’t immediately answer. Liu Yu didn’t ask further, but sighed inwardly. Beauty was a thing across all times.

When Bai Xueling cried, she could attract thousands of men! Wasn’t it because she had fair skin, beautiful features, long legs, and a delicate body?

In fact, Liu Yu’s parents’ genes were still good; you could tell from her slim figure. It was just a shame that the original owner had too much fat! She had to lose weight! Once she did, she wouldn’t be ugly!

Under the firelight, Liu Yu took another big bite of the roasted squirrel meat!