There was a well in the educated youth compound, so water was relatively convenient to access, saving them the trouble of having to fetch it from elsewhere.  

After washing up, Yi Chichi began preparing breakfast. The day before, she had bought a small stove from a villager to make it easier to boil medicine and cook for herself. It wasn’t an industrial coal-burning stove, but rather a simple clay one that used charcoal.  

Borrowing some fire from the kitchen, she cooked herself a bowl of watery porridge.  

She had barely taken two bites when Wu Yongfei walked out, holding a cornbread bun. Seeing her eating the porridge, he swallowed hard and said, “Comrade Yi, that looks really tasty.”  

Inside the house, Bai Chen and the others, who were sitting at the table eating breakfast, frowned at his words.  

Here we go again!  

Was Wu Yongfei out of his mind? Every time a new educated youth arrived, he had to pull this stunt. How could anyone be so shameless?  

Bai Chen instinctively started to stand up to intervene, but Wang Nan stopped him.  

“Don’t rush, let’s see first.”  

She didn’t specify what they were waiting to see, but everyone at the table except Zhou Qiuyu immediately understood. They wanted to observe how Yi Chichi would handle the situation before deciding how to treat her.  

Unaware of their thoughts, Yi Chichi frowned. “It’s just bland, watery porridge—what part of it looks tasty to you?”  

Wu Yongfei’s smile froze on his face. As if she hadn’t noticed, Yi Chichi muttered to herself, “Even coveting a sick person’s food… what kind of person does that?”  

She shook her head, picked up her bowl, and went back inside.  

After she left, Wu Yongfei took a deep breath, his face darkening. He turned and stormed back into the house, fuming as he complained to Bai Chen and the others, “Comrade Yi is so stingy. Not a bit of solidarity or camaraderie.”  

Ge Sujuan scoffed and sneered, “As if you’re so generous and full of solidarity. How come we never see you sharing your cured meat with us?”  

No matter how simple the porridge was, it was still food meant to help her recover.  

“Comrade Yi was right about one thing—you’d even eye a sick person’s rations. Wu Yongfei, you really have no shame.”  

“You—”  

“Shut up!”  

Wu Yongfei slammed the table, ready to fight, but Bai Chen sharply cut him off. “I don’t care what grudges you have. If you want to fight, take it outside.”  

His cold gaze swept over the two of them. “If you’re not going to fight, then eat quietly. Finish up—it’s time to get to work.”

Bai Chen still carried some authority, and at his words, the two of them quieted down.  

Zhou Qiuyu, holding her bowl, glanced at one and then the other before silently lowering her head to focus on eating.  

Eat more—stuff your mouth, and you won’t be able to speak. That way, you won’t say the wrong thing either.  

Hearing the commotion, Yi Chichi looked toward the kitchen, her expression somewhat indescribable.  

Thank goodness they were separated—otherwise, life would have been far too lively in the future.  

Once they were fed and satisfied, it was time to head out to work!  

By the time Yi Chichi and the others arrived at the large drying field, it was already packed with villagers.  

Since Yi Chichi hadn’t made much of an appearance the day before, her arrival drew curious glances and hushed whispers from the villagers.  

“Oh no, this educated youth doesn’t look like she’s cut out for labor either—those skinny arms and legs, I’d worry they’d snap if she exerted herself too much.” 

“I’ve given up expecting anything from these educated youths when it comes to work. Let them muddle through however they want—just as long as they don’t cry.”  

“The one yesterday cried so miserably—tears and snot everywhere, it was terrifying!”  

At these words, those who had heard Zhou Qiuyu’s crying the day before immediately felt a headache coming on.  

Their interest in Yi Chichi also waned—no matter how pretty an educated youth was, once she started crying, she wouldn’t be so appealing anymore.  

Yi Chichi turned to Zhou Qiuyu. “You cried yesterday?”

Zhou Qiuyu scratched her cheek, embarrassed, and gave a quiet “Mhm.” “The work was too hard and exhausting. I’ll try not to cry today.”  

No one would pity her, and no one would help her. She could only rely on herself.  

Sister Nan was right—she had to toughen up. Crying wouldn’t solve anything; it would only annoy people.  

Thinking this, she said to Yi Chichi, “Don’t cry later. If—if you really can’t hold it in, at least wait until we’re back before you do.”  

“Okay.” 

Though she wasn’t the crying type, she still appreciated Zhou Qiuyu’s well-meaning advice.  

“Today’s task is harvesting corn in the east field. We’ll stick to the original team assignments.”  

At this, the brigade leader turned to Ma Chunhua. “Auntie Ma, the new educated youth is assigned to your group today. Teach her the ropes.” 

“Got it, Brigade leader! I’ll make sure the girl learns properly.”  

Ma Chunhua responded cheerfully, then waved Yi Chichi over. “Come here, girl.”  

“Coming!”  

Yi Chichi trotted over eagerly and greeted the women with a smile. “Hello, aunties!”  

“Hello, hello!” 

Though Yi Chichi was thin, her delicate features were pleasing to the eye.  

Ma Chunhua had something of a soft spot for pretty faces. After studying Yi Chichi for a while, she found herself liking the girl more and more, so she struck up a conversation.  

She asked how old she was, why she was so thin, and other such things.

When they learned she had health issues and would gain weight once she recovered, they began to look forward to seeing her plump up.  

“You just follow me later and work hard.”  

“…Okay.”  

She was willing to work hard, but she had no idea how well she’d actually do.  

In her original world, she had lived a life of luxury—never lifting a finger, spending six figures a year just on hand care.  

She had never worked in the fields, not even washed a single dish.  

The original owner of this body hadn’t been as fortunate, having done chores and taken care of children from a young age, but she also had no experience with farm labor.  

Because of this, Yi Chichi could only pray that the work ahead wouldn’t be too difficult. Otherwise, she was afraid Auntie Ma and the others would lose their patience with her.  

Zhou Qiuyu and the others were already assigned to fixed teams, so no reassignments were needed.  

After giving a few instructions, the brigade leader hoisted the red flag high and led the group proudly toward the fields.  

Once they reached their destination, he planted the flagpole firmly into the ground, recited a passage from the Little Red Book, and with a sweeping gesture, declared work officially begun.  

Today’s task was harvesting corn.  

Vast stretches of cornfields stretched before them—a sight that was daunting just to look at.  

The ears had to be picked, and the stalks couldn’t go to waste either—they had to be gathered, chopped up, and fed to the livestock.  

Yi Chichi, wearing gloves lent by Auntie Ma, diligently set to work. The task wasn’t too difficult, and she got the hang of it quickly.  

She could even listen in on the aunties’ gossip as she worked.  

“Hey, did you hear? Something happened in the next brigade over.”

Yi Chichi’s ears perked up. Based on her experience reading period novels, topics like these usually led to some juicy gossip.  

Sure enough, as soon as Auntie Ma and the others asked what happened, Auntie Niu began to spill the details.  

“The Zhang family’s second son was caught rolling in the grass with an educated youth from their team.” 

“What?!”

Auntie Ma looked shocked. “Didn’t the Zhang boy already get engaged to the Huang family’s youngest daughter?”

“Yep, he did. But that didn’t stop him from fooling around with that educated youth.” 

Auntie Niu’s face twisted in disdain. “I always said those female educated youths are no good.”

Wow, way to generalize. 

Not wanting to be unfairly lumped in, Yi Chichi spoke up mournfully, “Auntie, say what you will, but don’t drag all of us educated youths into it. I’m not like that.”

“I wasn’t talking about you.”

Auntie Niu glanced back at her, then—perhaps imagining something—lowered her voice and asked, “Xiao Yi, let me ask you something—do you have a partner?” 

“No!”