Chapter 22.2: Director Zhao’s first time going to work.

Duan Shuyi, seeing Zhao Ke with her dirty face, still spoke to her as if nothing had changed, with a normal tone. She tilted her chin and teased, “Look at your face, what were you thinking? You could have stayed in a good factory, but instead, you came back to work the land.”

Many people talk about rooting themselves in the countryside, but once the initial excitement fades, they still find the city to be better.

Zhao Ke wasn’t fond of hard work either, but fate had played a joke on her, digging a hole and planting her here. She had no choice but to accept it for now.

Zhao Ke explained calmly why she was in the field and led them back to the village.

“Women’s director?!” Duan Shuyi stared at her in surprise. “You? Won’t your production team fall into chaos?”

“Thank you for the compliment, but my influence hasn’t reached that level yet.”

Duan Shuyi said, “Then you’re underestimating yourself.”

Zhao Ke didn’t engage in a verbal sparring match with her and went to the nearby primary school to quickly wash her face with water.

Duan Shuyi took two apples out of her bag and handed them to her. “Here, for you.”

Zhao Ke turned her water-drenched face toward her. “They must be expensive, right? You should keep them for yourself.”

“Do I look like I need two apples? Take them,” Duan Shuyi insisted, placing them in Zhao Ke’s hands.

These apples were brought by Liang Hui from home. When Duan Shuyi said she wanted to bring two to her countryside classmates, he didn’t object.

But now, Liang Hui looked at the grass stains on Zhao Ke’s hands, which couldn’t be washed off, and his brows furrowed even tighter.

Zhao Ke took the apples, smelling their sweet fragrance, and didn’t refuse. “Then, when you leave, take some dry goods with you.”

Duan Shuyi didn’t mind.

Zhao Ke, holding two apples, led Duan Shuyi and her partner back to her house.

Along the way, many villagers were watching from their doorways, and Zhao Ke casually introduced them.

One of the villagers asked, “Are those apples?”

Duan Shuyi was surprised by the question, and Liang Hui couldn’t help but show a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Zhao Ke looked down at the two apples, then glanced at the villager, who looked awkward as if realizing they had said something wrong, and the child’s curious gaze. She fell silent.

An apple is just an apple.

She hadn’t eaten fruit in a long time, but she still remembered the taste of apples. However, many children in their village didn’t even know what an apple was.

Zhao Ke tightened her grip on the apples, then asked Duan Shuyi after a long pause, “You gave these to me, can I give them to others?”

Duan Shuyi let out a light “ah” sound, casually replying, “Once I give them to you, they’re yours. You can give them to whoever you like.”

Zhao Ke thanked her and then told the villager and child, “It’s an apple. I’ll have my mom bring one to school this afternoon and cut it for the kids to try.”

“Really?!” The villager was delighted, patting his child’s back. “Don’t forget to thank Sister Zhao Ke.”

“Thank you~”

Liang Hui sneered slightly. An apple—such a simple thing, but typical of the countryside.

The primary school finished earlier than the fieldwork, so some children could go home and prepare meals.

Yu Xiulan had already returned home and reheated the food. When she heard from Zhao Feng that Zhao Ke’s classmate had arrived, she quickly fired up another pot and added four dishes.

When Zhao Ke brought them back, the house was filled with the aroma of food.

Yu Xiulan peeked her head out and said to Zhao Ke, “Your dad has already set out water for you to wash up. Take your classmates inside to sit down.”

Duan Shuyi politely greeted them and even spoke to Zhao Jianguo, whom she had met before.

Liang Hui also greeted them, but his attitude was indifferent. As he entered Zhao Ke’s house, he looked around at the simple surroundings, even eyeing the bench critically before sitting down.

Duan Shuyi felt embarrassed and shot him a glare, speaking more frequently to distract from him, hoping Zhao Ke wouldn’t notice and mock her partner.

Zhao Ke, however, wasn’t going to bother with him. He was a guest, and it was enough not to acknowledge him.

“Food’s ready!”

Yu Xiulan and Zhao Feng brought the dishes into the room and set them on the table.

The bowls and chopsticks had been sanitized with hot water, cleaned thoroughly. Zhao Ke had also changed into clean clothes, and even Yu Xiulan insisted that Zhao Jianguo and Zhao Feng, who hadn’t fully changed, eat in the kitchen.

However, Liang Hui barely picked up his chopsticks and didn’t seem to enjoy the meal, eating very reluctantly.

Duan Shuyi, who had wanted to show off her town-based boyfriend to Zhao Ke, felt embarrassed and silently endured it.

Duan Shuyi smiled prettily and praised, “Auntie, this dried fish is really delicious.”

Her attitude mattered more than her partner’s. Yu Xiulan smiled warmly, “If it’s delicious, have more.”

Zhao Ke said, “When you leave, I’ll pack some for you. My brother and I caught them ourselves.”

Since she caught them herself, Duan Shuyi wasn’t going to refuse. “Alright.”

Zhao Ke added, “Do you want some wild vegetable pickles? They cost nothing, not as valuable as your apples.”

She was poor but didn’t mind showing it.

Duan Shuyi’s family only got fruit during the holidays, so she didn’t pretend anymore. “Yes.”

Meanwhile, Yu Xiulan went out for a bit, casually bringing back some pickled vegetables.

Duan Shuyi knew Zhao Ke would be going back to work in the afternoon, and they needed to return to the commune as well. After finishing the meal, she suggested they go visit the production team’s office.

When the three of them went outside, there were three bicycles in the yard. One was the one Liang Hui and Duan Shuyi had ridden, and the other two were leaning against the wall—belonging to Zhao Ke’s family.

Duan Shuyi’s eyes brightened, and she asked loudly, “Zhao Ke, did your family buy a bicycle again?”

Zhao Ke didn’t know what Comrade Yu Xiulan meant. She smiled and casually replied, “One bike isn’t enough.”

Liang Hui gave it another glance, his expression shifting slightly. Clearly, he hadn’t expected the countryside people to have hidden wealth.

Duan Shuyi shot Liang Hui a triumphant glance, huffing.

Zhao Ke took them to the production team’s compound for a stroll, chatting for a while. When the time seemed right, she saw Duan Shuyi off at the old locust tree.

Duan Shuyi, sitting on the back seat of the bike, told Zhao Ke she should come to the mountains with her next time to pick wild vegetables.

Before she could finish, Liang Hui impatiently rode off.

Duan Shuyi’s pretty face darkened as she glared fiercely at Liang Hui, who was ahead of her.

Meanwhile, when Zhao Ke returned home, Yu Xiulan had already put away her precious bicycle.

Yu Xiulan huffed, “What’s up with your classmate’s partner? He looks down on people like a dog!”

“Yes, yes, yes, he won’t have anything to do with us from now on, no need to get upset over him,” Zhao Ke replied.

Yu Xiulan said, “If your classmate ends up with him, you two won’t be close anymore.”

Zhao Ke laughed, “You’ve only met her once, and you don’t even know her yet.”

She was too shrewd to be easily fooled.

Zhao Feng peeked his head in and grinned, “Mom, Sis, can we have one of those apples?”

“Wait until your big sister gets back,” Zhao Ke said. “Mom, take one to school and share it with the kids.”

Yu Xiulan scowled, “So many kids, how are we supposed to divide this? You’re the generous one.”

Even though she complained, she still went into the room, took out an apple, and, feeling a little reluctant, carefully placed it in her pocket.

The family of four left together, and at the school gate, they parted ways—Zhao Ke and Zhao Feng went to work, while Yu Xiulan went inside.

As soon as Yu Xiulan reached the classroom door, it all went dark.

Wow, so many people! Looks like every kid from the whole production team is here.

And it’s just one apple—how can I divide this?

Zhao Ke really knows how to make trouble for her.

Yu Xiulan cursed under her breath, but her face didn’t show it. She quickly turned around and rushed home to grab the second apple, which she tucked into her pocket before heading back to the school.

On the way, she reassured herself—there was no problem. Her family had money now, and before the New Year, they’d go buy two, no, one apple to share among the whole family.

Yu Xiulan borrowed a knife from Teacher Wu.

Seeing both of Yu Xiulan’s pockets bulging, Teacher Wu asked, “Why didn’t you leave one for yourself?”

Yu Xiulan’s heart ached, but her face remained casual. “Most of the kids from our production team have never tasted one, so what’s the point of keeping one?”

“Don’t be too generous. Everyone knows your family has money now. What if someone asks you for a loan?”

Yu Xiulan rolled her eyes. “Am I that easy to talk to? Let them borrow from the production team.”

Teacher Wu handed her the knife. “Just be careful.”

Yu Xiulan took the knife, but seeing there wasn’t enough room to move in the classroom, she moved a desk outside.

Before cutting the apples, she held them up and said to the kids who had never seen one, “This is an apple. Do you understand? If you want one when you grow up, work hard and you’ll be able to buy one yourself.”

The children crowded together, all replying enthusiastically, “Got it!”

Yu Xiulan began to slice the apple, first cutting it into small pieces, making sure every child would get a bit.

“Line up!”

Liu Guangzhi’s wife Zheng Guangmei’s family was the poorest inZhao Village’s production team. When she and her son were in line, Zheng Guangmei asked greedily, “Xiulan Jie, can you also give me a taste?”

Yu Xiulan, already feeling stingy, shot back, “I haven’t even had any myself. If you want one, go take it from your son.”

Zheng Guangmei walked off in frustration, leading her son away.

Next, there were Yu Xiulan’s neighbors across the street, Wang Yinghui and the son of a sent-down youth, Song Wenrui.

Song Wenrui took the apple pieces, swallowed, and unlike some of the other children who hurriedly shoved them into their mouths, he stood on tiptoe and held the piece up to Yu Xiulan’s mouth, saying, “Grandma Yu, you eat.”

Yu Xiulan was taken aback, her gaze softening. “You eat it, Grandma can buy more later.”

Song Wenrui gently lowered his heel back to the ground and slightly pulled his hand back.

Yu Xiulan didn’t mind the children behind urging her, and quietly said, “Aren’t you old enough to go to school? You should be in class.”

Song Wenrui lowered his head. “Grandma Yu, my mom isn’t well, I have to work at home.”

Adults make mistakes, and the children suffer.

Yu Xiulan sighed, “I’ll go visit your home soon.”

Song Wenrui hesitated, nodded, and without eating, ran back home.

Yu Xiulan watched his retreating figure, sighed again, and continued handing out the apples.

Next, it was the turn of Tian Guizhi’s family, with three children. Between her two sons was a sickly little girl, Bao Xiao Yu.

Yu Xiulan gave each child a piece.

Tian Guizhi’s two sons immediately stuffed their pieces into their mouths, but Bao Xiao Yu’s was snatched away by Tian Guizhi. “What’s the girl going to eat for? Give it to your brother!”

Bao Xiao Yu stared blankly at her fingers, already used to it. Just as she was about to suck on her fingers, Yu Xiulan snapped, “What kind of grown woman is this, snatching from a child? Give it to Xiao Yu.”

Tian Guizhi wasn’t pleased. “It’s my family, I’ll give it to whoever I want.”

Yu Xiulan, with her fiery temper, slammed the knife down on the table and threatened, “Give it, or you won’t let Xiao Yu come to school, and I haven’t said anything about that yet. You wait for me at home tonight…”

Tian Guizhi shrank back, her shoulders stiff. “Fine, fine, I’ll give it to her. Look at what you’re doing…”

The nearby children were silent, fearfully watching Teacher Yu.

Yu Xiulan lifted her chin. Tian Guizhi roughly shoved the apple piece into Bao Xiao Yu’s mouth. “Is that good enough?”

Bao Xiao Yu, unwilling to chew, held the apple piece in her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

So this is what an apple tastes like…

Even though she would definitely get a beating when she got home, Bao Xiao Yu still felt very happy today.

…

In the fields, Zhao Yunyun, who was supposed to be absent in the afternoon, showed up again.

Zhao Ke saw her and said, “You’re not thinking about my other quarter of work points, are you?”

Zhao Yunyun shot her a look and shyly said, “I saw your classmate’s conditions are good. You wouldn’t look down on me, your countryside cousin, would you?”

“If I looked down on you, would I let you do all the afternoon work? I only want my quarter of the work points.”

“Zhao Ke!” Zhao Yunyun stomped her foot, “You’re annoying!”

Zhao Ke laughed heartily.

Zhao Yunyun glared at her, but as she kept glaring, she started laughing too.

The two of them looked out at the endless fields and both sighed in unison.

On the way back to the commune, Liang Hui was exhausted like a dog, no longer looking carefree. He even complained about the things Zhao Ke’s family had given them. “This dried fish smells too fishy.”

Duan Shuyi gave him a cold look and didn’t respond.

“Are you tired?” Liang Hui turned around, full of complaints. “Don’t come to these corners of the world again. Look at that village, it’s both broken and dirty, there’s no place to even step.”

Duan Shuyi remained silent. He still had no sense of self-awareness, constantly complaining about everything being bad.

Duan Shuyi had put up with him long enough, but in this desolate place, she couldn’t argue with a man, so she kept her mouth shut.

When they separated at the commune, she directly took all the things Zhao Ke had given her, not leaving anything for Liang Hui.

He didn’t like it? Well, she didn’t want to give him anything!

When Duan Shuyi got home, she immediately shouted, “Mom, me and Liang Hui are over.”

Duan Mama hurriedly asked, “What happened? Didn’t you two seem fine when you left?”

Duan Shuyi said, “Zhao Ke is my classmate, I can dislike her all I want, but what right does Liang Hui have to dislike her? If he dislikes Zhao Ke, that means he dislikes me too. What an embarrassment!”

Duan Mama gently coaxed her, “Alright, alright, don’t be upset.”

That evening, Liang Hui became a single young man. Though he was already exhausted and his legs were shaking, he climbed up to find Duan’s house, but couldn’t change Duan Shuyi’s mind. He was furious and kept cursing Zhao Ke, calling her a “country bumpkin.”

Zhao Ke was completely unaware that she had become a stumbling block in someone else’s romance. After work, she collapsed onto the kang, motionless.

After dinner, Yu Xiulan was about to go on a home visit.

Zhao Ke, like a lump of mud, slouched against the table and sighed, “You really put in a lot of effort.”

“Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Look at you young people, you can’t even handle a little hardship, no vitality at all.”

Comrade Yu Xiulan was right. Zhao Ke was lazy and had grown accustomed to ignoring things that didn’t concern her.

Zhao Ke readily accepted her self-reflection, but she was so exhausted she could barely lift a finger.