Chapter 17 : No Connection? Even Ghosts Wouldn’t Believe It

Liu Chunlei patted his worn military coat. “Sort of.”

Luo Yaqing was confused.

Liu Chunlei glanced deeply at Ye Hongping. “Anyway, we’re all from Xinglin Village.”

The educated youth site was located in Xinglin Village, and Liu Chunlei’s home was there too.

He often hung around the youth site, checking out the pretty female educated youths.

Luo Yaqing grew more puzzled. “So are you an educated youth or not?”

Liu Chunlei immediately replied, “Yes, and I’m also Hongping’s man.”

“Liu Chunlei, what nonsense are you spouting?!”

Still processing the bombshell, Luo Yaqing was startled by Ye Hongping’s sudden outburst.

Zhang Guiqin let out a surprised “Oh?” “So you’re Nurse Ye’s man?”

“No, he’s not.” Ye Hongping was flustered. “We have nothing to do with each other, Auntie, don’t listen to his nonsense.”

She glared furiously at Liu Chunlei. “That joke went way too far! I’ve always treated you as a friend. Say one more word of nonsense, and we’re done!”

Liu Chunlei looked at her in disbelief. What was wrong with Hongping?

They were seeing each other.

He wasn’t married, she wasn’t either—what was there to hide?

“Xiaolian, let’s go.”

Ye Hongping didn’t dare stay any longer, afraid Liu Chunlei might say something worse.

“Hongping… Hongping…”

Liu Chunlei quickly hopped on his bicycle and chased after her.

After the commotion settled, Luo Yaqing also rode off with Zhang Guiqin on the back of her bicycle.

On the way back, Zhang Guiqin craned her neck and asked, “Yaqing, do you think that Liu-something really is Nurse Ye’s man?”

Luo Yaqing answered loudly, “Who knows?”

“At their age, it’s perfectly normal to date.”

“But that Liu-whatever really isn’t much to look at.”

Luo Yaqing remained silent.

What Liu Chunlei said on the street had stunned her, and Ye Hongping’s reaction was strange too.

If they truly had nothing going on, even a ghost wouldn’t believe it.

But then again, whatever was going on between them was their own business. Living her own life well was more important.

Noticing Luo Yaqing’s silence, Zhang Guiqin changed the topic. “What are you planning to do with the pork belly we bought?”

“Make dumplings,” Luo Yaqing replied.

Zhang Guiqin smiled. “You’ve got family visiting from your side, a reunion dumpling meal sounds just right.”

Riding against the cold wind, Luo Yaqing shouted, “My aunt came all the way here, I have to show her proper respect!”

Every word came from the heart—she would honor Qiu Shimin on behalf of the original host.

The bicycle wheels spun faster as her mood lightened.

As they neared a fork in the road, Luo Yaqing spotted an old man carrying a fishing net.

She steered the bike in that direction.

“You took the wrong turn, Yaqing! That’s the wrong way!” Zhang Guiqin called from the backseat.

“Nope.”

Luo Yaqing pedaled faster, stopped the bike, and blocked the old man’s path.

Zhang Guiqin quickly jumped off the backseat.

Startled, the old man stiffened. “Wh-what do you two want?”

Luo Yaqing smiled warmly, eyes locked on the old man’s fish basket. “Grandpa, how much for the fish?”

The old man froze for a second, then said nervously, “Girl, don’t talk nonsense—I’m not selling fish.”

He tried to walk around them.

“Grandpa,” Luo Yaqing tugged on the basket, “please sell me some.”

The old man frowned and pulled his basket back. “These are for my family.”

“You’ve caught so many—there’s no way you can eat them all. Just sell me a few.” Luo Yaqing didn’t give up.

Zhang Guiqin chimed in, “Exactly. You can’t possibly finish all that. Just sell us some.”

The old man shook his head. “No, no.”

“Grandpa, don’t you want a little extra cash to help with household expenses?” Luo Yaqing tempted him.

In the countryside, under the collective system, everyone earned work points, which were exchanged for dividends at year-end.

But it was a long wait, and life was tight. No family had money to spare.

The old man looked hesitant.

It was a slow winter season, and he had caught a lot of fish. His wall at home was lined with dried fish.

They couldn’t eat them all, not even close.

The idea of making a bit of extra cash sounded pretty good.

But… speculation and profiteering…

Luo Yaqing seemed to sense his hesitation. “It’s not grain, and it’s not reselling for profit either. These fish came from the river—you caught them yourself.”

“Exactly!” Zhang Guiqin backed her up. “Make a little money, buy your grandson some candy. Quietly—if you don’t tell and we don’t tell, no one will know.”

With the two of them taking turns persuading him, the old man finally gave in.

He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then let them peek into the basket.

It was full of wild, freshly caught crucian and perch.

“Wow, these are some fine fish,” Zhang Guiqin praised.

Luo Yaqing’s eyes sparkled. Crucian carp were especially nourishing. Stewed with tofu, the broth would be thick and milky—so delicious.

She paid 22 cents for half the basket.

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

“You’re welcome…”

The old man quickly tucked the money into his coat and left without another word.

Luo Yaqing got back on the bike.

Zhang Guiqin hopped onto the backseat again. “That Ma Xiaolian has a big mouth. If she sees this… just say you picked the fish up.”

Luo Yaqing chuckled. That wasn’t going to happen. Even though their homes were separated only by a fence, they couldn’t stand each other and didn’t even speak.

…

Ma Xiaolian squatted in front of a stall, flipping through items absentmindedly, occasionally turning to glance at a pair not far away.

She was too far to hear what they were saying.

“I’m an educated youth, sent down to be re-educated by the poor and lower-middle peasants—not here to date.”

“Covered in mud, calluses on my hands, and a red heart of loyalty.”

“That’s the mission of every sent-down youth.”

“Our tasks and ideals aren’t yet fulfilled. We have no right to indulge in romance.”

“You said all that in front of everyone at the family compound… Liu Chunlei, you’re hindering my progress!”

Ye Hongping was furious, scolding Liu Chunlei non-stop.

Liu Chunlei didn’t dare make a sound, afraid she’d break things off completely.

Once she was done lecturing him, he cautiously said, “But lots of educated youths at the site secretly date.”

“…!” Ye Hongping was speechless.

It was true. Secret relationships among the youth were common.

She argued, “Well… like you said, secretly. These issues can affect one’s progress!”

Her face darkened again. “Forget it. From now on, you go your way, and I go mine.”

Liu Chunlei quickly apologized. “Hongping, I was wrong. I only said it out of fear you’d like someone else…”

Ye Hongping glanced toward Ma Xiaolian, who was still watching them, then said, “Alright, go now.”

“You forgive me?” Liu Chunlei asked cautiously.

Suppressing her disgust, Ye Hongping nodded.

Liu Chunlei beamed, pulling a few cloth coupons from his pocket. “Hongping, you look so good in pink. Every time we meet, you wear that old blue jacket, like a middle-aged farmwife.”

“Can you not?!” she snapped.

“Okay, okay, I’ll shut up. Here, take these coupons.”

With the cloth coupons in hand, half of Ye Hongping’s annoyance faded.

Her tone softened. “Be careful riding back.”