Chapter 49

Gu Qinghuan and Lin Xiaomeng didn’t expect that the chattering Qian Caihua would have such a past, and they were feeling somewhat emotional about it.

The next second, Qian Caihua let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered: “Ah, damn it, you two, stop standing there and get to work! Wang Xiaohua and the others next door have already filled their baskets!”

The two of them could only squat down, resigned to their fate, and start digging up sweet potatoes. However, after the previous conflict, neither of them spoke to the other. Each of them took one side and began to work feverishly.

Although the autumn sun wasn’t too scorching, it was still unbearable when working under it. Sweat streamed down their faces and into their necks, and the clothes on their chests and backs quickly became drenched.

Carrying sweet potatoes was also a physically demanding job. Fortunately, Gu Qinghuan’s body had been well-nourished by the Spirit Spring Water recently, so he could barely manage to carry a full basket of sweet potatoes.

After working seriously for two hours, Lin Xiaomeng noticed that many people around them were tired and stopped to drink water and take a break.

She quickly said to Qian Caihua: “Caihua, Aunt, let’s take a break too, okay? I brought osmanthus cake. Shall we eat together?”

Gu Qinghuan thought to himself, Here it comes, Lin Xiaomeng is about to make her move!

How should he stop her?

Knowing Qian Caihua’s nature, how could she resist taking advantage of the situation?

Sure enough, the next second, Qian Caihua’s old face bloomed into a smile like a chrysanthemum: “Huai Zhi’s family, you’re working and even brought osmanthus cake? Well, I’ll shamelessly try a piece then!”

Lin Xiaomeng’s plan was simply to let Qian Caihua eat the osmanthus cake and then get her to drink the Fortune Spring Water when she became thirsty.

At worst… at worst, she would sacrifice her own water bottle and let Qian Caihua take a sip, as long as she didn’t let Qian Caihua drink Lin Xiaomeng’s water.

Gu Qinghuan thought this through.

Lin Xiaomeng did indeed bring osmanthus cake. Since the last time she had made the mistake of being overly eager, today she didn’t give Gu Qinghuan any, but instead divided four pieces of the cake for Qian Caihua.

“This osmanthus cake smells so good. Thank you, Huai Zhi’s family.” Qian Caihua said with a beaming smile as she took the cake. After tasting one piece, she couldn’t help but smile even wider—it was sweet and soft.

She took out a handkerchief from her chest and placed the remaining osmanthus cake inside, intending to take it home to share with her husband and son.

Lin Xiaomeng, not wanting to be polite, also started eating.

Gu Qinghuan took a big gulp from his water bottle. The water inside had been filled by Xu Huai’an in the morning, just regular boiled water from home. It was enough to quench his thirst.

Qian Caihua noticed that Lin Xiaomeng hadn’t offered any osmanthus cake to Gu Qinghuan and had completely ignored him all morning. She suspected that the two of them might have had some kind of conflict and wondered if there was something going on behind the scenes.

As she was about to probe, Gu Qinghuan suddenly handed over his own water bottle. “Aunt Caihua, you must be thirsty. Here, have some of my water.”

Gu Qinghuan smiled with an ingratiating expression and deliberately glared at Lin Xiaomeng.

Lin Xiaomeng thought Gu Qinghuan was trying to compete with her, trying to win favor with Qian Caihua.

You give osmanthus cake, I’ll give water.

Little did she know that Gu Qinghuan wasn’t trying to please Qian Caihua but was simply trying to get her to drink the Fortune Spring Water in a natural way.

This Gu Qinghuan was really troublesome. Who asked him to be the one to flatter Qian Caihua?

“That’s great, I was just feeling thirsty.”

Qian Caihua, used to being rough, didn’t have the habit of bringing water when she worked. At this moment, she was indeed feeling parched and didn’t hesitate to take Gu Qinghuan’s water bottle, about to take a drink.

“Aunt Caihua, drink mine instead! I have honey water, it’s sweet and delicious.” Lin Xiaomeng said eagerly.

And so, Gu Qinghuan could only watch as Qian Caihua handed his water bottle back to him and went straight for Lin Xiaomeng, grabbing her water bottle and gulping it down.

She drank until the bottle was empty, and then, smacking her lips, she put the bottle down with lingering satisfaction and said: “Huai Zhi’s family, sorry, I drank all your water…”

Seeing this, Lin Xiaomeng actually smiled even more genuinely, waving her hand and saying: “It’s just water, there’s no need to apologize.”

After saying that, she smugly glared at Gu Qinghuan.

How about that? People are willing to drink my water, not yours.

Gu Qinghuan’s face darkened, more so than the bottom of a pot. This old woman was really asking for trouble, she must have a death wish.

He had thought that by handing over his water first, he would be able to stop Lin Xiaomeng’s plan. He never expected to lose because of the “honey” water.

He had forgotten that people these days associate sweetness with good things.

Forget it. He had already done his best. Despite the risk of being discovered, he tried to help her, but it ended in failure.

He realized that, even if he managed to escape this time, Lin Xiaomeng would come back at it again next time. He couldn’t be on guard all the time. Perhaps it was just Qian Caihua’s fate.

Couldn’t carry it, simply couldn’t carry it.

Couldn’t save it, simply couldn’t save it.

Gu Qinghuan continued to work with a grim face, feeling a bit upset inside.

Qian Caihua thought the two were just sulking and, still smiling, leaned over and said: “Huai An’s family, next time I’ll drink your water.”

“No, no, no, you should stick to drinking the honey water.” Gu Qinghuan said, looking up at Qian Caihua with irritation.

Behind her, the same progress bar as Lin Xiaomeng’s appeared, and there was still 10% of the Fortune Luck left.

Soon, it would all be Lin Xiaomeng’s.

Sure enough, the next moment, the numbers on the progress bar changed to 9.

8.

7.

…

Until it reached zero, all her Fortune Luck was drained by Lin Xiaomeng, and the progress bar turned black.

Qian Caihua, feeling awkward, went back to working. What she didn’t know was that with one wrong step, she had already set foot in hell.

Lin Xiaomeng’s plan had succeeded, and she continued working happily for the rest of the time.

Until someone called from the distance: “Old eldest, hurry home to cook!”

It was Liu Guifang’s voice.

Reluctantly, Lin Xiaomeng stood up, greeted Qian Caihua, and said: “Aunt Caihua, I’ll head home to cook. I’ll come back to work in the afternoon.”

It was about time for lunch. Some people had their older children bring food from home, some returned home to cook, while others had brought dry rations in the morning and sat in the fields, eating and continuing to work.

Since they were in the same team, and Lin Xiaomeng was taking a break, they didn’t want to work too much either.

“Alright, go ahead, Huai An’s family. Are you going back too?” Qian Caihua asked. She figured that with the “Madman” and the two kids at home, Lin Xiaomeng must need to return to cook.

Gu Qinghuan shook his head. “I won’t go back. The two kids will make it and bring it over.”

They had agreed on this in the morning.

“Ah, that’s good then. Your two kids are quite capable! You treat them well, and you’ll be rewarded later!”

Gu Qinghuan didn’t respond. She had never thought of rewards, she just couldn’t stand seeing suffering in the world.

However, judging by the merit points from the Underworld Palace, it seemed that doing good deeds really did lead to rewards!

Lin Xiaomeng left, and the two of them tidied up and went to the nearby pond to wash their hands.

Qian Caihua slipped and almost fell into the pond, but fortunately, Gu Qinghuan was quick-eyed and quick-handed, pulling her back just in time.

It seemed that with her Fortune Luck drained, Qian Caihua was starting to have some bad luck.

However, she didn’t seem to mind, happily humming a little tune.

The two of them found a spot under a tree to rest while waiting for their families to bring lunch.

Having never done such heavy farm work, Gu Qinghuan’s stomach was already growling; she was both tired and hungry.

Suddenly, she remembered the persimmons she had brought in the morning. Maybe they could help fill her stomach and give her some energy.

She took one out and started eating it.

Qian Caihua couldn’t help but eye the persimmon in Gu Qinghuan’s hand. “Huai An’s family, these persimmons are quite good.”

Gu Qinghuan had no choice but to pull out another one and hand it over.

Qian Caihua wiped her hands on her clothes, then bit into the fruit. The taste was delicious, juicy and sweet. It was so refreshing, and maybe because she was hungry, the persimmon tasted almost like a heavenly peach, making her feel light and blissful.

Gu Qinghuan, however, froze in place. The bite of persimmon she had just taken got stuck in her throat. She couldn’t spit it out or swallow it.

What had she just seen?

There, above Qian Caihua’s head, dark smoke was rising in waves.

And behind her, the progress bar was slowly turning red again, with her Fortune Luck restored to one. It began to slowly increase little by little.