Chapter 50: Don’t Want to Owe Favors

Luo Qiao didn’t stop until she felt she had gathered enough to fill the bundle on her back.

She took out a fish weighing about two catties from her own bundle and placed it into Grandma Lin’s.

In a soft voice, she said, “Grandma Lin, I caught this fish in the pond. Take it back for Mr. Lin and yourself to nourish your bodies.”

Grandma Lin was startled and quickly objected, “Young lady, this won’t do. The grain you sent already made us feel guilty. How can we eat your fish? There are fish in that pond, but they are hard to catch.

Young lady, from now on, you should go to that pond less. It’s very deep there. My grandfather once said that even a rope of fifty to sixty meters couldn’t reach the bottom. Please listen to me, young lady, and go there less often.”

Luo Qiao reassured her, “Grandma Lin, I didn’t go into the water. I used a net to catch it. Please don’t worry.”

Without stopping her hands, she placed the fish underneath the bundle and placed some firewood on top. Grandma Lin stood there anxiously, clapping her hands in concern.

Luo Qiao said, “Grandma Lin, I still have another bundle of firewood in my basket. Please don’t be polite. It’s getting late. Hurry back home.”

Grandma Lin nodded with mixed emotions and prepared to leave. Luo Qiao couldn’t bear to see her carrying that heavy load of firewood alone, so she said, “Grandma Lin, wait here for me, please. Don’t leave.”

She quickly picked up her own bundle, rushed home, not far down the mountain from the youth corps station, so it was quite close.

After hastily putting the bundle back in the courtyard and locking the door, she hurried back, shouldered Grandma Lin’s bundle of firewood, and said, “Let’s go. I’ll help you carry it back.”

Grandma Lin insisted anxiously, “Oh my, really no need. I thought you had something urgent. I can manage to carry it.”

Luo Qiao reassured her, “It’s okay, Grandma Lin. Let’s go. It’s getting late, and we might delay dinner.”

Seeing Luo Qiao determined to help, Grandma Lin reluctantly agreed and they walked back together.

Along the way, they chatted pleasantly despite the age difference. They met several villagers, some praising Luo Qiao for her kindness, while others criticized her for currying favor with Grandma Lin. It was all a show for the villagers.

These words didn’t affect Luo Qiao at all. She couldn’t bear to see Grandma Lin so frail and thin that a gust of wind could knock her over. Helping her was just a matter of extending a hand.

Nowadays, after all, it’s not the end of the world. One has to integrate eventually. Besides, when she first arrived at the educated youth courtyard, if it weren’t for the help of Captain and his wife, she wouldn’t have settled down so quickly.

People always need to look forward, look at the good, look at the kindness. Moreover, while working in the fields, she often heard the aunties talking about the Lin family. Since she encountered them, she can’t just act indifferent.

After delivering the items to their home without lingering, Luo Qiao didn’t mention helping them cut firewood another day to avoid making the old couple uneasy.

The Lin couple are only in their sixties, but they look like they’re in their seventies. She can help if she can. Anyway, it’s not a big deal for her.

As for what others say, words come from others’ mouths. Let them say what they want. It’s not like it’s any skin off her nose.

After returning home, she prepared two fish, mainly because she was afraid that Lu Yichen might not have enough to eat, after all, he had sent so much firewood. Actually, she wanted to say he didn’t need to send it, she could handle it herself.

But after speaking several times, Lu Yichen thought she didn’t want to owe anyone favors, so she simply let him do it. As a matter of reciprocity, she could only make some food and send it over to repay the kindness.