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When Liu Meihua saw the delicate little cabinet Yan Xiao had made, her heart itched with envy.
Her dormitory had a few cabinets, but they were already occupied by the other educated youths. Even now, her luggage was still piled up on a makeshift rack in the corner of the wall.
Watching the tall man carry out the cabinet for that sickly Xi Shi, she didn’t care about his fierce-looking face anymore.
“Comrade Yan! Could you make one for me too? However much she paid you, I’ll pay the same.”
After saying that, she copied Wen Qinghe’s expression, gazing at Yan Xiao.
But Yan Xiao didn’t spare her a glance.
“Sorry, no materials left.”
Liu Meihua grew anxious: “How can there be no materials? Then when will there be? It’s fine even if I wait a few days.”
“I still have work in the fields. If you want, find another carpenter.”
His words were cold and left no room for negotiation.
At that moment, the brigade captain walked in from outside.
“Everyone’s here? Hm, Yan lad, you’re here too? Perfect. Take Wen Qinghe to weed that plot at the foot of the mountain. It’s on your way anyway.
Liu Meihua, you and the other three male educated youths come with me to the record keeper’s to collect tools.”
“Captain, why isn’t she coming with us?”
Suspicion filled Liu Meihua’s face.
“She doesn’t need so many people on her plot. One person’s enough.”
In truth, Captain Feng Dabing was worried the workload would overwhelm this particular educated youth.
Honestly, with how delicate and breathless she was every three steps, he feared any task would break her!
But since she had come down to the countryside, no exceptions could be made.
All he could do was assign her lighter work. The patch at the foot of the mountain could be finished in about an hour by an ordinary person. Giving it to her would at least keep her busy without drawing complaints.
Wen Qinghe followed behind Yan Xiao toward the foot of the mountain. It was the golden season of autumn, and morning besides. The unpolluted air was fresh with the scent of soil, faintly mixed with osmanthus fragrance.
In the golden fields, everyone bent over working diligently.
On the earthen walls, large white characters proclaimed: “Labor is the most glorious.” The entire scene brimmed with vitality.
Even Wen Qinghe felt her spirits lift.
But she overlooked the condition of her body. She hadn’t gone more than a hundred meters before her breathing turned ragged.
Yan Xiao, who had been keeping an eye on her from the front, immediately turned back when he heard something off in her breathing.
“Comrade Wen? Are you all right?”
Wen Qinghe struggled to steady her breath. Only when the pounding in her chest eased did she relax and lift her head to answer.
“I’m fine, maybe I was walking a bit too fast.”
Hearing this, Yan Xiao quickly slowed his pace, adjusting to match hers.
Seeing her pale face, his heart ached. He wished he could just carry her in his arms.
A walk that should have taken ten minutes stretched into half an hour of stops and starts.
Looking at her increasingly pale lips and sickly complexion, Yan Xiao frowned deeply.
“Why… did you come down to the countryside? With this body, isn’t it ridiculous to be here?”
Perhaps it was some unknown emotion, but his tone unconsciously rose. With his dark skin and stern face, he looked frightening.
Startled, Wen Qinghe instinctively stepped back. With no one else around, would he get fed up with her weakness and hit her?
Wuwu… she wanted to go home…
Seeing the little girl’s eyes redden like a frightened rabbit just because he’d raised his voice, Yan Xiao’s expression flickered with regret. He quickly stammered an apology.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean anything else. I just think your body isn’t suited for this kind of labor…”
Realizing he wouldn’t strike her, Wen Qinghe relaxed.
“My… my family situation is complicated. As for my health, don’t worry, I’ll be careful not to drag you down.”
It wasn’t like she wanted to come here either. Thinking of last night’s dream, wuwu… when would she finally get to go back?
Watching her eyes grow redder, Yan Xiao felt as if nails had been driven into his own heart, stabbing with a dull ache.
“Don’t… don’t cry. I’ll do the weeding for you.”
He rubbed his fingers, suppressing the urge to pull her into his arms.
At twenty-six, it was his first time being ruled by emotions like this. Though it was unsettling, he didn’t dislike it.
Instead, a secret joy rose in his heart for this girl.
In that moment, he was certain of one thing:
He wanted this treasure. He wanted to keep her in his domain.
He wanted to hold her in his hands and cherish her with care.
Once that thought settled, everything he did next was decisive.
He led Wen Qinghe beneath a tree, laid a layer of grass on the ground, then added soft leaves.
He gestured for her to sit.
“Be good and wait here for me.”
Still lost in her disappointment at not being able to return home, she blankly followed his words and sat down.
But then she noticed—where had that fierce man gone? Weren’t they supposed to be weeding?
Just as she was wondering, a bronzed, long-fingered hand appeared before her, holding blueberries wrapped in leaves, still glistening with water.
She looked up in confusion.
“These are wild blueberries. I washed them.”
She blankly accepted the small bundle cupped in his palm. It was so small she almost needed both hands to hold it.
“You sit here and eat. By the time you finish, I’ll be about done.”
Then he turned and began weeding on his own, leaving her stunned and at a loss.
Wasn’t the task to weed?
If he was weeding in the field while she sat here eating, how was that fair?
Just as she was about to get up and help, the man said:
“Don’t come over. The sun’s out now, and it’s too hot. Eat the blueberries. I’ll be finished soon.”
“Oh…”
Watching him quicken his movements, Wen Qinghe popped a blueberry into her mouth.
Mmm, sour and sweet~
(o^∀^o) Delicious, delicious~
She couldn’t resist eating several more.
Why had she never had such tasty blueberries before?
Then she remembered—before, she’d always had too much to choose from.
It’s only when you’re aware enough to treasure something that you truly taste its beauty.
And sure enough, just as he’d said, before she even finished eating, Yan Xiao had finished pulling all the weeds and returned.
He had completed the task in less time than they’d spent walking here.