Qiao Yuxiang shook her head, then nodded. Afraid of being hit by the branches again, she quickly explained, "I previously wrote to my so-called father, and he said to just do as that person instructed, without saying anything else. After that, that person would send me a package every month, and I would write back to him, maintaining contact."
Yunyi squinted and asked, "Have you ever been in contact by phone?"
Originally, Qiao Yuxiang didn’t want to say, as she also feared that person would find out and retaliate against her. But after hearing the sound of branches being snapped, she was so frightened that she quickly recited the phone number that person had given her.
Yunyi memorized the number. I’ll find someone later to trace its origin, she thought. Now, the only two useful pieces of information are that the Third Master of the Qiao Family certainly knows who that person is, and that I can find the person behind this through the phone number.
Seeing that she couldn’t pry any more information, she picked up the same club she had used to strike earlier and went directly behind Qiao Yuxiang. Before Qiao Yuxiang could react, another blow landed squarely on her other leg, and the pain caused her to pass out.
Good. Now she won’t be able to trouble the Yuan Family and their grandson for a while.
「Back home, it was already late.」
She added some firewood to the kang’s fire pit, soaked her feet in her space for a while, and then went straight to sleep.
She woke up at her usual time. The sky was still overcast, but it hadn’t started raining yet. Remembering her smoked meat, she quickly got ready and took her basket to the back mountain. As usual, she added firewood first before beginning her training.
After she descended the mountain, she heard the brigade leader shouting by the river, "While it’s not raining yet, we must clear out the Pond today! If we delay any longer, we might have to postpone it until next year." After all, the sky had been continuously overcast, and if it rained, the ground might freeze. Therefore, practically all the able-bodied laborers in the village were mobilized. Due to the special circumstances, the brigade leader’s plan was to divide everyone into two groups. They would take alternating shifts to clear the silt, allowing everyone to take turns warming up and ensuring the mud was cleared out by the end of the day.
Around ten o’clock, Geng Erhong came knocking on the door. "Yunyi, do you want to go see the silt-clearing?"
Yunyi remembered she had tasks for the morning. "I need to go to the brigade office first to get my rent refunded," she replied. "You go ahead; I’ll find you later."
Geng Erhong nodded. "Alright. You might not know, but that new Zhong Zhiqing is so clingy. Thankfully, it won’t be long before she has to move to your place; otherwise, we really couldn’t stand her."
Yunyi couldn’t help but ask, "What’s her situation?"
Geng Erhong huffed. "Ah, another muddle-headed one. I heard from those who came to the countryside with her that she originally didn’t need to come. She secretly signed up to chase after the guy she likes."
"Unfortunately, the guy she’s after is not in our Songling Village, but over at Hua’an Farm Reclamation. Wouldn’t you say she’s foolish?"
Yunyi didn’t nod. "Indeed, quite foolish."
She knew that a group of educated youths had indeed been transferred to Hua’an Farm Reclamation not long ago.
The two chatted as they walked out together, parting ways at the small river—one heading to the brigade office and the other to the silt-clearing Pond.
Accountant Lu didn’t make things difficult for Yunyi and returned the money quickly. "Chu Zhiqing," he said, "when you get to Hua’an, don’t forget our Songling Brigade." This content belongs to NoveI~Fire.net
Yunyi took the money. "The folks in our Brigade have looked after me so much; how could I possibly forget everyone?"
After chatting for a bit, she left for the silt-clearing Pond. I should also tell that Zhong Zhiqing on the way that I’ll be moving out tomorrow, she thought.
However, not long after she found Geng Erhong at the silt-clearing site, she sensed something amiss behind her. She squeezed closer to Geng Erhong and turned her body sideways.
She saw Qiu Baojuan plunge directly into the Pond.
The commotion startled the laborers digging out the silt. One person callously shouted, "What kind of drama is this? Trying to commit suicide where there’s hardly any water? What’s the point of thrashing about like that?"