"Educated Youth Lin, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't know when we'd ever make it to the county hospital."
Ji Zhuxin forced a smile at Lin Yitang.
Looking at the exhausted Ji Zhuxin, Lin Yitang comforted her in a low voice, "It's nothing. You should rest for a while, you've been busy all night."
There was an empty bed nearby, and the nurse told Ji Zhuxin she could lie down on it for a bit.
Educated Youth Xie wanted to stay and take care of them, but Ji Zhuxin wouldn't even look at him. He had no choice but to follow Lin Yitang back to the village.
The next day, Ji Zhuxin went to the department store bright and early to buy some things.
She usually only came here with Ji Zhaoxi during the New Year to buy a few items, but considering Lin Yitang's status, she really couldn't bring herself to give her something cheap.
Ji Zhuxin first went to the black market to exchange some ration coupons. Then she bought Lin Yitang some vanishing cream and a silk scarf, making sure not to pick a pattern that was too flashy.
She also bought a tin of malted milk extract. She had seen the village chief giving this to his mother; it was specially meant to nourish severely ill elderly people. Thinking about how Qin Du was always doing manual labor, she picked out a pair of heavy-duty work gloves for him as well.
These items were not cheap at all; they completely wiped out more than half a year of her savings.
But these people had helped them. If they didn't buy something nice to properly thank them, wouldn't they be left with no one to help them in the future?
Ji Zhaoxi sat on the hospital bed, still looking a bit listless. She packed up her things, waiting for her sister to take her home.
The nurse glanced at her wound and instructed, "Make sure to apply the medicine and change the dressing every day after you go back. Don't slack off."
Ji Zhaoxi nodded obediently.
It wasn't dark yet when they returned to the village. As soon as they got home, Ji Zhuxin hurriedly left with the vanishing cream and silk scarf.
The villagers sat at their doorways eating dinner, watching the tug-of-war happening at the entrance of the educated youth compound.
"Educated Youth Lin, please just accept it. I didn't know what you educated youths like, so I just bought a few things at random. I hope you won't disdain them."
Ji Zhuxin shoved the items into Lin Yitang's arms and held her hands tightly.
Lin Yitang looked extremely conflicted. She knew these things were not cheap for Ji Zhuxin. She had only given them a ride and really didn't want to accept such valuable gifts.
Wiping her tears, Ji Zhuxin said, "Educated Youth Lin, just take it, don't feel embarrassed. I scolded you all like that before, yet you were still willing to help me. I really don't know what to say."
Lin Yitang sighed and finally accepted her gifts. "Sister Zhuxin, I'll accept these gifts, then. Hurry back and take care of your sister."
She would have saved anyone, but she truly hadn't expected Ji Zhuxin to bring her gifts.
Having been in Xinniu Village for so long, she had pretty much figured out the character of most of the villagers: lazy, deceitful, and always looking to take petty advantages. Ji Zhuxin genuinely made her change her impression of this village a bit.
It was just getting dark, and the sky held a faint shade of blue. Walking through the village, the occasional aroma of cooking food wafted through the air.
"Later, you just call him 'Brother,' you hear me? He's two years older than you, stop calling him by his full name all the time."
Ji Zhuxin lowered her voice, carefully supporting Ji Zhaoxi as she instructed her.
Ji Zhaoxi nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, Sis."
Ji Zhuxin brushed back the stray hairs on Ji Zhaoxi's forehead, then patted down her own clothes.
She cleared her throat before finally knocking on Qin Du's door.
After a good while, Qin Du opened the door. He looked calmly at the two people standing at his doorstep, his face devoid of any expression.
Seeing Ji Zhaoxi still standing there foolishly, Ji Zhuxin gave her a tug. Ji Zhaoxi called out crisply, "Brother."
Qin Du frowned slightly.
Ji Zhuxin smiled. "Qin Du, we really troubled you this time. If it weren't for you, my sister might have died out there."
She pulled out the items and handed them to him. "We didn't know what you like, so we went to the department store and bought a few things. See if you need anything else, and we'll buy it for you next time."
"No need," Qin Du interrupted her, immediately trying to close the door.
Ji Zhaoxi quickly blocked the door. Qin Du frowned as he looked at her hand caught in the door crack.
"There's malted milk extract, it's good for Auntie's health!"
Ji Zhuxin quickly nodded as well. "Yes, yes, this malted milk extract is best for new mothers and sick elderly folks. Qin Du, even if you don't think for yourself, think about your mother."
Qin Du's hand gripped the door, but he didn't speak.
Realizing Qin Du's hesitation, Ji Zhuxin struck while the iron was hot. "To nourish the body, you really need specialized things. With meat and stuff, a person might not be able to absorb all the nutrients, right?"
"Just try a little, maybe Auntie will get better after eating it," Ji Zhaoxi chimed in.
Ji Zhuxin glanced at Ji Zhaoxi with a hint of approval in her eyes. After a trip to the hospital, this girl's mind was much sharper.
Ji Zhuxin hastily shoved the malted milk extract and gloves to Qin Du, and Ji Zhaoxi also quickly stuffed the bag of White Rabbit milk candies from her hands into his arms. Qin Du's arms were instantly full.
Seeing Qin Du looking at the bag of White Rabbit milk candies, Ji Zhuxin laughed. "This girl isn't making money yet, so she can only give you the candies she saved up. Yesterday, she was even shouting in her sleep about thanking her Brother Qin Du, saying she wanted to honor you for the rest of her life."
Ji Zhaoxi blushed and peeked at her sister. Wasn't her sister exaggerating a bit too much?
Fortunately, Qin Du didn't dwell on it too much.
When they were leaving, Ji Zhuxin yanked Ji Zhaoxi again. Ji Zhaoxi almost fell over, as one of her legs was already limping. Ji Zhuxin quickly supported her.
Ji Zhaoxi said softly, "Thank you, Brother Qin Du."
Qin Du glanced at Ji Zhaoxi, who was blushing from embarrassment, and looked away.
Ji Zhuxin was finally satisfied. She exchanged a few more pleasantries with Qin Du before taking Ji Zhaoxi home.
When it was time to sleep that night, Ji Zhaoxi tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Although her sister hadn't said how much money she spent this time, it must have been a lot. She was always wasting her sister's money, like a leech.
Ji Zhaoxi wiped her tears away with the blanket. Once she was better, she would go gather coal cinders and stitch shoe soles, so she could pay her sister back.
From then on, the relationship between the Ji family and the neighboring Qin family improved significantly.
Whenever Ji Zhuxin saw someone insulting the Qin family, she would even help curse them back.
One day, Ji Zhuxin cooked several dishes and brought them over to the Qin house to eat. She had heard that Mother Qin liked pickled vegetables, so she would bring her some whenever she had the chance.
At first, Qin Du wouldn't engage in their conversations, but Ji Zhuxin got along very well with Mother Qin. She would come over from time to time to chat about this and that, and Qin Du couldn't exactly just kick them out.
"Auntie, let me tell you, don't be fooled by how glamorous those educated youths look on the outside; they do quite a few scandalous things in private. One was just caught last time."
Ji Zhuxin cracked melon seeds and lowered her voice, showing not a hint of nervousness about gossiping behind people's backs.
Mother Qin lay on the couch, frowning deeply. "Such things actually happen."
She couldn't go out, and Qin Du rarely spoke, let alone gossip about such things. She was currently completely out of the loop regarding the village.
