Returning home, it was well past lunchtime.
The Nan Family had ample food supplies, enjoying three meals a day—unlike other households that could only manage two, and even those were watery porridge so thin a chopstick wouldn’t stand in it.
After finishing his meal, Nan Jingyu dozed briefly before heading back to work. With little to do in the fields now, the village head had organized teams to dig deeper wells, as water levels were dropping across the villages. There were fears the drought might grow so severe that even drinking water would run short.
Zhong Yanyan began reheating the dishes the moment her daughter returned. Neither she nor Mingli had eaten yet.
She grumbled, "You’re something else, girl. Chatting from the west end of the village all the way to the east! Mingli went out looking for you three times and still didn’t dare drag you back."
Nan Sheng laughed it off, insisting it was all for work. Her lips were slightly chapped—not from thirst, just the dry air.
Mingli sidled up to his sister. "Sis, if you wanted to investigate the village, why not just ask me? Why suffer out there in this heat?"
Nan Sheng pushed his head away, feeling too warm herself.
"Don’t be silly. If you’re free this afternoon, come with me. I need to visit the educated youth dorm and check the work sites."
Zhong Yanyan had made coarse corn porridge, scrambled eggs, and a cold vegetable dish. The porridge had been chilled with well water beforehand, making it refreshing.
"Mom, I’m going to Xiaoling Village tomorrow. Does Grandma’s place need anything? I can bring it over."
Zhong Yanyan, in the middle of scooping eggs into her daughter’s bowl, paused. "If you’re busy, don’t bother. Your aunt’s been causing trouble there lately. I don’t want you running into her and getting hurt."
Nan Sheng shrugged. "If she dares lay a hand on me, I’ll have the militia haul her off. A month of labor reform would straighten her out."
Zhong Yanyan wished it were that simple, but her elderly parents couldn’t handle the stress.
"Better to stay out of their mess. Saves us the blame later."
Sometimes Zhong Yanyan resented her parents for spoiling their children rotten, never disciplining them. But then she’d think of her own two kids and understand.
In the end, children were their parents’ debts—only repaid when life itself was settled.
Noticing her mother’s mood, Nan Sheng changed the subject.
"Then I’ll take two pieces of meat from home. Auntie can cook them for Grandma and Grandpa. If we’re short on anything, let me know. Lin Han even called to remind me not to skimp on spending for the family."
Zhong Yanyan brightened at the mention, her eyes crinkling. "That poor boy Lin Han. Who knows what dangers he faces in the army? When you have time, buy some fabric. I’ll make him a couple of outfits to send over."
The mention of clothes reminded Nan Sheng of the floral-patterned fabric at home. She’d cut half of it earlier for her mother-in-law to make clothes for Qiqi.
Tomorrow, she’d have Mingli pick it up when he fetched ice. It was time she spruced herself up too.
After the meal, Mingli bicycled Nan Sheng to the educated youth dorm, which housed seven or eight young men and women—with more expected to arrive.
"Aside from watering fields, the village is focused on digging wells. Only one or two educated youth are assigned labor; the rest just lounge around here."
Most of these city-bred youths came from comfortable backgrounds and cared little for work points. They were happier skipping labor.
At the dorm, Mingli went in to summon everyone.
Except for those at work, they all emerged.
Nan Sheng sensed a glare of resentment and met the eyes of an old "friend"—Su Jinyan, whose striking beauty couldn’t mask her spiteful gaze.
Pretty but poisonous—no reason to linger on such a face.
Nan Sheng then glanced at Yu Sheng, who wavered between hesitation and fear, likely still traumatized from Xiao Yi’s beating.
"Long time no see, everyone. I’m here today as a township office staffer to check on our comrades. If you’re facing any difficulties in the village, feel free to share."
Nan Sheng had often visited Su Jinyan here and knew the group well.
Her past relationship with Yu Sheng hadn’t been public, but anyone with eyes could guess. The air was thick with awkwardness.
The dorm’s eldest male, their usual spokesperson, stepped forward.
"Thank you for your concern, Comrade Nan Sheng. Wangshan Village has fine mountains, fine water, and finer people! We came voluntarily to build our homeland and have encountered no hardships."
Nan Sheng smiled wryly. A drought-stricken land, yet he called it "fine"? Quite the diplomat.
"That’s good. With the drought worsening, be sure to stock up on food and mind fire safety. If anyone falls ill, get ice from the brigade office. Health is the foundation of revolution."
As she prepared to leave, Su Jinyan decided to stir trouble.
"Comrade Nan Sheng, your government salary must be decent. When will you repay the 300 yuan you owe Comrade Yu Sheng?"
The others perked up at this bombshell. Three hundred yuan? Enough to marry and throw a wedding!
Mingli wasn’t about to indulge her. "What nonsense! When did my sister ever borrow from Yu Sheng?
Even if he had that kind of money, he’d never spend it on her—it’d all go to you! Everyone knows you two sneak around together, a pair of shameless—"
Su Jinyan, accustomed to male adoration, had never met anyone as rude as Nan Mingli.
Now he was slandering her virtue!
"How dare you! Yu Sheng and I share a pure revolutionary bond! Unlike your sister, who swindled money and married off!"
Mingli doubled down, lying without hesitation.
"Pure? Don’t make me laugh! Since when do ‘pure comrades’ sneak into the woods to kiss? I saw you two myself—disgusting!"
Gasps erupted. Even married couples didn’t hold hands in public, let alone kiss!
Su Jinyan flushed crimson, too flustered to deny it—because she had done exactly that. Humiliated, she burst into tears.
Nan Sheng shot her brother an approving look. This was the perfect chance to sever ties between the male lead and the original host.
She called out to Yu Sheng as he moved to comfort Su Jinyan.
"Comrade Yu Sheng, did you tell Su Jinyan I borrowed money from you?
When and where did this happen? Were there witnesses? A written agreement?"
Yu Sheng hesitated, then chose to cut his losses.
Angering a government worker would jeopardize his and Su Jinyan’s chances of returning to the city.
Besides, after being knocked unconscious outside the Lin family’s home in Xiangyang Village, he still didn’t know who’d attacked him.
If word got out, his reputation would be ruined. Better to publicly break ties with Nan Sheng now.
He said in a low voice, "Su Jinyan misheard. It has nothing to do with you. My apologies."
Su Jinyan wept bitterly, her face streaked with tears. Hearing his words, she lifted her gaze to Yu Sheng in dismay—it was over three hundred yuan! If she could just get that money back, she could return to the city. Why wouldn’t Yu Sheng help her?
Had he changed his mind?
Did he really expect her to stay with him in this backwater village for the rest of her life?
