"Dang, dang, dang..."
The gong sounded at the entrance of the village, signaling the end of the day's work.
Li Mei, Jiang Shuyi, and Fang Jie plopped down on the ground.
The three of them had their faces sun - burnt red. Sweat streamed down like small brooks. Not only were their waists and backs aching, but their hands also stung badly.
Many people cast envious glances at Shen Nanchu.
She had a hat to protect her from the sun, a small folding stool to sit on so she wouldn't get tired, and gloves to prevent her hands from hurting.
Li Mei felt extremely jealous in her heart.
However, when she saw that Shen Nanchu had only weeded such a small patch of land, she felt a bit better.
The Village Party Secretary, Wang Jianshe, walked to the plot of land under Li Mei's charge, took a couple of glances, and then started writing with his pen.
"Liu Guifen and Li Mei, eight work - points each."
Li Mei's face immediately changed color.
Liu Guifen had diarrhea and went to the toilet several times during the work.
Li Mei could only comfort herself in her heart that Shen Nanchu must have done even worse than herself.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as she wished.
"Wang Xiumei and Shen Nanchu, ten work - points each."
The voice of the Village Party Secretary, Wang Jianshe, mercilessly shattered Li Mei's beautiful dream.
"Shen Nanchu worked so slowly. Why does she get full work - points?"
Li Mei was not convinced.
"Today, the work was done in pairs. The group that Shen, the educated youth, was in has already completed the task."
Wang Jianshe really hadn't expected this either.
Shen Nanchu worked slowly, but Wang Xiumei worked fast!
Li Mei couldn't accept this result and vented her anger on Liu Guifen.
"You don't have diarrhea at any other time. You just go when we're working. I think you're just deliberately trying to be lazy."
Liu Guifen felt a bit guilty, but she relied on the fact that she was a local in the village.
"Bullshit. I just had a bad stomach and went to the toilet."
"You work slowly yourself. You said you'd act like a dog if you lost. Humph, and you blame it on me."
Li Mei was not convinced, and Liu Guifen didn't give in either.
The two of them stood in the field, hands on their hips, bickering back and forth. It was quite a spectacle.
It even made the Village Party Secretary, Wang Jianshe, turn black in the face.
Finally, it was only after Wang Jianshe's angry roar that the two of them stopped.
Shen Nanchu, who had finished work early, missed this good show.
"Sister Shen, why don't you come home with me for lunch?"
Wang Xiumei hesitated for a moment and then spoke up.
"Thank you, Sister Wang. No, thanks. I have to go to see the village head later."
Shen Nanchu appreciated Wang Xiumei's kindness.
If it were just Wang Xiumei's parents and Wang Xiumei's family, Shen Nanchu would be happy to go.
However, there were so many people in the Wang family. Forget it!
Where there are many people, there are likely to be conflicts of interest.
Last night, when Wang Xiumei just took Shen Nanchu back to rest for a while, Wang Xiumei's grandma already showed dislike in her eyes.
It was as if Shen Nanchu had taken a huge advantage of their Wang family.
Living under someone else's roof was not a long - term solution.
Fortunately, there wasn't much work today, and they finished it in the morning.
Shen Nanchu decided to ask the village head to find someone to clean up a room for her to live in.
In this way, it would also be convenient for her to solve the problem of having meals.
After Wang Xiumei learned about Shen Nanchu's plan, she didn't insist anymore.
"I'll come to help you clean up after I finish my meal."
"Okay!"
Shen Nanchu nodded.
...
When Shen Nanchu arrived at the village head's house, she happened to run into the whole family having a meal.
When Yu Lanhua saw Shen Nanchu, she was as excited as if she had seen a wad of big - denomination bills. She was extremely enthusiastic.
"Here comes Shen, the educated youth?"
"Haven't you had your meal yet? Come, come, sit down and have a meal with us."
Before Shen Nanchu could even say no, Yu Lanhua had already pushed her onto a stool. Wang Jianguo silently served her a bowl of mixed - grain rice and placed it in front of her.
Under such circumstances, it would be rather impolite to refuse.
Fortunately, there weren't many people in the village head's family. Only the two daughters - in - law were at home, and the children had already finished eating and gone out to play.
Including Shen Nanchu, there were only five people at the table.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Shen Nanchu picked up the chopsticks and started eating.
"Shen, the educated youth, look at how thin you are. Let me fry you two eggs to supplement your nutrition."
There was a basin of wild vegetable soup, stir - fried rape shoots, and cold - mixed lettuce on the table. It was green and healthy.
"No need, Aunt Lanhua. There's enough food already."
Yu Lanhua simply ignored Shen Nanchu's words and turned around to go into the kitchen.
"Wait. It'll be quick."
Well...
Okay!
Shen Nanchu picked up the chopsticks again.
[Disgust value + 1]
Oh, who was jealous of her being favored?
Shen Nanchu looked up and happened to meet the gaze of a pregnant woman with a big belly.
This woman was Sun Hui, the younger daughter - in - law of Wang Jianguo.
Sun Hui was pregnant, and Yu Lanhua hadn't even been willing to boil an egg for her. But as soon as Shen Nanchu came to the door, Yu Lanhua was so affectionate.
Thinking about what Yu Lanhua had said a few days ago about finding a wife for the eldest son in the army, Sun Hui looked at Shen Nanchu with hostility.
Shen Nanchu only glanced at Sun Hui and then turned her head to Wang Jianguo.
The two of them started discussing the matter of repairing the house in the afternoon.
[Disgust value + 2]
By the time Yu Lanhua came out with a plate of golden - fried eggs,
[Disgust value + 3]
"Come, come, Shen, the educated youth, eat more."
Yu Lanhua directly pushed half of the eggs onto Shen Nanchu's bowl.
[Disgust value + 5]
[Disgust value + 3]
Zhang Yun, Yu Lanhua's second daughter - in - law, also began to feel uncomfortable.
These free - range eggs were so delicious!
Shen Nanchu ate with gusto.
Not to mention anything else, Aunt Lanhua's cooking skills were really good.
With delicious food and the collection of disgust values, Shen Nanchu said that she was still very happy.
Yu Lanhua had already learned from her husband about Shen Nanchu's plan to rent and repair a house.
Such a valuable person should be treated well!
"Shen, the educated youth, during the time when you're repairing the house, if you don't mind, why don't you have your meals at our place?"
Yu Lanhua invited warmly.
[Disgust value + 6]
[Disgust value + 5]
Shen Nanchu pretended to be surprised for a moment and then hesitated.
"Aunt Lanhua, isn't this not very appropriate?"
"There's nothing inappropriate. It's just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks."
Yu Lanhua was so enthusiastic that Wang Jianguo felt a bit embarrassed.
Having slept in the same bed for so many years, Wang Jianguo knew exactly what his wife was up to.
Agree?
There was no way he would agree.
Eating simple porridge and pickles occasionally was okay, but Shen Nanchu couldn't stand eating like that for several consecutive days.
"Aunt Lanhua, I appreciate your kindness."
Seeing that Shen Nanchu didn't agree, Sun Hui and Zhang Yun, who had been eavesdropping, finally let out a sigh of relief.
The family's food supply was limited. Adding one more person to eat meant taking food from others' mouths.
Yu Lanhua was a bit disappointed.
"All right. Another day when you want to eat the dishes cooked by your aunt, just come to the house, and your aunt will cook for you."
"Okay."
Another day when Shen Nanchu wanted to enjoy special treatment and earn disgust values, she would come again!
...
