The next day, time for work.
Wang Jianguo stood on the high platform, scanning the crowd of villagers. Not spotting that flamboyantly dressed face, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Where’s Educated Youth Shen?"
"She’s here, she’s here!" Wang Xiumei hurriedly answered.
When it came to Shen Nanchu, Li Mei couldn’t resist making snide remarks.
"Where is Educated Youth Shen? I don’t see her anywhere!"
"Did she skip work?"
"Not showing up for labor—that’s an ideological problem!"
"You’re the one with a problem—your eyesight’s the issue!"
Yu Lanhua wouldn’t stand for anyone badmouthing her unlikely friend.
"You—" Li Mei was about to snap back, but Fang Jie held her back.
"Sister Shen didn’t skip work. Look, she’s coming now."
Everyone followed Wang Xiumei’s pointing finger to see a small black dot moving along the field ridge.
Who else could it be but Shen Nanchu?
And she wasn’t the only one running late. On another ridge, another shadow was shuffling along—none other than the village’s infamous slacker, Wang Shier.
Shen Nanchu trudged over, dark circles under her eyes, looking utterly drained.
Her mood for work was heavier than attending a funeral—at least at a funeral, she could cry.
Wang Xiumei studied her curiously.
"Sister Shen, didn’t sleep well last night?"
Shen Nanchu nodded.
Don’t even ask.
Building a luxurious burial mound for Coal Ball’s mother had taken up most of her night.
By the time she finished and crawled back into bed, it was already past four in the morning.
And just as she was about to drift off—bam! The sun was already up.
"Sister Wang, did Uncle Fifth Wang used to have a white dog?"
"Yeah! How’d you know? But after Uncle Fifth Wang and Aunt Fifth Wang passed, the dog disappeared from the village."
Wang Xiumei’s words confirmed Shen Nanchu’s suspicions.
She told Wang Xiumei about last night’s events, leaving the other girl wide-eyed.
"At least you’ve got a little dog guarding your door now."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Work time.
How much longer would this ox-and-horse existence last?
Shen Nanchu had zero interest in work points!
Was there any way to blend in with the crowd without actually working?
Her eyes locked onto Village Head Wang Jianguo and Party Secretary Wang Jianshe.
Would she have to stage a coup to get out of this?
Wang Jianguo and Wang Jianshe sneezed in unison.
Today’s task: planting corn.
Not exactly a walk in the park.
Wang Family Village might be nestled in a basin surrounded by mountains, but the basin was pitifully small. After accounting for living space, the arable land was barely enough to feed the villagers.
And those lush green mountains? Mostly hard rock, impossible to cultivate in large swaths. They could only plant corn in scattered patches here and there.
This job required teams of three: one to dig holes, one to drop seeds and cover them, and one to spread fertilizer and fill the holes.
Wang Xiumei was grouped with her parents.
Everyone else had already paired up.
Leaving Shen Nanchu alone.
She secretly rejoiced.
If she was the only one left, surely she wouldn’t have to do three people’s work?
Yu Lanhua looked at her.
She looked back.
Shen Nanchu blinked, signaling with her eyes.
Yu Lanhua gave a knowing nod and a reassuring smile.
A bad feeling crept into Shen Nanchu’s heart.
Sure enough—
"Chu girl, I’ll team up with you," Yu Lanhua volunteered.
Shen Nanchu’s heart sank. She made a last-ditch effort.
"Aunt Lanhua, you can stay with your usual group. It’s fine."
Yu Lanhua gave her an "I’ve got you" look.
"Don’t worry, auntie works fast too."
Shen Nanchu sighed.
Fine.
As long as you’re happy, auntie!
Hope you’re still smiling when we come in last!
How were two people supposed to handle this?
With all other villagers and educated youth already paired up, only Wang Shier remained without a team.
Naturally, the three of them formed a group.
Under his wife’s withering glare, Wang Jianguo steeled himself and announced:
"Shen Nanchu, Yu Lanhua, and Wang Shier—one team."
This trio was a recipe for disaster.
A delicate, work-averse city girl. The village’s laziest man, who’d rather lie down than stand. And the village head’s wife.
…
Today’s work was toughest for the hole-digger.
The fertilizer had to be placed at a distance from the seeds to avoid "burning" them.
So, planting one corn kernel meant digging two holes.
"I’ll spread seeds and cover them," Wang Shier claimed the easiest job first.
"No, you dig," Yu Lanhua shut him down.
"Auntie, my health’s not good," Wang Shier clutched his chest dramatically.
"You’re healthier than Chu girl here. Those arms of yours could probably knock out a tiger."
Yu Lanhua shoved a hoe into his hands.
"Keep slacking off, and I’ll go tell Liu Erhu’s family in the next village all about you."
"Don’t! Auntie, I’ll dig, alright?"
Wang Shier had a crush on Liu Erhu’s daughter—an open secret in Wang Family Village.
With him handled, Yu Lanhua turned to Shen Nanchu. "Chu girl, you handle the seeds."
"Sure." Compared to fertilizer, seeds were definitely preferable.
Nothing beat the pure, uncomplicated scent of corn over… whatever that other stuff was.
…
The underdog trio headed up the mountain.
Their assigned plots were small, separated by rocky outcrops.
Perfect.
To their left: Li Mei, Fang Jie, and Song Qingyang.
To their right: Jiang Shuyi, Su Jianzhou, and veteran educated youth Qian Jia.
This spot was practically handpicked by fate.
System: "Host, work hard! Rack up those dislike points!"
Shen Nanchu: "I’m not interested in dislike points!"
System: "…"
No.
She refused to be just another beast of burden.
There had to be a way out.
As she scattered seeds, her mind raced.
So deep in thought, she nearly tripped over a "rock."
Looking down—whoa. Not a rock at all. A bone.
A bone?!
Jackpot.
Talk about divine timing.
Now she had the perfect excuse to ditch work.
Who needed corn when you had a bone to investigate?
┗|｀O′|┛
"Auntie, I need to talk to the village head!"
She tossed down the seed bag and bolted.
Not even three minutes into the workday.
Wang Shier glanced at Yu Lanhua.
"Auntie, does this mean I’m not the laziest in Wang Family Village anymore?"
[Dislike Points +1]
[Dislike Points +2]
[Dislike Points +3]
…
Yu Lanhua looked at him like he was an idiot.
"What do you know? If Chu girl ran off with that bone, it must be important."
Wang Shier scratched his head.
Really?
Looked like an ordinary pig bone to him.
…
