Chapter 8 – Chen Miaomiao Is Furious
As Fu Jingyou walked past Chen Miaomiao, he tilted his head slightly to glance at her.
Chen Miaomiao clenched her fists. After her burst of excitement, she shyly pointed at the sack of coarse grain by her feet.
“Comrade Fu, I… I really can’t carry this anymore. Could you help me?”
Chen Miaomiao knew Fu Jingyou’s background. On the surface, everyone in Dahe Village treated him politely, but in truth—apart from the captain and his wife—no one wanted to have much to do with him.
And now she was being so proactive. Since Fu Jingyou had even helped the haughty, annoying Lu Miao earlier, surely he would help her too!
Fu Jingyou cast her a sidelong glance. His usually cold, expressionless face suddenly showed a flicker of impatience.
He wasn’t stupid. Just now, he had clearly seen this female educated youth carrying the sack and walking briskly. Besides, the corner ahead led directly to the educated youth station. With just a few more steps to go, how could she suddenly not manage?
Retracting his gaze, Fu Jingyou didn’t spare Chen Miaomiao another look. He strode away with long, decisive steps.
“……”
“Fu Xiaoliu!”
Chen Miaomiao froze, then stomped her foot in frustration.
No matter how angry or how loudly she shouted, all she could do was watch Fu Jingyou’s figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.
The midday sun was scorching, and even crouching in the shade of a tree, waves of heat rolled over them.
Chen Miaomiao had already sweated through her clothes, and now, worked up as she was, her forehead throbbed painfully. Her vision blurred, and she nearly collapsed into the nearby field.
In the early May weather, Chen Miaomiao had managed to give herself a heatstroke.
When Lu Miao finished putting away her grain and went with Ren Bingxin to return some things to the team, they found Chen Miaomiao lying on the bed while Geng Xiaoyun bustled about clumsily taking care of her.
“Little sister, your body really can’t handle much, can it? You’ve only been out for a little while, and look at you now!”
Lu Miao poked her head into the room, one hand carrying a basket and the other linked with Ren Bingxin’s. She asked, “What’s wrong with her?”
Ren Bingxin shrugged. “No idea. She went to collect rations, and when she came back, she was like this.”
Lu Miao was just asking casually—she really didn’t care what happened to Chen Miaomiao.
On the way back, they brought up the matter of working in the fields. Ren Bingxin glanced at Lu Miao’s face, as delicate as a flower bud.
“The captain said he’s already given us a day’s buffer. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be working with the villagers step by step. Lu Miao, can your little frame handle it?”
Lu Miao was indifferent. “How would I know?”
Anyway, she didn’t know how to do anything. If the villagers didn’t mind her being a burden, she was willing to give it a try.
Ren Bingxin sighed and said nothing more.
She was worried about Lu Miao—after all, Lu Miao couldn’t even comb her own hair properly. How could she possibly manage farm work?
But then again, Ren Bingxin herself had grown up in the city. She didn’t know how to farm either.
Right now, she could barely take care of herself. How could she worry about Lu Miao?
She sighed all the way back, which started to irritate Lu Miao. Still, Lu Miao did keep the matter of farm work in mind.
When they reached the captain’s house to return the items, Lu Miao didn’t leave right away.
Ren Bingxin tugged her arm and whispered, “Come on, let’s go.”
Lu Miao pulled her hand free. “Don’t rush.”
Then she stepped forward and called out, “Uncle!” to He Hongjin.
By age, he was her elder. Calling him that was certainly appropriate.
She had planned to cozy up and maybe ask in advance about the farm work. But seeing He Hongjin’s sun-darkened, fierce face, she thought he looked far too intimidating to approach. So she shifted her attention to Chen Guifen, who was shaking a sieve in the yard.
“Auntie!”
Although she was only eighteen, her years in a wealthy family had taught Lu Miao how to present herself in front of elders so as to maximize her own advantage.
She went closer to Chen Guifen. That one word, “Auntie,” came out so sweet and obedient that Chen Guifen froze for a moment before finally responding.
“Comrade Educated Youth, what is it?”
