Chapter 78: Just a Casual Chat for a Few Coins

“What’s so good about it? Hurry up and help pick the corn! If we don’t finish today’s task, I won’t let you off.” Sun Lanlan dragged him straight into the field.

Cai Jinzhou… his leather shoes, his white shirt…

Watching Cai Jinzhou’s face turn green, Sun Lanlan couldn’t help but flash a gleeful smile. She felt a little proud inside; look, she too had someone to help her.

Over here, Jiang Xun handed Lin Jingyue a handkerchief, “Go wash your face, I’ll pick the corn.”

There was a small stream running through the ravine.

“Alright, I’ll help you later,” Lin Jingyue took the handkerchief and dashed off.

Sun Lanlan, that troublesome girl, yanked hair like a shrew.

Still, heh, her waist was sure to be bruised.

After washing her face, Lin Jingyue returned, ate a piece of peach pastry, and joined Jiang Xun in picking corn.

“Rest for a bit, there’s not much left, we’ll finish soon,” Jiang Xun said gently, though his hands moved swiftly.

“No need, I’m bored anyway,” Lin Jingyue snapped off a corn cob, “By the way, I’m going to town tomorrow afternoon to mail my article and buy some meat.”

Before the autumn harvest she sent out two more pieces, and received payment for both. Everyone in the brigade knew she got about ten yuan in manuscript fees every half month.

Lin Jingyue never hid her eating and drinking.

“Do you need me to go with you?”

“No, I can manage alone. I’ll visit an old man while I’m at it.” Lin Jingyue waved her hand.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xun didn’t ask further.

They understood each other well enough to know when words were true or false.

Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun quickly finished their task. Before leaving, she went to Sun Lanlan’s field to tease her, making Sun Lanlan so angry she nearly exploded, then slipped away.

Jiang Xun watched her cheerful expression, his gaze filled with doting affection.

At the commune house, they returned to find Wang Xueping cooking. After discovering her pregnancy, she hadn’t gone to work.

Wang Xueping looked up at the sound, saw Lin Jingyue, nodded, and withdrew her gaze.

Since the day Lin Jingyue lent them her bicycle, Wang Xueping’s attitude toward her had grown calmer.

Yang Ming was right: a person needs boundaries and principles; one shouldn’t judge blindly.

Even in their past lives, Lin Jingyue merely had some feelings for Sun Zhiyuan, but did nothing and never harmed her.

Much less in this life.

Wang Xueping touched her flat belly, thinking how this life had taken a completely different path from the last.

Having met such a good man, she would be happy.

Lin Jingyue naturally noticed Wang Xueping’s change, raised her brows, but didn’t probe further.

She cooked dinner with Jiang Xun.

To save time, they made braised rice with smoked pork and potatoes, served with Jiang Xun’s homemade pickled radish and a simple egg soup—more than enough.

Zhou Yan returned and ate with them. Hearing Lin Jingyue planned to buy meat in town tomorrow, Zhou Yan handed her two pounds of meat coupons and two pounds of sugar coupons without hesitation, “If that’s not enough, buy less; I’ll ask my family to send more.”

Jiang Xun glanced at him, Zhou Yan…

Lin Jingyue accepted without fuss, “Alright.”

When the three ate together, there was no need to be so formal.

The next day, Lin Jingyue worked half a day, then took leave to head to town. She said she needed to mail articles—a legitimate reason—so the brigade leader didn’t object.

Besides, her absence meant the brigade enjoyed some peace.

Lin Jingyue rode her bicycle through the brigade like a whirlwind.

In town, she first went to the post office to mail her article. She traded barbs with Zhou Mingxue for a while, and just as she was about to leave, Zhou Mingxue handed her a sizable package.

“What’s this? Someone sent me something?” Lin Jingyue wondered. Could Xu Caixia have sent something again?

“No, it’s from Jiang Xun’s family,” Zhou Mingxue shook her head.

“Alright then,” Lin Jingyue breathed a sigh of relief.

If Xu Caixia sent anything again, she’d have to return it—too much trouble.

“Isn’t it forbidden to collect on someone else’s behalf?”

“You’re his partner, what’s the harm in picking it up?”

“….”

In the end, Zhou Mingxue watched with a grin as Lin Jingyue carried the package away.

Lin Jingyue strapped it to her bicycle, then headed to the recycling depot, wondering if the old man there felt like chatting today.

“Eh? You’ve got a visitor, sir?” Lin Jingyue entered, spotting Song Shiyun, whom she’d met here before.

“He’s no guest; come here, girl,” Old Huo made no effort to hide his fondness for Lin Jingyue. “His name is Song Shiyun, one of my students.”

“Comrade Song, how do you do.”

Song Shiyun’s eyes sparkled with amusement, “Comrade Lin, how do you do.”

They exchanged a knowing glance, then looked away.

“Old man, do you feel like chatting today? Shall we talk for a few yuan?” Lin Jingyue ignored Song Shiyun, sidling up to Old Huo.

In this vast world, good things mattered most.

Old Huo’s mouth twitched, “No desire to chat; chatting with others wastes time, chatting with you wastes money.”

“….”

Lin Jingyue shamelessly replied, “But who else can talk as well as I do?”

“I’d say you’re thick-skinned.”

“I call it pleasing my elders in colorful attire.”

“….”

Both quick-tongued, the old and the young sparred, while Song Shiyun, like an outsider, shook his head and quietly left.

Once he was gone, Old Huo pulled out a mysterious box, “Girl, your chat fee is in here.”

Seeing his sly smile, Lin Jingyue straightened up, “Suddenly, I don’t feel like chatting today.”

“No, you do,” Old Huo snapped open the box.

Inside lay a gleaming set of golden needles.

Lin Jingyue: “!!”

She sat back down, “Old man, are you really a master of Chinese medicine?”

“Didn’t you know?” Old Huo rolled his eyes, recalling how some girl kept probing him since their second meeting.

“I’ve got plenty of treasures. As long as you behave…”

“Old man, do you think I’m the obedient type?” Lin Jingyue’s expression was odd.

“No, which is why I’m warning you.”

The old and the young glared at each other…

“I’m not patient, so if you want to train me as a doctor, forget it.” Lin Jingyue leaned back in her chair.

In both lives, she’d been pampered; she wasn’t about to toil herself to exhaustion.

Old Huo sneered, “My disciple can do whatever she wants. If you don’t want to treat people, just let them leave.”

He’d treat patients only when he felt like it.

Lin Jingyue’s eyes lit up, “You mean I can be that cool?”

“Being my disciple comes with benefits beyond your imagination.” Old Huo sounded like a big bad wolf enticing a rabbit.

“Then give me the golden needles first,” Lin Jingyue was nearly drooling.

Those needles were valuable; in modern times, she’d attended an auction where a century-old set fetched eighteen million.

“These needles are for my disciple only.”

“Master Old Huo,” Lin Jingyue had never lacked for shamelessness.

Old Huo cheerfully handed her the box, watching her caress the golden needles, unwilling to let go.

He added, “But right now, you mustn’t let these be seen.”

The current environment wouldn’t allow it.

Lin Jingyue understood, “I know.”