Chapter 031 Are You an Idiot?

Chapter 031 Are You an Idiot?

Guo Pushu returned home. Hao Niang had already cooked the meal, and Father Guo was back too, setting up the table in the yard and moving the dishes onto it. Now that the sun had set, the yard wasn't exposed to the sun, and there was a breeze, making it much cooler than eating in the kitchen—otherwise, they'd be drenched in sweat.

Shankou Village had electricity now. There was a fan at home that the eldest brother had sent back, but Father Guo and Hao Niang, frugal all their lives, couldn't bear to use it—electricity was expensive! Yet they were willing to leave it in their youngest daughter's room for her to use. It was too hot; what if the girl got heat rash?

"You're back just in time. I've set aside a bowl of meat; take it to your grandparents." Hao Niang put down the bowls and chopsticks, turned around, and went to the kitchen to bring out a small bowl of braised pork. The portion was generous, enough for the two elders.

"Alright." Guo Pushu took the bowl and left, glancing back at Father Guo, who was sneaking a pair of chopsticks. "Dad, don't you dare eat any!"

Father Guo, who was about to reach out with his chopsticks, was startled and immediately pulled his hand back. He turned around and saw Hao Niang glaring at him. "Sneaking a bite, huh? No drinking tonight."

"That won't do..." Father Guo panicked, quickly putting on a smile to cajole her. Even at their age, their relationship was still very affectionate.

Guo Pushu turned and walked out the door, listening to the bickering behind her, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

Her grandparents had two children. She also had a second uncle, who now lived separately. The grandparents lived not far away, just a two-to-three-minute walk.

They were already old. Having stayed together from young couple to old companions, especially through the turbulent years, was no easy feat. They were the village's elderly treasures, nearly ninety years old. Their health was still decent, though Grandma was not well and needed medication.

When Guo Pushu arrived, Grandpa Guo was sweeping the floor. He couldn't stay idle. His posture was straight, and he seemed quite spirited, though he walked with a slight limp. His leg had been hit by a bullet back then. Medical care wasn't advanced enough, and the bullet wasn't removed, so it remained. Now, it was even harder to extract.

"Grandpa." Guo Pushu called out. Grandpa Guo's eyesight was still good. Seeing Guo Pushu, he immediately broke into a smile and took out a piece of candy from his pocket. "Xiao Liu, you're back! Here, have some candy. Sweeten your mouth."

There were many children in the family, and the younger ones often came here to play. He loved the younger generation and always kept some candy in his pocket to give out. It had become a habit.

"Grandpa's candy is really sweet." Guo Pushu popped it into her mouth, making her cheek bulge a little. "This is the braised pork my mom made. Have some with Grandma. Where's Grandma? I want to talk to her; I haven't seen her in a while."

"She's in the back, watering the vegetables." Grandpa Guo also had a taste for this dish. Smelling the aroma, he happily went inside to retrieve his treasured half-cup of liquor. He liked a small drink in the evening.

"Grandma's health isn't good; why is she still working?"

"You go tell her. She won't listen to me. She says lying in bed all day makes her body uncomfortable and dizzy, so she feels better doing some work."

Guo Pushu understood. The older generation were all hardworking people who had endured hardships. Asking them to eat and then lie around was indeed hard. As long as they worked within their physical limits, it was beneficial.

She stayed to chat with the elderly and helped with some chores before declining their invitation to dinner, saying she would stay home for a while and would come back for a meal another time. Then she returned home.

During dinner, Guo Pushu briefly mentioned what her fifth sister-in-law had told her. Hao Niang was so furious she nearly overturned the table, cursing and swearing that if she ever saw Aunt Liu again, she would slap her twice for such a wicked deed, fearing no divine retribution.

"Alright, since this matter is settled, let it be. If you run into her, don't say a word. Pretend you don't know. Don't meddle." Father Guo shoveled rice into his mouth, picked up a piece of braised pork, and put it into Guo Pushu's bowl. With a meaningful tone, he said, "You've had a tiring day bringing back the educated youth. Eat more meat to replenish yourself. Look how thin you are. If your brain doesn't keep up, you'll lose your hair."

Father Guo, being a man of some education, spoke with multiple layers of meaning. Hao Niang was baffled and didn't understand at all, while Guo Pushu gave an awkward smile, catching her father's implication.

Hao Niang was typically strong in body but simple in mind. She only understood the last part. Looking at Guo Pushu, she said directly, "You're thin, thin. Oh dear, don't skimp on food when you're away. If you're short on money, just say so. Your grandparents mentioned to me earlier, asking if you had enough money out there. They said they'd save some for you and give it to you when you come back."

The old couple doted on their only granddaughter. Guo Pushu had spent much of her childhood with them because the adults had to work, and she was left with her elderly grandparents, forming a deep bond.

"Grandpa and Grandma wanted to give me money just now, but I didn't take it. I'm not short of money now. They should keep it for themselves." Guo Pushu even wanted to give them some filial money, but Grandpa still had a pension now and definitely wouldn't accept it.

Father Guo was concerned about something else. He had been puzzled all the way back. "What's the deal with that bicycle of yours? Did you buy it yourself? Where did you get the money and the coupons?"

"The coupon was sent by Brother. He said Sister-in-law had one, but they didn't need it, so they sent it to me." Guo Pushu's eldest sister-in-law was a military doctor, cheerful and good to her, often sending things. "The money I earned myself. As for how, I won't go into details. It's not anything immoral or illegal. But outside, just say the bike is borrowed from a friend. Don't say I bought it myself."

Otherwise, she'd be surrounded everywhere she went, and she didn't have the leisure to deal with that. Too much trouble.

Father Guo nodded. Hearing this from his daughter, he didn't ask further. This child had always had her own ideas and wasn't one to act recklessly. "That's right. Stay low-key. The times are sensitive. Those people have noses like dogs, and they love to target the outstanding."

"I understand." When it came to her children, Hao Niang was tight-lipped. She knew what to say and what not to say.

"What are your plans for work? Are you going to stay in the village?" Father Guo naturally didn't want his daughter to come back. She had studied so much, hoping for a good future. But finding work outside was like pulling teeth—jobs were passed down from father to child, and without connections, it was hard to find anything. If it were that easy, the city's educated youth wouldn't have come down to the countryside for lack of work. Now, they were all forced by circumstance; few were volunteers.

Guo Pushu had a plan. "I'll stay in the village for a while. I have my own arrangements. Don't worry." She smiled. "Don't mind me freeloading at home, huh."

"Nonsense. I wish you could eat at home every day." Hao Niang rolled her eyes at her and deftly picked out all the meat from her bowl to give to her daughter.

"Eat, you don't have to keep giving to me. I've had enough." Guo Pushu wasn't lacking in meat; she had been craving this taste. Two or three pieces were enough; any more would be greasy.

Father Guo didn't care. He took a bite of meat and a sip of wine, living the good life.

After dinner, Guo Pushu cleared the table and washed the dishes, while Hao Niang went to the kitchen to take out the boiled peanuts and pour them into a basket. She had put a little salt in them earlier. Their family liked salty flavors. They were good eaten hot or cold, and were Father Guo's favorite snack to go with his drinks.

"Pushu, are you home?" came Deng Yangchun's voice from outside.

She didn't come in or snoop around. She just called out from the door, politely waiting.

"I'm here. Hold on." Guo Pushu responded, then took a handful of the drained peanuts and put them in her pocket to take along.

Hao Niang looked up. "Who is it?"

"It's the new educated youth. She wants to buy some wooden basins. I'll take her there now." Guo Pushu washed her hands and dried them. "Mom, Dad, I'm going out. Don't wait up. If you're tired, just wash up and sleep. I'll come back when I'm done."

Since it was in the village, there was no need to worry. If she ran into trouble, a few men wouldn't be a match for Guo Pushu.

Her strength and martial arts skills came from Grandpa Guo, who taught her boxing when she was little.

Back when they were fighting the Japanese, weapons were scarce; sometimes they had to fight barehanded. He had learned a few moves. Guo Pushu had surpassed her teacher, which made Grandpa Guo very happy. He thought to himself that in a different era, his granddaughter could have been a female general.

Guo Pushu reached the door and saw Deng Yangchun. She had rested for a while at the educated youth compound and had also eaten dinner. She looked much livelier than when she arrived in the afternoon—no longer listless. Seeing her, Deng Yangchun smiled. "Pushu, are you done? If not, I can wait a bit longer. It's okay."

"I'm done. Let's go. I'll take you. My fifth brother made them. He's skilled at craftsmanship and can even carve patterns." Guo Pushu had mentioned earlier that her fifth brother had some spares at home. "Here, these are boiled peanuts my mom made. They're salty. Take some if you like them."

"Then I won't be polite. I like salty flavors too." Deng Yangchun knew that to maintain a good relationship, being overly polite was useless. Reciprocity was key to strengthening bonds.

She cracked open a peanut and tasted it. Her eyes lit up. "Delicious. The educated youth compound also boiled peanuts tonight, but as new arrivals, we only had some grain provided by the village. The peanuts were theirs, grown by themselves. We only had a couple, and their words implied we were freeloading."

She caught the meaning and didn't touch them afterward. She wasn't so hungry that she couldn't skip a snack. Besides, she wasn't at that point.

Deng Yangchun opened up and couldn't help but complain further. "Then for cooking, they said we'd take turns, but the grain they brought out wasn't fair. I know they're old educated youth and the compound has a lot of their supplies, but we didn't eat for free either. We just arrived—what advantage have we taken? I don't even know my own portion size, so I brought out more grain than I needed. It probably ended up with them, and they still accuse me of taking advantage."

Deng Yangchun was exasperated. Who said they were united? When it came to personal interests, there were endless petty disputes. Because the five new educated youth had arrived, the already cramped rooms for the old educated youth became even more crowded, and they began to show resentment.

"You could also cook for yourself." Guo Pushu understood the underlying meaning of her complaints. "You could also rent a room from a villager. But it's inconvenient for a single woman. At best, you might be taken advantage of; at worst, they might scheme to marry you off, and you'd be eaten without a trace. The educated youth compound is small. Even if you build another stove, you'll still share firewood, hygiene, and such. Over time, conflicts will arise. You could find another place to live."

Deng Yangchun got the information she wanted and quickly pressed on. "Pushu, I just arrived and I'm not familiar with Shankou Village. As an educated youth, where else can I live? Can you give me some advice? Once I'm settled and free of these troubles, we can go to the county's state-run restaurant for a meal to try something different."

"Educated youth aren't required to live in the compound. It's just the designated accommodation, and it's free." Guo Pushu tossed a peanut into the air and caught it accurately. "There are empty houses in the village. From the war times, whole families died out, leaving no survivors. The houses belong to the village now, kept as a remembrance and a memorial to the sacrifices. If you move in, having people around will keep the houses from decaying so quickly."

During the era of total mobilization, few families like the Guos survived intact. Shankou Village had also been attacked, and many families lost all their members. But since everyone shared the surname Guo and were of the same clan, no one occupied those houses. They even built graves and made offerings during festivals. The owner of this house also shared the surname Guo and was actually a relative—a cousin of her grandfather.

Deng Yangchun was thrilled by this good news. She eagerly asked, "If I want to rent one, how much would it cost?"

"One room, ten yuan a year. But if you rent a room, you can also use the yard and kitchen." Guo Pushu reminded her, "But the house has a main hall and east-west wings—it's quite spacious. Living alone wouldn't be safe; you'd be an easy target. It's best to find a few people in similar circumstances to rent together, both male and female. Otherwise, it's more convenient to stay in the educated youth compound." Personal safety was paramount, no matter what.

"I understand. How many rooms are there in total?" Deng Yangchun nodded knowingly. She wasn't simple-minded, but she was very eager to move out of the compound. Twenty people living together was really noisy, with constant nitpicking, and she worried about her belongings being rifled through—no privacy at all.

As for potential housemates, she had a few candidates in mind. After dinner and a brief introduction tonight, she had a basic understanding of both the new and old educated youth.

"Six rooms."

The village homesteads are spacious, and a single room is quite large; it can be partitioned into two or three smaller rooms, enough to accommodate a family with many children if they squeeze in. Moreover, the house is in good condition and comes with furniture, which is why the rent is higher.

Six rooms are not few. Deng Yangchun thought it would be best to have two or three male and a few female educated youths, though she would have preferred all female, everyone's circumstances didn't allow for that.

Moreover, such an opportunity was rare—this was the Guo family's house, not part of Shankou Village's common property. Without the Guo family's permission, it would be difficult for them to rent from the village. The power of the clan should never be underestimated; if well-led and with proper family traditions, they could essentially be invincible locally.

That was why she had secretly wanted to ask Guo Pushu earlier. She had also inquired about the village chief's family that evening. Basically, if Guo Pushu agreed to help her, she could rent the place. Although she couldn't live alone, those willing to co-rent would have similar conditions and living standards, reducing conflicts.

Guo Pushu took her to buy basins, and Deng Yangchun bought quite a few. Since she hadn't told anyone she was coming over and couldn't carry them all herself, she was grateful that Guo Pushu offered to help. Seeing Guo Pushu pick up two extra basins after leaving the shop, she asked curiously, "Pushu, I didn't buy those two. Are you taking them home?"

"No, they're for someone," Guo Pushu shook her head.

Deng Yangchun was taken aback. Since they were heading the same way, could it be for an educated youth (zhiqing)? Probably not an older educated youth, or she would have sent them earlier. A face flashed through her mind, and Deng Yangchun could hardly believe it. "Could it be... you're taking them to Educated Youth Chen?"

"Educated Youth Chen? What's his full name? I'm not sure, but he's the best-looking male among the new educated youths today," Guo Pushu said. She hadn't planned to give them now, but since she had them, she might as well. She realized she still didn't know his name and had forgotten to ask her father during dinner.

"Chen Qingjuan," Deng Yangchun said. "He's the one. He's the most fastidious person I've ever met."

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but he had a pedantic feeling, like someone from a late-dynasty official's household, following every literary rule in word and deed.

"Oh, so his name is Chen Qingjuan. It's a nice name, suits him," Guo Pushu raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I'm giving them to him." Someone so particular would definitely need them; he probably wasn't used to preparing such necessities himself and hadn't thought to buy them.

Deng Yangchun's eyes widened, her mind going blank for a moment. "Pushu, are you... interested in Educated Youth Chen?"

Of course, that was obvious—why else would she be so attentive? Even though wooden basins weren't expensive, they still cost money, which was a rare thing to do.

Guo Pushu nodded generously. "Yes, he's very handsome, and I've taken a liking to him. I'm going to pursue him now."

Since pursuing someone required action and sincerity, just talking about it would be too fake.

Deng Yangchun's mouth twitched. That fast!

She was a bit envious. To say pursue and immediately give a gift—how many men could do that?

"From our brief interaction, I think Educated Youth Chen is a very aloof person. It'll be hard to win him over, so prepare yourself," Deng Yangchun shared her intuition.

Guo Pushu, however, was excited. "If he weren't hard to pursue, I wouldn't be interested."

She enjoyed challenges. Besides, Chen Qingjuan was exceptionally handsome, one of the rare few in looks. As far as she was concerned, that entitled him to be a bit harder to chase.

Deng Yangchun: "..." That's possible?

"You're really bold, pursuing someone as a female comrade," Deng Yangchun said, feeling a bit embarrassed. Though she was outgoing and strategic, she remained reserved about matters of the heart, waiting for men to make the first move.

Guo Pushu didn't think much of it. "If I catch him, he's mine. If I hesitate, someone else might snatch him away, and I'd regret it. If I fail, no big deal. Who isn't passionate and sincere when young? Besides, I'm pursuing him openly, not scheming behind his back."

"I respect you!" Deng Yangchun found herself liking Pushu even more. Her personality was to her liking.

She felt Pushu and Educated Youth Chen were polar opposites—one easygoing and free-spirited, the other rigid and traditional. Maybe Chen Qingjuan would be drawn to her.

But such people usually kept their feelings bottled up, ruminating without speaking out. Even if his heart stirred, he probably wouldn't admit it.

Deng Yangchun was already curious, wondering what sparks would fly when they collided. She was interested.

They arrived at the educated youth courtyard, where some youths were sitting in the yard chatting idly, while others had gone for walks. It wasn't yet the season for harvesting rice, so evenings were free; the village had given them rest to build up energy for the autumn harvest.

Deng Yangchun carried her things back as she walked, drawing many glances. She didn't mind, since she was planning to move out in a few days anyway.

Chen Qingjuan happened to be heading out when he saw them. He didn't even glance at Deng Yangchun, only letting his gaze fall on Guo Pushu before quickly lowering his eyes and stepping aside politely to let them pass. But when Guo Pushu approached with two basins, he was startled and instinctively stepped back—men and women shouldn't get too close to strangers. The next moment, the basins were shoved into his arms, and he caught them instinctively, stunned by the suddenness.

"Educated Youth Chen, this is your washbasin. You don't need to look for one anymore. And here's some peanuts my family made. I saved some for you. Remember to eat them while they're warm."

With that, Guo Pushu turned and left, not giving him a chance to refuse. But after a few steps, she stopped and looked back, her phoenix eyes full of smiles against the dim afterglow. "My name is Guo Pushu. Remember it."

After she left, the educated youth courtyard buzzed with chatter. Curious eyes fell on Chen Qingjuan, and some of the male educated youths were jealous.

Everyone knew Guo Pushu. Though a villager, her family background was good, she was pretty and well-educated. If he caught her eye and married into the Guo family, he wouldn't have to work so hard.

But Guo Pushu was wild, an untameable female comrade. The macho guys preferred obedient, soft, and docile women, not ones who would control them. So however envious, they wouldn't compete, knowing they couldn't handle someone like her.

Chen Qingjuan's surprised expression was rare—he hadn't managed to conceal it. He held the basins like hot potatoes, wanting to throw them away, but his ingrained manners forbade it. The woman had already strode away. He chased after her. That night, word of the incident spread through the village. Such direct behavior was also a first for him. At a loss, he stood frozen for a few seconds, feeling a subtle sensation he purposely ignored. He didn't realize he wasn't displeased or repulsed, just… confused.

"Pushu specially picked those two, said they match your temperament and will suit you well," Deng Yangchun quietly added. "Educated Youth Chen, it's not good to waste things. If you feel uncomfortable, just bring something to thank Pushu tomorrow."

Chen Qingjuan opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it, his face as cold as winter snow. He went inside.

This Comrade Deng was right—he would compensate tomorrow with equivalent value. He never accepted things from others without reciprocating.

There was little conversation among the educated youths. After being sent to the countryside for so long with no hope of going back to the city, their faces were silent and numb, each doing their own tasks.

The bathrooms and bathing areas were separate for men and women, which made things easier, but gathering firewood and fetching water were problems. The new educated youths had used them today and would need to replenish tomorrow—no free rides.

Chen Qingjuan did need a basin. After hesitating, he used it, making a mental note of its value to repay tomorrow.

"Educated Youth Chen, lend me your basin to wash my feet. Mine is cracked and can't hold water," an older educated youth said, without asking, as if certain he would agree, figuring a new arrival wouldn't dare refuse.

He only had one basin, and his feet stank, but he used it for everything. Over time, exposure to water and sun had cracked it.

"Sorry, I'm not used to sharing my things," Chen Qingjuan refused flatly.

The male youth dismissed it. "What's the big deal? We're all educated youths. Being petty hurts our unity. We need to help each other."

Then, with a mix of sarcasm and jealousy, he added, "Besides, you have two. Separating foot-washing and face-washing—so fussy. That Guo Pushu has taken a liking to you. Give me one, and you can get another from her tomorrow. She'll gladly give it without a word."

Who says you can't get by on looks? You can not only get by, you can eat well. As soon as Chen Qingjuan arrived, he got the village's thorny rose fawning over him—who wouldn't be jealous?

"Oh, and peanuts too. Let me try some. In the youth compound, we share good food, not hoard it."

He reached out, but the next second, a painful scream erupted from him.

The other male youths were startled and gathered around, seeing a conflict between new and old. They instinctively sided with the older educated youth, but when they saw Chen Qingjuan's terrifying expression, their scalps went numb.

Chen Qingjuan, cold as ice, held the man's wrist in his slender, knuckled fingers. It looked effortless, but the man was trembling in pain.

"I said, don't touch my things. Next time, I'll break your hand," Chen Qingjuan released his grip, his face calm again. He slowly gathered his belongings and placed them in a corner bunk.

Leaning against the wall, his noble bearing undiminished by the humble room, he looked at the peanuts. He touched them, then ate one. It was fragrant, salty, yet he tasted a hint of sweetness—was his sense of taste off?

The room was silent, save for the man whimpering and holding his wrist. It felt dislocated, though there was no visible injury. No one understood how Chen Qingjuan had done it so effortlessly.

This display of force made everyone wary. He wasn't as easygoing as he looked; on the contrary, his cold fury was frightening.

·

Among the female youths, Deng Yangchun, having acted on her own, was subtly ostracized. The new female youths who came with her had teamed up with the old ones to gossip about her. She rolled her eyes, not bothered. She had handled her biological father and stepmother before; why would she care about irrelevant people? Really, what a joke.

Moreover, she hadn't exactly kept it a secret. But the new educated youth who came with her was all too eager to curry favor with the old educated youth, so why should she bother to warm a cold face with her advice?

Different paths, no common goals. This only strengthened her resolve to move out. Living here, farming all day was just physically exhausting—rest could fix that. But coming back to sleep and having to deal with scheming and backstabbing? That was mentally draining. And she couldn't even enjoy a private snack in peace, because this tiny place had everyone's eyes on her. Splitting off stung a bit, too—after all, she wasn't generous with people she had no interest in!

As for potential roommates, Deng Yangchun had already settled on four candidates, definitely including Chen Qingjuan. He clearly didn't lack money and surely couldn't stand communal sleeping quarters either.

She just couldn't quite figure out why someone like him had ended up in the countryside in the first place. But that wasn't her concern—she should focus on how to find her own group.

·

Guo Pushu had been certain that Chen Qingjuan would use the basin after hesitating, which was why she’d brought it over. Her real motive was to make him come find her tomorrow on his own.

Whether he would or not, she wasn't a hundred percent sure. One try and it fails? Try again. Pursuing someone takes patience—hasty eating burns the tongue.

Besides, she was sharp about reading people's glances. She could feel it: when she appeared, Chen Qingjuan's gaze would unconsciously drift toward her.

It wasn't admiration or affection, but more like a flower raised indoors, looking pretty and bright on the surface while its roots were already rotting inch by inch. Now it caught a glimpse of sunlight and longed to stretch out for photosynthesis, but having been caged so long, it no longer dared—it could only steal glances.

That's why she said he was such an interesting person. Anyway, she took a fancy to him at first sight—this had to be love at first sight!

Chances for love at first sight in this world were few and far between. Those lucky enough to encounter it? Even rarer. She had to seize it tight. Sweet melon or not, twist it off and have a taste first. Not sweet? Dip it in sugar. Plenty of ways.

Didn't some great person say, "It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice"? She was just putting that idea into action.

Guo Pushu took a detour on her way to the Xu family's place and ran into a little kid squatting outside a thatched hut's fence, sniffling. Seeing her, the kid stood up and called out crisply, "Shushu sister!"

The child, once so dirty, had become much cleaner under Xu Youyou's care over the past while. Her clothes were no longer greasy and unwashed, which was off-putting. But given how awful the Xu family was, it was a miracle these girls had survived at all.

"Third Girl, what are you doing here?" Guo Pushu fished out a piece of candy and handed it to her—one her grandpa had given her, but she hadn't finished it. Old people didn't really care for sweets, and even as a kid, she hadn't liked them much. Maybe because she had plenty at home, she never craved them.

"Big Sister told me to wait here for Shushu sister. She said she fried some meatballs and saved some for Pu Shu sister. She told me to wait at the door." Third Girl swallowed as she spoke, but now that she had candy, she was all smiles. She didn't eat it right away, intending to share it with her sisters later, licking it together.

"Alright, let's go."

Guo Pushu followed her into the house, where the smell of meat hit her. Several kids huddled around a teenage girl, staring at the meatballs in Xu Youyou's hand, drooling.

"Everyone gets some. Don't rush, there's more. No pushing." Xu Youyou distributed them fairly—five per bowl—and soon the small basket was empty.

Watching her three younger sisters wolf down their portions, she felt a pang of headache. They ate so much already; when they grew bigger, it'd be worse. Well, they'd been starved too long and craved food. Besides, these days, meat was a rare treat, with barely any oil. Even well-off families struggled to eat their fill, let alone orphans like these girls. And as for their uncles and aunts—don't even mention them. Those were awful relatives, just thinking about them made her sick. Luck enough that she was a bit unscrupulous; otherwise, if she'd transmigrated as the original girl, she'd have been eaten alive.

"Pushu, you're here! Come, try these meatballs I just made. I added some homemade spice blend. Tell me how they taste." Xu Youyou wiped the sweat off her arm with a smile, welcoming Guo Pushu in like she was welcoming a god of wealth.

Not far off. Right now, in Xu Youyou's eyes, Guo Pushu was practically a living god of wealth—no, no, the god of wealth managed everyone across the country, but here, Guo Pushu could manage things. She'd burn incense to her three times a day if she could.

"Not bad. Your cooking is really good." Guo Pushu took a bite and gave high praise, making Xu Youyou beam. "Oh, it's nothing. I just like to experiment."

She glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then whispered, "Um... Pushu, how much money can we get from this trip to the county?"

Even though they lived in a secluded area with few visitors, in these times, a single whisper overheard and spread could land them in irreparable trouble. She'd already been through something like that once, and she was terrified. Now she was extremely cautious; the slightest stir made her heart race.

Back in her past life, she'd loved reading period novels, especially those with cheat abilities that let people get rich once reforms opened up. But reading was one thing; actually transmigrating into such a world? Xu Youyou wanted to cry. Filled with dread and fear, she almost wished she could smash her head against a wall and go back. But she was afraid—not of dying, but of not dying and ending up paralyzed, half-alive and suffering most.

"I deducted my cut, and there's twenty yuan left." Guo Pushu pulled out the money and handed it to Xu Youyou, then popped another meatball into her mouth. Crispy on the outside, tender inside. Too bad there wasn't enough meat, so the flavor wasn't perfect. She'd buy some meat another day and have Xu Youyou make them again.

"Twenty yuan—that'll last us a long time. Pushu, I can't thank you enough. Without you, I wouldn't even have the chance to earn money." Xu Youyou was overjoyed. She wiped her hands dry first, then carefully stashed the money away, close to her body. This was her livelihood now.

In the novels she'd read, heroines with cheat abilities could eat meat whenever they wanted, sell grain for money with ease, and earn hundreds or thousands without effort. How simple it seemed.

When she'd first transmigrated, she'd thought of doing the same. But then, she'd almost—almost—gotten caught. She'd been so scared she nearly wet herself. Who would dare try again? Now, earning ten or twenty yuan each time was plenty for her. Anything like hundreds or thousands, she didn't even dare to dream.

Xu Youyou had transmigrated three months ago. The body belonged to the eldest daughter of the Xu family's second branch. The Xu family was severely patriarchal and awful, with a vicious, horrible old hag. The second branch's parents had died from illness, leaving four daughters. Naturally, the Xu family treated them like dirt—eating twice a day, working nonstop.

When she'd arrived, the youngest, Fourth Girl, was only three and sick. The old hag coldly said to bury her. The original girl had begged for mercy but was beaten and hit her head on a table corner, falling unconscious. That's when Xu Youyou entered.

Xu Youyou had a hot temper and never lost a shouting match. If she didn't want to be enslaved, she seized the opportunity to start a fight with the Xu family.

But she was alone with three sisters against many hands. Right when it seemed her rebellion would fail, she gritted her teeth and ran to Guo Pushu, just in time to avoid her uncle's stick hitting her—which nearly struck Guo Pushu. That set off a firestorm in the Guo family.

The Xus were newcomers, most afraid of the Guo family, so they tucked their tails and apologized profusely. Xu Youyou took the chance to split the household, getting this thatched hut and two tiny fields. She moved out with her three sisters. It was tiring, but much better than being a beast of burden in the Xu family, beaten and scolded.

Xu Youyou felt guilty. She'd used Guo Pushu. When she transmigrated, she discovered she had a supermarket space—a cheat. Her past life had ended when she was in a supermarket, caught in a fight between two aunties, and was fatally stabbed. The supermarket space might be compensation.

After settling down, she took some grain from the supermarket and went to Guo Pushu to apologize and thank her. If Guo Pushu had held a grudge back then, she wouldn't have spoken up for her when Xu Youyou demanded a separation. The Guo family wouldn't have pressured the Xus, on grounds that forcing people to death would disrupt village unity, into letting them split off. It wouldn't have gone so smoothly. She also saw the Guo family's control and, afraid of retaliation, didn't delay in apologizing.

But when Xu Youyou offered the thanks, she couldn't last three seconds before Guo Pushu saw through her.

"This rice—even the county doesn't have it, let alone the city. And you, who's never even been to the county, starving and looking gaunt—where did you get it?"

"This cured meat—it doesn't taste like anything produced here. You've barely eaten meat twice in your life; you could only look, not touch. Where did you get it?"

"And this apple. Don't you know apples now are small? Even the department store doesn't sell apples this big."

"Besides, Xu Daya has always been Xu Daya. You don't react to the name—it's foreign. What's more, Xu Daya and her father were both weak and cowardly, only crying. Even if her fourth sister died of illness, she would have just hated in her heart and worked even harder to please everyone. She would never have changed personality after a shock. You are not Xu Daya. Who are you?"

Xu Youyou couldn't bear it under those four questions, especially the last one—"Who are you?" A chill shot up her spine, and she felt like she was about to explode. Terrified. All she could think of were the lame excuses protagonists in novels made, but in reality, those were so ridiculous no fool would believe them! What "I had a dream where a god taught me"... She swore if she said that, she'd get looks like she was an idiot.

If even Guo Pushu could tell "Xu Daya" had been replaced, then if Xu Youyou had stayed in the Xu family any longer, she'd have cracked within a day.

Xu Youyou was impressed. How did those half-way transmigrators convince themselves that their families would believe, with such paper-thin explanations, that the soul inside was still their child, and no one would notice anything wrong? In most cases, people knew the truth but didn't say it. The more she thought about it, the creepier it got.

"And there's one fatal flaw. Haven't you noticed? Even if you found clothes of the same coarse fabric, did you see this tag hasn't been removed?" Guo Pushu picked it up, making Xu Youyou's eyes sting. "This kind of tag—the material doesn't exist nowadays. And your accent is completely different; your imitation sounds awkward. You're full of holes."

Xu Youyou: "..." Speechless. No excuse.

"What do you want?" Her mental fortitude wasn't that strong. Under the barrage, she finally cracked.

She looked up at Guo Pushu, slightly dazed. Her looks were unique—not the kind of androgynous beauty called handsome, but a clear female form that somehow exuded handsomeness.

"Nothing." Guo Pushu shrugged and handed the things back to Xu Youyou. "You're not a bad person. Those little girls are lucky. But I'd advise you: change your behavior to match the times. Talk less. And these things—only eat them behind closed doors as occasional treats. Don't let anyone see."

There were no idiots here. Everyone in the village would notice if someone acted odd, even slightly different. Don't underestimate others' intelligence.

Xu Youyou stared at her retreating slim figure, feeling mixed emotions. A woman in her twenties from a later era, taught how to survive by a seventeen-year-old girl from the 70s.

After that, she was certainly scared. But poverty was even more terrifying! Her three sisters needed feeding; she had no money or grain. The fourth sister was still sick. Everything required money. In the short term, she could use the supermarket space for food, but over time, problems emerged. Obvious anomalies would attract attention.

Xu Youyou remembered the black markets in novels, where heroes earned their first money. She couldn't resist; she took out some things to sell in the county.

She had no idea where the black market was. While wandering, she met a kindly-looking auntie.

The auntie whispered and asked if she had grain. Xu Youyou thought, seems like how protagonists sell, so she nodded and followed her. God, she almost got knocked out, robbed, and sold off to some remote hole!

There was a commotion. The auntie said her child refused to marry, blah blah, so no one believed Xu Youyou's explanation. So this kind of trafficking existed even in the 70s! Who dared say people back then were simple and kind?

Just as Xu Youyou was despairing, luckily she had fortune and met Guo Pushu, who beat them up and saved her. At that moment, Xu Youyou's eyes brimmed with tears. Guo Pushu was her superhero!

"Are you an idiot? You don't know a soul in the county, and you follow a strange woman?"

Guo Pushu gave her a look of speechlessness at that time, probably thinking she was too foolish, and couldn't help scolding her a few more times. "Also, I told you not to take out the things you have. Even if you hadn't run into those people, if you tried to sell them on the black market, you'd immediately be reported as a spy. These things are evidence."

Xu Youyou listened, scared out of her wits, and broke down crying. "I, I saw she was also a woman, and very kind, so I trusted her..."

"..." At that moment, Guo Pushu was at a loss for words. "Idiot. When you go out, the last people you should trust are old people, kids, and women who talk to you—the weak to gain sympathy, the same gender to gain trust. You're lucky. If you weren't so lucky, by now you'd be up for sale somewhere. Maybe deep in the mountains, where men can't find wives, they'd lock you in a pigsty, for several brothers to share, and you'd just be there to bear their children. You'd never have a peaceful life."

"Stop it, stop it..." Xu Youyou cried even harder. Just hearing Guo Pushu's description made her teeth chatter with fear.

Even in modern times, with advanced technology, it's hard to find kidnapped people, let alone in this era. Getting taken away basically meant no hope.

And then there were the spies. Now it seemed very sensitive; anyone who stood out or got noticed would easily be reported. And she had majored in Japanese... If she were interrogated and accidentally let slip a Japanese phrase, she'd never be able to clear her name. Her life would be over.

Guo Pushu wouldn't go easy on her. She didn't know where Xu Youyou got the "confidence" that she wouldn't be discovered. Given Xu Daya's basic situation—never having been to school, no family skills to cover up—anything Xu Youyou casually took out was of suspicious origin. The black market wouldn't take stuff like that. Even if they did, they'd just be watching to find out her secret, and then she'd be done for.

Did she really think everything on the black market was of unknown origin? Was she brain-dead? The so-called black market was only tolerated because the higher-ups turned a blind eye due to insufficient grain distribution. If they really wanted to stop it, they could send troops and clean it up in no time. Anything slightly off would surely be reported internally, and she'd be arrested for questioning.

But seeing Xu Youyou cry so pitifully, Guo Pushu frowned and softened her tone a bit. "Alright. I'll help you get some money from now on, but the goods have to be checked by me first to see if they can be taken out."

She knew Xu Youyou's family situation and wouldn't let Siya die of illness. "Here's medicine and money. Take them back for Siya." She had ways to make money because she had connections everywhere and knew about everything. Xu Youyou, on the other hand, was simply reckless.

"Th-thank you." Xu Youyou cried, tears and snot streaming down her face. Without thinking, she blushed and threw herself into Guo Pushu's arms, giving her a hug.

Although she was older in her previous life, now she was a year younger than Guo Pushu—so it was okay, right? It wouldn't be embarrassing. She didn't care; she was just so grateful!

"I'll listen to you from now on. Take me along to earn money. I'm not greedy—just an occasional bit of income so I don't starve." Xu Youyou didn't dare to recklessly use things from the supermarket anymore. She would only use a little from the supermarket when she had a legitimate income to mix in, and even then only behind closed doors.

"Get up. Don't dirty my clothes."

Guo Pushu pushed her away with disdain, but she didn't say no, which meant she had agreed.

Xu Youyou understood this time and broke into a smile through her tears.

And so time passed. Now she had been living here for three months, had saved nearly a hundred dollars. She actively worked in the fields and went up the mountains to find wild game, learning from Pushu. Following her was safe, and no one dared to covet anything.

Actually, there was also a rural collective market organized by the Brigade Committee, held once a week with official permission. On that day, common people could bring things to trade. After all, if the rules were too strict and cut off people's livelihoods, it would affect social stability.

So, taking advantage of this opportunity, even if Xu Youyou could only occasionally carry a basket to trade once, it still counted as legitimate income that passed the scrutiny of the villagers. Changes were gradual, not sudden.

Now life had settled into a routine. She had adapted to the rules of this era and knew what to do, no longer panicking or afraid.

Or maybe it was because she knew there was a mountain behind her to rely on. Xu Youyou had never thought that when she came to the 1970s, instead of meeting the big shots from the era-themed novels she'd read, she'd run into a female boss. But she was very happy and cherished it—much better than a male boss.

Xu Youyou rarely used things from the supermarket anymore; she avoided it as much as possible to prevent dependence.

If she took everything from the supermarket in daily life, over time she would become a "cripple" of sorts. Because things that appeared out of nowhere were the easiest to scrutinize.

Back then, she was lucky to have met Pushu. If she had met someone else, she wouldn't have known how she died—her grave grass might already be tall.