Chapter 10: The Spirited Girl of the Seventies (10)

Chen Zhiqing was startled by Liu Suisui’s actions, nearly jumping up in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

Her shoulder was being squeezed, and everything felt off.

“I’m giving you a massage! Massages help relieve fatigue. Don’t you feel a bit better this way?”

Chen Zhiqing shook her head quickly. “I don’t feel comfortable. It just feels wrong.”

Besides, massages were something she had only seen done by her own parents. Her mother massaged her father out of consideration for his hard work during the day.

Subconsciously, she believed such things were usually women serving men. So when it happened to her, it felt very strange.

This was a clash of experience and perception that overturned her previous understanding, which is why she felt that way.

“Liu Zhiqing, thank you for your kindness, but this kind of capitalist behavior shouldn’t happen again. If others see it, it could cause trouble.” At this moment, Chen Zhiqing was relieved that no one else had entered the room.

Liu Suisui didn’t realize that simply giving someone a massage could be interpreted as capitalist behavior.

Feeling embarrassed, she withdrew her hands and pressed her lips together. “I just think we young educated youths sent to the countryside should help each other. If you don’t like it, I won’t do it again.”

She wasn’t the type to seek others’ favor, but to make her life better, she didn’t mind doing things that went against her principles.

Dinner was still plain porridge and simple vegetables with steamed buns—no oil, nothing tempting, hardly appetizing.

Liu Suisui was trying hard to adapt, but having enjoyed more than twenty years as a wealthy young lady, how could she adjust so easily?

After some thought, she decided to contribute the roast chicken she had brought.

As the saying goes, a favor creates an obligation; after sharing her food, if anything happened in the future, others would have to turn a blind eye.

Winning people’s hearts was something she was not above doing.

Sacrificing some non-essential things to gain greater benefits later was a good deal.

“Um, it seems like everyone hasn’t had meat for a long time, so I thought I’d treat you all a bit. This was very hard for me to get, and I hope you’ll like it.”

She brought out a roast chicken missing a leg and a wing.

Although it was cold, the aroma still spread out.

This was roast chicken—meat!

How long had it been since they last ate meat?

“Liu Zhiqing, you really just gave it all away?” Someone looked at her incredulously, green envy flickering in their eyes but holding back their impulse.

Liu Suisui smiled shyly. “There are many things I don’t understand. If I have offended anyone, please forgive me. I hope you can be tolerant of me; if I do something wrong, please guide me.”

The roast chicken was a stepping stone.

By saying these things beforehand, if any troubles arose later, they could be smoothed over with a smile, thanks to the chicken.

Whether this would lead to their demanding unreasonable favors was a matter for later. She was capable of handling those issues.

“Let’s thank Liu Zhiqing for her selfless contribution. We are all family from different places, and we should help each other. Liu Zhiqing, don’t worry. If you have any questions in the future, come to me. I will share everything I know!” Peng Lili, the female educated youth leader, was the first to speak.

Then Wei Qing, the male leader, echoed her words.

With the two leaders speaking up, others began to agree.

After all, this was meat!

She was treating everyone to meat for free, so showing some tolerance toward her was reasonable.

“Yay! Finally, some meat!”

“Quick, heat it up and tear it into pieces so everyone can have some.”

“Can we keep the bones to make soup? I bet the chicken broth will taste great.”

There was only one roast chicken, but more than twenty young educated youths at the point. Dividing it meant only a few pieces each.

Even so, everyone was satisfied.

At this time, without holidays or festivals, even with meat coupons, few would dare to buy meat. Without coupons, they might exchange eggs with villagers at best.

On the first and second days, Liu Suisui had little interaction with the others. Her clothing and personality led many to criticize her as a capitalist’s spoiled daughter.

But after this gesture, she seemed to come down from a pedestal, becoming warm and approachable, making her much more likable.

The chicken was torn so finely that even flies would slip on the bones.

As the owner of the roast chicken, Liu Suisui naturally got more meat.

She truly realized that everyone wasn’t difficult to get along with; it was just that times were tough, and to protect their scarce interests, they had to appear unapproachable.

Conflicts were inevitable, but on the surface, relationships had to be maintained.

After the roast chicken incident, everyone regarded Liu Suisui as a good girl.

Even her habit of bathing that night earned her a reputation for cleanliness.

She had bathed yesterday and again today. In the past, this might have been mocked as finicky poverty, but now, having accepted her kindness, they were willing to tolerate it.

She slept soundly through the night.

A new day dawned.

Liu Suisui was assigned a light workload, but having never done farm work, she felt lost whenever she joined the aunts’ teams.

She tried to appear diligent, but finishing all the work herself in one day was impossible.

At noon, returning to the point for a sparse meal, her stomach seemed to grumble loudly.

After a short rest, she went back to the field and found her assigned area already finished.

“Liu Zhiqing, so hardworking? Not resting at noon and finishing your work so early?”

“The young lady looks so fragile, but she works so hard!”

Liu Suisui could only smile awkwardly, not daring to respond.

Little did she know, someone else had done her work for her.

For several days, someone had been doing her midday tasks.

On the fourth day, she decided to be cautious and pretended to rest but soon returned to the field.

At that moment, a slender figure was working alone in the field.

No one else was around.

“Why is it you?”

The figure stiffened, standing motionless with their back to her, unable to move.