Chapter 5: The Little Rascal of the Seventies (5)

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Liu Sui was never cut out for hard labor, so tasks like collecting rations were naturally assigned to Li Xiangyang. After all, she had always delegated such chores to him in the past; even with a new identity, she could still manage things effortlessly by giving orders.

As for the tractor, it stood there alone at the village entrance, attracting the curious gaze of the villagers. If it weren’t for the team leader standing nearby, watching over it, those people would probably have climbed aboard to try it out.

Li Xiangyang found it a bit strange. Usually, he disliked being approached by others; he preferred solitude, going his own way without socializing. Yet, when it came to this young girl, he instinctively wanted to look after her, as if it were a matter of course.

Perhaps it was because she was so young, like a little sister next door, prompting him to want to care for her. Besides, she did seem incapable of taking care of herself.

“Comrade Li, thank you, you’re so kind!” Liu Sui freely handed out a ‘good person’ card without any hesitation.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.” He waited a moment, only to see her eyes curve like crescent moons—very cute. Then he turned and walked away.

The tractor at the village entrance was still waiting for him to drive it back.

[Affection points with target increased by 10]

Though he was just being ordered around to do chores, his goodwill had actually improved. What a genuinely good person.

When Liu Sui returned to the educated youth dormitory, the parcels at the girls’ dorm entrance had already been brought inside and placed where she usually sat.

One of the physically stronger female youths spoke up, “I saw you had so many things and that you’re quite small and weak, so I took the liberty of helping you carry your things in. Check if everything’s there.”

She was robust and had a sun-kissed complexion, looking quite healthy.

“You must be Chen Zhiying, right? Thank you so much, you really helped me a lot.” If Liu Sui wanted to coax someone, with her soft voice, sweet looks, and youthful age, she could easily stir maternal instincts among these young women.

Instinctively, they wanted to look after her a little.

Chen Zhiying waved her hand shyly, “It was nothing, just a small favor. When we’re away from home, we should help each other.”

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“But that doesn’t hide your kindness, Chen Zhiying. Let me treat you to some candy.” Liu Sui had bought many fruit hard candies before setting out.

Using money to bribe others was obviously unreliable. But fruit candies were like universal currency here—easy to win people over and didn’t cost much.

Chen Zhiying looked surprised at the candies offered, then quickly declined, “No need, no need. You should keep them yourself. I didn’t help that much.”

“Take them. You helped me, so I’m just returning the favor with a few candies. It’s mutual help, right?”

“Really, no. I helped not for a reward.”

“But I’ll need your help again soon, so if you don’t accept, I won’t have the heart to ask.”

Liu Sui lowered her head, looking crestfallen and sad.

Chen Zhiying’s small heart couldn’t stand it.

“Okay, I’ll help, but the candy…”

Before she finished, a few candies were pressed into her hand.

“Take them. Eating candy when you’re down is a happy thing.”

“You… fine, I’ll accept.” Chen Zhiying had always been the giver in this youth camp, rarely receiving anything in return.

But she didn’t mind and had earned the reputation of being a good person.

New arrivals didn’t start work immediately—they needed time to adjust. So the second day was a rest day for purchasing daily necessities.

Meanwhile, Liu Sui’s main task was to organize her own things. For example, making her bed—something she had never done before—so she invited Chen Zhiying to help.

She didn’t actually have that many belongings, just a bit of extra clothing. Most of the money she had scavenged from the Liu family had gone into buying clothes.

The remaining money was still safely stored in the system’s space since she had to live in the countryside for two years and couldn’t spend it all at once.

After setting up the bed, she started pondering other matters.

Even on the car ride over, she had decided to take a proper bath on the first day, asking Chen Zhiying to stand guard outside the room so she could wash thoroughly.

There was no proper bathroom here; bathing had to be done inside the room, so if she didn’t want anyone to come in, someone had to watch the door.

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The water was borrowed from the kitchen; she just had to return the water and firewood afterward. The others weren’t too strict with new arrivals.

Chen Zhiying busied herself with fetching and boiling water, looking like Liu Sui’s little assistant.

Some onlookers noticed and couldn’t help whispering to each other.

“Look at this delicate young lady’s mannerisms. Where did she learn that?”

Her companion rested his chin on his hand, “I don’t think she learned it; she just looks like a young lady from a wealthy family.”

“Shh! Are you crazy? Don’t say that loud—what if someone overhears?”

They exchanged uneasy smiles and stopped the conversation.

Liu Sui was bathing inside and didn’t hear what was being said, but she knew that in this era, such behavior could easily be labeled as ‘capitalist.’

Yet in her past life, she had indeed been born into a capitalist family, having experienced both admiration and scorn. These were merely superficial experiences—not worth dwelling on.

If she were to live like people in this era, toiling endlessly, she simply couldn’t do it.

After finishing her bath, she called Chen Zhiying in, closing the door and speaking in a confidential tone.

“Liu Zhiying, what’s wrong?” Chen Zhiying could smell the scent of bath lotion and shampoo on her—unlike them, who used only soap.

“It’s like this: I’ve never done any chores before, so there are some things I really don’t know how to do. I thought since you and I are close, maybe you could help me. Don’t worry, I won’t make you work for nothing.”

Liu Sui pulled out five yuan from her pocket. “Will five yuan a month work? Things like washing clothes and fetching water—I’ll need your help.”

She blinked her big eyes expectantly.

Chen Zhiying wanted to say, “That’s capitalist behavior,” but considering her own years in the countryside—always having enough to eat but never enough to be satisfied, and hardly able to save money—she hadn’t bought new clothes for a long time, not even snow cream or clam oil.

Looking at the five yuan in her palm, she nodded firmly. “Okay.”

Five yuan a month meant sixty yuan a year. It was just helping out, and she was strong enough!